Life, Death & Tarot

Meet Kayla! I have a treat for you today involving time travel—listen to my interview via tarot reading with Kayla in May of 2018 and get an update from her since that tarot reading in October of 2019! This was an incredible reading and Kayla’s update is truly that, an update. She’s had quite a lot happen in her life since her reading.

Closure vs. Understanding…..what are you seeking? In my work as a death companion and in my work as a thanatologist, I see how people handle and process loss. Even myself. Do you tend to seek closure, or understanding? In this Mortisode, learn the difference.

In this episode, you get to meet Simon. I’ve known Simon since 2011 when I met him on a trip to Israel. He’s in Paris, France now, and I’m in Kentucky. We connected over tarot cards in Israel all those years ago (because I brought a deck with me) and now you get to hear us connect over tarot cards again. Same deck! His interview came at a time of transition for him and he sent in an update which you can hear at the end of the episode. Almost a year passed between the time of his initial interview and his update!

There’s a name for the period of time after a loss and before you feel ‘normal’ again—those are called lilac days. In this episode, we talk about the lilac days, self care vs. community care, and ways to support your community. If you are grieving or you know someone who is, knowing about the Lilac Days might help you on your journey.

In this episode, meet Lucinda Herring, author of Reimagining Death, Licensed Funeral Director and long-time home funeral guide. Why is she on this podcast? So we can talk about Death Companioning and Lucinda’s work in this field. In addition to this, I share a lot of updates—and definitely get emotional. My sister Christina died, I share my grief and bring you up to speed with the happenings of your favorite (I hope!) American Thanatologist.

What’s the difference between sympathy and empathy? How do you write a sympathy note (better yet, what should you NOT write in a sympathy note)? I share the most popular article I ever wrote (from way back in April of 2012 all about sympathy notes) and if anything’s changed. As this episode is airing during the holiday season, I want to say: if you are grieving, struggling, mourning or otherwise, I encourage you to check in with what you need this holiday season to feel happy and full and to check in with what makes you feel sad and empty. You get to choose how you spend your time and I want to encourage you to take care of yourself.

My interview with Jade happened 6 months ago and she’s undergone quite a transformation! Stick around to hear the update from Jade at the end. I also share some wonderful listener feedback on the Astrology episode and am happy to announce that we are now on Spotify!

I’m very excited to share with you a conversation I had about astrology. Astrology, like tarot, is another old tradition that still exists in modern day. How can astrology fit into modern life? In this episode, I interview Sara Hawthorne, a vedic astrologer based in Florida, and we talk about eastern vs. western astrology, implications for modern life, and how death can show up in your birth chart! I also share how often astrology shows up at end of life….it’s quite often a surprise to a dying person’s loved ones! Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful listeners. We hope your holiday is filled with gratitude and love.

Vocational Discernment is an old-school religious tool that the non-religious and self-reflective can use too! In this interview with Amie via a tarot reading, we talk oak leaves, red triangles, mental health and vocational discernment. I also update you about my fellowship in thanatology, share some rare plant knowledge with you (I promise, it’s not dull) and remind you about the discount code for listeners to my merchandise shop—TAROT gets you free shipping!

After a break, we’re back, and with an episode that tells you not only what happened, but but also what I learned in my time away. Or, I should say, re-learned. Life gets heavy for all of us at some point, and if you want to get better at being a support to others, then this is the episode for you. In this episode, I share easy and effective ways to support others dealing with a Shadowloss or death of some kind. I’m so happy to be here with you guys!

Lauren pulled the death card!!!!! It's my favorite card in a tarot deck, so I was suuuuper excited to see it pop up. And, it absolutely aligned with where Lauren is headed in her life. If you are pondering big life changes, give this episode a listen to learn how the death card can actually be really positive and exciting.

So overwhelmed you can't think straight...ever been there? I was last week. Expert Ashley Rouster Rigby shares two ways to handle overwhelm, and how part of what might be causing your overwhelm might have to do with your gender.

At 29-years-old, Allyson is right where you've been yourself—maybe you're there right now. She's asking the question we all find ourselves voicing at some point: "Am I on track?" In this episode, we explore what being on track looks like and how to know when the stars have aligned and are pointing you in the right direction. Listen to the end for an update from Allyson. 

In this La Petite Mortisode, you will learn the basic meaning of each of the four suits in a tarot deck, and the meaning of some important tarot symbols: the moon, grapes, roses, fish and the tomb. 

Anxiety—It's something many of us know well, including me. Michael and I had A LOT to discuss thanks in part to the two jumper cards that showed up in his reading. The Hermit card also appeared in Michael's future position. Listen to the update at the end to hear how the Hermit showed up in Michael's life.

Research shows that when a person feels a sense of meaning or purpose in life, they also have higher day-to-day levels of mental and physical health. So what do you do if you don't have a sense of meaning? Or don't know your purpose? There are lots of things you can do, and I share 3 of them in this episode. We also talk about how meaning intersects with thanatology.

This episode brings us a jumper card—the 3 of Cups! Also known as the female friendship card, or girl squad or Galentine's card (I made that last one up, but....it's accurate.) You get to meet Mary today, a Mother, a Wife, a healthcare professional. Mary has navigated some major chaos in recent years.....hear what she dealt with, and how things are now—there's an update at the end of the episode!

Announcement! Shadowloss is not only a term I created to describe losses in life that don't have a dead body, but it's also the title OF MY BOOK! A few Mortisodes ago, I told you what my big goal was: to write a book. It's happening! Podcast listeners hear it first, because you guys are great.

