by Skye MacLachlan
Feng Shui Consultant

Anthropologist Angeles Arrien has researched a method of determining which tarot cards reflect your personality and soul lessons / gifts. These cards are determined by your birth date.

Your personality card represents your life purpose, aspirations and lessons to be learned in this lifetime. Your soul card indicates the essence of who you are, your soul purpose and the gifts / challenges you carry deep within. Many of my clients have commented that understanding their soul and personality cards has been like receiving a compass to assist them on their journey through life.

Two people may be born with the same soul / personality cards and experience these energies uniquely depending on the degree of their soul development. For example, The Fool card may be experienced as someone who is constantly making foolish choices (undeveloped) or as someone who is open to new experiences (developed).

To determine your cards add up the day, month and year of your birth. For example: June 10, 1958 (6 + 10 + 1958) = 1974. Then add each digit of the total number: 1 + 9 + 7 + 4 = 21. If the total adds up to 22 or less, this is your personality number, which corresponds to the ‘major arcana’ tarot card of the same number. In the example above, the tarot card number 21, The Universe, is this individual’s personality card. Then add together 2 + 1 = 3. The number 3, The Empress, is their soul tarot card. The higher number is the personality card, the lower number is the soul card.

Since there are only 22 major arcana tarot cards, if your birthday adds up to 23 or more, it must be reduced to a single digit. For example: January 8, 1960 (1 + 8 + 1960) = 1969; 1 + 9 + 6 + 9 = 25; 2 + 5 = 7. In this example, the number 7, The Chariot, is both your personality and soul card. In this lifetime your personality and soul are aligned and focused to work on the same issue.

There is one situation where certain birthdates will have three cards to work with. For example the birth date June 14, 1961 (6 + 14 + 1961) = 1981; 1 + 9 + 8 + 1 = 19. The Sun, number 19 of the major arcane tarot, is the first card. By adding together 1 + 9 = 10, we get their second card, The Wheel of Fortune and then 1 + 0 = 1, The Magician is the third card. This is an especially creative and often challenging lifetime for these individuals, as all three cards are experienced as both soul and personality cards.

If your birth date adds up to 22, you have the great task in this life of balancing impulsiveness, spontaneity and mystery (0, The Fool, is considered the 22nd card and your personality card) with responsibility and structure (4, The Emperor is your soul card).

Now that you know how to calculate your soul and personality cards, here is a brief overview of the life lessons / gifts of each card. For those of you who have two or three cards, notice which aspects you've developed and are most comfortable with. Then challenge yourself to own and activate the gifts and challenges of your other card.

0 - The Fool (If your birth date adds up to 22, The Fool is your personality symbol and the Emperor is your soul symbol). These individuals are often very intuitive and perceptive. They prefer a life filled with variety and change. When faced with difficulty they will usually demonstrate great courage. They are highly creative which may be expressed artistically or in their approach to problem solving. Others are often drawn to their spontaneous, carefree approach to life. The challenging or shadow aspects of The Fool may manifest as someone who cannot commit and only experiences life in a very shallow way. The shadow may also manifest in an opposite manner where one feels the yearning to explore but is afraid to take the leap into a new adventure.

1 - The Magician (Your birth date adds up to 1or 10). These individuals possess the ability to magically create change. They are often very focused on what they want and carry that vision with them. They are also gifted communicators. Some have the charisma to inspire others with their vision. Magicians have the ability to bring their gifts to almost any career and be successful. The shadow aspect of the Magician would be someone who uses their gifts of communication to manipulate others. They may also hold a vision that is detrimental to the wellbeing of others.

2 - The High Priestess (Your birth date adds up to 2, 11, or 20). These individuals often have the capacity to see the bigger picture, to understand both sides of a situation and to assess what is working or not working. They may come across as aloof but in fact they are simply surveying the situation through eyes of wisdom. They value time to themselves and are highly independent. They have a deep appreciation for beauty and balance. The shadow aspect of the High Priestess may manifest as one who isolates from others and is unable to receive support from loved ones.

3 - The Empress (Your birth date adds up to 3, 12 or 21). These individuals are highly sensitive to the needs of others. They are often natural healers; just being around them can make you feel better. They also have a deep appreciation for beauty. Their shadow aspect involves giving and giving to others while forgetting their own needs to receive nurturing. Due to their sensitivity they may also build a shell of protection around themselves to avoid being hurt. During times of stress they may experience incapacitating exhaustion when they realize that they've given all that they have to others.

4 - The Emperor (Your birth date adds up to 4, 13, or 22). These individuals have come into this lifetime to explore their relationship to power and authority. They are often natural leaders and are put in positions of leadership without choosing such positions. They have the natural ability to inspire and motivate others. They have a great love for the creative process, setting their vision into motion and seeing it through to manifestation. This creative and building energy can be applied to any area of life. Many Emperors will be entrepreneurs or managers. The shadow aspect often manifests as having issues with authority figures. They may also feel the burden of leadership and choose to float through life and under- achieve.

5 - The Hierophant (Your birth date adds up to 5 or 14). The Hierophant individual values family. This may be their birth family or spiritual family. They have the natural ability to build and nurture community around themselves. Many are also highly creative; this ranges from having many creative ideas to actually being artists. Music is often a great source of renewal for them. At some point in life most hierophants will delve deeply into their own spiritual nature and may even be a spiritual guide to others. In their shadow aspect, Hierophants may feel misunderstood by their community and may search for their own people and a sense of belonging.

