The Tarot Podcast with T. Susan Chang

Episode 29: Five Questions with Jamie Sawyer + the Out of Hand Tarot

Indie tarot artist Jamie Sawyer has created many decks, of which my favorite is today’s showcase: the Out of Hand Tarot.  Drawn (mostly) from a first-person perspective and packed with sly references to the Rider Waite Smith tarot, Out of Hand invites you to step into the cards and experience those familiar archetypal presences in a 21st-century setting. Jamie’s decks have limited print runs and sell out quickly, but she has made this one available again through the modern magic of print-on-demand!
And be sure to check out this week’s video bonus content for patrons, where you can watch a time-lapse video of one of Jamie’s cards evolving from start to finish: patreon.com/thetarotpodcast.
Jamie Sawyer is an artist who enjoys exploring the many ways that creativity weaves through the tapestry of life. From a career in tattooing that has spanned over 2 decades to learning the Tarot and its lessons via illustrating the art and archetypes, Jamie has developed a unique artistic style. A self-proclaimed “creatrix with a busy mind and a lack of vices,” Jamie has self-published over 10 divination decks (including tarot, oracle and Lenormand). She also is known for her miniature handmade heirloom resin and wood “Tarot Tiles,” a tactile way to experience some of her creations. Her preferred method of connecting with the Tarot is through layered readings using the many creative divination tools she makes.
 
Where to find Jamie:
Explore Jamie’s website! https://www.jamiesawyer336.comBuy decks at Jamie’s print-on-demand shop! https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/jamiesawyer336Support Jamie on Patreon! https://www.creativedivination.comIG: @jamiesawyer336YouTube: @Jamiesawyer336Substack: https://jamiesawyer.substack.com
 
✯ MORE TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯
✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ 
etsy.com/shop/tarotista 
Arcana Cases
elemental and zodiacal perfumes
custom perfumes based on your sun, moon, and rising!
8 of Wands talisman key chains and luggage tags
9 of Swords blankets
Tarot Podcast merch!
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯www.tsusanchang.com/shop
✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships & gift memberships ✯www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
✯ The Living Tarot Online Class ✯www.tsusanchang.com/class
✯ Readings with TSC ✯www.tsusanchang.com/readings
✯ TSC books ✯
Dreaming the Decans (hc/pb): www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/dreaming-the-decans/hardcover/product-v8kqed2.html
36 Secrets (hc/pb): https://www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/36-secrets/paperback/product-zzrd79
The Living Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tarot-Connecting-Everyday-Readings/dp/0738772259
Tarot Correspondences: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Correspondences-Ancient-Secrets-Everyday/dp/0738755125
Tarot Deciphered: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Deciphered-Decoding-Esoteric-Symbolism/dp/0738764477
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 28: Can Looking at Art Help Me Read Tarot?

In today’s episode, we plunge into the world of the image with artomancer Laetitia Barbier! 
When we enter into a tarot reading, we look at the pictures on the cards in a particular way. And when we enter a gallery or museum, we look at the paintings hanging on the walls in another way. How are these two ways of looking different? Do they need to be? Can looking at art teach you to read tarot? Or to put it the other way: Can reading tarot teach you to look at art?  Could museums really be portals to a spirit dimension, in disguise?!  So. Many. Questions!
Laetitia has long haunted the unfathomable intersection of art and magic, so who better to ask? Our conversation opened many doors for me – and I look forward to hearing what you think.
 
