ON-DEMAND COURSE

Jungian Perspective on the Tarot (level 2)

Jungian Psychology
TEACHER
Ken James
TOPIC
Divination
Format
6 Class Course
DURATION
9 Hrs

Payment options: Credit Card or PayPal.

Gain proficiency in reading tarot cards with jungian analyst ken james

In this course, we will focus on the reading of different tarot spreads. The approach to reading taken in this course will draw upon Jung’s writings on synchronicity and divination. 

We will focus on the link between the question, or the intention held in the mind while shuffling the cards, and the significance of the cards that comprise the spreads. 
You will learn to tell a story based on the cards, their positions, and the relationships among them.  

This level 2 course is about reading tarot spreads. Anyone who knows what tarot cards mean, can be part of this course. If you are new to the tarot , we suggest that you do the course ‘Jungian perspective on the tarot’, as that course is about interpreting tarot cards and you’ll learn about the meaning of tarot cards.

Jungian Perspective on the Tarot (level 2) Course 

In this course with Ken James , our marvelous teacher and Jungian Analyst, will focus on developing skills in reading the Tarot, an ancient tool of divination. 

The Tarot enhances communication between the conscious and the unconscious mind and can be thought of as an evocation of synchronicity. Synchronicities are phenomena of meaningful coincidences.

Each individual Tarot card illustrates in rich detail a quality of human experience that is both personal and transcendent.

The Tarot becomes even more revelatory when the cards are placed in various arrays, which are called “tarot spreads”, whereby each card gains new meaning when viewed in relationship with the other cards and with the meaning added to the card by virtue of its position in the spread. 

In this course, several spreads will be presented, and you will be encouraged to practice reading the Tarot using these spreads to construct narratives of insight for themselves and others.

This program is ideal if you want to be able to

  • Learn how to do tarot reading and use spreads that you can apply to a variety of situations: for clarity, for relationships, for healing, for individuation, and so on. 
  • Deepen your relationship to the Tarot images by constructing “narratives of insight” that address specific questions or concerns.
  • Gain fluency in your ability to read the cards within the context of two widely-respected spreads.
  • Master the use of the “Three Card Spread” and the “Celtic Cross Spread”, two common and very flexible ways of garnering meaning from the images.
  • Enhance your understanding of synchronicity and intuition through consistent and dedicated study of the cards and the spreads.

Jungian Perspective on the Tarot (level 2) Class Descriptions

Class 1. Short review of the Tarot

In this first class the structure of the Tarot will be reviewed, and participants will discuss cards that they find meaningful and/or puzzling. Beginning or resuming the daily practice of drawing one card and journaling about it will be discussed, as will the use of the cards to construct a Tarot-informed autobiography.

Class 2. Reading Pairs of Cards and the Past-Present-Future Three-Card Spread

In this class, beginning exercises in reading the cards will be explained, and methods of giving mini-readings using two cards will be demonstrated. The use of a three-card spread to address questions from the perspectives of past, present, and future will also be explained.

Class 3. Reading Reversals and the Overview-Challenge-Action Three-Card Spread

In this class, the traditions around reading reversed cards (cards that appear upside-down in a reading) will be discussed, and some examples will be presented. The class will then expand on the three-card spread, this time reading the cards to amplify the Overview, a Challenge, and a recommended Action relative to a question or concern that is brought to the Tarot.

Class 4. Celtic Cross: Reading the Central Quaternity

Starting with Class 4, participants will build skill in using the traditional Celtic Cross spread. The Celtic Cross is a spread of ten cards arranged in two separate sections, a central quaternity composed by a cross-like pattern surrounding a set of central cards, and a column of four cards forming a “staff” to the right of the central quaternity. The entire spread will be presented, and then specific practice will be offered in setting up and reading the “central quaternity” of the Celtic Cross.

Class 5. Celtic Cross: Reading the Staff

In this class, participants will gain facility in reading the second portion of the Celtic Cross spread: the “Staff” of four cards signifying one’s own relationship to the question, the influences of the environment, including friends and family, one’s hopes and fears relative to the question being asked of the cards, and the ultimate outcome of the situation.

Class 6. Celtic Cross: Reading the Entire Spread

In the last class of this course examples will be presented to demonstrate how to read the entire Celtic Cross spread, relating the “central quaternity” and the “staff” to the question brought to the cards.

