Tarot Bytes

Using Tarot in a Therapeutic Setting with Jessica Dore

Episode 106: Using Tarot in a Therapeutic Setting with Jessica Dore. Tarot isn't just for divination any longer. Many readers are using tarot in new and surprising ways - such as mental health professional Jessica Dore. She has worked with clients living with depression, eating disorders, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, trauma, and more, using tarot as a tool to help them find self-compassion and coping skills.

In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Jessica shares her story on how she began using tarot in a therapeutic setting. You'll learn how tarot can be a helpful ally for healing work and how you may want to incorporate tarot into your clinical practice.

Round Tarot Decks with Angela Mary Magick

Episode 105: Round Tarot Decks with Angela Mary Magick. There are a few round tarot decks on the market. But for those of us who are used to working with the standard rectangular shaped cards, the round ones may seem bewildering. How do you shuffle them? What happens if they turn up sideways instead of up or down? Can you use them like a compass? These are the questions I had - and my favorite witch, Angela Mary Magick had the answers.

In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Angela Mary shares how she works with round cards - and what every reader needs to know if they're thinking of giving them a whirl.

Connecting with the Divine with Tosha Silver

Episode 104: Do you find yourself longing to connect to something greater than yourself? Wondering how to discover a deeper relationship to spirit? Many people who come to the tarot table are seeking something other than the standard "will I meet someone?" questions. They want to feel aligned with their spiritual life. 

In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I am talking with Tosha Silver, author of The Wild Offering Oracle about what it means to link with the divine - and how to make that connection. We also discuss prayer, non-believers, tarot, and surrender as well as Tosha's new deck. 

Tarot Birth Cards with Mary Greer

Episode 103: Tarot Birth Cards with Mary Greer. The tarot birth cards give clues about your personality and destiny. In this episode, Mary Greer teaches how to discover your birth card, as well as your name card, year card, and hidden challenges. Mary wrote  Who Are You in the Tarot?: Discover Your Birth and Year Cards and Uncover Your Destiny, the most comprehensive book on the subject. 

Stage Cards with Sasha Graham

Episode 102: Stage Cards with Sasha Graham. If you look closely at some of the cards in the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck, you'll see that some of the scenes on various tarot cards seem to have a stage backdrop. What's that all about? Tarot expert Sasha Graham, author of Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot has answers. In this fascinating discussion, Sasha talks about how artist's Pamela Colman Smith's theater background might have influenced these images. She also teaches how to interpret these cards. If all the world is truly a stage, then Smith certainly brought that element into the Rider Waite Smith Tarot!

Tarot and Magick with Damien Echols

Episode 101: Are you curious about magick? Wondering if there is a magickal component to tarot? In this fascinating episode Damien Echols, author of High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row, talks about the role of magick in tarot. Listen in and learn about what magick is, the Golden Dawn, and how to use tarot as a magickal tool. Damien also talks about the Guardian Angel of the tarot deck. This is one of my favorite tarot conversations and one that I think you'll find to be quite interesting as well.

The book we mentioned in this episode was Tarot Magic: Ceremonial Magic Using Golden Dawn Correspondences by Donald Tyson.

Reading Tarot for Groups with Jenna Matlin

Episode 100: Thinking about reading tarot for groups? Mary K Greer says it can be a "rite of passage" for tarot readers who want to go pro. But when you first start out? It can be scary. I spoke with Queen of Wands Jenna Matlin, author of Have Tarot Will Travel: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading at Festivals as a Tarot, about the ins and outs of reading tarot for groups. We cover everything from gaining experience and what you need to bring to dealing with unruly folks. Jenna has been reading tarot for festivals and parties for some time so I knew she'd be the right person to talk about this. If you ever wanted to learn how to nail group readings, you'll appreciate Jenna's wisdom.

 

Tarot and Prediction with Lisa Boswell

Episode 99: Tarot and Prediction with Lisa Boswell. There are some tarot folks who are proclaiming prediction and fortune-telling are "out." In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Lisa Boswell of Divination and Fortune-Telling busts that myth. Lisa specializes in predictive tarot and has a lot to say on the subject. We chat about skeptics, accuracy, why some tarot readers shy away from prediction, plus how to improve your predictive skills. Prediction is alive and well - and thriving.

Tarot and Kabbalah with Rachel Pollack

Episode 98: Tarot and Kabbalah with Rachel Pollack. The Rider Waite Smith deck is steeped in mysticism. Did you know that the Kabbalah is part of the rich symbolism in this popular deck? In this episode of Tarot Bytes, the legendary Rachel Pollack joins me to talk about the Kabbalah and its role in tarot. Soon you'll see the Tree of Life not only in the Ten of Pentacles but also in the Three of Cups and Five of Pentacles.

Get ready to go deep and get inspired by Rachel!

Books mentioned in this episode:

The New Tarot Handbook: Master the Meanings of the Cards

78 Degrees of Wisdom

Animals in Tarot with Lola and Tigre Pickett from Wild Messengers

Bonus Episode: Each animal in tarot carries special symbolism. From the howling wolves to the posture of the horses in the Knights, these creatures are archetypes, every bit as essential to interpretation as the human figures. But what do they mean? What is the meaning behind the wolves or that lobster creature in the Moon? What's going on with the dogs in the Ten of Pentacles? How might they be different than the little one in the Fool? And what's the deal with that snail in the Nine of Pentacles?

If you've ever wondered about these animals might mean, you don't want to miss this special bonus episode of Tarot Bytes! I'm talking all about animal symbolism in the tarot with Lola and Tigre Pickett, creators of the upcoming Wild Messengers Alchemical Tarot, a magical deck featuring the wisdom and medicine of creatures both large and small.