Tarot Bytes

Episode 236. How can creativity be a form of self-care? Can the Tarot play a role? Authors Cassandra Snow and Siri Vincent Plouff join me to answer those questions. We also talk about their new book Lessons From the Empress: A Tarot Workbook for Self-Care and Creative Growth (my absolute fave new Tarot book!).  Also: I like to say that I save the best for last. This will be my final Tarot Bytes podcast. 

Episode 236. Did you know meditation can help your tarot practice? It's true. Many tarot readers are meditators. But it can be hard to know how to begin. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Keziah Gibbons joins me to talk about the benefits of meditation for tarot readers. You'll also learn how you can use the tarot as a tool for meditation.

Episode 235. You've probably seen the stereotypes portrayed in popular media: fortune tellers with scarves in dark rooms, turning over the Death card and exclaiming imminent doom. Or maybe you have other ideas about tarot readers such as assuming they can read minds. Author Michael Herkes aka The Glam Witch joins me to debunk these misconceptions. He also gives the inside scoop about his newest book, Astrology for Witches: Enhance Your Rituals, Spells, and Practices with the Magic of the Cosmos.

Episode 234. The elements play a vital role in Tarot. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, artist Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown Tarot talks about the elements, alchemy, and her newest deck, The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck.

When people come to a tarot reader, the two most common queries are about getting paid...or laid. So which cards might indicate sexy times? Gabriela Herstik, the author of Sacred Sex, joins me to discuss the sexiest tarot cards. 

Episode 232. Do you struggle to learn the Court Cards? You're not alone. Most Tarot readers feel the Courts are tricky to interpret. Thomas from Hermit's Mirror has written a workbook called Awaken the Court Cards and he's sharing some of his best tips from the book. Learn how correspondences can help you develop a stronger relationship with the members of Tarot's Court.

Episode 231. Has your relationship with Tarot bottomed out? Feel like you never want to touch your cards again? This can happen to even the most ardent Tarot fanatic. Burnout or negative experiences can affect how you feel about your cards. Rashunda Tarot of Stay Woke Tarot joins me to talk about how she fell out of love - and back with Tarot. She shares a beautiful method for reconnecting with your Tarot practice that you'll want to use any time you've lost that lovin' feeling.

Episode 230. Can you be both skeptical and spiritual? GOOD QUESTION. The answer: yes. Rachel White aka The Skeptical Shaman is both (psst...so am I). In this episode, we talk about skepticism, spirituality, and how the two can go together - and should. Learn more about Rachel at her site: Totem Readings. 

Episode 229. Do you wonder what your dreams mean? Find yourself thumbing through a dream dictionary only to feel it doesn't apply to you? Tarot might be able to help you! In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Mimi Young of Ceremonie joins me to teach how she uses tarot for dream interpretation.

Episode 228. There has been an uptick in internet tarot scammers, especially on Instagram. I've had countless imposter accounts - and so have many of my peers. Sabrina Scott and I talk about our experiences with online scammers - and how metaphysical practitioners and followers can combat the problem. If you're a professional tarot reader, astrologer, healer, psychic, or sacred artist, this conversation can help you navigate this rising problem. Fans, followers, and clients can also listen and learn what to look out for so they can stay safe and avoid getting ripped off by these predators.

Episode 227. What is Cardology and how does it differ from Tarot? In this episode, Laura Haehl talks about Cardology, an ancient divination system using playing cards and astrology. You can learn about yourself, your loved ones, and so much more from a simple card!

Episode 226. If you work in the coaching industry, you might find the tarot to be a useful tool for your clients. But it can also serve you well. For example, you can sort out what a client needs from you - or you can reflect on what you need to show up as the best coach for your community. In this episode of Tarot Bytes life coach and author of Holy Heathen: A Spiritual Memoir Katherine North joins me to talk about how she uses tarot in her personal practice.

Episode 225. Over the years, there have been some common tarot reading problems I've experienced...and others have as well. Some of the most typical: drawing a blank, skeptics, vague questions, relying on the little white book too much, being ungrounded, and more. I'm sharing some quick tips on how to avoid these tarot reading problems so you can keep reading with confidence! 

