“The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate…
Nyx Avatar
Entrusting his future to the cards, he clings to a dim hope.
Yes, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
In this article I will offer a brief overview of the use of the Major Arcana throughout Persona 3, focusing primarily on the social links and the narrative of the progression through the Arcana as a symbolic metaphor for the journey through life, both our own and the Protagonists. Where useful, I will draw on various alternative traditions and decks from the history of Tarot though my primary focus will be on the Rider-Waite Smith (RWS) version of the cards, from which the developers most clearly took their core inspiration. This deck will also be most familiar to people in the English-speaking world for it’s frequent depictions in pop-culture.
Let us begin the Fool’s Journey…
I – The Magician – Kenji Tomochika
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
Attaining one’s dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination.”
While the sequence of the Major Arcana are generally seeing as beginning with the Fool, The Magician is in many ways the true “step 1” of the journey of spiritual development outlined by the Major Arcana. The Magician is a symbol of direct action – see also the juggler whose focus is entirely contained in acts of physical dexterity. The mage holds a double-ended wand towards the heavens, connecting the world above to the world below, connecting the powers of each. On the table rests their magical implements, the symbols of the minor arcana which in and of themselves tell a smaller-scale story of the journey of life. Archetypally speaking, the active principle of the Magician is Male and phallic (as are wands), as compared to the vaginal and feminine energy of the High priestess which follows. The Magician, in addition to naturally being the first “real” social link you unlock, also appropriately enough is represented by your typical horny teen. Kenji is a person who completely lacks any self awareness and lives entirely within the realm of activity and desire. Kenji’s naive eagerness to throw himself into life headfirst is a typical trait shared by the other Magician character in this game – Junpei. In both cases the journey of self reflection is the next step on their path.
II – The (High) Priestess – Fuuka Yamagishi
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
The silent voice within one’s heart whispers the most profound wisdom
The High Priestess acts as almost a complete inversion of the Magician, representing passivity, femininity, and the subtle, mystical side of life. The two pillars which the priestess sits between are the pillars said to be at the entrance of the temple of Solomon, Boaz (The black pillar – In him is strength – interiority) and Joachim (The white pillar – he will establish – activity). The entrance to the temple is covered by a curtain, symbolizing hidden truth, but behind it we see the sea, another feminine symbol. On the lap of the priestess is a scroll of the Torah – here spelled “Tora”, an anagram of course for Taro(t). Appropriately enough, Fuuka’s story revolves around her struggle with passivity and being trapped by her own interior life. Fuuka is brilliant, sensitive, and yet completely lacks the ability to connect with others or set her own priorities in life, as she is instead solely focused on academics and meeting the expectations of others. Through both the story and the social link, she eventually learns to connect with others and speak up – appropriately enough through the activity of cooking, which in a sense mirrors the progress of integration of the lesson of the arcana.
I also want to briefly draw attention to the Priestess Shadow here as it is one of the best representations of the “shadow-side” of a major arcana we see. Just like in the Rider-Waite Version of the card, the B and J of the pillars appear on the chest of the shadow. Additionally, her sexual aggression, combined with a pose of sexual acceptance both point to the (traditionally) under-expressed sexual side of the feminine archetype. Her hair also mirrrors the Tora scroll on the lap of the High Priestess
III – The Empress – Mitsuru Kirijo
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
Celebrate life’s grandeur…It’s brilliance…It’s magnificence…”
The Empress represents the primal mother figure and benevolent matriarch. Creativity, the natural world (think of “mother” nature), and serenity are all embodied by this card. Note the abundant natural imagery, calm waters, and lounging position and comfortable of the empress as opposed to the rigid armour of The Emperor that follows. The Persona version of the card focuses on the “primal matriarch” aspect of the card, with it’s broad body reminiscent of fertility statues and prominent crown surrounded by blossoming foliage.
