The Tarot Diagnosis

[TW: Discussion of death, grief, suicide.] This week on The Tarot Diagnosis, I sit down with the Five of Cups and a whole host of other cards, but not in the way we usually expect. Instead of offering a clinical take or a tidy metaphor, this episode is more of a free-flowing love letter to the messiness of grief: the kind that arrives with dreams, dead batteries, wildflower fields, and the unshakable ache of remembering (those will all make sense once you listen, I promise).Inspired by a recent pull of the Five of Cups (which you may have seen on Instagram), I reflect on decades of lived experience with loss - starting with my Uncle Barry and a stopped clock, winding through stories of my TT, childhood concoctions, and the ghosts of the selves we never got to be. This isn’t just an exploration of death-related grief, but of all the quiet, complicated, and cumulative forms grief can take: missed opportunities, dissolved friendships, the unspoken distance between people, the lives we didn’t live, but could have.You’ll hear me pull and process cards live that include the Ten of Swords, Six of Cups, Ten of Wands, Queen of Cups, and Ace of Cups - each offering insight into how we might tend to, hold, and honor our grief. I talk about the importance of remaining in relationship with what we’ve lost, the burden of carrying grief alone, and the healing power of shared memories, rituals, and emotional openness.This episode is for anyone who has ever carried the weight of grief, a memory that won’t fade, or a part of themselves that got left behind. Whether you’re mourning a person, an identity, or a path not taken, may this conversation offer you a moment of softness and proof that your pain and experience is real and valid.Deck used: Tarot VintageReferenced: "Grief is a form of learning" - Mary Frances O'Connor Watch her TedX here.Recommended Reading:The Grieving Brain by Mary Frances O'ConnorGrief is Love by Maris Renee Lee🌙 Stay Connected With Me💌 Follow me on Instagram: @thetarotdiagnosis 🧠 Sign up for my newsletter at thetarotdiagnosis.com 👥 Join The Symposium — my tarot & psychology membership communityIf you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a super easy and FREE way to support my work. Plus, it helps more people discover the podcast. I appreciate you all so much!Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.comMusic by Timmoor from Pixabay

Dive into a gripping exploration of the Five to Ten of Swords in tarot. Discuss the emotional turbulence of hollow victories and deceptive shields against pain. Journey through escapism, self-deception, and mental imprisonment, unveiling a psychological narrative that resonates deeply. Witness the transformation from collapse to catharsis, revealing how confronting our wounds can pave the path for healing. Join this reflective experience as we navigate the dark spiral of escapism and discover the light of personal growth.

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I’m unpacking the emotional aftermath of the Summer Solstice Summit and diving deep into one of the most powerful psychological and tarot-based concepts I explored there - the Golden Shadow, which I expand on as a type of abandoned archetype.I begin by reflecting on the special magick that unfolded during the Summer Solstice Summit and how a weekend meant for learning and connection blossomed into something collectively sacred and transformative. From heartfelt comments in the chat box, to “aha!” moments during presentations, it became clear that this space wasn’t just about tarot, it was about holding space for each other and ourselves.***Skip to 9:57 to avoid hearing me gush about the Summer Solstice Summit.***That leads into the theme of this episode: the golden shadow as the abandoned archetype. Using both therapeutic insight and Jungian psychology, I examine how the golden shadow holds our disowned potential… all of that creativity, boldness, and joy that have been buried under years of social conditioning and shame. I draw from Robert Bly’s “bag of shadows” as a metaphor and infuse some developmental psychology, as I reflect on how our shadow forms across the lifespan.Plus, you get to hear me talk about how the Tower is one hell of an epic, abandoned archetypal golden shadow. Tune in to hear my thoughts on how this often feared card is actually beautiful and admirable.In this episode, I also walk you through a tarot spread to help you meet your own golden shadow and discover your abandoned archetype. Through three card pulls, we explore how to identify repressed potential, recognize what’s blocking it, and find ways to integrate it back into our life. I end up pulling the Magician, Six of Wands, and the World.Whether you attended the summit or are just tuning in, I hope this conversation invites you to look at your shadow not only as a place of wounds, but as a container of all of your endless potential and authenticity!Deck used: Pamela Coleman Smith’s Playing Card DeckTarot Spread from the Episode:The unacknowledged potential of an abandoned archetypeAn obstacle preventing me from embracing this potentialA way I can reclaim and integrate this hidden potential into my life 🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube! Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This helps more people discover the show and is a great way to support my work <3Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.comMusic by Timmoor from Pixabay