Episode 224. So you decided you want to start reading tarot. But before you start shuffling, there may be a few things to keep in mind. Such as picking the right deck for you (nope, doesn't need to be the RWS), cleansing, calibrating your cards to you, protecting your energy...and more. Lucky for you, Brittany Kennedy of Nefertiti Rising Apothecary is sharing her best tips in this episode of Tarot Bytes. Listen in and learn how you can get started on the right foot!

Episode 223. If you want to feature guests on your tarot podcast or live stream, you need to know how to conduct a great interview. Onareo has a knack for getting people to open up and talk. In this special episode of Tarot Bytes you'll learn how he prepares for an interview, selects guests, and shines the spotlight on them. We also talk about originality and kindness - two things to keep in mind when you're hosting anything featuring authors, artists, and tarot folks.   

Episode 222. Ready to power up your manifesting game? Jen Sankey of Stardust Wanderer Tarot shares how she combines the phases of the Moon with the Major Arcana for big-time manifestation!

Episode 221. Crystals, tarot, astrology, yoga...these wellness practices seem to be getting hotter by the minute. But for too long, the metaphysical industry has been centered around white, cis-gendered, able-bodied, heteronormative folks. Thankfully, that is changing. People want inclusivity - and when it happens, communities thrive. While there is more diversity than ever before, we have a very long way to go. Artist Krystal Banner joins me to discuss why representation matters in wellness practices - and what we can do to make sure everyone gets a seat at the table. We also discuss her new Absolute Affirmations deck, one of my fave new spiritual tools.  

Episode 220. Tired of the same-old-same-old tarot spreads? In this episode of Tarot Bytes musician and tarot deck creator Cat Pierce joins me to talk about how to bring new spreads into your practice. She also gives the inside scoop on how she created her deck, The Wandering Star Tarot (one of my new faves!)

Episode 219. The Major Arcana is associated with the bigger picture and spiritual lessons. In a way, it can be compared to The Hero's Journey, a myth about a hero who embarks on a journey and must overcome challenges along the way. This transforms them on a deep level. Tarot reader Maisy Bristol joins me to talk about the hero's journey in the tarot cards. 

Episode 218. How do you know if your angels are trying to communicate with you? Can tarot help? Best-selling author and angel communicator Radleigh Valentine joins me to teach about angels, signs, and blessings. He also talks about his new tarot deck, Guardian Angel Messages Tarot. Our conversation will leave you feeling enlightened and inspired!

Episode 217. Do you suffer from creative blocks? Ever get a project sidelined because you can't move past that blank page? In this episode, beloved tarot deck artist Chris-Anne Donnelly joins me to teach how she uses oracle and tarot cards to move past those blocks. She also shares other techniques that have helped keep her artistic groove.

Episode 216. In this episode, I am joined by Veronica Varlow, author of Bohemian Magick: Witchcraft and Secret Spells to Electrify Your Life as she shares how to work with "spirit cards," a technique she learned from her grandmother Helen. This simple method will add a lot of depth and magic to your tarot readings. Veronica also talks about her new book, witchcraft, her cool family lineage, and so much more. Listen in and learn how to add spirit cards to your readings (thank you, Grandma Helen, for teaching Veronica so she could teach us!).

Episode 215. Sometimes a tarot reading doesn't make sense. When that happens, readers will often choose a "clarifying card." A clarifying card can offer additional guidance and so much more. Victoria Constantino, author of Tarot by the Moon: Spreads & Spells for Every Month of the Year, shares her thoughts and techniques about clarifying cards. 

Episode 214. What makes a reading empowering...or not? Neil from Must Be A Gemini Tarot joins me to answer that question. Learn how to approach your tarot readings with the right mindset and questions, whether you're getting or giving the reading.

Episode 213. Do you wonder how tarot readers get started? Curious on how some make the transition from tarot professional to writer...or deck creator? Sarah Potter joins me today for a fun and frank discussion on our tarot journeys. Learn how we made the leap from hobbyist to pro - and author. Sarah also gives the inside scoop on her new deck, The Cosmo Tarot!

