The Tarot Diagnosis

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I’m continuing the new Tarot Therapy series, where I explore tarot through the lens of therapeutic theories and modalities. In this episode, I’m nerding out about Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Suit of Wands and uncovering how the fiery energy of Wands aligns perfectly with the psychology of change, motivation, and burnout.At its core, Motivational Interviewing is a therapeutic approach designed to help people work through ambivalence and move toward change. I spend time talking about how the four fundamental MI processes (Engaging, Focusing, Evoking, and Planning) mirror the journey of the Suit of Wands, making this an exciting and dynamic pairing.Join me as I explore how each card in the Suit of Wands maps onto different aspects of MI, using a fictional client case study to illustrate these concepts in action. From the Ace of Wands igniting motivation to the Ten of Wands warning us about burnout, this episode walks you through how tarot can help us better understand the change process.If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of procrastination, burnout, or self-doubt (or if you just want to explore new ways to approach personal growth) this episode is for you! Tune in for a nerdy and insightful blend of tarot, psychology, and practical self-reflection.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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen on. It really is a HUGE help and allows more people to see the podcast!Have a topic you’d like to hear about? I'm always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic!Don't forget to subscribe to The Tarot Diagnosis 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 week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I explore how the brain’s dopamine system drives us to feel intoxicated by toxic relationships. Inspired by conversations with clients, I discuss the science behind intermittent reinforcement and how tarot cards like The Devil and the Two of Swords reversed perfectly mirror these psychological patterns. Join me as I walk you through the neurobiological and emotional mechanics behind toxic relationship cycles and share insights from the minor arcana that represent these forces. I also talk about the reversed behavioral characteristics of the Knight of Cups, the role of cognitive dissonance, and the pointed, yet nurturing guidance from the Queen of Pentacles for reclaiming stability and self-worth. The Moon, Wheel of Fortune, and Eight of Swords make their role known in this process as well.If you’ve ever wondered why you find it so hard to walk away from a toxic relationship or want to develop a healthier relationship with yourself, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in for a blend of mental health wisdom, neuroscience, and tarot magic.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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast!Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic!Don'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 community⁠The 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

Dr. Thomas Brooks, a research psychologist and tarot enthusiast, dives deep into the cognitive magic of tarot. He explains how tarot enhances cognitive flexibility and promotes self-reflection. The conversation covers the significance of archetypes like The Emperor and how they evoke personal emotional responses. Thomas also shares his academic journey, discussing how tarot serves as a powerful tool for personal growth and insight. Discover how this unique blend of psychology and tarot can reshape our understanding of ourselves.

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I am nerding out! I explore the concept of Tarot by Omission: what it means when a particular suit or archetype is missing from a reading, and how that absence can guide deeper self-exploration.  To bring this concept to life, I introduce a fictional, therapeutic case study, analyzing a tarot spread where Cups and Swords are absent, revealing deeper emotional and cognitive blocks. I also offer practical applications for identifying and working with omissions in your own readings. Side note: I didn't explore the absence of court cards, but I will be exploring this in an upcoming workshop inside The Symposium! Inspired by my clinical musings on silence in the therapy room, I reference the following study in this episode:  Koudenburg, N., Postmes, T., & Gordijn, E. H. (2011). Disrupting the flow: How brief silences in group conversations affect social needs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(2), 512–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2010.12.006 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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don'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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I am introducing a brand-new series—Tarot Therapy! In this series, I’m returning to the foundation of my work, where I explore tarot through the lens of psycho-therapeutic models and theory. Each episode in this series will dive into a different psychological theory and/ or therapeutic model, blending them with tarot to deepen self-awareness and of course, personal growth. In this kickoff episode, I explore The Aces in tarot through the Transtheoretical Model of Change, also known as the Stages of Change. If you’re part of The Tarot Diagnosis community, The Symposium, you might recognize this concept from a recent workshop. This episode serves as a deep dive into how each Ace corresponds to a different stage of change. Precontemplation → Ace of Cups: When we’re unaware that change is needed. What are we oblivious to that needs to change? Contemplation → Ace of Swords: The moment clarity strikes, but doubt lingers. What’s the story we tell ourselves about change? Preparation → Ace of Pentacles: Laying the foundation and gathering resources. What support do we need? Action → Ace of Wands: Taking bold steps toward transformation. What’s one small action we can take right now? Maintenance → The Fool: Sustaining progress with curiosity and resilience. How do we keep moving forward? Throughout the episode, I pull cards to explore each stage more deeply, offering prompts and reflections for your own tarot practice. Plus, I’ve modified the Celtic Cross spread to align with the Stages of Change—head over to Instagram (@TheTarotDiagnosis) to check it out! If you’re ready to explore transformation through tarot and psychology, this episode is for you. Listen now and let’s dive into Tarot Therapy! 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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don'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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

2025 is poised to be the 'Year of the Hermit', inviting deep introspection and personal growth. The symbolism of the Hermit—such as the lantern and staff—serves as a guide for self-discovery and transformation. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their journeys, fostering gratitude and an understanding of their impact on the community. Plus, there's an exciting new guided journal filled with prompts and rituals to navigate this transformative year. Embrace the Hermit's wisdom and prepare for an insightful year ahead!

