Tarot Bytes

Episode 156. Sure, you could use traditional spreads such as the Celtic Cross. But what if you wanted to create your own tarot spreads? Custom layouts that are tailored to you - or your clients - are not that hard to do! I'm joined today by Weston of Root Lock Tarot for a discussion on best practices for creating your own tarot spreads. Weston recently created The Root Lock Book of Spreads, an ebook filled with thirty-three original layouts. If you've ever thought that you wanted a fresh spread for any situation, Weston's advice is spot on.

Episode 155. If I had to label my style of reading, I would definitely fit in the "intuitive tarot reader" category. While the traditional meanings of the cards form a framework, I like to let my sixth sense lead the way in the interpretations. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I'm sharing one of my simple "Tarotcises" for intuitive tarot reading. This is an easy, effective way to get out of your head and into your gut. (By the way, Tarotcise is a term I coined for Tarot Exercises. I think it's cute.)

Episode 154. Years ago, I purchased a set of Runes. I couldn't seem to make heads or tails out of them, so I gave up. Turns out I needed to give those Runes some time, according to Abbie Plouff. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Abbie teaches what Runes are, how to work with them, and how you might incorporate this magickal tool into your tarot readings. I may have to give those Runes another chance! Book mentioned in this episode: Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic by Diana L. Paxson.

Episode 153. What is the Left Hand Path? How might a practitioner of this path approach tarot? I was curious. So I reached out to Bere Parra, a Mexican theistic satanic witch to learn more. Bere talks about common misconceptions about the left hand path, the Devil card, and more. This enlightening conversation sheds new light on a practice that is often viewed as "negative" or "scary." I have a better understanding of readers who follow this path. If you're wondering how a satanist might approach tarot, listen in.

Episode 152. Sometimes tarot takes us to places we don't expect. For example, we may come to the tarot table with a desire to sort out the future - but the cards take on a more therapeutic vibe. Tarot can go deep - and create profound healing. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Ashawnee DuBarry of ElysianSpiritTarot shares her story on how tarot helped her find peace, balance, and wholeness. We talk about self-sabotage, peeling away old stories, and finding clarity If you're ready to go deep with tarot, you'll want to listen to our conversation.

Episode 151. One of the most stunning decks to come out in the past few years is Dust II Onyx by Courtney Alexander. Some of my listeners wanted to learn more about the deck - and the talented artist behind it. In this episode, Courtney joins me to talk about the inspiration for her deck, invocation, ancestors, ritual, and bonding with the deck. We also learn about the mysterious "Black Onyx" card and practice one of the spreads in the book. If you have this deck and want to learn more about it, you'll love this episode! Don't have it yet? This may convince you to get it. (PS a travel version is coming out! YAY!)  

Episode 150. Although we often associate tarot as a tool for divination, modern readers are also using it for self-care. In this episode, I'm joined by Sarah Chappell for a discussion on how tarot helped her with sobriety. You'll learn how tarot can become your ally on the road to recovery.

Episode 149. Charm casting has become extremely popular amongst tarot devotees. We can thank Carrie Paris for this - she's been a leading force for this ancient form of divination. With products like the Magpie Oracle, Carrie has been helping people determine the future with simple, everyday objects. In this episode, Carrie shares how she got into charm casting, how to use it with tarot, and create your own talismans for divination. 

Episode 148. Believe it or not, tarot clients aren't always asking about love and money. Sometimes they want to talk about the state of the world - and what it may mean for the future. In this episode, Georgianna Boehnke of The Tarot Room joins me to talk about how tarot can be used as a tool to understand current events - and how to deal with an unpredictable world.  

Episode 147. I've said it again and again: tarot isn't just for divination. Nowadays, folks are using it for creativity, introspection, therapy, and more. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I'm joined by J Ryan Kent, who has been combining tarot and life coaching as a way to help his clients take command of their lives. Listen in and learn how tarot and life coaching are perfect allies for growth. 

Almost every tarot teacher agrees: keeping a tarot journal is a fantastic way to grow your skills. But where do you begin? What type of journal should you use? What things might you record in your journal?  In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Donnaleigh de la Rose joins me to share her best tips for tarot journaling. Donnaleigh also talks about how journaling has been a powerful tool for transformation in her own life.  My favorite pens mentioned in this episode: Le Pen. My fave journal is from Nuuna. 