Episode 212. In order for there to be justice and equality in the world, we need activists. They have always played an important role in creating freedom for all. But activists need support - and tarot can provide guidance and healing for those who stand up, speak up, and make a difference. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Corinna Rosella of Rise Up Good Witch joins me to talk about tarot as a tool for social justice work, healing, how tarot needs to change to better support folks, and more. Corrina also talks about their new class, Tarot As A Tool For Liberation. 

Episode 211. What happens when you bring a chef together with a tarot reader? Answer: divination + yummy things + a cookbook. Chef Courtney McBroom and tarot priestess Melinda Lee Holm join me today to talk about two of my favorite topics: tarot and food! They also share the deets on their new cookbook, Divine Your Dinner: A Cookbook for Using Tarot as Your Guide to Magickal Meals.  

Episode 210. When should I go pro? This is a question I get asked frequently. While there is no set timeline for taking the leap, you do need experience and education. Diving in before you're ready could be harmful to the client. In this episode I expand on that - and share an excellent tip from tarot legend Mary K Greer. (You can read Mary's whole post right here.)

Episode 209. If you are looking to find a great tarot reader, you're in luck. Thanks to the internet and tarot's popularity, you don't have to dig hard. Modern times have made it easy to find talented tarot pros - and it's also made it much easier for those professionals to put their work out there. Even so, how can you ensure you're going to find the right one? In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I'll share a few tips for discovering your next tarot fave - and the red flags you need to watch out for. 

Episode 208. Ever had a tarot card "leap" out as you're shuffling? Tarot readers call them "jumpers" and Kimberly Cooley of Abundant Life Tarot reads solely with them! When I heard this, I knew I had to talk to her and learn about her method. In this episode, Kimberly shares her techniques, thoughts, and philosophy around reading with jumpers. You'll also learn what's up when no cards seem to jump out. This episode might get you looking at your readings in a whole new way!  

Episode 207. Tarot has astrological correlations - and in this episode astrologer Debra Silverman explains how you can use tarot to understand your natal chart. As you start to see astrology through a tarot lens, you'll begin to understand yourself (and your chart) in a whole new way.

Episode 206. You might have heard of Reiki and wondered how it works. Reiki Master and Tarot reader Debra Lugo Pasquale of Golden Bee Tarot and Reiki joins me to talk about the benefits of Reiki - and how you can use it with your tarot practice. Learn how Debra incorporates Reiki into her client work and how you might use it to charge your deck...and more.

Episode 205. When you’re first beginning your tarot journey, there may be times when that old friend doubt starts creeping in. What if I’m wrong? This is common when you begin but I will say this: every tarot person worries about this same thing, even if they’ve been at it a million years. Reading tarot - and trusting your gut for that matter - is risky. Intuition is that sense of knowing something without facts - and we live in a culture that demands facts. So keeping the faith in your instincts or your tarot reading capabilities? That’s not easy. So first, do know you’re not alone if you are having those moments of doubt. It’s natural. We all feel that. But one way to begin developing confidence is to simply start keeping track of your readings and flashes of intuition. This is something I recommend in Tarot: No Questions Asked. Listen in and learn more. 

Episode 204. What's a spirit guide? Can tarot help you connect with them? Glad you asked! Intuitive tarot pro and author Arwen Lynch joins me to answer my questions about tarot and spirit guides. Learn how to find out who's guiding you, and what tarot spreads to use for this type of work (it's actually easier than you might think!). You'll also learn which tarot decks Arwen thinks are best for spirit work! 

Episode 203. Here’s the deal: sometimes you’re not in the mood to touch the tarot. You pick the cards up but the feeling is meh. Maybe you’ve been doing too many readings. Or perhaps you don’t like the question or the person sitting at your tarot table. Other tarot mood killers could be a vicious hangover, sickness, or preoccupation with some drama. If you’re doing a reading for yourself, it’s quite simple: if you’re not feeling it, leave it alone. Really, that’s it. But what if you’re a tarot professional and you have an appointment scheduled - or you’re sitting at a psychic fair and not feeling it? What do you do then? I'm sharing my two best tips in this episode of Tarot Bytes!

