NEW Personal Tarot!

This new version is an adaptation of the Business Tarot Cards. We have now created a whole new set of vocabulary cards with a focus on the needs of someone looking at themselves or mentoring another and 3 new cards “Compass, Life Stages and Pathway to success” . The fundamental principal is the same, based on the original concept of 6 core functions but, the language and the knowledge is focussed around Self Enlightenment and self reflection. I always had the belief in the organisation, the product and the individual could utilise the 6 functions of an organism or an organisation. Here is an early article I wrote in 2019 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/some-musings-organisations-john-charnock/

Note: This is the first iteration and is very likely to change over time once we get feedback from our users. (Any feedback greatly appreciated)

Hope you like it – Here is an overview.

Hearts – Essence (The Individual’s Core)

The suit of Essence explores the deepest layers of the individual — your identity, values, and the forces that shape your inner self. It is about understanding what lies at your core: the beliefs that guide you, the influences that ground you, the ambitions that drive you, and the responsibilities you carry. This suit also reveals the masks you wear, the values you act upon, and the wider context that frames your life. Essence is not static — it evolves with experience and reflection — but it always remains the foundation from which all other growth flows.

Focus: who you are — your values, experiences, beliefs, and ambitions

Ace – Core Identity (core principle)

The Ace represents your Core Identity, the central principle of who you are. It asks you to define your values, attitude, and beliefs, and to connect them with your dreams and purpose. If you can articulate these clearly, they become your compass for self-development. The Ace reminds us that identity is not only what we do, but the deeper essence that shapes every choice.

Back triggers: Values, Attitude, Beliefs, Dreams, Purpose

Castle – Foundations (foundation)

The Castle symbolises Foundations, the base that grounds your identity. It calls you to reflect on your family and influences, your heritage, and the community and culture that have shaped you. It also includes your anchors, the outcomes you are tied to, and what makes you unique or different. These roots still influence your decisions today.

Back triggers: Family & influences, Heritage, Community & culture, Outcomes, Anchors, Uniqueness

King – Ambitions (ambition & authority)

The King embodies Ambitions, the driving authority of your goals and desires. It asks you to define your milestones, your career and relationship ambitions, and to balance short-term vs long-term goals. It also challenges you to consider your pursuit of status, influence, and impact. Ambition sets the direction of your personal growth, but it must be steered with purpose.

Back triggers: Goals & milestones, Career ambition, Relationship ambition, Short-term vs long-term, Status & influence, Contribution/impact

Queen – Responsibility (relational aspect)

The Queen represents Responsibility, the relational aspect of owning your actions. It highlights the need for discipline, awareness of consequences, and setting boundaries. It also calls for acting with integrity and managing trust and control. Responsibility is the balance between freedom and accountability.

Back triggers: Ownership, Discipline, Consequences, Boundaries & risk, Integrity, Trust/control

Joker – Masks (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker reveals Masks, the personas you show to the world. It highlights the roles you play at work, home, or socially, and asks whether they reflect authenticity or imposed expectations. Masks can provide protection, but they can also hide your true personality. This card challenges you to question: which masks serve you, and which limit you?

Back triggers: Persona (work, home, social), Authenticity, Imposed roles/demands, Fitting in, Protection, Personality

Knight – Values (method/movement)

The Knight expresses Values, the principles you put into motion. It urges you to live your attitude and vision of your future self with integrity. It highlights embracing your uniqueness, pursuing ambition, and reflecting deeply on “what defines me?”. Values in action reveal the person you are becoming.

Back triggers: Attitude, Future self, Integrity, Uniqueness, Ambition, “What defines me?”

Sage – Context (strategic perspective)

The Sage embodies Context, the perspective that shapes your worldview. It calls you to explore your philosophical or spiritual beliefs, your perspectives on society, and your search for meaning. It also points to the tension between change and stability, and asks you to reflect on your current situation. Context ensures your essence is understood within the bigger picture.

Back triggers: World view, Beliefs (philosophical/spiritual), Perspectives on society, Meaning, Change vs stability, Current situation

Circles – Knowledge (What you know & sources of information)

The suit of Knowledge reflects how you learn, grow, and expand your perspective. It asks you to consider the curiosity that drives you, the education and experience that shape your skills, and the networks and mentors who guide you. Knowledge also brings awareness of blind spots, biases, and gaps, challenging you to remain humble and open to growth. In this suit, wisdom is not only accumulated information but the ability to apply learning with discernment, reflection, and purpose.

