On censorship, vulnerability, and what it means to be truly seen.
In this era of MAGA-madness and religious extremism, even images of Tarot cards depicting nudity are being censored or removed. Some deck creators are even redesigning the cards so that the figures wear clothing! I could go on a lengthy rant about this, but instead I would rather do some “tarosophizing” here about the symbolism of “being naked” and what it means in Tarot.
What do the naked figures in the Tarot Represent?
Vulnerability
When you are naked, you feel vulnerable. Exposing yourself is frightening and “dangerous.”You do this only with people you trust and love. Showing your “true” self without masks or disguises is brave — and through that, you are simultaneously strong. Tarot card XVII, The Star, is often interpreted as “laying down your masks,” or no longer presenting yourself differently to another person. Making yourself vulnerable is generally seen as something positive.
Authenticity & Acceptance
Related to this, nakedness is associated with “realness” or authenticity.
You could interpret this as knowing who you are. You know your strengths — and you are allowed to shine with them! You also know your weak points and take ownership of them. You are sincere and open, while still maintaining your boundaries. I think Tarot card XIX, The Sun, is a beautiful example of this: the Ego is well developed and capable of allowing content from the unconscious to surface in a healthy way — to show itself and explore both the outer and inner world.
Freedom & Liberation
Being naked means “freedom” — in the literal sense, but also in the symbolic sense. Not being bound by restrictive laws. The social norms imposed upon you — or that you impose upon yourself — are not as set in stone as you might think. Here we see Tarot card XV, The Devil, showing you that the chains may not be as “tight” as you believe. The freedom to choose and to do what you truly want, from both your heart and your head, is the theme of Tarot card VI, The Lovers.
Connection to Nature — “Primal State” vs “Civilisation”
Clothing is a sign of “civilisation” or cultivation. Consider the symbolism of Adam and Eve, who wore no clothing in Paradise, and who — upon their expulsion — suddenly noticed they were “naked” and began to cover themselves. Being one with nature can be positive: being in harmony, being “unknowing” in the sense of innocent and pure. But it can also be “negative”: being led by instinct, being unconscious, having a “weak” Ego. This theme is also present in The Lovers and The Devil. In The Star, there is an element of “harmony” or being in balance — contact with the earth and with the water. Expanded consciousness is the domain of The Sun.
A New Beginning
When you are “naked,” you have essentially lost everything — even your clothing. Nakedness symbolises a new beginning. As in Tarot card XXI, The World, where something has been completed, yet you are never entirely “finished” or “whole,” and in truth you begin again.
The Star also contains this new beginning: as Hope that follows the devastating event of The Tower. And perhaps it was the awareness that The Devil gave us that set that event in motion.
A new beginning often involves transformation. But something profoundly shocking need not happen to experience transformation. Simply allowing another person to see you as you truly are — sharing a personal experience, showing joy or sorrow to someone you love — can already be an intimate experience. Moreover, in exposing yourself to another, you implicitly invite them to do the same.
By letting yourself be seen, you open another person into your intimate space — and in doing so, you create space for them to do the same.
Conclusion
Tarot cards have many layers. A card can refer to the everyday, physical world, or to spiritual and psychological development and growth. According to some, there is also a “Divine” or “Universal” level, and Tarot cards are the key to its secrets. In any case, the meanings of the cards are not fixed or exclusively assigned to one card alone. Nakedness in Tarot carries many different symbolic meanings that more or less flow into one another and can be interpreted at different “levels.” It is an important indicator of possible transformation — and by censoring it, because it is lazily equated with sexuality, that knowledge is lost.