16 MBTI Personality types in Tarot Court cards

Tarot Court cards and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test (MBTI)

One of the long-standing challenges that Tarot researchers face is when the Tarot Court cards represent a querent – or even themselves – in a spread. Many books have been reserved for this topic, and even long-time Tarot readers may face difficulties because human psychology can develop and transform from childhood and adolescence to adulthood and old age. For example, a person with the dreamy and emotional nature of “Cups” in his youth, may eventually become an extrovert and practical like the personality of “Swords” in adulthood.

For many years, offering a “representative” card was affected by the look of the querent, Wands and Swords often talk about people with light skin and hair, Cups for dark-haired people, and Pentacles for people with dark skin. This measure, which may be appropriate at one point in the history of human consciousness, has in some ways become ancient in our world when the world is increasingly diverse in terms of ethnicity and culture – not to mention trends related to ethnic prejudice.

Another method to determine the nature of the querent in the deck of cards – the most popular method of presenting – is to use the zodiac of querents to bind querent to the Tarot Court cards that are said to be “dominated” by that zodiac.

This method is not entirely accurate, but it is true in many cases. However, it needs the flexibility to be able to adjust in specific cases. The card in the Court suit is dominated by the Cancer, for example, the Queen of Cups – but what if querent is a male Cancer? The Queen card can represent passivity which means the “feminine” element in the psychology of querent – or, if he seems more active and “masculine” in behavior, another card carries the Water element such as the King of Cups or Cancer card like the Chariot from the Major Arcana can be replaced. Tarot needs flexibility in its use, so do not hesitate to look for more creative views.

There is a newer method of assigning Tarot Court cards to others that is summarized from the principles of modern psychology: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which is a behavioral test that is often used by employers to determine their employees’ suitability in certain jobs and also used to clarify your career goals, or identify compatibility with a potential partner in business or relationship.

In short, MBTI systemized briefly the advanced theory of psychology analyst C. G. Jung. Jung’s personality theory has suggested that human psychology is dominated by four main cognitive functions (thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition), each of which represents one of two directions, extrovert or introvert, creating a total of eight major functions. Based on Jung’s work in the following decades, Katharine Cook Briggs joined her daughter, Isabel Myers, to perfect that theory by adding two types of secondary personality, “evaluation” and “reception”, also shows introvert and extrovert nature. The two sub-elements, combined with other factors mentioned above, have created 16 personality types, each of which is represented by an abbreviation.

<<< See More >>> The Comparison Of Tarot Court Cards Based On The Crowley Thoth Tarot Standard

We can figure out the cognitive functions as follows:

Extraversion (E) <-> Introversion (I)

INtuition (N) <-> Sensation (S)

Thinking (T) <-> Feeling (F)

Judging (J) <-> Perception (P)

Before continuing, you may have noticed the similarity between Jung’s four main functions – thinking, feeling, intuition and sensation – with four Minor suits in Tarot:

Wands Tarot cards – Intuition

Cups Tarot cards – Feelings

Swords Tarot cards – Thinking

Pentacles Tarot cards – Feelings

Furthermore, 16 MBTI personality types are identified by the Myers-Briggs method corresponding to 16 Tarot Court cards. If we stop to think about what we have learned about the “personality types” of cards based on level, suit, and astrology, we can understand which card corresponds to which personality type in MBTI. For example, Kings and Knights, conquerors and rulers in nature, can be considered “extrovert”; Queens and Pages, more interested in internal matters, can be considered “introverted”. Kings and Queens, old and experienced, are often dominated by “judgments,” while Knights and Pages tend to “be aware”.

Thus, based on each pair above, we may have noticed the King of Wands, dominated by Air-Fire, is an Extrovert (E), iNtuition (N), Thinking (T) and Judgment (J). Therefore, “ENTJ” is the type of personality of the King of Wands.

When looking at these Tarot Court cards, we can analyze MBTI and categorize their personality as follows:

King of Wands: ENTJ

This is a Fire element and strong personality in the leadership style, a creative thinker and problem solver at work. With a bit of strategic vision, he likes long-term goals, even if they may not be easy to achieve. This is an ambitious reader who is constantly looking for new perspectives as well as knowledge of new philosophy and technology. On the negative side, he could be a perfectionist, lacking in judgment about others, and could cut corners during his problems with others.

Occupation: Lawyer or judge, a company employee, executive, business administration, University professor.

Matching personality type: INFP (Page of Cups), INTP (Page of Wands).