Mitsuru mostly embodies the regal aspects of this arcana well in her initial presentation as the de facto dorm mother of the group. Her empathetic leadership is developed throughout the course of the game, showing more of the calm benevolence of the arcana as she grows. Ultimately though this is one of the more superficial correspondences in the game and her social link has very little to do with The Empress in principle
IV – The Emperor – Hidetoshi Odagiri
The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer…”
Again this one is double-sided, the core idea of the emperor is the archetype of the king, the stern father, and the authority figure of the social domain (as opposed to the religious ruler – the Hierophant, and the natural ruler – the empress). Both the good and bad aspects of authority figures are contained within this card; benevolence, self-sacrifice for the greater good, orderliness, mastery – also narrow-minded rigidity, callousness, megalomania. The Emperor sits on a stone throne wearing armour, scowling, not the most flexible figure in the world, is he?
Odagiri’s arc of course focuses mostly on the negative aspects of the card, the problem of authority gone mad seeking to exercise itself on every available target, but there is still a fundamental benevolence and fairness to his goals and methods. The dude takes a punch like nothing for his goals!
V – The Heirophant/ The Pope – Bunkichi and Mitsuko
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
It is indeed a precious gift to understand the forces that guide oneself…”
The Heirophant is the third in the series of authority figures of the Major Arcana, competing the trilogy of natural, political and religious authority, naturally representing the high religious authority. The Heirophant is a card of established orthodoxy, exoteric truth (as opposed to the esoteric truth of the High Priestess) and conventionality. A more secular reading of the card focuses on the orthodoxy of institutions and institutional figures.
The Heirophant’s staff represents the holy trinity, and in this social link we are also given a trinity including a father and a son – bother versions of the card here also contain 3 figures. In this reading of the card of course the figure of the Heirophant is not the couple but actually the lost son – a teacher in a secular institution, but an authority figure in the conventional sense nonetheless. Like the 2 priests bowing to the Heirophant, the elderly couple also subsume their personal interests into the institution, here through accepting the loss of the tree to further the school’s interests.
VI – The Lovers – Yukari Takeba
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand the hearts of others…”
At the end of the sequence of authority figures comes a break from authority and the first great decision – or perhaps the first temptation. For most of us, the awakening of sexual and romantic desire coincides with our first real break from parental authority and major decision making process. We can see this embodied in the Marseilles version of the lovers, where a distraught youth is caught between two suitors vying for their attention. Of course all this talk of the loss of innocence and breaking from authority is also mirrored in the story of the Garden of Eden, which the Rider-Waite deck chose as the central image for this card. In either case, The lovers is a card of adolescence, budding independence, the coming together of opposites, and the discovery of the worlds of others via relationships. Both through her role as an arguable central counterpart to the protagonist at the start of the story (It is only through their need to protect her that the protagonist awakens their persona after all) and throughout her social link, Yukari is one of the best embodiments of a major arcana in the series. Throughout the main story Yukari acts as a counterpoint and complement to the protagonist, most obviously in terms of gender but also is similar in a number of other important ways – both have lost parents, have an intimate connection to the inciting events of the game, and both have difficulty connecting with others in their own way. Where Yukari struggles to accept death and fears using her persona, the protagonist revels in it.
