Have you ever wondered how the symbolic world of tarot could intersect with the psychological insights of personality typing? It turns out that tarot’s 16 court cards and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) may have more in common than you’d think. Both systems, though originating from different traditions—one mystical and the other psychological—offer profound ways of understanding human behaviour and archetypal energies. In this post, I want to explore how these two systems can align, shedding light on how we might use them together to dive deeper into self-awareness.

At first glance, the tarot’s court cards seem like timeless archetypes, representing personas or ways of interacting with the world through the lenses of the four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit speaks to a different element of life: creativity, emotions, intellect, and the material world. Similarly, the MBTI divides personalities into 16 types, each shaped by preferences in how we engage with the world and process information. By pairing these two systems, we gain an enriched perspective on both.

The idea of mapping the 16 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types to the 16 court cards in the tarot is an intriguing blend of psychology and esotericism. Both systems deal with archetypes and human behaviour, and while the MBTI breaks down personality into cognitive functions and preferences, the tarot’s court cards represent distinct personas, roles, or modes of action. The challenge and beauty of connecting the two is in recognising how these symbolic systems reflect aspects of our psyche.

Let’s break it down.

MBTI and Tarot: A Shared Structure

The MBTI divides personalities based on four key dichotomies:

• Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
• Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
• Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)

These preferences combine to create 16 possible personality types.

In tarot, the 16 court cards (Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings from each suit) represent different expressions of personality or ways of interacting with the world. Each suit corresponds to one of the four elements, each symbolising different areas of life:

• Wands (Fire): Creativity, action, inspiration
• Cups (Water): Emotions, relationships, intuition
• Swords (Air): Thought, communication, intellect
• Pentacles (Earth): Practicality, work, material concerns

Within each suit, the hierarchy moves from the Page (youth or beginnings) to the Knight (action or pursuit), the Queen (nurture or mastery of emotions), and the King (leadership or mastery of the element).

The Correspondences

The attempt to link MBTI with tarot suggests that each tarot court card represents a distinct MBTI type. Here’s how that correlation might look based on common interpretations:

Wands (Fire) – Intuitive and Action-Oriented Types

The suit of Wands is associated with energy, action, and inspiration. These court cards tend to represent those who are imaginative, adventurous, and driven to initiate change.

1. King of Wands – ENTJ (The Commander)
   • A natural leader, the King of Wands is bold, decisive, and visionary, much like the ENTJ, who takes charge with confidence and charisma, always thinking of the big picture and how to move forward strategically.
2. Queen of Wands – ENFJ (The Protagonist)
   • Warm and inspiring, the Queen of Wands motivates others through her passion and energy. The ENFJ is similarly nurturing and charismatic, leading by example and helping others realize their potential.
3. Knight of Wands – ENTP (The Debater)
   • The Knight of Wands is quick to action, always ready for the next adventure or challenge, which aligns with the ENTP’s love of new ideas, exploration, and intellectual sparring.
4. Page of Wands – INFP (The Mediator)
   • Curious and idealistic, the Page of Wands embodies the INFP’s deep inner world of passion and creativity. Both are dreamers who are always searching for meaning and new possibilities.

Cups (Water) – Emotionally Intuitive and Feeling Types

The Cups court cards are connected to emotion, relationships, and the subconscious. People represented by these cards are sensitive, empathetic, and often motivated by their values and feelings.

1. King of Cups – INFJ (The Advocate)
   • Calm, wise, and emotionally intelligent, the King of Cups embodies the INFJ’s deeply empathetic and insightful nature. Both offer support and guidance through their intuitive understanding of others’ needs.
2. Queen of Cups – ISFJ (The Defender)
   • Caring and protective, the Queen of Cups reflects the ISFJ’s nurturing and loyal personality. Both are grounded in their emotional understanding and commitment to helping those around them.
3. Knight of Cups – ENFP (The Campaigner)
   • Idealistic, romantic, and driven by emotions, the Knight of Cups is a perfect match for the ENFP’s enthusiastic and deeply passionate pursuit of dreams and possibilities.
4. Page of Cups – ESFP (The Entertainer)
   • Playful, imaginative, and full of surprises, the Page of Cups is always looking for creative and emotional experiences, much like the outgoing, spontaneous ESFP who thrives on emotional connection and creative expression.

Swords (Air) – Intellectual and Thinking Types

The suit of Swords deals with thought, communication, and conflict. The court cards in this suit represent people who are analytical, logical, and skilled at strategizing and problem-solving.

