Know thyself. Wise advice, but not always easy. People are rarely static. We change over time, we change in various situations, and we play various roles.

The beginning of the year seems like as good a time as any to take a snapshot, to create a self-portrait, as a first step in thinking about “who am I right now?” Knowing yourself can help you determine where you want to go and even how to get there.

The court cards in a tarot deck are often said to represent aspects of ourselves. This spread uses only the court cards. By creating a personal mandala of your various aspects, you can get a fuller picture of who you are.

Try this spread and see what you learn about yourself:

1. Who you think you are.

2. Who do you deny being?

3. Who you are happiest being.

4. Who others think you are.

Notice the dichotomies between who you are and who others think you are. Is it large? If so, why? If not, most likely your self-image and projected image are quite close. Is it an image you are happy about?

Is there a connection between who you deny and the other cards? Where does who you are happiest being fit in?

You can modify this spread for a specific situation or life lesson by specifically picking a card from the full deck that represents that area and putting it in the middle of the four court cards. Examine how the energy of the four “you” cards interacts with the energy of the middle card.

You can learn more about modifying and creating your own spreads in:

Tarot Spreads

avatar
Written by Barbara Moore
The tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore’s personal and professional lives for over a decade. In college, the tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, and history. Later, she served as the tarot specialist for Llewellyn Publications. Over the years, she has ...