Through her social link, we see Yukari’s struggle with the parental figures in her life and her connection to others, specifically of the opposite gender. Yukari struggles with both the idealization of her father and dislike of her mother, neither figure living up to her expectations. It is only through her relationship with her opposite – the protagonist – that she is able to transcend her idealization of her parents and grow towards healthy relationships. It’s important to note here while I speak in terms of gender this is only symbolically speaking, the important aspect here is opposition and mirroring, for example as represented in Jung’s conception of the anima and the animus, a concept intimately linked to this arcana
VII – The Chariot – Track Team
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
One of the greatest blessings attained from the gift of life is the freedom to pursue one’s personal goals…”
The Chariot follows the Emperor, Empress, Hierophant, and The Lovers, all cards of maturation and worldly achievement, thus it functions as a sort of signpost of maturation and worldly success. However, The Chariot is grounded, the sphinxes that drive it lie down in the grass and the wheels are in the water. The most shallow interpretation of the chariot focuses on the first idea of worldly success, but the limitations of that worldly knowledge, not tempered by introspection or spiritual knowledge, are a key aspect of the card. Kazushi’s arc so far does a great job of focusing in on that aspect – Kazushi is perhaps not the greatest athlete, but he is motivated and strong, and yet he has been literally grounded just like the rider on the card – he still has not developed an awareness of his own limitations and thus is stuck in the water
VIII (or XI) – Justice – Chihiro Fushimi
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty…”
The numbering of this arcana differs depending on the specific deck – traditionally it is the 8th major arcana, but in the Rider-Waite deck and a number of decks that follow, it is the 11th. This difference is connected with the tarot system of the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn and is reflected in Waite’s deck as well as many decks inspired by it. Justice, like temperance, is a virtue of balance. The archetypal Lady Justice holds out her scales weighing one against another blindly (i.e. without prejudice). This central image of the scale is carried over in most versions of the card, and reflects the central idea of cause and effect, one’s lot following from one’s deeds or attitude. Of course people often end up in unfair situations, but Justice calls us to recognize that our circumstances are inevitably shaped in part by our attitudes and choices. As a treasurer – one who allots what is appropriate, Chihiro acts more as an embodiment of the principles of justice rather than growing through the circumstances represented by the card. Chihiro also has a strong sense of justice which she learns to express more openly and confidently through her social link. Ultimately though, this social link does little to represent the more subtle aspects of the card.
IX – The Hermit – “Maya”
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
It requires great courage to look within oneself, and forge one’s own path…”
The Hermit is one of the more straightforward cards of the Major Arcana, though of course no less significant for it. The archetypal wise old man, the ascetic of the desert, these are all the image of the hermit. This card is all about tutelage, turning inward to find wisdom, and those who guide us on the path to greater knowledge. Central to the imagery of the Hermit in almost every version of the card is the lit lamp, often containing the six-pointed star of Solomon, representing wisdom. The inward journey is guided by the wisdom of the hermit. (Minor spoilers) Appropriately, the Hermit social link represents both of the key aspects of the card – an inward journey and the mentorship which can support that journey. The great irony of this social link is that a teacher, a “wise mentor” of the material realm is brought along the path of introspection and growth by her own student. An old, dead MMO also functions as a nice metaphor for the space where the Hermit must operate, a more isolated space apart from the bustling, lively world of the everyday, a sort of virtual wilderness and austerity.
X – (The Wheel of) Fortune – Keisuke Hiraga
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
Ever-present alongside time is fortune, cruel and unflinching.”
The Wheel of Fortune, spun by the blind Godess Fortuna, has been an enduring symbol throughout antiquity and which once again rose to prominence in the Middle Ages. Like Justice, Fortuna is blind, but where Justice transparently delivers what is owed, the principles of the wheel seem arbitrary however a fairness is found in the principle that none are exempt from the whims of fortune. The earlier forms of the Tarot pictured above emphasize this aspect of the card, as peasants are elevated and the mighty are crushed by the flightiness of fortune. The Rider-Waite version of this card also carries the indication of unpredictable change, however it also points to the concept of a hidden, esoteric order behind things – the latin characters in the spokes spell out TARO, TORA, and ROTA (Wheel) respectively, pointing out an equivalence between the taro as an esoteric system and the principles of the wheel. The Hebrew characters spell out YHVH, the name of God.This is further emphasized in the animals at each corner of the card, which represent the four Evangelists as well as the four elements and the four corresponding astrological signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. In this sense the idea of an esoteric principle which governs our lives is encoded in the tarot as a whole and specifically in this card.