Focus: learning, networks, wisdom

Ace – Curiosity (core principle)

The Ace represents Curiosity, the spark that fuels personal growth. It asks you to nurture your interests and passions, develop specialist knowledge, and embrace the desire for growth. It also reminds you to identify your needs and resources while acknowledging the gaps in your knowledge. Curiosity is the starting point of all learning and discovery.

Back triggers: Interests & passions, Specialist knowledge, Growth, Needs/resources, Gaps

Castle – Personal Lens (foundation)

The Castle symbolises your Personal Lens, the foundation through which you see and process the world. It draws on your education, skills, and experience, as well as your training and practice. It includes your talents and intuition, which together shape how you learn and apply knowledge. Your lens influences every judgment you make.

Back triggers: Education, Skills, Experience, Training, Practice, Talents, Intuition

King – The Use of Spies (Understanding the landscape)

The King embodies The Use of Spies — the networks and intelligence you rely on to expand awareness. It highlights the importance of networks, recognising patterns, and developing wisdom and perspective. It also points to building support structures and making smart investments in enablers of learning. This is about cultivating authority through insight.

Back triggers: Networks, Patterns, Awareness/wisdom, Perspective, Support structures, Enablers/investment

Queen – Mentors (relational aspect)

The Queen represents Mentors, the guides who shape your journey. It asks you to learn from teachers, role models, and guides, while also recognising the influence of supporters and critics. It warns of bad actors, reminding you to choose carefully whose guidance you follow. True mentorship creates pathways for growth.

Back triggers: Teachers, Role models, Guides, Influencers, Supporters & critics, Bad actors

Joker – Ignorance (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker reveals Ignorance, the blind spots and biases that limit understanding. It points to your weaknesses, assumptions, and hidden biases, as well as struggles with self-worth. Ignorance is a reminder that we all have gaps — and that acknowledging them is the first step to overcoming them.

Back triggers: Weaknesses, Biases, Gaps, Assumptions, Self-worth, Blind spots

Knight – Principles (method/movement)

The Knight embodies Principles, the ethical framework that guides your choices. It highlights the importance of ethics, integrity, and social rules. It also points to honesty, justice, and transparency as anchors in your interactions. Principles are the methods by which knowledge is applied with fairness and truth.

Back triggers: Ethics, Integrity, Social rules, Honesty & justice, Values, Transparency

Sage – Enlightenment (strategic perspective)

The Sage represents Enlightenment, the wisdom gained from reflection and lifelong learning. It highlights the importance of study, practice, and reflection, as well as the value of peers and mentoring. It encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and motivation. Enlightenment is not a final state, but an ongoing path.

Back triggers: Reflection, Study, Peers/mentoring, Lifelong learning, Practice, Motivation

Triangles – Resources & Constraints

The suit of Resources represents both what sustains you and what constrains you. It explores tangible possessions and intangible relationships, your needs and obligations, and the limitations that must be respected. Resources are about more than wealth — they include time, health, trust, and energy. This suit also highlights resilience, protection, and the legacy you build through how you use and share what you have.

Focus: money, assets, needs, stability

Ace – Needs (core principle)

The Ace represents Needs, the foundation of what sustains you (In true Mazlow style). It calls attention to your physiological needs, your need for safety and security, and the importance of social belonging. It also includes esteem and dignity, serving the greater good, and the search for stability. Needs are the base of personal growth — without them, higher aspirations cannot flourish.

Back triggers: Physiological, Safety & security, Social & community, Esteem & dignity, The greater good, Stability

Castle – Constraints (foundation)

The Castle symbolises Constraints, the limits and pressures you must navigate. It highlights obligations, relationships, and the impact of health. It also reminds you of time pressures and other limitations that shape what is possible. Constraints are not just barriers — they are the boundaries that define your playing field.

Back triggers: Limits, Obligations, Relationships, Health, Pressure, Time

King – Tangible (Physical things you can leverage)

The King represents Tangible Resources — the visible assets that enable growth. These include your finances, assets, and qualifications, but also less obvious capital such as trust and confidence. It extends to goodwill and payback and the tools you use. These are the resources you can hold, measure, or exchange — and they give you authority to act.

