Embodying the Major Arcana: Tarot & Persona Poetry
Depending on when you’re reading this, you may be feeling the insane pressure of the cosmos bearing down on you. (Hello, Mercury retrograde.)
Or, if the stars are aligned more favorably for you right now, perhaps you’re dealing with things in your personal life that are making you feel disconnected from yourself.
Poetry is an intensely personal art form, one that we often use to explore our innermost workings and to process our unique experiences. But how do you access that poetic vein when you just aren’t feeling yourself? How do you pour from an empty cup?
At times like this, I turn to my tarot deck—and step into another perspective with persona poetry.
Persona Poetry as an Alternative to the Personal
For me, poetry is the go-to vehicle for exploring my inner landscape. It’s how I process big emotions, how I make sense of my personal experiences, even how I bridge the gap between the outer world and my idealized self.
In my last article, I wrote about how grief served for a time as a form of writer’s block. During that period, I was completely sundered from my sense of self by the weight of the tragedy I was living through. That was an extraordinary circumstance, to be sure, one that taught me many lessons but that I hope to never experience again.
But what about the mundane disconnections we face on a regular basis, days when we are stressed by the news on our Instagram feed, by the demands of work, by the pile of bills on the counter? What about when we are in survival mode? Think about the times you are on autopilot—eating only because your body finally demands it, brushing your teeth only because it is a habit.
Some days, I don’t have the energy for introspection. Some days, I am barely a person at all—all I can do is make sure the dog is fed and the front door is locked. Yet, on those days, I sometimes get an almost perverse urge to write. But write about what? Certainly not about myself, this creature whose existence I can’t quite acknowledge.
So, I may dive into whatever fiction piece has my attention at the moment: There is a degree of removal from myself there, even if I’m drawing from the personal. Other times, I’m frankly too exhausted for anything long form.
Persona poetry is an ancient art form in which one creates or takes on the persona of another; this persona serves as the speaker of the poem and provides a perspective that is potentially different from that of the poet.
You can find examples of persona poems in both modern and ancient literature the world over. Dramatic monologues and even song lyrics are, in many ways, types of persona poems, as the author/performer adopts the voice of the character who is speaking.
A persona poem gives me the freedom to write without diving into the well of myself—a blessing from the universe on the days that well is either too dry or too deep. When I cannot find something to say in my own voice, I can craft an alternative voice with which to speak on—well, on anything, really.
Is something at work bothering me? How would this new persona deal with the situation?
Am I stressed about the state of the world (who isn’t!)? What would a persona from five centuries ago be concerned with—or conversely, one living five centuries in the future?
I can approach persona poetry as whimsically or as seriously as my mood allows, which, in a strange way, ends up helping me find my way back to myself, much of the time.
Tarot + Persona Poetry
Much like poetry, tarot can be used as a form of self-divination. Tarot has many uses, however, including a wide array of creative applications.
Tarot is split into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. In the context of a reading, the Major Arcana cards represent big life lessons or significant events, while the Minor Arcana cards deal with the stuff of daily life.
For creative applications, you could say that the Major Arcana deals with major or overarching themes, while the Minor Arcana deals with smaller or more specific themes. For example: The Wheel of Fortune (Major Arcana) in the upright position can represent fate, a decisive moment, or life cycles. The Eight of Wands (Minor Arcana) can represent productivity, good news, or travel by air.
I use the Major and Minor Arcana for different creative purposes, from plotting story outlines to determining character reactions to conflict. For character creation—whether that’s for fiction or for persona poetry—I lean towards the Major Arcana. The broader themes tend to better lend themselves to quick characterization.
Moreover, the Major Arcana comes largely in the form of archetypes that instantly convey familiar characteristics that we can easily latch onto, whether you’re familiar with tarot or not. Many of the Major Arcana cards can be instantly turned into a persona based on their name alone.
Consider the following:
The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Lovers
The Hanged Man
Death
The Devil
Even more abstract Major Arcana cards, like the Moon or Strength, lend themselves readily to character traits. The Moon is mysterious and can represent illusion, intuition, or the unconscious mind, while Strength is a card of confidence, bravery, and power. Such big themes can easily be adapted into a persona.