Keisuke’s social link captures a number of interesting aspects of this card. Firstly there is the obvious fortune of his birth into a wealthy family and fortune in winning an art contest. Art of course is the method by which abstract principles and ideas can be translated into a symbolic, visual form, much like the tarot itself, and so there is a nice natural parallel between art as a discipline or focus and the Fortune Arcana itself. Keisuke’s journey is all about the acceptance of the ways in which he is not in control of his own life and the lives of others. Keisuke attempts to rebel against a life he feels is thrust upon him, and yet ultimately he finds that the hand he was dealt is actually what is best for him all along. Keisuke’s desire to help others with illness is a natural extension of this principle, few things in life are as unpredictable and unfair as a sudden stroke of illness, and this ius comically demonstrated as Keisuke fights to try to save a number of lives while at the same time fighting against the vocation he feels is being thrust on him. As Keisuke decides on his own path in life, he transforms from someone hopelessly thrown about by the turn of the wheel into someone who understands the wheel (medicine is the systematic understanding of the principles of illness and the body after all) and can help others cope with being crushed by the wheel with his knowledge
XI(VIII) – Strength – Yuko Nishiwaki
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
One needs strength to endure, and rise above suffering and torment.”
Strength, also called Fortitude in some decks (especially within the French tradition), corresponds with the cardinal virtue of fortitude, the cultivation of inner strength and patience. The figure here should call to mind the maternal, nurturing energy of The Empress, but here that energy is tempered by self-awareness and maturity. The lion represents raw emotions and impulses which have no been tamed constructively. Unlike the charioteer who has tried lashing their beasts to serve rationality, the Strength figure has instead made an ally and an equal of their passions. The limitless potential of this harmony and the spiritual knowledge and strength gained from it is symbolized by the infinity symbol above her head (also called a lemniscate). Harmony, courage, inner strength and caring love all spring forth from this. Yuko’s social link progresses through the most literal to the more subtle aspects of the Strength arcana. Initially she acts as a tamer of the “beasts” of the track team and later plays a motherly role for the children she trains to run. After coming to terms with her nurturing side, she beings to conquer her own internal beasts of apathy and fear of judgment, gaining the strength to work on her weaknesses and cultivate the strength to help herself and others
XII – The Hanged Man – Maiko Oohashi
“The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Nyx Avatar
One needs strength to endure, and rise above suffering and torment.”
The Hanged Man signals the start of a sequence of some of the most challenging of the Major Arcana. This card represents hardship, suffering, passivity, and liminality (the choice of a solid grey background in particular highlights this), but it also represents the rewards that such a path carries – the promise of transformation or new life. Like Christ on the cross) the hanged man’s legs also form a cross) or Odin hanging from the Yggdrasil, by entering into this transitional, receptive state we can gain great power, healing, and wisdom. This card is a harbinger of the great transformational power of the one which follows it – Death – which brings new beginnings as much as it does the end of the old. The leaves sprouting from the wood and the divine light emanating from their head promise nothing less. As a child, not so young as to be blissfully unaware of her circumstances, yet not so old as to be able to fully understand them, Maiko goes through a period of great transition and suffering throughout her social link in coping with her parents’ divorce. Maiko’s social link events are notably more receptive than many others, most of her events involve her directly asking for your help and advice. In the context of where her corresponding arcana lies in the sequence this is especially relevant due to the protagonist’s direct association with the Death arcana, so in a very real way he acts as a proxy for the energies of that arcana.
XII – Death
The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate…
Nyx Avatar
Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope.
Yet, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…
Beyond the journey you have taken lies the absolute end.
It matters not who you are… One thing is always certain: Death awaits all.”
Death comes for all equally, kings, paupers and sometimes even children. Death cannot be bargained with, or avoided, and yet sometimes there are things that can only be achieved through facing great loss head-on and embracing the change. In nearly every common rendering of the Death Arcana two things are constant; all are humbled and equal in the face of death, and yet there is always a promise of renewal and transformation. The sun cannot rise without first setting, and from the remains of fallen animals great forests rise up. The central theme of Persona 3 is facing death, the change which takes away everything and everyone we love. As we see throughout the game however, it is only through embracing change that the cast is able to grow to their full potential. It is no small coincidence that using one’s persona involves the symbolic enactment of death through suicide, and most of the cast awaken to new personas only after the death of one of their team members. Of course, the acceptance of change can also manifest in apathy and blind, hedonistic nihilism, as it does with Strega. The opposition of these 2 forces – hopeful embrasure of change vs the abandonment of all values and denial of life in the face of the inevitability of death is a central conflict embodied in Persona 3 and expresses both the dark and light aspects of the Death Arcana.
