The Moon, #18 in the major arcana, is a mysterious card. It's a card that can symbolize darkness, confusion, and coming to terms with the parts of yourself you don't always acknowledge because you might not really like.

There's also a lobster.

Meet Tory Sjovall: Family astrologer, energy healer, tarot card reader and all-around awesome lady!

In this episode, I sat down with Tory and chatted about her practice, which includes family astrology readings, energy healing and tarot card readings. It was a fascinating look into how another practitioner works and left me with some intriguing things to think about!

No matter where you are in your journey, connecting with likeminded people is key to developing your practice. You don't want to develop in a silo--your peers are often your best teachers!

Listen now 😄

Strength is what you need when you're facing adversity. It's also #8 in the major arcana. Does the infinity symbol above the lady's head mean she'll be strong forever? Listen and find out.

Temperance is #14 in the major arcana, so it sits right between Death and The Devil. What a place to sit, right? Listen and learn how Temperance is the key to surviving that awkward place between Death and meeting The Devil.

The Devil is #15 in the major arcana. There's A LOT of symbolism in this card, esoteric and otherwise. So, if you want to decode this card (and see how The Devil can help you make better pet adoption choices), listen now.

The Lovers. Who are these people? They're #6 in the major arcana, and they're associated with Gemini, those talkative twins whose minds are always a step ahead of their mouths.

What else are they? Tune in and discover the depth of their love 💘

The Star is #17 in the major arcana. It's associated with Aquarius, that stoic, progressive-minded air sign who's ready to start knocking down walls to build something better. When The Star shows up in a tarot pull, what does it mean? Listen and find out.

Justice is #11 in the major arcana. It's also the card associated with Libra, that flirty cardinal air sign who's great at making conversation, but not so great at making decisions. So how does Justice stay grounded and fair when she's asked to make rulings? Listen and learn.

Our last set of court cards, the kings are the dads of the tarot. They're projective, they're mature, they're the masters of their domains. Listen now and learn more about the role the kings play in the minor arcana and how they fit into the larger tapestry of your tarot deck.

Cue the fanfare! It's the queens! Huzzah!

The Queens are the next set in our court card series. What makes them unique? In fact, what makes your reading style unique? As a reader, you don't just memorize card definitions; you ✨interpret✨ the cards. That takes a tad bit more skill.

Just like there are four knights in the deck, there are four pages. The pages are the "youngest" figures in the court cards. Imagine the world from a child's perspective. That's Page energy.

There are four knights in the deck: one for each minor arcana suit. Who are these guys? What are they fighting for? Or...are they fighting at all? Listen and learn all about these strapping young members of the court cards.

The Hanged Man is #12 in the major arcana. Is he just hanging out, or is there more going on in this relatively stark card? Listen and find out.

Death is #13 in the major arcana. When you pull it, does it mean you're going to die? No, it doesn't. It means something far more exciting. Listen and find out what.

The Chariot is #7 in the major arcana. It's all about drive and forward momentum, but also staying grounded and focused as you move. So while you're sitting in holiday weekend traffic, remember to stay grounded and to stay cool.

The Magician is #1 in the major arcana. #1 is an important spot! But is he the most important character in the majors? Or does he have the most important job? Listen and find out.

Here comes the sun! At #19 in the major arcana, The Sun is where you (ideally) find yourself after you've encountered The Moon and completed the tasks she asks you to complete. It's a moment of authenticity and putting your realest self forward before you face the final challenge in the Fool's Journey: Judgement.

The Fool is #0 in the deck. How can a card be #0?

In a way, The Fool exists outside the rest of the deck. The Fool is the main character in the story...hence the phrase "The Fool's Journey." So does that mean The Fool is just a placeholder, devoid of symbolism? No! The Fool has tons of symbolism, and I talk all about it in this episode.

crediting some of the music I used:

Track: The Wild Side

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

In this sPoOkY edition of Omg Tarot!, we're reading a few pro readers' tarot horror stories. Tarot card readers don't usually scare easily, so you know you're in for a treat 🎃

Track: Red Evil

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

Track: Frontiers

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

Track: Dirty Deals

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

Track: Unnatural

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

The Empress is #3 in the major arcana. She's the mother archetype, which means she does a lot of things.

👩‍👧‍👦She nurtures

👩‍👧‍👦She provides

👩‍👧‍👦She guides

👩‍👧‍👦She manifests

Who is this powerful lady and what can The Fool expect when he encounters her? Listen and find out.

⭐BONUS RELEASE⭐

Meet Benedictta Apwah, astrologer, reiki practitioner and tarot card reader whose daily driver is the Hermetic deck. Why? Because the astrological symbolism runs a lot deeper in the Hermetic deck. Don't miss our interview where she shares insights about her practice, her approach to tarot, and how she crafts unique reading experiences by combining astrology and tarot. 

**Due to technical issues, there are a few points in this episode where the audio goes a bit low. Instead of rerecording and losing the magic of our original conversation, we've simply noted the points where this happens so you don't miss a thing. 

