The Tarot and the Five Universal Shapes

This is Part 3 in a series of posts here about the five shapes that archaeologist Angeles Arrien (1940-2014) identified as carrying universal meaning: (circle, square, cross, spiral, triangle).  This article relates the five shapes to the Tarot. It will make the most sense if you take a look at these two earlier posts:

Five Universal Shapes - Explaining the symbols I use in some of my heart paintings

Preferential Shapes Test from Angeles Arrien - A quick and intuitive way to get a sense of what process in your life needs your conscious support now

Tarot Layouts using the Five Universal Shapes 

If, like many people interested in mythology and universal wisdom, you use Tarot cards for intuitive insight into your current life process, you might be interested in Tarot layouts based on the five universal shapes. This could be an interesting follow up to the basic Preferential Shapes Test.

Just just choose the layout that corresponds to the card you chose for position three. This is the shape that corresponds with the core process at work in your life right now. It's the process that needs the most conscious support from you.

"The Tarot Handbook" by Angeles Arrien

As part of her research on symbols, Angeles Arrien wrote “The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols. Back when I used the Tarot myself, I didn’t know about this handbook.

Note: If a book link here leads to Amazon.com and you buy there, I receive a small commission as an Amazon Associates. And…shop where you like! My main reason for adding the links is to make it easy to find out more about each book I recommend.

“Motherpeace Tarot”

The Tarot cards I've used most are the circular Motherpeace Tarot cards by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble.  

I like the feminist paintings on the cards, and there's something about their round shape that I find very appealing. If your current Preferential Shapes test shows the circle in position three, then I'd guess that using these round Tarot cards would appeal to you too. The cards are laid out in a circular pattern (wholeness)  that also includes a cross (relationship).

When using the Motherpeace Tarot cards, I also used Vicki Noble’s interpretations in Motherpeace: A Way to the Goddess Through Myth, Art, and Tarot. In addition to the feminist emphasis, I've appreciated the way the authors integrate the Four Directions into the interpretations.

(Note: If you buy the Motherpeace cards or book from the links above, I receive a small commission as an Amazon Associates.)

I use the past tense because it's been several years since I've used Tarot cards.  For a long time I did find them excellent tools for insight and access to inner guidance. Now I'm focused on getting more direct spiritual guidance from God.

More about the Tarot

If you'd like to know a bit more about the Tarot, here's a simple introduction to How Tarot Cards Work. For example, the author makes clear that the Tarot cards are for insight into your current life rather than your definite future. The point is to dig a bit deeper into what's really going on in your life -- get some intuitive leads.  The layout shown in this article is in the shape of a cross. 

Wikipedia has a long article on the Tarot, detailing the history of the Tarot plus its many variations among countries.

Earlier articles in this 5-part series:

1 - The Five Universal Shapes

2 - The Preferential Shapes Test from Angeles Arrien

Coming next: Parts 4 and 5 in this 5-part series:

4 - Chakras and the Five Universal Shapes

5 - Art and the Five Universal Shapes

—> Heart Painting Story Index

(This series of articles last revised in August, 2020. This article was originally published March 17, 2014.)