Ever wonder what life is like for a funeral director? Probably a lot like yours. This week, meet Emily. She shares part of her life with us as we consult the cards. There are TWO queens in Emily's reading and lots of symbolism. There's also an update from Emily at the end of the episode! And! After you listen, visit AmericanThanatologist.com to watch my TEDx talk "Lifted By Little Deaths." Thanks for listening, subscribing, rating and reviewing this podcast. Because of your engagement, we are able to reach more and more people each and every week.

The discoverer has a heck of a lot more to gain than the discovered. So many people harbor a secret wish that someone else will come along and discover them. At end of life, many people discover that not only did that not happen, but it never will. You can avoid that happening to you. Listen to this episode: discovery—to find out how.

Meet Tuesday Addams: young professional by day, creative burlesque performer by night. Do you have parts of your life that don't mix? Don't cross over? Don't mingle? Many of us do. Hear how Tuesday navigates this issue, and also learn about burlesque! I asked a ton of questions and Tuesday gives us all the details. There's an update at the end of the episode!

It's Mortisode time! We talk about 'Monet Friends' today....what are they? When we encounter difficult moments in life, it often shifts the relationships we have in life. Sometimes, we react by wanting to 'cut people out' as it provides a sense of security in a roundabout way. 'Monet Friends' might help you preserve those relationships, and help you adjust the way you relate to others.

It's graduation season. What are you graduating from right now? School? A relationship? Bad habits? In this episode, meet Greta—a soulful young woman on the brink of graduating with a Masters in Social Work. Stay tuned for an update at the end! Join us in the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/lifedeathtarot Support the podcast (for free!) by leaving a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts!

You would have thought THIS would have been my first Mortisode! Well, better late than never. In this episode, I tell you what thanatology is, explain how most Thanatologists use it, how we classify thanatology and what part of the thanatology world I inhabit most often. Everything at AmericanThanatologist.com is on sale with free shipping....use code TAROT!

In this episode, I propose we make an adjustment to how we use the word 'toxic' to describe another human being. I show you why this is problematic behavior for ourselves because it eliminates the opportunity for us to offer compassion. I share a little bit of a real life example as I navigated the aftermath of my assault, we talk about 'emotional weather', vulnerability, presence, rumination and worry. Recorded in a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada at a funeral convention. LDT on the road!

A spitting Santa who blinds you, the little voice, seeds from childhood 'blooming' in adulthood, and figuring out how to be happy. I am so honored and pleased to introduce you to Matt, an individual I admire and appreciate and know from my hardcore yoga days. There are TWO updates from Matt, and I also interview Victor (podcast producer) in this episode, too.

We talk about intuition (aka gut feelings) vs. bias in this Mortisode. How do you tell the difference? Is one BS? How do you recognize it intuition? How the heck does tarot relate, and what can you do to become better at listening to that inner voice? I also really struggle with saying French words because my mouth is made of Kentucky. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Also, I thank you for your reviews which were all heartfelt and meaningful! I also share about a new, fun offering: tarot by mail!

You get to meet Jenn in this episode. Anyone ever know you need to let something go.....but you don't know what could possibly fill its place? And so the fear of not knowing what to expect has held you back from letting something go? You might resonate with Jenn's story. And, there is an awesome update at the end of the episode straight from Jenn!

In this Mortisode, we get intimate with a thanatologically-informed perspective on regret, that bitter friend most of us encounter at some point in life. I had a really terrible week this week, completely scrapped what I planned to do for the 6th Mortisode, and this entire thing came out in one take. We touch on yoga, savasana and how to start doing things NOW that seem completely impossible. You can do it.

Ever feel a conflict between your analytical side and your spiritual side? Your head and your heart? Ever feel like you are floating, and not sure where you are headed? You might identify with Caroline's story. She shares a peek into her own life as we both explore the themes presented in her reading, together. This episode includes an update at the end!

In this Mortisode, we learn about Disenfranchised Grief: what it is, and what you can do when you spot it in real life. Sometimes, knowing the name of something helps you cope with it. Have you experienced this kind of grief before? What helped you through it?

Taking big leaps in life....takes a lot of courage! You get to meet Kasey in this episode, an extremely talented makeup artist based in NYC. Kasey's story inspires me to take risks and follow my dreams—hopefully, he will for you too. Stick around to hear the update from Kasey at the end!

This series on friendship is all about looking within....not out. It's an opportunity to check in with ourselves and take a reading—are you being the kind of friend you want to be during difficult times? 

This episode is all about embracing opportunity, despite any bumps in the road. This episode includes a real-life, in person update! Jessica and I got to meet in person weeks and weeks after her initial episode.

What we reject in others, we often don't allow in ourselves.

Sometimes the signs we’re given are not the signs we want. Meet Cora, a woman struggling with relationship challenges many have found themselves in at some point in their lives. What are you hanging on to in your own life, and why? 

It’s our second Little Deathisode—La Petite Mortisode No. 2. We are going to talk about purpose, profession, passions, preferences and people. Why? Because a lot of us struggle with the idea that we may have a unique purpose in life. And it’s hard to get clear on what that might be.

Sometimes, we need to step back and remind ourselves that things are good, and we got this. Episode 2 brings us Dana, a baker from Oregon. We talk about rainbow scrunchies, elopement and imposter syndrome. Also, croissants because she is an expert in making them! (There's a followup at the end, too!)

Surprise! Little Death? Try little death-episode. Deathisode? These are small episodes that touch on the big stuff that comes up in tarot interviews. In this Mortisode we talk about how to get started with tarot in your own life in a non-magical way.

What does finding loose change and attending wine tastings have to do with smoothing the stormy seas of life? Find out in this episode! You’ll get to meet Kat—a gal with a career in finance and an old house she’s making into a new home. The tarot card Cole is most afraid of popped up in this very intense reading—the Tower.

Host Cole Imperi gives you a preview of Life, Death & Tarot, and explains why tarot is not magic.