The Arcana Framework: Five Functions That Shape Every Team

We moved around quite a bit as kids, sometimes staying in one place as short as 3 months. During this time, my brother and I were forced to make friends, again and again. We would also often share a bedroom, so we would talk until late into the night. One of these nights, we started discussing different personalities we saw in friend groups, again and again.

As the years went by, I kept seeing the same patterns. Not just in friend groups, but also school projects, creative collaborations, work teams, and even game nights.

The Evolution of An Idea

As the decades went by, that late-night conversation would echo in my mind. Especially as I started building teams of my own; had I stumbled upon something that mattered? It did seem to reflect why some teams thrived and others struggled. So, I started paying closer attention:

• why did some teams feel chaotic without ever moving forward?
• why did some friendships fall apart when a single person left?
• why did some groups make me feel alive when others left me feeling drained?

I realised that these personalities we had discovered weren’t just roles, they were essential functions that showed up across settings, no matter the people or context.

The Five Core Functions

I gave them many names over the years, but it wasn’t until I sat down to create this framework that I settled on these:

• The Tether: the one who holds a group together.
• The Seeker: the one who scouts ahead.
• The Engine: the one who dares when others hesitate.
• The Navigator: the one who plans and keeps track.
• The North Star: the one who offers clarity, values, and a sense of direction.

These names are intentionally a bit abstract, but also aren’t too loaded. For example, the original name of "North Star" was "Leader", but I was worried that might confuse people. A leader sounds like someone who is appointed. But the North Star isn’t necessarily appointed! North Stars often do have authority, but not always, and that’s not essential for the function. Thus, I settled on these names because they reflect the function the best, not just a role.

The Arcana Framework

What makes this framework special is that it is specifically team/group oriented. These functions show up time and time again, and once you recognise them, you begin to see why some groups do well when others don’t. Without a Tether, a group may drift apart or collapse under stress. Without a Seeker, it stops evolving and misses new opportunities. Without an Engine, ideas stay hypothetical and never get built. Without a Navigator, the group becomes disorganised. Without a North Star, people may lose sight of why they’re together in the first place.

I also wanted the framework to recognise that people don’t fit into neat little boxes. We all vary in how we express these functions at different times.

So, I worked out a way to capture its depth without making it feel rigid.

That’s where the idea of Tarot came in.

Tarot has always fascinated me; not because of fortune-telling, but because of its ability to spark reflection. It’s a system of images and archetypes that invites you to look at things from a new angle. I wanted a system that, names these core functions; acknowledges their good, and how they can be weaponised; and Invites curiousity, not judgement.

(Yes, there will be a physical deck of cards. Eventually.)

What's Next

This is just the beginning!

Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing posts that explore each of the Major and Minor Arcana — the core functions, their many faces, and how they shape the life of a group.

My hope is that as you follow along, you’ll start to see these patterns in your own life; in your friends, your coworkers, and maybe in yourself.

A Reflection For You

So, I’ll leave you with a question:

Which of these functions do you most often embody?

I can’t wait to explore this journey with you.