Dive into the fascinating world of tarot as Judgment and Justice are explored through psychological and archetypal lenses. Discover how Judgment serves as an inner awakening, promoting liberation rather than condemnation. Justice stands for accountability and wise decision-making, encouraging actionable insights. Personal stories from Tampa Bay add emotional depth, while the Queen of Pentacles and the dynamic Emperor offer contrasting perspectives. Engage with your own tarot deck and reflect on these thought-provoking archetypes!

Unpacking the Two of Cups reveals more than just romantic notions; it dives deep into our subconscious projections and unmet needs. The discussion highlights how attachment styles, especially dismissive-avoidant ones, shape our ability to connect. Intimacy and autonomy emerge as compelling themes, showcasing their interplay. With insights from compassionate therapy, the conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity in relationships. The Page of Cups brings a gentle reminder of curiosity and open communication, adding depth to the exploration.

Explore the tension between productivity and rest through the lens of tarot cards. Discover why taking a break feels so daunting and how hustle culture distorts our sense of worth. Dive into Polyvagal Theory to understand nervous system responses and the struggle for calm. Delve into how societal pressures transform exhaustion into a badge of honor, while challenging norms that prioritize constant activity. Embrace the vital role of recuperation in enhancing creativity and mental health.

Mimi Cirbusova, a certified financial education instructor and money mentor, joins the discussion to redefine stability in today’s chaotic world. She introduces her Money Mountain framework, emphasizing how tarot can help ground us in financial uncertainty. The conversation delves into the connection between our nervous systems and financial anxiety, the balance between survival and joy through tarot's Four cards, and the importance of community for emotional wellness. Mimi encourages reframing our financial relationship with compassion and introspection.

Dive into a Jungian-tarot psychoanalysis of Sleep Token's latest single, exploring the complex interplay of fame, creativity, and identity. Unpack the emotional depth behind the minimalist arrangement, revealing a longing for simplicity in a chaotic success. Discover how the artist's duality and internal struggles relate to tarot archetypes and mythological themes. Throughout the discussion, examine the burdens of persona, the inner critic's voice, and the journey toward authenticity amidst the challenges of a capitalist art world.

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I’m continuing my monthly Tarot Therapy series by exploring a topic I’ve been wanting to discuss for ages: How tarot and witchcraft function as Psychodrama.Specifically, I explore how tarot and witchcraft can be understood and practiced through the lens of psychodrama, a powerful therapeutic method developed by Dr. Jacob Moreno. Psychodrama is essentially theater for the psyche. It’s an embodied way of working with emotion, memory, and healing through role play, creativity, and storytelling.If you’ve ever lit a candle for someone you love, pulled a tarot card that made your stomach drop, or cried while drawing a protection sigil - then you’ve already engaged in psychodrama.In this episode, I share why I believe tarot and magick aren’t just symbolic or ritualistic, but active, expressive healing tools. I talk about how tarot spreads become psyche-inspired stages, how tarot becomes characters, and how we can use these practices to externalize our inner world in ways that go beyond talk therapy.I also walk you through a guided psychodrama-inspired tarot practice using a technique called the soliloquy - a beautiful, embodied way to give voice to something you’ve been holding inside. ✨ In this episode, I talk about:What psychodrama is and how it relates to tarot and ritualWhy embodiment and symbolism matter for emotional healingHow to turn your tarot spread into a living storyA guided soliloquy-style tarot activity to help you release what’s been unspoken Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This helps more people discover the show and is a great way to support my work <3Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.comMusic by Timmoor from Pixabay

This discussion dives into the concept of the 'wounded caretaker,' uncovering how early emotional responsibilities affect adulthood. It juxtaposes the nurturing Queen of Pentacles with themes of burnout and self-neglect. The show explores the psychological impacts of parentification, emphasizing the importance of self-care. Tarot archetypes serve as tools for reflection, revealing hidden emotional needs and encouraging listeners to reconnect with their inner child. Through humor and deep insights, it highlights the often-overlooked struggles of those who habitually prioritize others.