allaboutsoul
Today in a graduate-level counseling class I'm in, the focus was on psychoanalysis, especially Sigmund Freud and his theory of personality. I have heard plenty about this theory, especially about the id, ego, and superego. Yesterday I had been looking at various 3-card tarot spreads, and the thought occurred to me that a 3-card tarot spread could focus on the id, the ego, and the superego.
For the uninitiated, I will briefly tell about the id, the ego, and the superego.
The Id, like a demanding child, involves our basic instincts and a desire for pleasure.
The Ego is realistic and logical, and it keeps the Id in check.
The Superego is, most simply, a person's moral code. It is "the judge" striving for moral perfection.
(Freudian personality theory is of course much more complicated than this, but I am summarizing.)
The Ego not only keeps the Id in check but also struggles to balance the Id and the Superego. An analogy I was once told about this is that the Ego is like a charioteer trying to control two horses. I thought of this analogy today and was reminded of the Tarot card of The Chariot. I never made my own Tarot spread before, and I wonder if this concept has been done before, but I was struck by the similarity and thought of a spread focusing on the Id, Ego, and Superego, laid out like a charioteer and his two horses (or sphinxes). Here is my idea, which I think might be useful for both general readings and specific situations. I haven't tried it yet, but I really like the idea and would love feedback.
****[3]***
[1] ***** [2]
Card 1 is the Id (also one of the horses or sphinxes of The Chariot). It is the querent's instinctual desires for pleasure.
Card 2 is the Superego (and the other horse or sphinx of The Chariot). It is the querent's conscience and/or moral beliefs.
Card 3 is the Ego (and the charioteer). It is the querent's realistic and logical side.
I'm interested to see how this spread could play out in readings and I'd love to see people try it, especially if it turns out that cards 1 and 2 end up being in conflict, with card 3 being a sort of mediator between them.
For the uninitiated, I will briefly tell about the id, the ego, and the superego.
The Id, like a demanding child, involves our basic instincts and a desire for pleasure.
The Ego is realistic and logical, and it keeps the Id in check.
The Superego is, most simply, a person's moral code. It is "the judge" striving for moral perfection.
(Freudian personality theory is of course much more complicated than this, but I am summarizing.)
The Ego not only keeps the Id in check but also struggles to balance the Id and the Superego. An analogy I was once told about this is that the Ego is like a charioteer trying to control two horses. I thought of this analogy today and was reminded of the Tarot card of The Chariot. I never made my own Tarot spread before, and I wonder if this concept has been done before, but I was struck by the similarity and thought of a spread focusing on the Id, Ego, and Superego, laid out like a charioteer and his two horses (or sphinxes). Here is my idea, which I think might be useful for both general readings and specific situations. I haven't tried it yet, but I really like the idea and would love feedback.
****[3]***
[1] ***** [2]
Card 1 is the Id (also one of the horses or sphinxes of The Chariot). It is the querent's instinctual desires for pleasure.
Card 2 is the Superego (and the other horse or sphinx of The Chariot). It is the querent's conscience and/or moral beliefs.
Card 3 is the Ego (and the charioteer). It is the querent's realistic and logical side.
I'm interested to see how this spread could play out in readings and I'd love to see people try it, especially if it turns out that cards 1 and 2 end up being in conflict, with card 3 being a sort of mediator between them.
I'll let you know how it goes!