Leadership Through the Tarot - The Fool's Journey

The Major Arcana of the Tarot—those 22 iconic cards—can be seen as more than mystical symbols or spiritual archetypes. They also tell the story of personal development, which closely mirrors the journey of a leader. When divided into three groups of seven cards, with The Fool standing alone, the Tarot offers a profound framework to understand how leaders grow, moving from raw instinct (Id), to balanced selfhood (Ego), to moral authority (Superego). Let’s explore this idea in simple, relatable terms.

 The Fool (0): The Born Leader (Even if He Doesn’t Know It Yet) The Fool is not foolish—he’s fearless. He represents the beginning of the journey: a person with passion, energy, and potential, but no experience. This is the intern, the new entrepreneur, or the young manager—ready to leap without knowing where he’ll land.

Leadership lesson: Every leader begins as The Fool—with courage, curiosity, and blind hope. What matters is the journey that follows.

Stage 1: The Id – Leadership Through Instinct and Desire (Cards I–VII) These first seven cards represent the emergence of a leader’s raw talent. The Id, in psychology, is the instinctive, emotional self. Here, the leader is driven by ambition, charisma, energy, and the hunger to achieve.

Cards I–VII:

• The Magician – You discover your talents and tools. The art of making things happen.

• The High Priestess – Learning to trust your gut. Not everything is visible; intuition matters.

• The Empress – You begin to care about your team. Nurturing leadership emerges.

• The Emperor – You assert control. Structure and authority become your strengths.

• The Hierophant – You begin to follow or set rules. Culture and traditions guide decisions.

• The Lovers – You face values-based choices. Leadership is not just logic—it’s love and loyalty too.

• The Chariot – You drive forward with confidence. This is the leader as a warrior, ambitious and focused.

Leadership lesson: This is the phase of “I can do this.” Leaders in the Id stage are passionate, driven, and sometimes impulsive. They are building belief in themselves and earning early victories, but they still lead from emotion and ambition.

Stage 2: The Ego – Leadership Through Self-Mastery (Cards VIII–XIV) The Ego is not arrogance—it’s identity. This stage is about learning to lead consciously. Here, the leader starts reflecting, adapting, and growing through experience. Control gives way to maturity.

Cards VIII–XIV:

• Strength – Leadership through calm, not force. Mastering yourself before others.

• The Hermit – Stepping back to think. Leadership requires reflection and solitude too.

• Wheel of Fortune – Learning that not everything is in your control. Humility enters.

• Justice – You develop fairness and accountability. Decisions have consequences.

• The Hanged Man – Letting go of ego. True growth means sacrifice and a new perspective.

• Death – Reinvention. Shedding old leadership styles or beliefs that no longer serve.

• Temperance – Harmony and balance. The mature leader learns to blend, adapt, and unite.

Leadership lesson: This is the phase of “I understand who I am.” Leaders learn to pause, evolve, and act with wisdom. Ego here is not dominance—it’s balance.

Stage 3: The Superego – Leadership Through Wisdom and Responsibility (Cards XV–XXI) The Superego is the internal compass—the part that seeks to lead ethically and for the greater good. Leaders in this stage become visionaries, mentors, and moral guides.

Cards XV–XXI:

• The Devil – Facing your shadows. Recognizing your flaws and attachments.

• The Tower – When false foundations collapse. Real leaders grow from failure.

• The Star – Rebuilding with hope and inspiration. You begin to lead with vision.

• The Moon – Navigating uncertainty and illusion. Not all that’s unclear is wrong.

• The Sun – Authenticity shines through. Joy, truth, and clarity in leadership.

• Judgment – You’re called to something higher. Responsibility beyond self-interest.

• The World – Completion and mastery. The leader as a whole, integrated being—ready to uplift others.

Leadership lesson: This is the phase of “I lead for something greater.” The leader is no longer just successful—they are significant. They lift others, shape culture, and build legacies.

 To summarize, leadership isn’t just about climbing ladders or hitting targets. It’s a deeply personal evolution of character, values, and vision. The Tarot’s Major Arcana, when viewed through the lens of the Id, Ego, and Superego, becomes a mirror for every leader’s path.

From the daring Fool to the wise World, leadership is not a title - it’s a transformation. This is known as the Fool’s Journey

(Ref - Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom, Writings by Mary Greer and Alister Crowley.) (Formatted using ChatGPT)