1. King of Swords – INTJ (The Architect)
   • Logical and strategic, the King of Swords is a master of rational thought and long-term planning, much like the INTJ, who excels at seeing the bigger picture and creating effective strategies to achieve their goals.
2. Queen of Swords – INTP (The Logician)
   • Intellectual, objective, and independent, the Queen of Swords aligns with the INTP’s love of knowledge, critical thinking, and deep analysis. Both value truth and clarity above all else.
3. Knight of Swords – ESTJ (The Executive)
   • Assertive and driven, the Knight of Swords charges forward with a clear goal in mind, reflecting the ESTJ’s decisive, goal-oriented nature. Both are determined to make things happen efficiently and effectively.
4. Page of Swords – ISTP (The Virtuoso)
   • Inquisitive, clever, and always ready to act, the Page of Swords mirrors the ISTP’s pragmatic, hands-on approach to life, always curious and quick to analyze and respond to new situations.

Pentacles (Earth) – Practical and Sensing Types

The suit of Pentacles is associated with the material world, work, and practicality. The court cards here represent those who are grounded, reliable, and focused on tangible results.

1. King of Pentacles – ESTP (The Entrepreneur)
   • The King of Pentacles is a confident, successful figure who enjoys the fruits of his labor, much like the ESTP, who is practical, resourceful, and always on the lookout for new opportunities to make things happen.
2. Queen of Pentacles – ESFJ (The Consul)
   • Generous and nurturing, the Queen of Pentacles provides for others in a practical, down-to-earth way. This resonates with the ESFJ’s desire to care for and support those around them through concrete actions and emotional warmth.
3. Knight of Pentacles – ISTJ (The Logistician)
   • Hardworking and methodical, the Knight of Pentacles mirrors the ISTJ’s attention to detail and sense of duty. Both are reliable, patient, and dedicated to achieving their goals with precision.
4. Page of Pentacles – ISFP (The Adventurer)
   • Practical yet creative, the Page of Pentacles explores new opportunities for growth, much like the ISFP, who seeks personal experience and fulfillment through hands-on exploration of the world.

Why Does This Work?

Both the MBTI and tarot court cards can be understood as ways of categorising and exploring human experience and expression. While the MBTI relies on a psychological framework, the tarot deals more with symbolic and archetypal language. The correlation works because both systems offer paths to self-understanding and insight, using different lenses but tapping into similar human truths. Each tarot card and MBTI type represents a different way of being and interacting with the world, and finding these links provides rich terrain for personal exploration.

Limitations

It’s important to note that this is an interpretative framework rather than a strict rule. Tarot, with its symbolic flexibility, can’t always be reduced to a one-to-one correspondence with a psychological system like the MBTI. But it can serve as a creative tool for reflecting on the qualities of each type and persona, providing new perspectives on both the tarot and the MBTI system.

In the end, whether or not these systems can perfectly align, this exercise invites us into deeper self-reflection and a richer understanding of the different archetypal energies at play in our lives.

By weaving together tarot and the MBTI, we open a doorway into an intriguing exploration of archetypes and psychological insights. These two systems, though seemingly disparate, reflect universal truths about how we navigate the world—whether through the intuitive depths of the Cups or the logical structure of the Swords. Exploring this connection invites us to use both the tarot and personality typing as tools for reflection and growth, offering a new lens to see ourselves and others more clearly. Whether you’re an MBTI enthusiast or a seasoned tarot reader, there’s something powerful in realising how these archetypal energies manifest in our everyday lives.

As an ENFP, I find myself naturally aligned with the Knight of Cups, a connection that feels like a perfect reflection of my inner journey. The Knight of Cups is the dreamer, the romantic who moves through life led by ideals and emotions, seeking meaning in every experience. I see this same impulse in myself—the desire to explore not just the world around me but the depths within, always searching for beauty, depth, and connection.

The Knight of Cups, much like the ENFP, embodies a blend of emotional richness and creativity, always following the call of the heart. This archetype resonates with my passion for mysticism, Jungian depth psychology, and the personal mythology I’ve been crafting. It’s not enough for me to simply understand life on an intellectual level; like the Knight of Cups, my quest is one of emotional and spiritual connection. This alignment reminds me that my path is about more than just action—it’s about experiencing life with an open heart, seeking deeper truths, and honouring the adventure of soul discovery.