Inner Child Cards represent a specialized tarot system designed to interact with the world’s most potent archetypes through the lens of childhood fairy tales. Created by Isha Lerner and Mark Lerner and illustrated by Christopher Guilfoil, this deck reawakens dormant emotional memory by assigning an archetypal childhood story to each image in the traditional tarot deck. The system operates on the premise that before the Age of Reason, higher learning was transmitted through archetypal characters in stories. In modern times, these stories have often been relegated to a secondary position without recognition of their deeper meaning. The whimsical art and familiar characters of the Inner Child Cards serve as a "hall of mirrors," reflecting the true trajectory of life and offering adults an especially clear reflection of the child within.
The deck consists of 78 cards, divided into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, with a card size of 3 7/8" x 6 1/4". Published by Bear & Co. in 1992 and updated in 2002, the system includes a companion workbook offering further exercises and mystical teachings. The suits are reimagined as magic wands, winged hearts, swords, and crystals, while the court cards are designated as the child, seeker, guide, and guardian. This structure bridges the gap between traditional tarot symbolism and the imaginative spirit of the child, making it a tool for both individual healing and use with children.
The Archetypal Bridge: Fairy Tales and Tarot
The Inner Child Cards system is built upon the correspondence between traditional tarot archetypes and specific fairy tales. This approach validates the psychological significance of folklore as a vehicle for higher learning and emotional processing. By referencing these archetypes, the deck provides imaginative access to the soul’s personal truth.
Major Arcana Correspondences
The Major Arcana cards in this deck are paired with fairy tales that highlight specific life themes and psychological transitions:
- The Fool (Little Red Cap): Represents the innocent, the beginner, and the willingness to step into the unknown. Little Red Cap embodies the vulnerability and trust inherent in the Fool's journey.
- The Moon (Cinderella): Traditionally associated with dreams, visions, and the subconscious. Cinderella’s story aligns with the Moon’s themes of illusion, transformation, and the revelation of hidden truths.
- Death (Sleeping Beauty): While often feared in traditional readings, this card in the Inner Child system parallels the theme of personal metamorphosis. Sleeping Beauty represents the necessary period of dormancy and the eventual awakening to a new state of being.
Minor Arcana and Court Cards
The Minor Arcana cards capture the magic and mystery of children's stories, nursery rhymes, and myths. The suits and court cards have been renamed to reflect a more playful and developmental vocabulary:
- Suits: Magic Wands, Winged Hearts, Swords, and Crystals.
- Court Cards: Child, Seeker, Guide, and Guardian.
This renaming shifts the focus from rigid hierarchy to stages of growth and roles we play in our emotional development. The "Child" represents the core self, the "Seeker" the active pursuit of knowledge, the "Guide" the internal wisdom, and the "Guardian" the protective boundaries.
Inner Child Tarot and Emotional Healing
While the Inner Child Cards deck is specifically designed with these fairy-tale correspondences, the broader practice of "Inner Child Tarot" utilizes tarot imagery to foster self-awareness, compassion, and emotional recovery. This practice is not about predicting the future but about deep emotional excavation and compassionate re-parenting.
The Psychological Foundation
The concept of the inner child was popularized by psychologists such as Carl Jung, who described the "divine child" as a symbol of potential, creativity, and innocence. In the context of tarot, the cards act as a bridge between the adult self and this younger aspect of the psyche. The Major Arcana cards often represent parental figures or authority (The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant), making them powerful for exploring childhood dynamics. Cards like The Moon or The Hanged Man can reveal hidden fears or suppressed emotions from early life.
The Role of Specific Cards
Certain cards are particularly resonant for inner child work:
- The Page Cards: These are literal representations of children and often symbolize the inner child’s voice.
- The Empress: Represents the nurturing mother and the capacity for self-care and abundance.
- The Sun: Symbolizes joy, innocence, and the radiance of the true self.
- The Hanged Man: Reflects surrender and the ability to see from a new perspective, often necessary for healing past wounds.
Therapeutic Application
Inner Child Tarot shifts the focus from passive prediction to active healing. Instead of asking, "What will happen?", the inquiry becomes, "What does my younger self need me to see?" This subtle shift transforms the tarot from a divination tool into a therapeutic one. The practice involves setting a clear intention, choosing a quiet space, and selecting a healing-focused spread. Journaling insights and responding with kindness are essential components of the process.
Suitability and Safety
For Use with Children
Because of their playful nature and familiar characters, the Inner Child Cards are equally well suited for use with children. The imagery awakens emotional memory and encourages imaginative exploration. The companion book includes a section specifically on using the cards with children, validating their role as a tool for early emotional education.
For Deep Trauma
While Inner Child Tarot can help uncover and process buried emotions, it is important to exercise caution with deep trauma. The source material suggests that while the cards can be a profound tool for emotional liberation, they should be used alongside professional therapy for deep-seated issues. Emotional safety and self-regulation must always be prioritized. The cards are a tool for reflection and processing, not a replacement for professional psychological intervention.
The Companion Workbook
Bear & Co. publishes a companion workbook titled Inner Child Cards Workbook: Further Exercises and Mystical Teachings from the Fairy-Tale Tarot by Isha Lerner. This 227-page volume (6"x9", 2002) expands on the deck’s teachings. It provides structured exercises designed to deepen the user's connection to the archetypes and offers mystical teachings that elaborate on the fairy-tale correspondences. This workbook serves as a guide for integrating the deck into a regular practice of self-reflection and emotional work.
Summary of Deck Specifications
To provide a clear overview for potential users, the following table summarizes the physical and structural details of the Inner Child Cards deck as provided in the source material.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Title | Inner Child Cards: A Fairy-Tale Tarot |
| Authors | Isha Lerner and Mark Lerner |
| Illustrator | Christopher Guilfoil |
| Total Cards | 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana) |
| Card Size | 3 7/8" x 6 1/4" |
| Copyright | 1992, 2002 |
| Publisher | Bear & Co. |
| Companion Book | Inner Child Cards Workbook (227 pages, 2002) |
| Suits | Magic Wands, Winged Hearts, Swords, Crystals |
| Court Cards | Child, Seeker, Guide, Guardian |
Conclusion
The Inner Child Cards system offers a unique synthesis of traditional tarot structure and the enduring power of fairy tales. By aligning the Major and Minor Arcana with archetypal childhood stories, the deck provides a accessible yet profound method for accessing the subconscious. It serves as a mirror to reflect the "child within," facilitating a dialogue that can lead to emotional healing, self-discovery, and the reclamation of joy. While the deck is suitable for children due to its playful imagery, its depth makes it a valuable tool for adults seeking to understand and integrate past experiences. As with any work involving deep emotional excavation, particularly regarding trauma, the practice should be approached with mindfulness and, when necessary, in conjunction with professional support.