Tarot Twins: Doppelgangers & Duals

Is the horse of the Knight of Cups the same as the one carrying Death? Can the Pope exist without his 'evil twin', the Devil? If the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, what lunar pull hides within the Apollonian cards? Are the Fool and the Hermit descendants of the same lineage of pilgrims? Explore these questions and more in this livestream tarot workshop.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, the 78 arcana exist as singular symbolic islands, each with its own peculiar archetypal shine. Each card tells a distinct story. Yet, upon closer examination, we notice uncanny resemblances – dead ringers that reveal themselves visually at first and, with careful attention, disclose abstract bridges that connect them in secret.

Sometimes the message lies within the cards; other times, it floats above them in an air de famille, a nuanced link that becomes apparent only when we recognise their 'twinness'. Seventy-eight cards, or an infinite number of pairs, intertwined like a double helix of DNA, each card defined in relation to another. By  reflecting on these cards and their doubles, we can understand how polarities and their integration play a crucial role in the tarot's overall structure.

This livestream workshop includes:

• Twinness in art, myth, science and psychology to uncover the diverse ways these pairings manifest, including: Castor and Pollux; Black Swan; Chang and Eng, the original Siamese Twins; Faust and Mephistopheles and the unsettling Shining sisters
• Gain insights into the polarities, connections and oppositions within the tarot, learning to recognise and utilise the nuanced connections that lie beneath the surface of these powerful pairs
• How the interplay of non-identical twins & identical twins, evil doppelgangers and conjoined anatomies enhances the tarot reading experience
• A series of practical exercises to identify and interpret the tarot twins

Book now to explore the twin phenomenon through art, legend and fiction. Laetitia Barbier will teach you how to identify tarot twins, uncover their filiation, and integrate them into your personal tarot reading experience. 

Entry requirements

• All are welcome - no experience necessary.
• Please have with you a deck of Rider Waite Smith tarot cards.

This workshop will be recorded. You will find the recording links in your College Account within two working days from the event - an email will alert you when they are ready. These recordings will be available for replay for three months following the event. Please see our terms for more information.

Previous participants say:

"The workshop exceeded my expectation. I loved the contents and the practical exercises. Laetitia Barbier created a safe place and everyone in the group felt comfortable to share their experience."

"Laetitia Barbier was a warm, knowledgeable and very fun tutor. I felt happy to contribute without feeling embarrassed as she and the group made me feel very comfortable. She is a great asset to the College and I would not hesitate to book onto future tarot events with her."

"I enjoyed this session particularly the meditation and the card reading with Laetitia Barbier."