6 - The Lovers (Your birth date adds up to 6 or 15). Lovers people are gifted in working with people of all ages. People are naturally drawn to them. They have the ability to really see people for who they are, to motivate and inspire people to fulfill their potential. They have the creative ability to see how differing ideas, people and situations can work harmoniously together. They are very perceptive and often immediately know what is working and not working in a situation. The shadow aspect of Lovers involves feeling over responsible for others and of carrying too much responsibility on their shoulders. They may also be frustrated by having the knowledge of what works without the means to apply this knowledge. They may never receive the recognition that they deserve.

7 - The Chariot (Your birth date adds up to 7 or 16). Chariot people have more energy than most of us and the capacity to handle many projects at the same time. They need variety and change in their lives. Many of them will travel a great deal and may even live in a different country than they were born in. They work to find that special balance between calm and stimulation. Although they are drawn to change, they always assess whether the new situation is viable before taking action. They motivate, inspire and stimulate others. They are often a natural change agent in situations which have outlived their purpose. The shadow aspect of Chariot people revolves around their quest to find a balance between action and calm. They can get stuck in a pattern of too much action or the lethargic energy of doing nothing.

8 - Balance / Justice (If your birth date adds up to 8 or 17). Much of the work of these individuals involves learning how to bring balance and beauty into their lives and the bigger world. They also crave simplicity and clarity. They have little tolerance for covert, manipulative and complex strategies. The shadow aspect for these individuals involves being over sensitive to every little aspect that may feel out of balance to them.

9 - The Hermit (If your birth date adds up to 9 or 18). These individuals value harmony, peace and time alone. Because Hermits live with great integrity, others often choose them for leadership positions. They are often wise guides and counselors. Many have natural gifts for organizing and bringing harmony to areas that are out of balance. Their shadow involves a complete withdrawal from friends and family, ultimately living in isolation.

10 - The Wheel of Fortune (If your birth date adds up to 10 or 19). These individuals are creative and original. They are interested in breaking new ground and bringing the future into the present. They are flexible and often see possibilities and solutions where others feel that none exist. Their shadow shows up when they focus too much on ideas rather than on manifestation.

11 - Strength (If your birth date adds up to 11). These individuals are emotional, creative, passionate and charismatic. They often have very original and unique ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Many of them will be drawn to the limelight. They are survivors. They have the ability to push through and succeed where others would give up. They must honor their feelings and live an outer life that is in harmony with what they feel (and know) within. Their shadow involves suppressing their own inner needs and emotions in order to meet the needs of family, work and society.

12 - The Hanged Man (If your birth date adds up to 12). These individuals have the ability to see the world and situations from an entirely different perspective. They must honor their own unique path even though the world may not understand them. These are the pattern breakers, the shamans, the dreamers, the mystics. Their shadow involves sacrificing who they are for those they love or a beloved cause.

13 - Death (If your birth date adds up to 13). These individuals are experts in transformation. Although they experience life with passion, they also know when it is time to let go and begin again. They will often act as guides to others in how to live and love fully and how to let go when necessary. Their shadow involves becoming so committed to transformation that they let things and relationships die before their time.

14 - Temperance (If your birth date adds up to 14). These individuals have the ability to take many ideas, people and situations that seemingly are polarizing and synergize them into a new vision that works for all. They see humanity through the eyes of compassion. They love to teach new and transformative ideas. Their shadow side can involve trying to integrate so many ideas and possibilities that they become scattered and unfocused.

15 – The Devil (If your birth date adds up to 15). These individuals have a practical side that focuses on productivity and manifesting results. Yet they are also compelled by the bigger questions such as their relationship to the universe. They need to incorporate humor to balance their more intense side. Their shadow involves getting too caught up in the material world.

16 – The Tower (If your birth date adds up to 16). Tower people experience many ups and downs in their life. Yet it is often these tumultuous events that allow their talent for rebuilding to shine through. Out of the chaos is born greater balance, beauty and inspiration. Their shadow side involves becoming too intense and arrogant, alienating themselves from others.

17 – The Star (If your birth date adds up to 17). Star people are divided into two groups - those who shine with charisma and those who hide behind a cool exterior. They have a great need to be involved with work or a cause that inspires and challenges them. Others look to them for guidance and acceptance. Their shadow side involves being too concerned with how others view them.

18 – The Moon (If your birth date adds up to 18). Though Moon people may have many acquaintances, they only reveal themselves to a few close friends. They are naturally magnetic and others are drawn to them. Many of them will be strongly intuitive. Part of their purpose is to bring light into the darkness, revealing hidden mysteries. Their shadow side involves a fear of expressing their feelings and problems with addiction.

19 – The Sun (If your birth date adds up to 19). Sun people have the ability to motivate and inspire others. They often have a childlike side and enjoy simple pleasures. They need to set clear boundaries as others will often be drawn to their light and drain their energy. They are natural leaders. Their shadow side involves making poor decisions where partners (romantic or work) are involved, leading to the dimming of their own light when the partner is around.

20 – Judgment (If your birth date adds up to 20). Throughout their life these individuals often have great bursts of awareness or epiphanies. They are intuitive yet rational. They have a need for balance. Family, career, friendship and creativity are equally important in their life. They must learn how to use their personal power and influence for the highest good of all. Their shadow side involves denying their intuitive side and focusing solely on the rational mind.

21 – The Universe / World (If your birth date adds up to 21). Universe people are natural visionaries. They love to travel and experience the diversity our earth has to offer. They have many interests / gifts and must learn to focus their energy. Personal freedom is very important to them. Many are ecologically minded. Their shadow side involves caretaking others rather than following their own dreams and vision.

Skye has specialized in Feng Shui for the home and business for 30 years. She teaches Feng Shui, Tarot, Dreamwork and Gem Therapy at the Northern Star College of Mystical Studies in Edmonton.