French-born Laetitia Barbier is an independent scholar, as well as a professional tarot reader and teacher. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art History from La Sorbonne University Paris in 2009. Laetitia has worked with Morbid Anatomy from 2012 to 2024 as a programming director, head librarian, and occasional curator. Her book Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive was published in 2021 with a foreword by Rachel Pollack. Along with her friend Lou Benesch, she’s the co-creator the Camena Tarot. As a writer and scholar, she has the privilege of collaborating with the iconic French maître-cartier Grimaud, notably on the exquisite re-release of their 1930s Tarot de Marseille and Belline Oracle.
Laetitia has lectured, taught and read cards for various cultural institutions, such as Greenwood Cemetery, Artyard,  Fotografiska NY, the College of Psychic Studies in London or the New York Public Library. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Check out Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archivehttps://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Divination-Cards-Visual-Archive/dp/1419756370
Explore Laetitia’s events, readings, and classes:https://laetitiacartomancy.com
Join Laetitia’s Patreon communityhttps://www.laetitiacartomancy.com/patreon
✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯
✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ https://etsy.com/shop/tarotista 
Arcana Cases
elemental and zodiacal perfumes
custom perfumes based on your sun, moon, and rising!
8 of Wands talisman key chains and luggage tags
9 of Swords blankets
Tarot Podcast merch!
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯www.tsusanchang.com/shop
✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
✯ The Living Tarot Online Class ✯www.tsusanchang.com/class
✯ Readings with TSC ✯www.tsusanchang.com/readings
✯ TSC books ✯
Dreaming the Decans (hc/pb): www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/dreaming-the-decans/hardcover/product-v8kqed2.html
36 Secrets (hc/pb): https://www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/36-secrets/paperback/product-zzrd79
The Living Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tarot-Connecting-Everyday-Readings/dp/0738772259
Tarot Correspondences: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Correspondences-Ancient-Secrets-Everyday/dp/0738755125
Tarot Deciphered: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Deciphered-Decoding-Esoteric-Symbolism/dp/0738764477
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 27: The 6 of Wands in Real Life

In this episode, we examine how the 6 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary humans like you and me.
With our first 6, the suit of Wands finds its purpose in life and starts to shine with the glow of empowerment! which is why it’s called the Lord of Victory.  When you draw it, look out for the following themes:
Pride/Accomplishments
Favorable Health Outcomes
Good News/Generous Acts
Fame/Recognition/Winning
Horses! or Going places
Literal/Visual Rhymes
To share your stories about the 7 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast!You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page.
✯✯✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯✯✯
✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ etsy.com/shop/tarotista 
Arcana Cases
elemental and zodiacal perfumes
custom perfumes based on your sun, moon, and rising!
8 of Wands talisman key chains and luggage tags
9 of Swords blankets
Tarot Podcast merch!
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯www.tsusanchang.com/shop
✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
✯ The Living Tarot online class ✯tsusanchang.com/class
✯ readings with TSC ✯www.tsusanchang.com/readings
✯ TSC books ✯
Dreaming the Decans (hc/pb): www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/dreaming-the-decans/hardcover/product-v8kqed2.html
36 Secrets (hc/pb): https://www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/36-secrets/paperback/product-zzrd79
The Living Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tarot-Connecting-Everyday-Readings/dp/0738772259
Tarot Correspondences: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Correspondences-Ancient-Secrets-Everyday/dp/0738755125
Tarot Deciphered: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Deciphered-Decoding-Esoteric-Symbolism/dp/0738764477

Episode 26: Am I Psychic Enough To Read Tarot? with Mat Auryn

It’s in everybody’s stereotype of the fortune-teller – the dimly lit boudoir, the crystal ball, the embroidered cushions, and on the storefront, a great big sign that says, “PSYCHIC.” But do you really need to be psychic to read the cards? And what does it mean to be psychic, anyway?
In this week’s episode, we look for answers with one of today’s leading voices in all things psychic: Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch, The Psychic Art of Tarot and other titles. For many years, Mat read tarot on what you’d have to call the frontline of psychic engagement: Salem, Massachusetts in the month of October.
In our conversation, you’ll learn a bit about what it’s like to be a psychic practitioner—and how you can access your own special abilities to become a better tarot reader.
 
Mat Auryn is an influential author and teacher in occultism and witchcraft. His books Psychic Witch, Mastering Magick, and The Psychic Art of Tarot offer practical insights into psychic and magickal practices. He also co-authored Pisces Witch with Ivo Dominguez, Jr. Mat’s work draws from various spiritual and magickal traditions he’s studied and trained in, aiming to synthesize them in accessible and practical ways. Beyond writing, Mat worked for many years as a professional psychic and tarot reader in Salem, Massachusetts, as well as his own private practice. He is on the faculty at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, and co-hosts THE CIRCLE IS podCAST with actress Rachel True. Residing in California’s Bay Area, he co-owns Datura Trading Co. and Modern Witch University. You can find out more information about Mat on his website at www.Auryn.com
Read Mat’s best-selling Psychic Witch
Check out The Psychic Art of Tarot
THE CIRCLE IS podCAST
 