To take your writing a step further, you might want to use the Minor Arcana to refine character traits. For example: If you primarily draw on the Emperor (Major Arcana) to craft an authoritative, commanding persona, you might give his voice empathy by drawing on the emotional pain of the Three of Swords (Minor Arcana)—or conversely you might undermine his authority by drawing on the worry and isolation of the Five of Pentacles.
Persona Poetry and the Major Arcana:
✨Prompts
As mentioned above, the Major Arcana lend themselves to persona poetry as they already present familiar archetypes. You can instantly create a voice based on the familiarity of such typical characters.
To take your persona poem a step further, let’s take a closer look at five of the Major Arcana cards to examine their meanings:
1. The Fool 🃏
Perhaps you think of recklessness, risky behavior, or naivete when you draw the Fool. You’re not wrong, as these meanings are all associated with this card in the reverse. But the Fool can also represent new beginnings, innocence, and a free-spirited approach to life. The Fool follows his heart and keeps an open mind as he steps into the unknown without fear, which often leads to new adventures and amazing personal growth. Conversely, the Fool can be a warning that we are taking on too many risks—that we need to look before we leap.
Prompt #1: Write a persona poem from the perspective of an optimistic individual starting a new journey. How does their worldview differ from yours? Why are they setting out on this journey? Are they focused on the destination or the trip itself?
Prompt #2: Tackle the reverse aspects of the Fool for this persona poem: Imagine the Fool has fallen victim to a lack of foresight and is reaping the consequences of their recklessness. What would the Fool do differently if given the chance? What would they say to their younger self?
2. The High Priestess 🧚♀️
With a deep trust in her intuition and access to sacred knowledge, the High Priestess is the archetype of the divine feminine. She is the guardian of spiritual power, inviting us to travel past the veil of this world to unlock the hidden mysteries of the universe. In the reverse, she can be a sign that you are disconnected from your deeper self, or she can be telling you that you need to connect with your intuition. She can also warn of hidden agendas.
Side note: You can imagine the High Priestess in any gender you like, as we all carry aspects of both the divine feminine and the divine masculine.
Prompt #1: Imagine the High Priestess as a character in a fantasy world (or as part of an ancient civilization in our world, if that resonates more so with you). She has been gifted access to the most sacred teachings by the gods themselves. What has she learned? Does she agree with the teachings? What will she do with her newfound knowledge?
Prompt #2: The High Priestess is speaking directly to you as she reads your tarot. What secret information does she have to share with you? How do her words make you reflect on your current situation or on life in general? Do her insights align with your experience or push you into a different way of thinking?
3. The Emperor 👑
This card is the archetype of the father and can embody the traits of the divine masculine, such as strength, leadership, and action. The Emperor represents authority, both for the good and the bad: He can be a protective provider that nurtures his loved ones and allows them to explore their softer sides, or he can be an inflexible disciplinarian who demands unwarranted respect and obedience. Ultimately, the Emperor is a card that requires us to reflect on our relationship with authority figures and with our sense of control.
Side note: Like the High Priestess, the Emperor can be embodied by any gender.
Prompt #1: Write a persona poem from the perspective of an authority figure from your own life. How did their words or actions shape you into who you are today? Were they a positive or negative influence—and moreover, were they aware of that? What would they say to you now?
Remember: An absent authority figure can also speak volumes.
Prompt #2: Imagine a character who is hesitant to step into their destined role as a leader. What fears or concerns hold them back? Can they overcome their hesitancies and take on their leadership role? How will those issues impact their ability to lead and their relationships with those around them?
4. The Devil 😈
We all have some type of archetype we conjure up when presented with the Devil. This is one of the more nuanced and misunderstood cards in my experience, along with Death.
The Devil can, in fact, represent negative traits, like addiction, negative thought patterns or bad behaviors, and self-liking beliefs. He can represent attachments, both positive and negative. But the Devil is not just a card of condemnation: He invites us to examine our beliefs and behaviors so that we might detach from that which does not serve our higher self. What depths of your innermost self do you need to explore? What fears do you need to release?