Back triggers: Finance, Assets, Qualifications, Trust & confidence, Goodwill/payback, Tools

Queen – Intangible (Less measurable but still imortant)

The Queen reflects Intangible Resources, the unseen strengths that support you. These include your reputation, intellectual property, and the loyalty and support you receive from others. It also highlights influence, agreements, and trust as invisible currencies. These intangibles may be less tangible, but they are often more powerful than material wealth.

Back triggers: Reputation, IP, Loyalty & support, Influence, Agreements, Trust

Joker – Associations (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker exposes Associations, the relationships that can either empower or constrain you. It points to family ties, dependents, and rivals, as well as the influence of community, society, and politics. It also highlights champions who may advocate for you. Associations remind you that resources are not only about what you have, but also about who surrounds you.

Back triggers: Family, Dependents, Rivals, Community, Society/politics, Champions

Knight – Protection (keeping yourself and others safe)

The Knight represents Protection, the active safeguarding of your resources. It stresses the need for resilience, strong boundaries, and the ability to recover. It highlights managing risks, practising self-care, and building effective defences. Protection is the method by which you secure the conditions for growth.

Back triggers: Resilience, Boundaries, Recovery, Risks, Self-care, Defence

Sage – Legacy (strategic perspective)

The Sage embodies Legacy, the long-term imprint of how you use resources. It calls you to consider your contribution, the impact you leave, and the meaning behind your actions. It also highlights outcomes, heritage, and lessons learned. Legacy is the perspective that asks: how will what you build endure beyond you?

Back triggers: Contribution, Impact, Meaning, Outcomes, Heritage, Lessons learned

Spades –  Conduct (behaviour & activities)

The suit of Spades represents Conduct reflects what you do, how you behave, and how consistently you live your principles. It includes the habits and routines that define your daily life, the promises you keep, and the authenticity you display. Conduct also covers motivation, communication, and the methods you use to act in the world. This suit is where intentions become actions, and where actions accumulate into the story of who you are becoming.

Focus: momentum, consistency, action

Ace – Behaviour (core principle)

The Ace represents Behaviour, the everyday actions that define your character. It highlights your activities, routines, and discipline, as well as the effort you put into your practice. What you do repeatedly is who you become — behaviour is the core of your conduct.

Back triggers: Activities, Routines, Discipline, Effort, Actions, Practice

Castle – The Promise (foundation)

The Castle symbolises The Promise, the foundation of commitments you make. It includes your duties, the promises you make to others, and the promises you make to yourself. It also reminds you of the weight of broken promises. Your promises shape trust — they are the baseline of your conduct.

Back triggers: Commitments, Duties, Promise to others, Promise to self, Broken promises

King – Authenticity (ambition & authority)

The King embodies Authenticity, the authority of being genuine in word and deed. It asks you to maintain consistency, stability, and reliability. It also highlights the strength of endurance, trustworthiness, and living by your honour and values. Authenticity is the ambition to be truly yourself in all you do.

Back triggers: Consistency, Stability, Reliability, Endurance, Trustworthiness, Honour values

Queen – The Why (relational aspect)

The Queen represents The Why, the purpose that motivates your actions. It points to your motivation, intent, and drive, fuelled by passion and directed toward outcomes. Understanding your why creates alignment between your actions and your deeper purpose.

Back triggers: Motivation, Purpose, Drive, Intent, Passion, Outcomes

Joker – Communication (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker reveals Communication, the unpredictable element of how behaviour is expressed. It highlights your expression, tone, and body language, as well as your choice of audience and channel. It also reminds you of the importance of listening. Communication can create clarity or confusion — it’s the wildcard in every interaction.

Back triggers: Expression, Tone, Body language, Audience, Listening, Channel

Knight – Method (method/movement)

The Knight embodies Method, the practices you use to act effectively. It includes your processes, tools, and techniques, as well as your approach to continuous improvement (Kaizen). It also points to your style and ability to reflect. Methods are how behaviour becomes structured and purposeful.

Back triggers: Processes, Tools & experiences, Techniques, Kaizen/continuous improvement, Style, Reflection

Sage – The Story (strategic perspective)

The Sage represents The Story, the meaning created by your conduct over time. It invites reflection on your identity, narrative, and lessons learned, as well as your journey and personal growth. The story of your behaviour is what others remember — and what you pass on.