XIV – Temperance – Bebe
“Temperance is the balancing of opposites. Opening his eyes to the world allows the individual to grow…“
Edogawa
I wanted to bring in a few references outside of the Rider Waite deck here because this card deals more with Christian virtues than the somewhat dechristianized occult principles of Golden-Dawn influenced decks like the Thoth and Rider-Waite Tarot Temperance is of course the virtue of moderation, the right mindset, action, and thoughts for each moment, and so the TDM (Tarot de marseilles) card shows this through the balance of colours – between the blue and red of action and passivity lies a golden mean. The water imagery further enhances this idea of tranquility and balance. The Persona version of the card shows this balance through opposite the elements in harmony – a cup(water) emanating vapours(air), an upside triangle (water) embedded in a fire triangle, this is emphasized on the bottom of the card by an angel representing virtue and a square within a square representing grounding or perhaps all 4 elements (a 4 sided-figure) In accordance with this idea, Bebe’s story is about acceptance, understanding of differences, and seeking compromise. through the acceptance of his position Bebe is able to make the most of his time and also able to set the stage for growth in himself and those around him.
XV – The Devil – Tanaka
“…And as The Devil represents, he then faces temptation…“
Edogawa
Temperance follows Death as the necessary condition for new birth but is then challenged by the Devil and then The Tower – one of the most negative cards in the Major Arcana. The Devil is often associated with illusion and materialism – he holds out his left open, showing there is nothing more beyond the facade, the bare material is all there is, and this illusion imprisons the individuals. The structure of the card is also an inversion of The Lovers. The Lovers deals with choice and independence, and here that independence is tested by the cruel reality of material limitation and spiritual ennui. There are additional esoteric implications to the card dealing with the left-hand path and acceptance of the darker elements of the psyche, but these aren’t really relevant to the link here.
Tanaka certainly embodies the dark materialist side of the card, his former poverty driving him to truly wanton materialism and greedy exploitation almost for it’s own sake. In the end though, Tanaka tames those forces to a greater good through his charity, even if he does not really give up the facade of pure materialism.
XVI – The Tower – Mutatsu
“At The Tower, his values collapse on him. It seems as if he no longer has anything to believe in, but…“
Edgoawa
After the dark energies of the Devil are released, next comes the collapse. The Tower, much like Death, symbolizes change and the ending of old ways, but in a far more violent and destructive manner. The Tower can involve sudden, explosive revelations which upend our entire lives (see the eye literally scorching the world around it) and catastrophic failures which may seem irrecoverable. Of course, much like Death, the transformation of the tower is essential on the Fool’s journey – I like to think of Death, The Tower, and Judgement as a series of 3 Armageddons, each transforming a more fundamental and profound aspect of the person successively, though the Tower is undeniably the most painful in its imagery. The Tower of course also calls to mind the collapse of the Tower of Babel; we all build our own towers and one step on the journey of actualisation is the collapse of that tower to approach unity with the World – the final arcana. Mutatsu’s story represents the collapse of an individual in the face of great loss. After losing his son, Mutatsu’s entire worldview is upended, the “tower” of career and family he carefully built brick by brick has entirely collapsed, and he is left trying to create a new life out of the ruins. At the end of his link, Mutatsu gains the courage to finally begin building a new life with his family, but with a new, deeper appreciation of the value they bring to his life.