Episode 202. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’re going to encounter someone who is freaking out at some point. This can be challenging, especially for a new tarot reader. I’ve got a few tips for you - but I also want to share a few thoughts for folks who want a tarot reading and are in a state of panic. Let’s start with that. If you’re having a meltdown or are experiencing extreme anxiety, this is not the time for a tarot reading. Here’s why: you’ll have a hard time remaining grounded - and that may make it hard to receive an accurate reading. From my own experience, I can say when I’m tripping out about a situation, I struggle to remain objective. I’ll tend to hear what I want to hear - or hear what I fear the most. I can assure you that even if I get a great reading that says “everything will work out,” that tends only to hold me for a minute when I’m in a bad state of mind about a situation. If you feel frantic, I recommend prioritizing working with a therapist, healer, or health care practitioner. Extreme self-care needs to come first. A tarot reading can be part of your self-care, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you turn to, nor should a tarot reader ever take on the role of a licensed health care professional. Now, if you’re a tarot reader and someone comes to you in a state of distraught, here are a few thoughts on that.    Your job is to deliver a kind, helpful tarot reading. That means you must remain calm, centered, and objective - even if the person sitting at your tarot table isn’t. I will recommend that you have self-care practices that you do every day because that will help you remain grounded. For example, meditation is excellent for finding your calm. Physical activity such as yoga or a brisk walk before you begin work can also get you in the right mood for working with clients. Tarot readers need to practice great self-care to care for their clients without getting their own lives impacted by the work. A soothing backdrop is essential for both client and reader. I always have gentle music playing in the background. Your working space should be clean and peaceful, whether you see people in-person or do your work over the phone. A tranquil atmosphere can make all the difference for both parties. Ideally, you’ll have good boundaries in place so your clients can’t just show up at your door and demand an emergency reading. However, even with strict boundaries, there will still be times when your client has a rough situation creating anxiety. They may want to see you immediately. I’ll let you determine how you feel about that. But I will say this: if you are going to offer on-demand services without any boundaries, you risk burning out. And a burnt out reader isn’t able to help anyone for long. When you’re working with anyone, you’ll want to establish control of the experience. This is especially important when you’re working with people who are freaking out. Begin by doing something that helps the client take a moment to center themselves before you touch the tarot. I like reading an oracle card first. The one I use is the Power Deck by Lynn Andrews. Each card has a different spiritual meaning written on the back, and taking that minute to read the card will set the tone for the reading. Sometimes clients wonder why I begin with that oracle card. This is the reason why. It creates a sacred moment, so we’re both in a good place before starting to work with the cards. You may have a different process to set the tone for the reading. Perhaps you pour a client a cup of tea if you see them in-person. Or maybe you take a moment for a little light meditation or prayer. An invocation over the cards could also help bring the room's energy into a still, chill place. Next, you’ll want to practice slow, deep belly breathing. People will link their breathing to someone else’s. If you focus on deep breathing, often the client will tune in and slow their own breathing down too. This will pull them into a centered place and may take the edge off. Another breathing technique I use is “color breathing,” where I breathe slowly but visualize inhaling a radiant white light and breathing out a cobalt blue ray. I envision that cobalt blue surrounding the client and calming their aura. This is another way to cool the energy and soothe the client. Next, it’s time to listen. Give the client space to tell you what’s going on - and why they want a reading at this time. What is their goal? What are their expectations on how this reading will serve them? Sometimes allowing them to flesh out what’s going on and what they need will help take the energy down a notch. This reflection will also give you and them input on how to proceed. Once you’ve established a relaxed mood, begin your work. It would help if you remained calm at all times. Sometimes a person who is feeling anxious needs a person to talk to. If that is the case, again, let them have the floor. In fact, I find that this is a good practice in general when people are approaching tarot in a panicky way. Talking it out will help process feelings, plus it can lend well to finding good, helpful questions. I would recommend that you refrain from “will I” questions. These are disempowering and do not serve to help the client. Instead, you’ll want to reframe questions with the “what do I need to know about” or “how can I” so the client is in the driver’s seat of their situation. Often, panic sets in when we don’t feel in control. You always want to help the client find ways to take their power back. Never take the person’s pain lightly. Even if you think they are dramatic, do NOT judge or dismiss them. That is not only disrespectful but also unhelpful. It leads to shame, and the client might approach the reading with timidity instead of being open to the help the cards may have to offer. Think about it: if your reader just diminished your concerns, how open will you feel discussing anything with them? A reader should never pooh-pooh what the client is feeling. Never end the reading on a hopeless note. Help the querent find the hope and power in their situation. That needs to be your goal. I also recommend keeping a list of referrals such as therapists, hotlines, free text services for mental health, and, in some cases, local social services to help the client get the proper assistance. Again, your tarot work should never take the place of a licensed mental health expert or doctor. Once the reading is over, you’ll need to practice good spiritual hygiene. That may mean taking a walk, meditating, or something simple such as washing your hands, a practice my friend Brianna Saussy recommends. I’d also recommend that you encourage the client to put space between each reading. Sometimes a person who is stressed may want multiple readings on the same subject. This rarely does any good. It’s like picking at a wound. Time is needed to gain perspective. You don’t want to encourage dependence because that’s never good for the client or the reader. If they insist, I always refer to a health care practitioner or mental health expert. This is to protect the client, which is ultimately the goal. These are a few of my tips. I hope this helps you, whether you’re the client or the tarot reader.