Back triggers: Identity, Narrative, Meaning, Lessons, Journey, Growth

Clubs – Cunning (Strategy)

The suit of Strategy is about how you navigate life’s choices and challenges. It considers the measures you use to track progress, the approaches you take to planning, and the way you manage time and priorities. Strategy asks how adaptable you are to change, how you define scope and capacity, and what tactics you use to move forward. This suit reminds you that growth is rarely accidental — it is shaped by intentional decisions and clever responses to circumstance.

Focus: steps, tactics, pathways

Ace – Measures (core principle)

The Ace represents Measures, the markers by which you know you’re progressing. It highlights progress tracking, milestones, and feedback loops, as well as setting targets and timelines. It also includes your sense of pace and timing. Without measures, strategy loses its way; with them, you can course-correct and grow.

Back triggers: Progress, Milestones, Feedback, Targets & timeline, Pace & timing

Castle – Approach (foundation)

The Castle symbolises Approach, the foundation of how you plan and move forward. It calls you to reflect on your planning style, whether you are an analyst, improviser, dreamer, or realist, and the style you adopt — ad-hoc, collaborative, or unilateral. Your approach sets the tone for how effectively your strategy unfolds.

Back triggers: Planning style, Analyst, Improviser, Dreamer, Realist, Style (ad-hoc, collaborative, unilateral)

King – Time (ambition & authority)

The King embodies Time, the authority that shapes when and how you act. It asks you to manage priorities, set deadlines and seasons, and recognise the cost of time. It also points to opportunity time, the right moment to act, and the balance of time commitments. Time is the ultimate resource in strategy — and ambition without timing is wasted.

Back triggers: Priorities, Deadlines & seasons, Cost of time, Opportunity time, Time to act, Balancing time

Queen – Priority (relational aspect)

The Queen represents Priority, the choices that define your direction. It highlights weighing value, making trade-offs, and facing difficult choices. It also involves balancing opportunity with risk, identifying essentials, and managing dependencies. Priority is about clarity — knowing what matters most and acting accordingly.

Back triggers: Value, Trade-offs, Choices, Opportunity/risk, Essentials, Dependencies

Joker – Change (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker reveals Change, the unpredictable factor in every strategy. It highlights the reasons why change happens, your level of adaptability, and the power of renewal. It also points to uncertainty, the need to pivot, and how you manage risk and resilience. Change can be disruptive — but it can also be the opening for transformation.

Back triggers: Why change?, Adaptability, Renewal, Uncertainty, Pivot, Risk & resilience

Knight – Scope (method/movement)

The Knight embodies Scope although a little technical I felt it important, the boundaries that guide your actions. It calls attention to your capacity and capability, the risks of overload, and the importance of focusing on your vision. It also highlights the need to simplify and to consider how far you can scale. Scope ensures ambition stays realistic and achievable.

Back triggers: Boundaries, Capacity/capability, Overload, Focus on vision, Simplify, Scale

Sage – Tactics (strategic perspective)

The Sage represents Tactics, the individual specific moves that bring strategy to life. It highlights making clever moves, organising through order and logistics, and applying innovation and creativity. It also includes the use of shortcuts and the balance between being disruptive or constructive. Tactics are the fine art of turning strategic vision into action.

Back triggers: Order, Clever moves, Logistics, Innovation & creativity, Shortcuts, Disruptive vs constructive

Diamonds – Betterment & Outcomes

The suit of Diamonds in this deck represents Winning explores what success and betterment mean to you. It looks at your strengths, talents, and potential, and how you measure and sustain achievement. Winning also considers motivation, efficiency, and the techniques you rely on to turn potential into reality. Ultimately, this suit is not just about achievement but about fulfilment, balance, and leaving a positive mark through what you accomplish.

Focus: growth, achievement, fulfilment

Ace – Winning (core principle)

The Ace represents Winning, the core drive for achievement. It highlights your unique strengths, talents and potential, and the edge or differentiator you bring. It also includes your self-esteem, the balance of good vs perfection , and your attitude toward success. Winning begins with knowing your strengths and how you choose to apply them.

Back triggers: Unique strengths, Talent & potential, Edge/differentiator, Self-esteem, Good vs perfection, Attitude

Castle – Measurement (foundation)

The Castle symbolises Measurement, the way you define and track success. It includes feedback, reflection, and evaluation of errors, as well as clarifying what success looks like. It also highlights outcomes and the role of purpose and recognition. Measurement is the foundation that makes achievement tangible.

