In this engaging lecture, Joseph Campbell, renowned mythologist and writer, dives into the rich symbology of the Tarot. He connects the Marseille Tarot deck to spiritual growth and societal roles, using Dante’s teachings as a backdrop. Campbell discusses the balance between worldly engagement and spiritual wisdom, highlighted through the Wheel of Fortune. He also explores the stages of spiritual awakening, tying Irish imagery and medieval symbols to deeper meanings, thus showcasing the Tarot as a profound journey of self-discovery.
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Tarot Reflects Dante's Themes
Joseph Campbell relates the tarot to Dante's themes, noting its origins in the 14th century.
He identifies sets of four cards symbolizing Dante's vision, revealing a medieval spiritual journey.
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Medieval Social Estates in Tarot
The tarot suits represent medieval social estates: swords for nobility, cups for clergy, coins for the third estate, and clubs for peasants.
This structure grounds tarot symbolism firmly in medieval society, not Egypt as popularly believed.
insights INSIGHT
Tarot Honors Map Life's Spiritual Journey
The 22 tarot honors cards represent the spiritual journey aligned with Dante's hell, purgatory, and heaven.
They also reflect the four life ages: youth, maturity, age, and old age, mapped to social and spiritual stages.
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In this dialogue, Plato presents his metaphysical, psychological, and epistemological views through the conversations of Socrates and his friends on the day of his execution. The dialogue includes four arguments for the immortality of the soul, discussions on the theory of Forms, and Socrates' account of his final hours. It is a key work in Plato's middle period, combining profound philosophy with a vivid narrative of Socrates' last day[1][4][5].
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day. The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope. It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism. The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles. It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape[2][3][5].
Vita Nuova
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri's "Vita Nuova" is a collection of poems and prose that recounts his youthful love for Beatrice Portinari. The work is a significant example of courtly love literature and explores themes of love, beauty, and spiritual longing. Dante's poetic style is characterized by its emotional intensity and allegorical depth. The work is structured around the stages of Dante's love for Beatrice, from initial encounter to her death and his subsequent spiritual journey. "Vita Nuova" is considered a precursor to Dante's later masterpiece, "The Divine Comedy."
Phineas Wake
Phineas Wake
James Joyce
This bonus episode contains a short lecture that Campbell gave at Westerbee Ranch in Sonoma in 1987 on the "Symbology of the Tarot". It is a "slide" lecture meaning that Campbell was speaking to a curated set of slides, which he often did. Even though we cannot see the slides, his discussion and interpretation of the Tarot deck is worth a listen. This lecture was recorded in the same year as Campbell's death. One can hear him clearing his throat often. He was being treated for esophageal cancer.
Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, John Bucher. Audio and editing services provided by Charles Mallett.
For more information on the MythMaker Podcast Network and Joseph Campbell, visit JCF.org.
All music exclusively provided by APM Music (apmmusic.com)
Pathways with Joseph Campbell 
