he Major Arcana of the Tarot represent 22 archetypes that describe the original pattern or model of a primitive mental image inherited from our earliest human ancestors (Carl Jung), which resides in the collective unconscious. It is from this foundation that the Hero’s Journey unfolds.

According to our date of birth, we all possess at least one Natal Major Arcana (also called the Soul Card) that describes the main archetype we follow during our present incarnation. Thanks to this archetype, we have access to certain qualities naturally. It is like our “superpower.” Of course… to access this superpower, we must face the necessary challenges to awaken it.

How to Calculate Your Natal Major Arcana

To calculate your birth arcana, add all the numbers of your birth date (day, month, year). Then, reduce the number until it is equal to or less than 21. If the figure is greater than 21, continue reducing until you reach 21 or less.

For example, if your birthday is December 19, 2001, you add: 1+2+1+9+2+0+0+1 = 16 (1+6 = 7)

In this case, we arrive at the figure 16 – which falls within the range of 1 to 21. Major Arcana 16 (The Tower) is your primary Natal Major Arcana. But since it can still be reduced to 7 (1+6), you have Major Arcana 7 (The Chariot) as a secondary Natal Arcana.

It can happen that the sum of the numbers of the birth date exceeds 21 and the result of the final reduction falls within the range of 1 to 9. In this case, you have a single ruling Natal Arcana.

For example, if your birthday is June 28, 1971, you add: 6+2+8+1+9+7+1 = 34 (3 + 4 = 7). In this case, you only have one Major Arcana as your archetypal force (The Chariot). If the total sum were 38, then we would have 3+8 = 11 (1+1 = 2). The pair is 11/2.

Arcana 0 (The Fool) is not taken into account, as it represents the beginning of the Hero’s Path, where everything is possible. In a certain way, we are all The Fool.

The Meaning of The High Priestess, Justice, and Judgement as Natal Arcanas

With The High Priestess, Justice, and Judgement, we encounter the energy of the number 2. Here we speak of duality, intuition, balance, judgment, and discernment. These are the arcanas of perception beyond the surface.

The High Priestess is the root archetype for both Justice and Judgement. She represents hidden knowledge, intuition, and mystery. However, this internal knowledge must be applied and balanced (Justice) to eventually transcend and answer a higher calling (Judgement).

• If the total sum of your birth date is 20, your primary natal arcana is Judgement.
• If the total sum is 11, your primary natal arcana is Justice.
• If the total sum is 2, your primary natal arcana is The High Priestess.
• *(And, of course, if the sum is 38, you would have the pair 11/2, or if it’s 29, the pair 20/2, etc.)*

2 – The High Priestess as a Natal Arcana

«Knowing what remains unsaid»

The High Priestess as a Natal Arcana indicates that you have access to deep intuition and the wisdom of the subconscious. She whispers to you: «learn to listen to the silence«.

People with this arcana are often highly perceptive, empathetic, and reserved. It’s not that they are shy, but rather they are constantly processing the energetic and emotional currents of their environment. They live in mystery and are drawn to the esoteric, psychology, or secrets.

The challenge of The High Priestess is disconnection from her own inner voice. When her shadow counterpart manifests, she can become cold, distant, or manipulative, using the information she perceives to create psychological games or maintain a position of silent power. It can also manifest as a total disconnection from intuition, ignoring internal signals and feeling lost in a noisy world.

As The High Priestess learns to trust that inner voice and distinguish it from the noise of the ego and the external world, she becomes a beacon of silent wisdom. She doesn’t need to impose her truth; instead, she attracts those who are ready to listen. Her power lies in knowing, without needing to prove.

11 – Justice as a Natal Arcana

«Balance and responsibility»

Justice as a Natal Arcana indicates that your life is governed by the law of cause and effect. Every action has a reaction, and you have come to learn how to balance the scales. Justice tells you: «learn to be responsible for your decisions«.

People with this natal arcana have a deep sense of ethics, truth, and order. They tend to be fair, objective, and seek equity in all situations. They may excel as mediators, lawyers, judges, or in any profession requiring discernment and clarity.

The great challenge here is rigidity. The shadow of Justice can become critical, cold, and judgmental, judging others by a standard they don’t apply to themselves. It can also manifest as analysis paralysis: the inability to make a decision for fear of the consequences. This arcana activates The High Priestess (2) within us, as it forces us to look beyond the obvious to find the truth before judging.

When this archetype is integrated, the person understands that true justice is born from the heart and consciousness. They learn that balance is not static, but a constant dance between giving and receiving, acting and reflecting. By taking full responsibility for their lives, they stop being victims of circumstance and become the architects of their own destiny.

20 – Judgement (or Resurrection) as a Natal Arcana

«Awakening and redemption»

Judgement as a Natal Arcana indicates that you are in a constant process of internal calling. You have come to free yourself from old guilts, family patterns, or past karmas in order to be reborn into a new version of yourself. Judgement tells you: «learn to forgive and answer your true calling«.

People with this arcana often experience “resurrections” throughout their lives: moments when everything ends to begin again from a higher perspective. They have the ability to evaluate their past without attachment and to see the complete picture of their evolution.

The challenge of Judgement is resistance to change. When the shadow takes hold of this card, the person may live with a deep sense of guilt or regret, feeling that it’s too late to change or that they deserve punishment for past mistakes. It can also manifest as an ignored “calling,” a constant feeling that there is something more they are meant for, but which they dare not explore.

When the individual answers the call (represented by the angel in the card), they experience a profound liberation. Judgement (20) brings with it the energy of The High Priestess (2) and Justice (11), because to awaken, one must first listen to the inner voice and then make peace with past actions. By releasing judgment of oneself, one becomes free to shine in their entirety.

The Construction of the Archetype of Mysticism and Responsibility

The sequence 2 (The High Priestess), 11 (Justice), and 20 (Judgement) describes the capacity to listen to inner wisdom (The High Priestess) in order to make fair and responsible decisions (Justice), which ultimately leads to spiritual awakening and profound renewal (Judgement).

This triad is the soul’s journey towards illumination. It speaks of how internal knowledge (2) must be tested in the crucible of experience and responsibility (11) so that it can be purified and elevate us to a new level of consciousness (20).

The shadow of this combination can be dangerous: we can use our intuition (2) to justify our wrongdoings (11) and wash away our guilt with a false sense of redemption (20). For example: “Because I feel (2) I’m right to be angry, I judge (11) that you deserve to be yelled at, and because I feel better afterwards, I am reborn (20).” It’s a trap of the ego.

However, when we work with these archetypes from a place of light, the process is transformative: profound intuition (2) helps us see the truth of a situation without ego, allowing us to act with justice and compassion (11), and that right action frees us from karma, enabling us to live in a state of grace and constant renewal (20).

Archetypes do not judge nor possess a specific morality; rather, they represent elemental energies that can manifest in both positive and negative ways. It is our personal development that allows us to distinguish one from the other. And that is each person’s work. The great spiritual masters always mention that each person’s duty is “to be oneself,” for that is how we honor the Creator.