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I’m reflecting on the last year and my personal relationship to vulnerability. A few weeks ago, we reached the 150th episode of this podcast, and I’ve been quietly contemplating the journey that brought us here. To those of you who have been with me since the beginning, and to the newer listeners who’ve joined along the way—thank you. Your support and engagement mean the world to me. Lately, I’ve found myself at a crossroads, grappling with personal challenges that have tested my resilience. As I step into a new era of vulnerability, I’m sharing some deeply personal solstice and birthday reflections with you.  In this episode, I pull three tarot cards to explore who I was, who I am, and who I am becoming: Who I Was: Judgement (Reversed) — A reminder to relinquish control, codependency, and people pleasing in order to embrace freedom. Who I Am: Ten of Pentacles (Reversed) — Facing fear and seeking the courage required to rebuild after life shreds the future narrative I wrote. Who I Am Becoming: King of Cups (Reversed) — Embracing the importance of confronting emotional restraint and allowing my emotional messiness to be witnessed. Through these reflections, I’m embracing the messiness of growth and inviting you to do the same. My hope for 2025 is that we all open ourselves up to being seen, loved, and accepted in our full complexity. Join me for this deeply personal journey and reflect on how your own tarot cards might mirror your path. 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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don'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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

In this engaging conversation, Chelsey Pippin-Mizzi, a talented author and certified shadow work practitioner, shares how her latest book, Tarot for Creativity, inspired artists and writers to overcome creative blocks. They discuss the transformative power of tarot, focusing on cards like the Death card and Eight of Pentacles. Chelsey emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfections in the creative process and offers playful exercises, including haiku writing, to unlock creativity. It’s a journey of self-discovery through tarot that resonates deeply with creative souls.

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I am sitting down with Brigit Esselmont, the founder of Biddy Tarot and the best-selling author of Everyday Tarot. Brigit just released her latest book, Intuitive Manifesting, a practical guide to using your intuition to supercharge your manifestations. In this episode, Brigit and I spend time exploring the intersection of manifestation, intuition, and tarot. We explore the inspiration behind her new book, discuss how to uncover your true desires beyond superficial goals, and touch on the psychological aspects of manifestation, including the power of visualization and managing limiting beliefs. We also pull cards together to reflect on the archetypes of manifestation, specifically The Devil and the Page of Pentacles, an unsuspecting pairing that ends up leading us down an insightful path. Throughout our conversation, Brigit shares how to align logic and intuition in the manifestation process, how tarot can support visualization practices, and why dropping from the head to the heart is a vital step in manifesting meaningful, fulfilling outcomes. This conversation is packed with actionable insights, examples, and inspiring advice for anyone curious about the practical and intuitive sides of manifestation. Whether you’re new to tarot or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to harness your inner wisdom to create the life you desire. Grab your copy of Intuitive Manifesting here! 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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don'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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I am highlighting the hidden narratives that shape our lives: the unspoken family stories and ancestral shadows that influence us in ways we might not even realize. Inspired by my clinical work (especially during the holiday season), the collection of essays What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, and my recent workshop on ancestral shadows (available for replay inside The Symposium), this episode explores the legacies we inherit and how they shape our identities. Join me as I discuss how the suit of Pentacles reflects these dynamics, from the stories we inherit (Ten of Pentacles) to the active work of transformation (Eight of Pentacles). We’ll explore generational trauma, the science of epigenetics, and how unspoken family narratives often manifest in unexpected ways. If this episode resonates with you and you’re ready to dive deeper, I invite you to join The Tarot Diagnosis Symposium. Our monthly workshops are a space for self-reflection, healing, and growth. You can also access the recording of our Ancestral Shadows Workshop, complete with an in-depth workbook to guide your exploration. As a special perk for podcast listeners, I’m offering 50% off the first three months of membership to The Symposium! Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 at checkout when you sign up at thetarotdiagnosis.com. This exclusive deal is just for you, my podcast listeners, and won’t be announced anywhere else until Black Friday. I hope this episode inspires you to explore your own unspoken stories. Let’s uncover, reflect, and grow—together. ✨ 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 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don'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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com Music by Timmoor from Pixabay