When we think about tarot, we usually associate it with divination. Tarot isn’t just for looking at the future. In fact, there are many ways you can use the Tarot in your everyday life. Before I explore that, I also want to remind you that Tarot wasn’t originally intended for divination. It was created as a trick-taking game - and it is still played as a game in many parts of the world. If you want to learn how to play Tarot games, a quick search of the web will lead you to tutorials. Be sure to check that out. Now, on to our subject. Listen in and check out some of my favorite ways to to use Tarot in your daily life.

Episode 200. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, David Davis of Porous Palms joins me to talk about the role of Hoodoo and Tarot in the Black American Experience. How can the Tarot cards give insights into the lives of Black people? What is Hoodoo and how has it impacted Black lives, both in the past and present? How can Tarot and Hoodoo work together to support the Black community? David shares his thoughts about all of this and more. We also discuss "love-and-lightwashing" (aka toxic positivity) and the harm it does for marginalized folks as well as how to find a like-minded reader who can empathize with your lived experiences.

Episode 199. Do you tend to read the cards in the order of the spread? For example, does a Past, Present, Future reading need to be read that way - or is there a deeper, more intuitive method? Jenna Matlin joins me today to teach how she "pivots the table" and squeezes as much meaning as possible by passing back and forth over the cards. Intuitive hits and critical inquiry provide new details that might be missed if you simply read the positional meanings in a spread. She describes this as creating a "layer cake of meaning," a three-dimensional reading that goes further and provides more detail.  Jenna's method will get you spinning the spread in new directions - and igniting your intuition like never before! 

Episode 198. For too long, the tarot has been centered around white, cis-gendered able-bodied folks, Things have begun to change as more people demand representation. While strides have been made, the disabled community is still under-represented. Social justice activist and tarot reader Sara YK joins me to talk about a wide range of topics such as inclusivity in tarot decks, reading for disabled people, working as a pro when you have a disability, apps, and more. Sara opened my eyes to many things about tarot and disability - and I think our conversation will do the same for you.

Episode 197. I'll admit: I know next to nothing about the Akashic Records. I've never studied them or worked with them in any way. When Leeza Robertson and Pamela Chen suggested this as a topic, I was totally game! In this episode of Tarot Bytes, they enlightened me about Tarot and the Akashic Records. Learn how they work with both to help people heal and rewrite their stories. You'll be fascinated too!

Episode 196. In our daily lives, colors influence our actions. For example, certain shades of orange and red are used in fast-food restaurants to get us hungry...and moving along quickly. Does this same thing apply to tarot?  The colorful images in the tarot deck certainly capture our imaginations. But were the colors chosen deliberately for interpretation reasons? Or not? And what might the colors convey in a tarot reading? Color Magic practitioner and tarot reader Sarah Potter joins me to talk about how the magic of color adds so much to the cards...and how we interpret them. 