00:54 perspective

01:06 mom of two

03:16 it is 

03:25 specialty

03:44 electional astrology

06:04 think about

09:57 see

10:06 aren't able to

10:33 beauty

13:35 interpretation

14:26 less intimidating

14:49 two-fold

15:02 near future

16:07 that I use

17:59 finances

19:54 I even have moments where

20:05 I don't check my transits

20:51 moments like these

20:57 it is

22:55 trine the moon

25:38 positive experience

30:46 with this work

33:24 tends to keep me busy

34:16 timing

35:08 zodiacal releasing, but I haven't incorporated that into my services yet

42:12 virtual

The Hermit is #9 in the major arcana. He's a wise old sage standing alone on top of a mountain, looking inward as his lantern lights the path before him. What is he thinking about? How did he get here? And perhaps most importantly, where is he going next?

We've reached #21 in the major arcana, The World. It's the very end of the journey, so where do we go from here? Is this a spot to rest and enjoy the view, or are there more mountains to climb, more oceans to dive into, more roads to travel? Listen and find out.

Track: Changes
Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

No, this card doesn't mean you'll appear on a game show. It's all about the random things that pop up and impact our lives, so...perhaps it could be about your experience with a game show.

Wheel of Fortune is #10 in the major arcana, and it's one of the most esoteric cards in the deck. Listen now to de-esotericize its many symbols.

The High Priestess is #2 in the major arcana. She's the most intuitive person in the deck, and she's inviting you to step beyond the veil and work out your intuitive muscles. What will you learn from her?

Track: Spiritual

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

Did you know you can do divination with playing cards? You can! It's more similar to tarot than you might imagine, and it's also probably easier than you imagined. Think of it like a more raw, more pared-down version of reading tarot cards. Much like this is a more raw, more pared-down podcast episode than most.

Hey! Welcome to the Omg Tarot! podcast.

If you're a tarot card reader or want to become one, you're in the right place. Every week, we drop a new episode that's all about the craft of reading tarot cards. You'll learn how the symbols on each card work together to form layered meanings, how to interpret challenging card combos, how tarot intersects with other practices like astrology and numerology, and random tidbits from a pro reader who's been at it for more than 10 years.

Welcome 😄

Track: Growing
Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

The Emperor, #4 in the major arcana, is a master strategist. He's dedicated, he's driven, and whatever he sets his mind to, he's absolutely going to get it done. He's the guy you want leading you into battle...and showing you the ropes when it's your turn to take the reins.

The Hierophant is #5 in the major arcana. He's all about tradition, consistency, enforcing the rules, and most importantly, making sure people understand why rules and traditions exist. He's a teacher, a mentor, a spiritual leader and in a few key ways, the complement to the High Priestess.

Track: Bohemian Garden

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

In the final episode of season 1 of the Omg Tarot! podcast, we're discussing #20 in the major arcana, Judgement.

Judgement is when you've submitted your application, completed the interview, and now it's time to wait. Are you a strong enough candidate? Is your resume good enough to prove you're the best fit for the role? None of that is for you to decide. All you can do is wait and trust you've done the best you could.

The Tower is #16 in the major arcana. It's not the most pleasant-looking card! Does that mean it's a bad card? Should you be scared when you pull it?

.....maybe.

Listen and learn more.

If you've been working with tarot cards for a while, you know each minor arcana suit corresponds with an element. You also know those four elements are represented on the cards, usually in pretty obvious ways, but not always in obvious ways. In this episode, we're talking about how the elements are represented visually, how you can interpret the more subtle depictions, and how to read the "negative space" on tarot cards.

Your tarot deck has a lot of animal symbolism in it. Have you ever wondered how to interpret these images? And have you ever wondered if you should interpret literal animals, like the horses the knights ride, the same as figurative animals, like the butterflies on the Queen of Swords' throne? Do the dogs on the 10 of Pentacles symbolize anything different from the dog on The Fool? Is the Queen of Wands' cat an actual cat, or a manifestation of her character??

Listen and find out.

It's that time of year again...love is in the air ♥️

Love is also one of the most popular topics querents ask me about. And why wouldn't they? Love is wonderful! We all want love!

So what happens when you see something in a love reading that isn't exactly positive? Or you pull a card like the Hanged Man or The Star and you go huh?

That's what I'm talking about in this episode. Listen for my take on how to read love spreads, which cards I like to see in these kinds of pulls, and which cards I don't want to see when I'm asking about love.

Music: Track: Prelude 4, Largo
Music by https://www.fiftysounds.comTrack: Whispers
Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

People ask me this all the time: How can you stay objective when you're reading for yourself?

Honestly, it's not easy. But it's also not impossible. Like anything else, it takes practice, and in this episode, I share a few strategies that have worked for me when I've had a hard time staying objective. I also talk about formulating questions, what makes a good question, and how to navigate sticky tarot situations.

I talk about astrology a lot on this podcast, and in this episode, I'm doing even more of that. If you've never looked at your natal chart before, listen for super-easy, step-by-step instructions for getting your chart...and how you can translate your Big 3 into a tarot reading. I also shared a sweet tarot formula you can use to find the main lessons you'll learn each year of your life🫶

Lots of people have asked for this episode, and here it is! How do I interpret cards as a narrative?