Episode 145. Did you ever notice how someone stands and think "Gee, that person looks confident?" Postures can say a lot. In tarot, there are symbolic meanings behind how the figures stand, sit, or hold their tools. Even the hand gestures mean something. For example, an open palm can suggest opportunity - or receiving. When you study the cards in-depth, these small details add a lot to your readings. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Dina Berrin and I discuss the postures and gestures in the cards - and what they might be trying to convey. This episode will help add new layers of meanings to interpretations.

Episode 144. When you're doing a tarot reading for someone else, how should you deliver information? Do you "tell it like it is" or soften it up - especially when the cards aren't favorable? Is there ever a time when you shouldn't reveal what you see? How can you find a balance between honesty and compassion? I explore all of this and more with Elliot Adam. This is an important topic for tarot professionals - and there is no one better to deliver the honest truth about communication than Elliot.

Episode 143. For too long, tarot decks have featured primarily white people. (There was even a tag on Twitter called #tarotsowhite a few years back.) But that has changed. More folks are looking for diverse decks featuring images that represent people who look just like them. Indie artists have been leading the way, creating stunning, multicultural decks. Artists like Courtney Alexander, the talent behind the celebrated Dust II Onyx Tarot. In this episode, Courtney joins me to discuss inclusivity and tarot. We talk about Courtney's journey as a deck creator, how artists can be inclusive and remain respectful, and more. Courtney's wisdom will give all deck creators something to think about going forward. This is an important conversation and one that I hope to explore further in future episodes.

Episode 142. Wondering what role the numbers play in tarot? Pleasant Gehman joins me to talk about tarot and numerology. Even if you're not a math fan (we weren't back in the day!), you'll see that the numbers hold significant meaning - and an understanding of numerology will help you deepen your knowledge of the cards. Pleasant shares great tips including her method for adding up all the numbers in a reading. You'll definitely want to try this technique - it will blow your mind!

Episode 141. More and more people are finding that tarot isn't just for divination. Tarot can be used for therapy, storytelling, healing, and creativity. Today, I am joined by artist Michelle Sakhai. Michelle is sharing how tarot inspires her art - and how it lead to her amazing exhibit The Arcana Series: Interpretations of Tarot. (If you're in the New York area and a lover of tarot 'n art - this is a MUST see.) This episode of Tarot Bytes may just give your muse a nudge to begin using tarot for creative inspiration!

Episode 140. Most people do tarot for themselves or for individual clients. But what about readings for the collective? How might that tell us about the world we live in - and ourselves? Mantis Tarot does just that. Collective tarot readings, or tarot for humanity, is a way to glimpse at what's happening out there - and how it might affect us as individuals. This way of reading can also give us an idea of how we're showing up - and impacting the collective. After all, we're all in this together. Everything we do does leave an impact on the world - and vice versa. Mantis explains his method and gives a demo too! This topic is so interesting to me - and I think you will dig it too.

Episode 139. Tarot cards are filled with symbolism. Tarot readers know that everything in the cards is there for a reason. For example, the colors and costumes hold meanings. Think about it: how do you feel when you see the color yellow? What does a gorgeous gown make you think of? In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Dina Berrin and I discuss the colors and clothing in the cards - and what they mean. This episode will help you to take your interpretations even deeper.

Episode 138. Ever pull a tarot card that makes you groan? You know what I mean: a card that looks "scary" such as The Tower or maybe the Ten of Swords. Those cards often elicit a strong reaction - and usually a negative one. But the hard cards are great teachers and not something to fear. They are often portals into new levels of consciousness. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I'm joined by Sarah Gottesdiener for an enlightening discussion on hard cards. We discuss how to look at the difficult cards in an empowering way, decks with no bad cards, what to do if a reading leans toward the negative - and more. This episode may just change your mind about the tarot cards that freak you out.

Episode 137. I use this spread with a specific question in mind. It’s not for general outlooks - the Past Present Future spread (or the Celtic Cross) is better suited for that. Here are the positions: The Situation, What You Need To Know, Advice The Situation looks at the current energy around the question. What You Need To Know covers those blind spots or things you may be choosing to ignore. Advice offers guidance so you can make good, conscious decisions. Useful as can be and easy to work with. You'll defo want to add this spread to your tarot toolbox.