✯✯✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯✯✯ 
✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ www.etsy.com/shop/tarotista 
Arcana Cases
elemental and zodiacal perfumes
custom perfumes based on your sun, moon, and rising!
8 of Wands talisman key chains and luggage tags
9 of Swords blankets
Tarot Podcast merch!
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯www.tsusanchang.com/shop
✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
✯ The Living Tarot online class ✯www.tsusanchang.com/class
✯ readings with TSC ✯www.tsusanchang.com/readings
✯ TSC books ✯
Dreaming the Decans (hc/pb): www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/dreaming-the-decans/hardcover/product-v8kqed2.html
36 Secrets (hc/pb): https://www.lulu.com/shop/t-susan-chang/36-secrets/paperback/product-zzrd79
The Living Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tarot-Connecting-Everyday-Readings/dp/0738772259
Tarot Correspondences: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Correspondences-Ancient-Secrets-Everyday/dp/0738755125
Tarot Deciphered: https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Deciphered-Decoding-Esoteric-Symbolism/dp/0738764477
 

Episode 25: Reversed Cards

“Oh no!  Some of my cards ended up upside down! What does that mean?!”
In this week’s Try This at Home! segment, we’re having a look at one of the most common matters of debate among tarot readers: how to interpret reversed cards. There are many schools of thought on how to handle reversals, so I’ve put together a brief guide so you can choose what makes sense to you.
If you’ve enjoyed this summary and would love more answers to all your tarot “starter questions,” check out my book, The Living Tarot, available wherever books are sold.  Or, consider The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book – just email me.)
And if you already use reversals, I’d love to hear your take on how you interpret them! Write to me on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com.
Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!thetarotpodcast.com
Continue your tarot journey with The Living Tarot book and/or The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book!)
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 24: Can You Use Tarot in Dreamwork? with Deb & Joseph from This Jungian Life

Interpreting dreams and interpreting tarot have a lot in common, so in this episode the hosts of This Jungian Life and I join forces to interpret a dream—one that contains actual tarot imagery! 
The dream took place in 2020, but it’s not a pandemic dream. It’s personal dream, but also timeless and universal, and a great example of how tarot and dream symbol systems can interact with one another.
If you’d like to learn some practical ways of using tarot in dreamwork, be sure to check out our Patreon bonus content this week, where I talk about how you can bring your cards into the dream world and vice versa.
Deborah Stewart is a Jungian analyst, Gestalt therapist, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who migrates between Cape Cod and Sarasota, Florida. She is a member of the Philadelphia Association of Jungian Analysts and the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. She also is a graduate of the Westchester Institute for Training in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. She is a member of the podcast This Jungian Life, co-author of Dream Wise, and co-creator of Dream School, a self-paced online course in dream interpretation.
Joseph R. Lee is a Jungian Analyst who co-hosts This Jungian Life and co-created Dream School. He lectures widely on the Western Mystery Tradition and Hermetic Qabalah. His teaching and clinical work are informed by almost five decades of research and practice with Tarot and other symbolic systems.
This Jungian Life [podcast]: Three Jungian analysts discuss myth, mental health and life
Dream School: An online self-paced course in dream interpretation
Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams [book]
Dreaming the Decans: TSC’s compendium of dream images and decan spells (paper/hardback)
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Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!thetarotpodcast.com
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 23: Five Questions with Patrick Valenza + the Deviant Moon Tarot

There is no shortage of spooky, surreal, spine-tingly decks on the shelves of the world’s metaphysical shops: the joyous Santa Muerte Tarot, the Zombie Tarot, the Welcome to Night Vale Tarot and countless others. But in this week’s 5 Questions episode, we spend some time with what is in my opinion one of the great “stick season” decks of all time: the Deviant Moon Tarot.
The look of the deck is singular, springing from creator Patrick Valenza’s lifelong relationship with tarot. Deviant Moon marries the grotesque with the sumptuous, the steampunk with the byzantine—you can almost hear a Danny Elfman soundtrack playing in the background when you shuffle the cards. The Deviant Moon’s citizen spirits captured my imagination the first time I saw them, and I bet you’ll feel the same.
Patrick Valenza is an American artist and publisher best known for The Deviant Moon Tarot, published by U. S. Games Systems Inc. Through his studio, Deviant Moon Inc., he creates original tarot and oracle decks recognized for their surreal imagery and handcrafted detail. His work blends folklore, symbolism, and dreamlike narratives, earning him a devoted international audience in the world of contemporary tarot art.
Pick up a copy of the Deviant Moon deck:
Check out the Deviant Moon companion book:
Deviant Moon on Instagram
Patrick’s Facebook fan page: 
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Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!thetarotpodcast.com
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 22: The 5 of Wands in Real Life