Back triggers: Feedback, Reflection, Errors/evaluation, What success looks like, Outcomes, Purpose & recognition

King – Processes (ambition & authority)

The King represents Processes, the systems and habits that sustain achievement. It asks you to build routines and practices, strengthen training, and maintain consistency and momentum. It also calls attention to the role of systems and tools and the discipline to stick with them. Processes give authority to ambition by making progress repeatable.

Back triggers: Habits & routines, Practice, Training, Consistency & momentum, Systems & tools, Discipline

Queen – Sustainability (relational aspect)

The Queen reflects Sustainability, the relational balance that ensures outcomes endure. It calls for attention to health and wellbeing, rest and renewal, and the capacity for longevity. It also highlights the role of balance and resilience. Sustainability ensures that winning is not a sprint, but a way of living.

Back triggers: Balance, Health & wellbeing, Rest, Renewal, Longevity, Resilience

Joker – Motivation (wildcard/uncertainty)

The Joker exposes Motivation, the unpredictable fuel behind success. It points to drive and passion, but also the risks of procrastination. It highlights goals and incentives, recognition, and the role of energy in your journey. Motivation can push you forward or stall you completely — it is the wildcard of winning.

Back triggers: Drive, Passion, Procrastination, Goals & incentives, Recognition, Energy

Knight – Automation (method/movement)

The Knight embodies Automation, the practices that make winning more efficient. It highlights the use of shortcuts and hacks, building routines and habits, and spotting wasted time. It also includes making investments or leveraging tools — whether technology like AI, Apps, Software or advice, expertise and resources — to free up energy for higher goals.

Back triggers: Efficiency, Shortcuts/hacks, Routine & habits, Wasted time, Investment, Tools (AI, tech, advice)

Sage – Techniques (strategic perspective)

The Sage represents Techniques, the strategic mastery of your craft. It highlights learning, drawing on expert advice, and building collaboration with others. It also points to focused attention, refining practices, and pursuing mastery. Techniques are the wisdom of how to do things well — and keep improving them.

Back triggers: Learning, Expert advice, Collaboration, Focused attention, Practices, Mastery

Auxiliary Cards

These cards sit outside the six main suits and provide guiding perspectives. They represent overarching values, direction, and movement in your personal development journey. The Auxiliary Cards give you a set of lenses that cut across all suits. They bring structure when things feel uncertain, alignment when perspectives diverge, and practical tools for moving from strategy into action. Together with the main suits, they complete the Personal Tarot as a system for reflection, alignment, and decision-making.

Trinity – Your Value Compass

The Trinity represents your core sources of value:

• Inner Value: the strength you hold within — confidence, self-belief, authenticity, identity, resilience, and growth. It reminds you that solutions start with self-trust.

• Relational Value: the worth you create with others — family, friends, community, belonging, love, trust, support, and service. It shows that connection is as vital as independence.

• Outer Value: the contribution you bring to the world — purpose, career, legacy, impact, and change for good. It encourages you to think about how you’ll leave a mark beyond yourself.

The Trinity asks: how balanced is your compass across inner, relational, and outer value?

The Solution – Pathway to success

The Solution represents clarity and progress in personal development. It highlights defining a clear direction, breaking it into milestones, and setting priorities. It also calls out obstacles, the support you can draw upon, and visible progress. The card is a reminder that solutions are not abstract — they are built step by step.

Back triggers: Direction, Milestones, Priorities, Obstacles, Support, Progress

The Journey – Life Stages

The Journey captures your path through life — past, present, and future. It reflects on childhood and early shaping, the turning points that altered course, and your achievements and failures. It also includes your trajectory, transitions, and the pace of your movement. The Journey card reminds you that growth is never a straight line — it is a story in motion.

Back triggers: Childhood, Turning points, Achievements & failures, Trajectory, Transitions, Pace

Compass – Guidance & Alignment

The Compass offers guidance and alignment. Each direction carries meaning:

• North = your true self, identity, and authenticity.

• East = new opportunities and fresh horizons.

• South = relationships and connection with others.

• West = stability, grounding, and anchors.

• Centre = balance, where all directions align.

• Course = your speed and direction, the sense of trajectory toward your goals.

The Compass helps you reflect on whether your path is aligned with who you are and where you want to go.

Closing Thoughts 

The cards and suits give you a complete and unique way of delving into yourself or someone that you are supporting. By keeping the focus (you don’t need to use all the cards at the same time) and delving into all aspects of the self, dreams aspirations and true authentic values you can enable yourself to really understand priorities and activities to reach your goals.