The Inner Child Cards represent a specialized tarot system designed to reawaken the imaginative spirit inherent in the human experience. Developed by Isha and Mark Lerner and illustrated by Christopher Guilfoil, this deck and book set functions as a bridge between traditional tarot archetypes and the profound symbolism found in childhood fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and myths. The central premise of this system is that the stories told during the "Age of Reason" were the primary vehicles for transmitting higher learning. In modern times, the deeper meanings of these narratives have often been overlooked. By revisiting these archetypal characters, the Inner Child Cards aim to unlock dormant emotional memory and facilitate a connection with the "child within."
This tarot system is distinct from standard decks in its structure and interpretation. While it maintains the traditional 78-card format—comprising 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana—the imagery and correspondences shift the focus toward psychological and emotional healing. The deck is described as excellent for dream work, the recovery process, and use with children, offering a whimsical yet profound method of accessing personal truth.
The Philosophy and Origins of the Inner Child Cards
The philosophy behind the Inner Child Cards is rooted in the belief that the soul retains the wisdom of ancient stories. Before the dominance of logical, linear reasoning, humanity relied on archetypal characters to understand complex life lessons. The Lerners posit that these stories act as a "hall of mirrors," reflecting the true trajectory of one's life. By referencing fairy-tale archetypes, the deck provides an especially clear reflection of the adult's inner child.
The deck was originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co., with an updated edition released in 2002. The companion book, Inner Child Cards: A Fairy Tale Tarot, details the connection between each card's story and its meaning. Additionally, a workbook titled Inner Child Cards: Further Exercises and Mystical Teachings from the Fairy-Tale Tarot by Isha Lerner, published in 2002, offers expanded guidance. The physical specifications of the deck include cards measuring 3 7/8" x 6 1/4", featuring artwork by Christopher Guilfoil.
The core objective is to reawaken emotional memory trapped in long-forgotten stories. This process is described as a way to give adults imaginative access to the soul's personal truth. Because of the playful nature of the imagery and the familiar characters, the deck is equally suited for use with children, making it a versatile tool for family spiritual practice.
Tarot Archetypes and Fairy Tale Correspondences
The Inner Child Cards assign a specific childhood story to each image in the traditional tarot deck. These correspondences align the emotional narrative of the fairy tale with the spiritual or psychological function of the tarot card. This system allows the reader to bypass some of the heavier, more esoteric symbolism of traditional tarot and access the intuitive wisdom of storytelling.
Major Arcana Correspondences
The Major Arcana cards correspond to significant life themes and spiritual lessons. The Inner Child Cards reinterpret these through the lens of fairy tales:
- The Fool: Represented by Little Red Cap (Little Red Riding Hood). This aligns with the Fool's archetype of innocence, the beginning of a journey, and the vulnerability of stepping into the unknown.
- The Moon: Represented by Cinderella. The Moon card is traditionally associated with dreams, visions, illusions, and the subconscious. Cinderella's story mirrors this through the themes of transformation, the meeting of the conscious and unconscious worlds (the ball and the reality), and the revelation of truth.
- Death: Represented by Sleeping Beauty. While the Death card often evokes fear, its true meaning is metamorphosis and the end of a cycle to make way for the new. Sleeping Beauty parallels this through the theme of deep slumber, the passage of time, and the eventual awakening to a transformed life.
- Strength: Represented by Beauty and the Beast. This correspondence highlights the inner strength required to look past superficial appearances and find the heart within the "beast." It speaks to compassion, patience, and the taming of one's own inner beasts.
- The Magician: Represented by Aladdin. The Magician is the master of the elements and the manifestor of will. Aladdin’s story of using a magical lamp to manifest desires aligns perfectly with the Magician's power to turn potential into reality.
Minor Arcana and Suits
The Minor Arcana cards also capture the magic of children's stories, organized into four suits. While traditional tarot uses Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, the Inner Child Cards utilize thematic variations:
- Wands: Referred to as Magic Wands. These likely correspond to the element of fire, representing creativity, inspiration, and action.
- Hearts: Referred to as Winged Hearts. These correspond to the element of water (emotions, relationships), emphasizing love and emotional freedom.
- Swords: Retaining the traditional suit name, representing the element of air (intellect, conflict, clarity).
- Crystals: Referred to as Crystals. These likely correspond to the element of earth (material world, stability), representing grounding and resources.
Court Cards
The court cards are restructured to reflect stages of growth and roles within the spiritual journey:
- Child: Represents the novice or the spark of potential.
- Seeker: Represents the active pursuit of knowledge and truth.
- Guide: Represents wisdom and the ability to direct others.
- Guardian: Represents protection, authority, and mastery.
Practical Applications for Healing and Self-Discovery
The Inner Child Cards are designed not just for divination but as a tool for active healing and self-exploration. The system encourages users to engage with their "inner child"—the emotional memory and psychological imprint of their younger self.
Awakening Dormant Emotional Memory
The whimsical art and familiar characters serve as keys to unlock dormant emotional memory. For many adults, the logic of the modern world has suppressed the intuitive, feeling-based wisdom of childhood. By interacting with these cards, individuals can access these "long-forgotten" parts of themselves. This process is described as providing "insight, direction, and protection" as one looks within.
Use in Recovery and Dream Work
The source material explicitly notes that the deck is excellent for the recovery process. In therapeutic or recovery settings, the fairy tale archetypes can provide a safe, metaphorical language to discuss difficult emotions or trauma. Similarly, for dream work, the deck’s connection to the subconscious (via cards like the Moon/Cinderella) helps users interpret the symbolic language of their dreams.
Connection with Actual Children
Because the imagery is drawn from nursery rhymes and fairy tales, the deck is accessible to younger users. This allows for a shared spiritual practice between adults and children. It serves as a method to teach emotional literacy and intuition through stories they already know, fostering a bond over shared archetypal understanding.
The Companion Workbook and Extended Teachings
For those seeking deeper engagement, Isha Lerner’s Inner Child Cards Workbook provides further exercises and mystical teachings. This 227-page volume expands on the concepts introduced in the main deck and book set. It likely contains guided meditations, journaling prompts, and ritual suggestions designed to deepen the user's relationship with the archetypes and the inner child.
The workbook format suggests an interactive approach to tarot, moving beyond simple card draws to a sustained practice of self-inquiry. It reinforces the idea that the Inner Child Cards are not merely a fortune-telling device, but a spiritual system for personal growth and metamorphosis.
Conclusion
The Inner Child Cards offer a unique synthesis of traditional tarot structure and the emotional resonance of fairy tales. By aligning archetypes like the Magician with Aladdin or the Death card with Sleeping Beauty, the deck provides a gentle yet powerful mirror for the soul. It serves as a tool for emotional recovery, dream exploration, and connecting with the wisdom of the inner child. Through its whimsical art and structured system of Magic Wands, Winged Hearts, Swords, and Crystals, it invites users to reawaken dormant memories and access personal truth through the timeless power of storytelling.