The Tarot Diagnosis The Shadow of Being Seen: Tarot, Psychology, and Writing My First Book
This week on The Tarot Diagnosis, I'm taking you behind the scenes of writing my new book, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow (available for pre-order now, out December 8, 2025!).
In this deeply personal episode, I share what happened the day I received my author copies: yes, including the moment I froze and couldn’t open the box. But more than that, I offer a director’s cut of the book itself - reading passages aloud, reflecting on what surprised me as I wrote it, and unpacking the emotional and psychological process behind writing about the shadow being an act of personal shadow work.
Together, we explore:
What it really feels like to be seen, exposed, and published
The existential terror of transparencyHow magical tools like crystals became sacred support in therapy
The Queen of Swords as persona and protector (hello, favorite archetype)
A real-life case study of shadow integration in therapy
What Sartre, Jung, Brene Brown, and tarot have in common
And yes, I do a bit of spontaneous exposure therapy by reading straight from the physical book instead of my digital copy (gulp). Spoiler: I also spill the behind-the-scenes tea on publisher recommendations, imposter syndrome, and what it's like to hold your life's work in one trembling hand while clutching herbal tea in the other.
Whether you're a longtime listener or just discovering the podcast, this episode offers a vulnerable look into the creative process, the messiness of being seen, and the transformative power of shadow integration.
📚 Pre-order my book Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow for more therapeutic tarot practices!
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Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of Deep Resonance Sound
Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com
Music by Timmoor from Pixabay