In this episode, we examine how the 5 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary humans like you and me.
As we progress through the suit of wands, the 5 of Wands heats things up with a restless, roiling, fractious energy that just gets under your skin. When you draw it, look out for the following themes:
Emotional strife
Striving and challenges
Sports/playing around
Debates or differences of opinion
Counting to 5
Literal and visual equivalents
Heat (hot weather and cooking!)
To learn a 5 of Wands magic spell you can do at home -  and share your stories about the 6 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast!You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page.
Become a Tarot Podcast member! https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for Tarot Podcast merch & cool stuff made by your host! https://etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!https://thetarotpodcast.com
Check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/36-Secrets-Decanic-Journey-through/dp/1716325099
Learn your correspondences with Tarot Correspondences! https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Correspondences-Ancient-Secrets-Everyday/dp/0738755125
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 21: What is the Thoth Tarot? with Lon Milo DuQuette

In today’s “Ask an Expert” episode, we bring back the legendary (and hilarious!) Lon Milo DuQuette to explore the Thoth deck—probably the second most influential tarot deck in the English-speaking world. This rather dark, very beautiful deck created by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris has had a lasting global influence - especially for those who are magically inclined.
While the Thoth deck’s influence on modern tarot iconography may not be as pronounced as the Rider Waite Smith’s, you can absolutely find decks that are based explicitly and exclusively on Thoth. If you’d like to see some examples, you can check out this week’s bonus content on Patreon by becoming a supporting member of the Tarot Podcast community.
Author of 20 critically acclaimed books (translated in twelve languages) on Magick and the occult, Lon Milo DuQuette is one of the most respected and entertaining writers and lecturers in the field of the Western Mystery Traditions. He is also gifted singer songwriter and former Epic Records recording artist whose music continues to inspire and provoke. Since 1975 he has served as a national and international governing officer of Ordo Templi Orientis, one of the most influential magical societies of the 20th and 21st centuries.
DuQuette hosts a daily show on his Facebook and YouTube channels, and occasionally appears on television, radio, and internet programs as a guest expert on subjects involving the occult. He lives in Sacramento, California with Constance, his high-school sweet-heart and wife of fifty-seven years.
 
Lon’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lon.duquette
Lon’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lonmilo
Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thoth-Tarot/dp/1578632765 The definitive guide to the Thoth Tarot!
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Become a Tarot Podcast member! https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for cool stuff made by your host! https://etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!https://thetarotpodcast.com
Check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot, my book on the 36 decans and the minor cards. https://www.amazon.com/36-Secrets-Decanic-Journey-through/dp/1716325099
Check out Fortune’s Wheelhouse: My previous tarot podcast, co-hosted with Mel Meleen, comparing esoteric symbolism in the Rider Waite Smith and Thoth decks. https://fortuneswheelhouse.podbean.com
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Episode 20: What is the Rider Waite Smith Tarot? with Mary K. Greer

In today’s “Ask an Expert” episode, we bring back the one and only Mary K. Greer to answer a very important question for all of us who love the cards, and that is: What is the Rider Waite Smith Tarot?
Even if you don’t own a Rider Waite Smith deck, you’ve almost certainly seen one. When you Google any tarot card, it’s likely the first image that will come up in your search is going to be the Rider Waite Smith image. How did the RWS come to dominate the world of tarot? Mary Greer, as always, has the answers.
Mary K. Greer is an independent tarot scholar, author and teacher who is known worldwide for her innovative teaching techniques.  She lives in northern California, but you can find her at https://marykgreer.com and on Facebook.
Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast
Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista
Sign up for readings and explore books and classes!thetarotpodcast.com
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