King of Cups: ENFJ

This type of personality is quite sensitive to the needs of others and considers it his duty in life – to help people reach their full potential. Instead of pioneering, he likes to work “behind the scenes”. An ENFJ transmits the intense feeling of loyalty – or, perhaps jealousy – from the life that he touches, and an ENFJ can even be seen as a teacher (guru) or trainer (Svengali), depending on his society. On the negative side, this kind of personality can be preached, domineering, inflexible, sometimes greedy, and worst, being able to perform obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

Occupation: Psychologists, social workers, clergy, teachers, diplomats.

Matching personality type: INFP (Page of Cups), INTP (Page of Wands).

King of Swords: ESTJ

Being practical and pragmatic, this type of personality avoids perfectionism in thinking and solving problems. In society, this is a performer who is steadfast in his actions and interested in the results. Being interested in justice more than fairness, he expects the same things from everyone. On the negative side, he can be unethical, dishonest and cruel in communicating with others and thus, he creates a “two-sided” and unreliable impression.

Occupation: police, judges, military, science, management, sales.

Matching personality type: ISFP (Page of Pentacles), ISTP (Page of Swords).

King of Pentacles: ESFJ

As a sociable person, he is always looking for companions at work. This is the one who shines in big groups and likes to be the center of attention without forgetting the contributions of others. He believes in “the power of the crowd” and always praises others. Being a loyal friend and an understanding colleague, this person aims for the consensus and cooperation; In return, he expects the acknowledgment for his achievements. On the negative side, he may be rude and even vulgar if he feels his generosity is being underrated or forgotten.

Occupation: physician, counselor, childcare provider, teacher, chef.

Matching personality type: ISFP (Page of Pentacles), ISTP (Page of Swords).

Queen of Wands: INTJ

Being reasonable and independent, this kind of personality bears many characteristics like her companion, ENTJ (King of Wands), though she has hidden many of the qualities that the King of Wands showed off. This is the kind of personality that holds herself to the highest ethical and professional standards and is consistent once she starts a project or a relationship. Like ENTJ, this person may tend to be a perfectionist, and on the negative side, she can ruin herself if she does not meet her own expectations. She can also be sly, intriguing and have an ulterior motive in her actions.

Occupation: Physicians, technical staff, computer science staff, lawyers or judges.

Matching personality types: ENFP (Knight of Cups), ENTP (Knight of Wands).

Queen of Cups: INFJ

This type of personality is extremely sensitive to the interconnection and mutual influence of things – material, moral, and spiritual. This is an avid student who is always curious to know the inner origins of the world, and potentially is a person of philosophy and religion or the “metaphysical” world. Although the Queen of Cups devoted to the development or enlightenment of the enlightenment of those around her, she also needed time for herself, reflecting on the mystery of life and her role in it. On the negative side, this kind of personality is introverted, moody, unreasonable and even illusory.

Occupation: music and arts, traditional medicine/healthcare, clergy, medicine.

Matching personality types: ENFP (Knight of Cups), ENTP (Knight of Wands).

Queen of Swords: ISTJ

Like her companion, ESTJ (King of Swords), this is a pragmatist who has a natural ability to organize and perform duties. She takes great pride to be able to bring order from chaos and harmony from discord, so she demands loyalty both at work and at home. This person may be stubborn, but often for a greater benefit, and because she values behavior more than anything else, she is willing to choose to take the detour to avoid conflict with others (though it is longer) unless she is provoked. On the negative side, this person seems immoral when faced with his own problems, sometimes domineering and even threatening, unless things go her way in relationships.

Occupation: Attorney/judge, army/police, business administration, consultant/human resource.

Matching personality type: ESFP (Knight of Pentacles), ESTP (Knight of Swords).

Queen of Pentacles: ISFJ

Being concerned and sympathetic, this kind of personality is the nature of “motherland” who cares for everyone and considers herself a silent catalyst to help others to reach their full potential in life. This type of person has a profound and eternal respect for family tradition, friendship, and romance, and therefore, she is slow to adapt to sudden changes in those structures, preferring predictable cyclical things that are in harmony with her. This kind of personality is very emotional, but as an introvert, she is not easy to express unless perhaps she needed a liberation. On the negative side, this is a person with a lot of moods and is prone to depression and even abuses of alcohol and drugs.

Occupation: Nursing and childcare, social work/consultant, cook, and shopkeeper.

Matching personality type: ESFP (Knight of Pentacles), ESTP (Knight of Swords).

Knight of Wands: ENTP

Having a strategic vision, this person combines a sharp mind with a strong intuition and is a bright person in almost anything he wants to do. Having a dynamic personality and good communication ability, he can quickly contribute his ideas at work and be a mood maker at home. He is often known as a person of ideas who can sometimes get lost from the real world of the mist of abstraction and the one who can become bored without being challenged. On the negative side, he can be controversial, self-righteous, one-sided and unrealistic.