I firmly believe that intuition is a skill, and in this episode, I share strategies you can use to build up that skill. This is how you go from looking up cards' definitions in the little white book to understanding how the cards you've pulled fit together to deliver a personalized, valuable reading. Listen for four super-easy strategies you can start using today.

Omg Tarot! is BACK!

Kicking off the new year, it only felt appropriate to share my absolute favorite year ahead spread. But it also felt appropriate to chat a bit about choosing a deck and how I interpret the cards. Spoiler: Rider Waite Smith isn't my daily driver. And I don't think the 3 of Swords is necessarily a sad card.

If you want to skip ahead to the year ahead spread, it starts right around 19:32 😀

Lots of decks have it, maybe you've seen it: The Happy Squirrel!

#23, The Happy Squirrel, started as a Simpsons joke. Then it took on a life of its own. Now, lots of decks include it. But should you read it? And if so, how?

I think you should read it. And in this bonus episode, I explain how to interpret The Happy Squirrel and why I think it's a useful card to have in your deck.

You're probably familiar with her name, but who was Pamela Colman Smith? What influenced her, who influenced her, and how did she and AE Waite change the tarot deck forever?

Did you even know they changed it? Because they did. In short, without Waite's vision and Smith's illustrations, you'd likely be reading a Marseille-style deck today. Thanks to Pamela Colman Smith, we have an illustrated minor arcana. We also have astrological associations and all the depth they add to your readings. Listen now to learn more about the mother of the modern tarot deck and what it meant to her, personally.

People ask me this all the time: What happens if I get a card reading wrong?

Maybe your reading was too vague, or you overlooked a detail, or you just plain misinterpreted the cards. It happens. It happens to every reader. So what should you do when you get it wrong?

That's what I talk about in this episode. I share the strategies that have worked for me when I miss the mark. I also share the strategies I use to prevent missing the mark...but remember, you can be the best reader in the world and sometimes, the energy just doesn't connect! So don't take it personally.

As promised, this episode is all about the horses of tarot 🐴

In the Rider Waite Smith deck, there are seven of them. Each carries a rider. But what's the relationship between a horse and its rider? Do the horses have as much symbolism as their riders, and if so, what is that symbolism?

Listen and learn all about the horses in your tarot deck and the messages they deliver.

Track: Make It Happen

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

Track: Changes

Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com 

Track: Red Evil 
Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com

What's it really like to run the biggest, most magickal night market in New Jersey?

Listen and you'll hear allll the details. I sat down with Tiff, Kelly and Kryssy, aka the Lunar Chicks, for a fun chat about everything Lunar Faire. We talked about the faire's origins, various venues, its evolution from a small beach gathering to hosting thousands of attendees and what they're gonna call you if they catch you trying to sneak in 👀

So don't miss it! Faire season starts Sunday, April 27. The first faire will be at East Freehold Fairgrounds in Freehold, NJ. Get your tickets at lunarfaire.com.

(and if you wanna score 15% off your tickets, be sure to listen for the exclusive discount code I drop in the episode 😉

Aces make happy faces!Well, sometimes. It depends on what you're reading about. And if you wanted a fresh start. Because Aces, similar (but not identical) to the Pages and The Fool, are all about fresh starts. They're new. They're foundational. They're a pivot, an opportunity, a new path forward, a changed perspective. When an Ace shows up in a tarot reading, you're getting something new. What will you do with that new thing?

You've probably done a Celtic Cross at some point in your tarot life. It's the first spread a lot of us learn. Maybe even most of us. But it's not the only spread out there; there are literally thousands of awesome spreads that can help you structure and interpret your readings. That's what this episode is all about: using spreads.

We're FINALLY finishing up the major arcana as real-life situations! In this episode, it's The Devil through The World. What does a real-life Devil moment look like, and how is it different from a real-life Tower moment? How about Sun moments vs. Moon moments vs. Star moments? It's all in here, so listen now.

Music credit: Fiftysounds.com

Following last week's look at how major arcana cards represent real-life situations, this week is all about cards 7-14: The Chariot through Temperance. What does a Temperance moment look like? How do you know you're in your Hanged Man era? Listen and find out.

Music copyright of FiftySounds.com

What does a real-life Fool moment look like? How about a real-life High Priestess or Lovers moment?

That's what this episode is all about. Certain cards tend to show up as specific situations, and knowing these situations can give a better understanding of these cards...and help you predict them when those cards show up!

Music by Esther Garcia of Fiftysounds.com.

Every reader has a different relationship with the cards. That means there are certain things some readers do that others don't, like reading reversals. In this episode, I discuss five common tarot practices that I don't personally do...and why.

The major arcana gets a lot of love on this podcast. The minor arcana, not so much. Until today.

In this episode, we're diving into the minor arcana and dissecting how to read them effectively. How do they relate to the majors? Do they have astrological connections? What about the court cards? Listen now, because it's all in this episode.

Music credit to Esther Garcia and Fiftysounds.com.