In Banzhaf’s model, is the hero themselves. The Fool represents the individual embarking on the journey, moving through life's stages with a sense of wonder and uncertainty, serving as the central figure who experiences the lessons of the other 21 cards. Key Archetypal Milestones
German astrologer and tarot expert Hajo Banzhaf revolutionized modern tarot interpretation by linking the Major Arcana to Joseph Campbell’s concept of the "Hero’s Journey." By viewing the cards through this mythic lens, readers can transform their tarot practice from simple fortune-telling into a profound tool for self-discovery and psychological growth. Who Was Hajo Banzhaf?
Note regarding the PDF format: This work is widely available in physical format and has historically circulated in digital (PDF) formats among Tarot study groups. However, users are encouraged to support the publishers and authors by purchasing official copies to ensure the continued availability of these important esoteric texts.
Represents the hero at the start, eventually returning as the "wise Fool" at the journey's end.
, digital versions can often be found on platforms dedicated to archival and educational documents: Review: Tarot and the Journey of the Hero by Hajo Banzhaf hajo banzhaf tarot and the journey of the hero pdf
To utilize Banzhaf’s principles in your daily practice, try the spread. Draw three cards to represent your current standing:
Actionable next steps
Joseph Campbell’s "Monomyth" or Hero’s Journey outlines a universal story structure found in myths across world history. The cycle consists of three macro-stages: .
In Banzhaf's layout, is the Hero. The remaining 21 cards represent the people, challenges, spiritual teachers, and psychological thresholds the Fool encounters along the way. Breaking Down Banzhaf’s Tarot Journey In Banzhaf’s model, is the hero themselves
Here is how the 22 Major Arcana cards map onto the classic stages of the hero's journey according to Banzhaf's interpretation:
Between 1992 and 2000, he worked as an editor for the Kailash book series with Hugendubel publishing house. In 2003, together with his wife and fellow Tarot expert Brigitte Theler (1959–2007), he founded the Tarot e.V. (Tarot Association) for the German-speaking world. Banzhaf's most famous work, Das Arbeitsbuch zum Tarot (The Tarot Workbook), was translated into twenty different languages, cementing his global influence. His sudden death at the age of 60 from a pulmonary embolism following a successful operation marked a profound loss for the global Tarot community.
The education phase, where the hero learns societal values, ethics, and traditional knowledge.
) and the necessity of confronting one's "inner wildness" without suppression. His work serves as a bridge between ancient esoterica and modern psychology, framing the Tarot as a Sacred Process available to all for personal growth. Resources and Access Who Was Hajo Banzhaf
The book sets up the cards in the order of the hero's journey as first popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his seminal work, . It begins with our hero, the Fool, and ends with the World as "paradise regained." In between, the cards unfold the story of an individual's life.
In this framework, the "Fool" (Card 0) is not a foolish person, but the Hero setting out on an adventure. The subsequent cards represent the trials, allies, enemies, and revelations the Hero meets along the way. Banzhaf structures the Major Arcana into three distinct acts, corresponding to the classic three-act play or the Hero’s Journey stages:
The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck is not just a tool for predicting the future. It is a visual map of the human psyche.