Course reviews

Ken James was absolutely phenomenal. He knows the material so well, explains it so well and from the get-go I could use the skills he taught. (Joao)

Excellent presenter. Clearly explained in detail some of the cards. The presentation was well paced. I particularly appreciated dr. James' relaxed, non-rigid approach, and open-minded style. (Pam)

Best tarot course I've ever taken. I will take any course with Ken James. (Donald)

Clear, cogent, compassionate presenting style packed with content. Take the course! (Jacinta)

Course overview

What you will receive

*You will receive a certificate of completion, but it’s not from an official accrediting body. Please check if it will be accepted by the organization you wish to use it with.
6 videos & 6 audio recordings
Companion Guide
Auto-generated Subtitles
Certificate of completion*
Available in English

ABout the teacher

Ken James

Kenneth James, Ph.D. is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, and a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. Along the way, he studied vocal music at the American Conservatory of Music, and learned a modality of music therapy known as The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music at the Institute for Consciousness and Music in Baltimore, Maryland.

Scholarships

We here at Jung Platform want to make these programs available to anyone. If you would love to participate yet can’t pay for the full course, then please send us an email at scholarships@jungplatform.com and describe why you feel you qualify for a scholarship, how much you can pay, and what you will do to help the Jung Platform promote this and other programs.

Jungian Tarot (level 2) - frequent asked questions

Can I take this course if I am a complete beginner to either Tarot or Jungian psychology?

If you are completely new to Jungian psychology, you can still follow along easily, as Dr. Ken James explains the concept of synchronicity step-by-step. However, if you are a complete beginner to Tarot, we recommend starting with the level 1 course A Jungian Perspective on the Tarot.

Because this advanced course skips card definitions to focus entirely on reading complex layouts, you will get the most out of your journey by starting with the level 1 course. That introductory class is specifically designed for beginners, teaching you the core archetypal meanings of the 78 individual cards and how they map directly to the human psyche.

How does Level 2 differ from the foundational 'Jungian Perspective on the Tarot' course?

While our introductory course focuses on mapping the archetypal meanings of individual cards to the human psyche, Level 2 is a practical application masterclass. You will move past standalone card definitions to learn how to read tarot spreads fluently. The curriculum is entirely dedicated to weaving cohesive narratives based on card positions, layout structures, and the dynamic relationships between multiple cards in a spread.

How does Carl Jung’s concept of synchronicity apply to reading tarot layouts?

In this course, we draw directly upon Carl Jung’s writings on synchronicity to explain the meaningful coincidence between your inner psychic state and the outer cards drawn. You will learn to map the link between the specific intention held in your mind while shuffling and the symbolic significance of the layout that appears on the table.

What specific tarot layouts and spreads will I learn to master in Level 2?

You will step away from basic card-pulls and gain proficiency in complex arrays. Dr. Ken James breaks down the anatomy of traditional layout styles, including the multi-layered Three-Card Spread (exploring Past-Present-Future timelines and Action dynamics) and dedicates an entire module to completely decoding the intricate architecture of the classic Celtic Cross Spread.

Does this course cover how to interpret reversed (upside-down) tarot cards from a Jungian perspective?

Yes. Class 3 focuses extensively on the psychological mechanics of reading reversed tarot cards. Instead of viewing upside-down cards as inherently negative or "blocked" omens, Dr. Ken James teaches you to look at them through a depth psychological lens—interpreting reversals as internalizations of energy, unconscious resistance, or hidden potentials waiting to be integrated by the conscious ego.

What are the next steps after completing this LEVEl 2 Tarot course?

This Level 2 course serves as an ideal foundation for Jung Platform's comprehensive Tarot Certificate Programs. In those advanced certification tracks, you will deepen your symbolic competency and learn how to ethically apply depth psychological insights to your ongoing work with the deck.

We also offer three three specialized programs from Tarot expert Juliet Sharman-Burke: Myths of the Major Arcana, Myths of the Minor Arcana and Myths of the Tarot Court Cards. 

Is this course live or self-paced?

This is a fully on-demand online course, allowing you to learn at your own pace. 

The Jung Platform Guarantee

We stand by our programs. If within 30 days of your purchase or the live course start, you're not satisfied, we offer a replacement or a full refund.

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