XVII – The Star – Mamoru Hayase
“…he then finds a glimmer of hope, represented by The Star, and he is suffused with a serene calm.“
Edogawa
After the destruction of the tower comes the peace and renewal of the Star. The water imagery of this card represents the peace and spiritual and emotional balance gained after the revelation of the Tower has been integrated. Renewal and newfound strength are core to this card – and in some ways it also echoes the principles of strength, though now truly tested and informed by a deep spiritual font. Appropriately enough, like strength and the chariot, this card also deals with athletics, though here we have an athlete who has overcome most of the common problems and is at the top of his game (the difference in self-awareness between him and Kazushi is night and day). Interestingly, in some ways Hayase’s story could also represent the tower, though the focus here is appropriately less on the collapse and more on the optimism to push forward, and newfound strength to accept circumstances and work through them. Atlus’ undeniably also had some fun here with the idea of the “star” athlete…
XVIII – The Moon – Nozomi Suemitsu
“This bliss makes him vulnerable to the illusions of The Moon. Fears arise, and he follows the dim path in his heart with trepidation… “
Edogawa
Unlike the comforting but distant stars and the all-consuming bright warmth of the sun, the moon is a subtle thing and yet intimately connected with our lives. The tides of the sea, menstrual cycles, and even some animals seem to be under the influence of the moon. In the Rider-Waite version of the card we see hounds howling at the moon, calling to mind the image of the werewolf, a human made bestial by the power of the moon. We also see other hidden things brought out by the moon – a lobster or crayfish (also associated with the sign of cancer) emerges from the sea, much like the hidden aspects of our desire (or perhaps even our shadow) emerge under the moonlight. Note also the two towers in the background, also visible on the highly simplified Persona version of the card, which are the same towers from the Death Arcana, and arguably parallel to the two pillars from the High Priestess card. Between the pillars is still light – the potential for transformation and renewal, but the moon still shows us many frightening images. This association between the moon and the shadow self is also key to the concept of the dark hour itself, a time where the dark aspects of the unconscious mind are let lose and driven into a frenzy, consuming innocents.
Appropriately enough Nozomi is a hidden figure within the community of Gekkoukan, only spoken of by his title of the Gourmet King and rarely actually ever seen on school grounds. In addition to his incredibly omnivorous eating habits (appropriate for a bottomfeeder), Nozomi is enslaved by his own desires, eating til he becomes sick, and completely incapable of facing unpleasant truths about himself and the world. Nozomi also embodies the idea of “borrowed light” in terms of his relationships on a number of different levels. Firstly and most importantly is his more popular and attractive brother, symbolically associated with the sun. This “sun” has set along with his brother’s passing and now he seeks new lights to reflect and magnify his own image – religious fervour, and the abuse of the protagonist, his friend. Thankfully his social link finally culminates in him coming to terms with the damage he has wrought and the death of his brother, with him now firmly on the path towards the sun between the two towers.
XIX – The Sun – Akinari Kamiki
“But he is rewarded with a bright future, represented by The Sun, which signifies true achievement...”
Edogawa
Unlike the (archetypal) sinister energy of the Moon, the Sun is a relatively straightforward card of warmth, radiance, and innocent joy. As far as occult symbolism goes, an infant riding a unicorn with sunflowers behind them and a brightly shining sun is about as straightforward as it can get! Unlike more worldly forms of happiness however, the joy of the Sun can only be truly found at the end of a long spiritual journey, after overcoming all proceeding terrors can one truly bask in the light of the sun openly and without fear of its light which dispels all illusion.
Initially, Akinari’s association with the Sun Arcana seems a cruelly ironic joke. A gloomy, dying youth is hardly what one associated with the radiance of the sun! Nevertheless, Akinari suits the arcana in a number of key ways, and the number of small correspondences suggests this was another key choice of arcana which the developers put particular emphasis on. Firstly there are the obvious surface level equivalences – Akinari is 19 years old, and his social link is only available on Sundays, on a sunny spot near a shrine no less, next to a small children’s park – a symbol of innocence and youth. The fact the Hanged man social link is also available in that same park is another careful choice – The Hanged Man of course would also be an excellent choice for a dying man, but Akinari has already passed his time of trial and is now approaching acceptance and simple appreciation for the life has lived. It is this final journey, devoid of all pretense, that reflects the energy of the sun. The sun has laid bare all the careful lies and protections we usually put in front of our ego, and Akinari speaks completely frankly and openly about his death and fears. Unlike Nozomi who projects his fears and insecurities onto others and borrows their light, Akinari ultimately decides that the value in his life actually lies in the ways he can touch others – the warmth he spreads across the world. Happily, we get to see that warmth reach his own mother at the end of the game in a truly touching bit of dialogue.