Episode 195. The Tarot is loaded with images of angels: Temperance, The Lovers, Judgement, and more. What messages do these angelic beings add to the interpretations? And what are "angel numbers?" I'm joined with tarot reader and angel expert Andrew Barker for an enlightening conversation about angels and tarot. After this discussion, I'll never look at the Wheel of Fortune the same!

Episode 194. In past episodes, we've looked at postures, gestures, and even the hands to glean information about the tarot cards. What about the faces on the figures? What do they reveal? A lot...and not a lot. Here's the deal: some cards have obvious associations with different emotions while others are rather neutral, leaving the reader to interpret what the figure might be feeling or conveying. Look at the smirk on the Five of Swords - that tells you there is something shady going on. But the inscrutable face of the Queen of Wands leaves your imagination to do the work. Different decks also have images that could give whole new interpretations based on the artist's rendering. I'll talk about all of this in the latest episode. 

Episode 193. When Madame Pamita told me about palmist James Divine, I was intrigued. They were teaching a workshop called the Palmistry Tarot Mash-Up, which decodes the hidden messages the hands reveal in the tarot cards. This got my attention (Geminis are always interested in hands!) and I booked him as a guest immediately. The information he shares in this episode of Tarot Bytes blew my mind. Was Pamela Colman Smith a palmist? I found myself asking that question once I learned James' method for divining what the hands meant. This was one of my fave episodes, hands down (LOL).

Episode 192. What's intuition all about - and what role does it play in tarot? How come some readers don't like the word "psychic?" Mat Auryn, the author of the best-selling book Psychic Witch, joins me today to answer those questions and so much more. Mat has been teaching intuitive tarot skills for many years and shares some of his techniques for tuning in and delivering helpful, accurate readings. I love his wise point of view - and think you will too. (Psst...if you want to be more psychic, get his book!)

Episode 191. I've said this again and again: tarot is not just for divination. It can be used in many ways. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, my favorite dynamic duo, Leeza Robertson and Pamela Chen teaches how tarot can be a wonderful tool for healing. We talk about chakras, tarot, Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping), and more. If you're curious about how tarot might be able to assist your healing journey, you'll love this episode.   

Episode 190. Tarot readers are so focused on serving others, that they often lose sight of their own needs. What happens when they use their spiritual gifts to heal themselves? In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Shaniqua Leach teaches how tarot readers can work with tarot to give themselves the same loving care that they give to others. Shaniqua talks about how to deliver a helpful reading to yourself in the same way you'd deliver one to a client. She also discusses what to do when you get stuck on a tarot card meaning, cards that keep popping up in the client's readings (there might be a message for YOU), plus some things you can do to get out of your headspace and back to your heart. This conversation is going to help every reader learn how to serve themselves as well as they do everyone else. 

Episode 189. When you have an idea of what's up, you can make better decisions. Tarot can help with that. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, actress and tarot reader Rachel True talks about how tarot can be used for confident decision-making. Rachel shares some of the ways tarot has helped her - and how it can help you too. We also talk about her uh-may-zing new True Heart Intuitive Tarot, a gorgeous new deck filled with modern interpretations and stories from her life. This is a must-have deck for tarot lovers and fans of Rachel's work. 

Episode 188. Keeping a journal is one of the best practices for self-care. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Gabriela Herstik teaches how to add astrology and tarot to your journaling. Learn how Gaby blends these sacred arts into her own practice - and how you can add them to yours. (Psst...Gabriela's new Embody Your Magick journal is a fab place to start!)

Episode 187. In a previous episode of Tarot Bytes, Mary Greer talked about "birth cards," a numerology technique where you add up your birth date and connect the final number to a tarot card. This can tell you a lot about yourself and your destiny. Mary joins me again to explore "yearly cards," which connects each year to a Major Arcana. We discuss personal year cards as well as yearly cards for the collective.