Occupation: Lawyer, entrepreneur/executive, sales and marketing, cinema/film/TV.

Matching personality type: INFJ (Queen of Cups), INTJ (Queen of Wands).

Knight of Cups: ENFP

Having an inspiring personality, this person has a knack for winning the hearts and minds of others with sharp intuition and an intellectually infinite knowledge for almost all topics. Almost always willing to share the core of the problem with others, this is an expert in encouraging others to open their hearts and is often valued as a model. People of this personality type tend to be bored when there is a lack of inquiry and can be volatile, unpredictable or absent-minded. This is a person who wants to be loved, and on the negative side, he can be greedy, complacent and domineering.

Occupation: Politics, journalism/literature, arts, and music.

Matching personality type: INFJ (Queen of Cups), INTJ (Queen of Wands).

Knight of Swords: ESTP

Being adventurous, this is a person of action, confidence, and energy that is always looking for challenges and easily gains the admiration of others when ready to pioneer in every initiative. Being a talented intellect, this type of personality possesses ambition that is almost bottomless and ostensibly is an excellent strategist. He considers himself a crusader, and his innate tendency is to act before analysis, although has a good intention, it can lead to a thoughtless decision. On the negative side, he can be considered foolish and impulsive who is easy to make mistakes. Gambling debts and money problems are not unprecedented with this person.

Occupation: Athletes, police/military, sales and marketing, emergency services (such as fire fighting).

Matching personality type: ISFJ (Queen of Pentacles), ISTJ (Queen of Swords).

Knight of Pentacles: ESFP

As someone who loves beauty and pleasure, this kind of personality prefers a “good life” and is interested in sharing it with others. Having the nature of entertainment, this person likes to socialize and be open to people who will do anything to make his friends happy. This person, however, is also connected with people’s emotions and feels insecure, insignificant and neglected when there is unhappiness in his wealth and fullness – and on the negative side, he is impulsive, unpredictable, easily outraged, and angry.

Occupation: Actors, theater, creative arts, design, music.

Matching personality type: ISFJ (Queen of Pentacles), ISTJ (Queen of Swords).

Page of Wands: INTP

This personality is an excellent “thinker”, an extremely talented intellectual who tends to “look inside”, using analytical ability to gain new insights into the world of herself and others around. As an introvert, she seems to be a shy person, but can often escape from the shell when the topic of conversation is attached to her interests. On the negative side, people of this personality type may be unapproachable, distinguish the gender and always consider themselves the center of the universe, although in reality – as the greatest thinkers of many civilizations – some people are more suited to the job in laboratories than in public.

Occupation: physics, astronomy, mathematics, engineering, computer science, forensic research.

Matching personality type: ENFJ (King of Cups), ENTJ (King of Wands).

Page of Cups: INFP

Just like her “mother” – INFJ (Queen of Cups), this is a perfectionist who devotes herself to pursue a noble career rather than enriching herself. Her innate tendency is to see the best in others, based on feelings and intuition rather than logic at work. People of this personality type may be the ones who can inspire to create bigger things; on the negative side, she could become a dictator when she discovered that her loyalty was misplaced and needed to be offset.

Occupation: consultant, social worker, psychology, clergy, music, and literature.

Matching personality type: ENFJ (King of Cups), ENTJ (King of Wands).

Page of Swords: ISTP

As someone who is interested in exploring, this type of personality is more concerned about observing people than interacting with them and observing how the world works rather than engaging in it. This person is often called a “mechanic” because of her pragmatic interest, rather than emotion and reason, to activities in the world. On the other hand, the feeling of “mechanic” may be a compensation for those who are desperate or adventurous in life; and on the negative side, she may have signs of being too risky which are psychological stress and unpredictable mood.

Occupation: police, forensic, mechanical professions, pilots, drivers, athletics.

Matching personality type: ESFJ (King of Pentacles), ESTJ (King of Swords).

Page of Pentacles: ISFP

Just like her “brother” – ESFP (Knight of Pentacles), the Page of Pentacles treasures beauty and takes inspiration from art, music, poetry, and physical stimuli. Being deeply emotional but introverted, sometimes, she has difficulty expressing directly to others, instead, she prefers to communicate by writing or indirect way rather than having a conversation. For this reason (among others), she has a spirit of freedom, does not perform well when being monitored and needs a lot of personal space to maximize her potential. On the negative side, she seems insensitive, unreliable and even vague.

Occupation: art and music, industrial design, consultant/psychology, outdoor careers (for example, agriculture and forestry).

Matching personality type: ESFJ (King of Pentacles), ESTJ (King of Swords).