XX – Judgment/The Aeon – Aigis/N.A.T
“Judgement awaits the individual at the end of his journey, as he looks back on the path he has traveled.“
Edogawa
The Judgement corresponds with the biblical final judgement, where all the mundane and impure will be destroyed and the dead will rise from their graves to face final judgement alongside the living. This is the final, apocalyptic transformation before the attainment of the world, however unlike Death or The Tower, there is no fear in the face of this card. At the end of the journey, all that is left is to welcome the new era with open arms, as the dead do rising from their coffins. Of course this act of rising from one’s coffins is directly echoed in the game as the dead rise from their coffins on the promised day – the judgment day by a different name.
The Aeon is the equivalent of the Judgement card from Crowley’s Thoth tarot deck, and differs in a few significant ways. Most notably, The Aeon refers to the concept of the changing of the aeons or eras rather than the Christian end times. The changing of the aeon is much more of a symbolic change akin to a paradigm shift and not accompanied by the same sort of apocalyptic imagery.
There’s little more to say about the Judgement arcana in the context of the game beyond it directly mirroring the final days of the game. As the only non-human social link in the original version of the game, Aigis appropriately uses an arcana from outside of the traditional tarot systems used for most other characters. Aigis’ social link is focused on an internal transformation no less dramatic than an apocalypse – the transition from a robot to a full-fledged human. It is also important to note that the only other arcana in this game from the Thoth deck is the following one – The Universe. This is not merely a coincidence…
XXI – The World/The Universe
“I never dreamed of seeing that card with my own eyes… This is indeed a surprise… Behold the last power you and I shall unveil… It is the power to bring about a new beginning, or the ultimate end. It may be possible now, with this newfound power… You may be able to defeat the one who cannot be defeated. What you have in your hands is the power of the Universe… …Nothing is outside the realm of possibility for you now.”
Igor
AT the end of the Journey lies the world itself in all its grandeur. The world represents the ultimate state of spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment. The figure, often called the world-dancer, is a hermaphroditic figure and dances joyfully in the open sky, entirely unimpeded, suspended between high heaven and earth. The fusion of opposites, male and female, heaven and earth, life and death, are all completed here, with the wreath surrounding the dancer representing the cycle of life and death. Notice that the images of human figures throughout the Major Arcana in the Rider-Waite deck almost all depict static figures, but only the Fool and the World Dancer are clearly in motion. Both The Fool and The World Dancer are also *outside* of the world, or in another sense outside of the world of life and death. The Fool and the World are both intertwined in this cycle, each as much an end as a beginning. At the end of the journey The Fool dances brilliantly, and then returns once more to the cycle to begin anew, a new fool. Contrary to the beliefs of Persona power level nerds, “The Universe” is not a more powerful version of the card generically speaking. The Universe is Crowley’s take on the motif of the World updated for a less geocentric model.
0 – The Fool
Appropriately we end with the Fool, in one sense, the start of a new journey, and in another a card entirely divorced from the process. The Fool is suspended on a cliff, a place above the world, and is ready to set out on a journey, entirely unencumbered by worldliness or expectation. The innocence of the bounding dog is akin to the energy of the Fool, eager anticipation not tempered by any guile or worldliness.
The Fool is of course the most suitable arcana for a silent protagonist, as it is a blank canvas, not yet encumbered by the weight of sin and obligation. The Fool’s journey is all of our journey through life, and while very few of us will truly attain the energy of the world in all of it’s splendour, through life we can grow ever closer to that font of wisdom.
Perspectives from the Endsky 