Prompt #1: What do you think of when the Devil comes to mind? A half-man, half-goat, like Baphomet? A misunderstood antihero? A painfully beautiful Lucifer with chiseled abs? (Maybe that last one is just me.) Keeping in mind the above meanings, write a persona poem in the voice of your archetypical Devil as he reflects on the modern world.
Prompt #2: Pick a bad behavior, whether it’s one you struggle with or not. It could be something as mundane as procrastination or something as severe as addiction. Write a persona poem about a character dealing with the behavior. Are they aware of the impact it has on their life? Does their behavior impact those around them? Is it a behavior they will choose to fight against or one they will ultimately surrender to?
5. The Star 🌟
Slightly more abstract than the other Major Arcana, the Star is nonetheless an excellent card to draw on for persona poetry. She represents the best of us—our hope, purpose, healing, faith, and inspiration. In the reverse, the Star speaks to the absence of these aspects and points to despair or despondency.
Prompt #1: Write a persona poem from the perspective of someone who embodies all the positive traits of the Star. It could be from the perspective of the Star herself, or it could be a person who demonstrates those traits (a relative/ancestor, a historical figure, etc.). What message would they share with people today who are struggling with the state of the world or with their personal problems?
Prompt #2: What happens when the Star’s light goes out? Sometimes to emerge on the other side of hopelessness, we must make our way through the darkness. Write a persona poem from the point of view of a Star who has fallen into despair. Let her voice lead you where it will, then take some time to reflect on the power of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness.
Advanced Character Spread for Persona Poetry or Fiction
Creating compelling characters who are both original and believable can be a challenge, whether you’re writing poetry or fiction. Tarot can be a great resource for developing or refining a character.
This simple spread is a bit unconventional in that I ask you to divide your deck into Major and Minor Arcana. Cards can be read in the upright or the reverse—and you can switch their meanings at will, as this is a creative exercise versus a true divination.
If a card doesn’t fit the vibe you’re building, I would encourage you to look at its meanings from multiple perspectives and reflect on the ways the card challenges the concept of the character you’re creating. You can also replace the card with a new one.
🔹Card #1: Major Arcana—central personality traits. The aspects of this card define your character in the most fundamental ways.
🔹Card #2: Major Arcana—shadow side. The aspects of this card represent your character’s repressed traits or deepest fears/secrets.
🔹Card #3: Minor Arcana—backstory. The aspects of this card can be used to flesh out your character’s history, from major defining moments to the small influences that continue to impact them.
🔹Card #4: Minor Arcana—flaws/shortcomings. The aspects of this card can form the basis of your character’s flaws, whether they are positive traits taken too far or negative traits that impact their mindset/behavior.
🔹Card #5: Minor Arcana—strengths. The aspects of this card represent your character’s positive traits. Keep in mind both their central personality and their shadow side as you craft their strong points.
🔹Card #6: Minor Arcana—worldview. The aspects of this card represent the ways in which your character views both the world and the people around them.
🔹Card #7: Minor Arcana—goals. The aspects of this card hint at your character’s ultimate objectives. This can have to do with a concrete objective or deal with more goals.
Depending what you’re working on, you might not need to do this entire spread to develop a character. You might also try switching out a Minor Arcana for a Major Arcana if you feel like you need bigger themes or concepts to anchor your character. At the end of the day, have fun with this exercise!
Embody the Major Arcana for a New Perspective
If I could leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to give yourself grace. Chances are, you have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. Creativity can feel like a luxury some days—one just out of reach.
When you’re disconnected from yourself, for whatever reason, you can fall into a creative rut. And if you identify primarily as a writer or poet, that creative rut can lead to an even greater sense of disconnection.
I invite you to step outside of yourself on the days when you feel out of balance. Pick up a tarot deck and thumb through the Major Arcana to discover a new voice. Whether you craft a nuanced persona poem or lean into a particular archetype’s lessons, you can adopt a different perspective and tap back into your creativity. Maybe—just maybe—you’ll even write your way back to yourself.
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This article was published on September 2, 2024. Written by:
