Divinations

Welcome to The Psychology of Tarot, a series that offers a Jungian reimagining of the cards as pathways into the psyche. Each episode draws on a key psychological concept and archetypal themes to offer insights that deepen both inner work and your tarot practice.

Today, I’m exploring the relationship between the VII of Cups and projection. This card, rich with images of fantasy, desire, fear, and overwhelming choices, is often read as a call to get grounded, to see things as they truly are.

But what if, instead, we viewed this moment as an encounter with our projections? An invitation to sit with the images, not dismiss them, and to trace them back to their psychic origins.

In this episode I cover:

* The classic definition and interpretations of the VII of Cups

* Quotes from The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A.E. Waite, 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack, The Symbolic Life by C.G. Jung and Psychotherapy by Marie-Louise von Franz

* How the VII of Cups connects to projection and the challenge of discernment

* A Jungian perspective on working with and withdrawing projections

* The VII of Cups as a call to engage with, rather than turn away from, fantasy, illusion and images

* Example readings and approaches to interpreting the card in a psychological context

Join the conversation

How do you navigate working with projections? Does the imagery of the VII of Cups remind you of another psychological concept? How do you typically read the card?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

In mythology, the descent to the underworld is often seen as the most harrowing part of the journey, an ordeal that strips away old identities, attachments, and ways of seeing the world. Psychologically, this mirrors periods of crisis, overwhelm and encounters with the unconscious. However, the ascent is often the greater challenge. To rise again, one must make a genuine sacrifice and integrate what was revealed in the depths. Only then can we return to the world above transformed.

In anticipation of the upcoming workshop, Persephone’s Ascent and Springtime Renewal, I look at the psychological, mythic and archetypal themes that surround these dynamics. Listen in for my reflections as well as a personal sharing on emerging from the underworld.

Join the conversation

Which descent/ascent myth do you relate most to? How have you navigated out of personal underworld experiences? Which resources do you draw upon to make the journey?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

Today I am excited to welcome back Chelsey Pippin Mizzi for a discussion of her book, Tarot for Creativity, which approaches the classic 78 cards of the Tarot as a powerful tool to tap into your imagination, overcome blocks, and deepen your relationship with your art. In the conversation, we explore:

* What inspired Chelsey’s approach to the cards

* How we can tap into the creative energy of life

* Viewing the Major and Minor Arcana through this creative approach

* A live tarot reading and interpretation

* The meaning of the Knight of Wands and The Fool

Next month I’ll be guest teaching over at Chelsey’s Tarot Journaling Club—a member exclusive offering—guiding attendees through the Connecting to Archetypes spread first introduced here. Join us for a deep dive into the archetypal realm via tarot!

Chelsey Pippin Mizzi is a writer, tarot reader, and creative facilitator. Equal parts spiritual and skeptical, she applies a grounded approach to helping witch-curious writers, artists, and small-business owners unlock their creative magic. She writes The Shuffle, a bestselling Substack at the intersection of magic and muse, and is the author of three books: The Tarot Spreads Yearbook, Tarot for Creativity, and The Shadow Path. Her writing has also been featured in BuzzFeed, New York Magazine. LitHub, The Bookseller, and other titles.

Follow Chelsey on Instagram at pipcardstarot and Substack at The Shuffle.

Join the conversation

Do you utilize tarot for creative inspiration or to support your art? Which card are you curious to see through the lens of creativity?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

In celebration of the upcoming Dreamwork Foundations program, I am sharing a pivotal dream that I had in the midst of creative burnout two years ago. I had been contemplating abandoning my work, unsure if I could continue, but a seemingly simple dream arrived that changed my point of view.

Listen in for the full dream, my interpretation and experience of it through a Jungian and Archetypal psychology approach, details on the program, and more.

Join the conversation

Do you work with your dreams? Have you had a dream that made a deep impact on your life?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

In this divination I utilize the Odyssean Tarot, a deck based on the stories and figures of Greek Mythology, to explore inquiries submitted from members of the Artemisian. Through out the readings, I draw upon mythic symbolism and narratives to amplify the traditional tarot meanings for insight and guidance.

Reading #1

* Question: I’m in a life transition between working as a self-employed person and retiring. I’ve been scaling back my work slowly; full retirement would mean selling my business. I’d like to be free to travel more , but don’t have enough in savings or retirement not to work part time. I’m not sure how to proceed. What can the cards say about my situation?

* Card drawn: The Fool - Odysseus -

Reading #2

* Question: How do I connect back to the creative flow that once served me so abundantly?

* Card drawn: The Devil - Prometheus -

Reading #3

* Question: Every time I approach an important project I find myself hesitating, delaying, or avoiding. How do I approach resolving this so I can finally make progress?

* Card drawn: 5 of Wave - Demeter -

Join the conversation:

What do you think of the cards drawn? How would you relate the classic tarot themes to the mythic figures and their stories?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

Today I am joined in conversation with astrologer Cristina Farella who runs Eighth House Astrology and is co-host of the Soror Mystica podcast.

Cristina and I have been weaving a discussion on the symbolic themes of the labyrinth myth since she first posted about it on her Substack. In today’s episode, we journey deeper into the archetypal threads, exploring Cristina’s recurring series of airport dreams, the psychological dynamics present in the ancient Greek myth, how the figures of the Minotaur, Ariadne, Poseidon, and Theseus are represented in astrological work and more.

Cristina offers a variety of consultations and classes for those seeking a mythopoetic approach to astrology. I’ve had the pleasure of receiving 1:1 sessions and attending her classes, all of which have enriched my understanding of cosmic archetypes and their psychological equivalents.

Check out Cristina’s work at the links below:

* Website

* Instagram

* Substack

* Podcast

Join the conversation

* Which mythic figure of the labyrinth myth do you feel most drawn to?

* Have you noticed similar themes in your own dreams?

* What are your thoughts on the blending of astrology and mythology via asteroids?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

Arran Rogerson (who writes The Torch here on Substack) joins me in conversation to celebrate the launch of our co-authored Alchemical Inner Work Guidebook.

Arran and I have been creative partners for years, most notably in our podcast, the Golden Shadow. Although it has been on hiatus for sometime, our partnership continues behind the scenes. As the logos to my mythos, Arran’s perspective, structure and approach has always grounded and helped shape my intuitive inclinations and archetypal approaches.

In our discussion, we offer insight into the ideas behind the technique, then demonstrate what it looks like in practice.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

In this divination I utilize the tarot deck Terra Volatile to explore inquires submitted from readers. I draw each card from a fifth suit unique to this deck, the Vessels, an alchemical inspired set of cards that focus on the elemental quintessence. In the readings, I reference alchemical symbolism from the manuscript Splendor Solis alongside traditional tarot interpretations for insight and guidance.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

In this divination I demonstrate the technique of Alchemical Inner Work.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe

Today I am joined in conversation with Chelsey Pippin Mizzi, writer of The Shuffle, a Substack that explores the intersection of spirituality and creativity. She’s also the author of two books: The Tarot Spreads Yearbook and the forthcoming Tarot for Creativity.

Last month, Chelsey wrote a thought-provoking article on the shadow artist, a concept from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. While appreciating the book's exploration of lost creative impulses, Chelsey critiques its narrow perspective. The article questions the hierarchy Cameron establishes in creative pursuits and challenges the notion of a "pure" artistic dream. It highlights economic and social constraints on artistic endeavors and argues for a more compassionate understanding of the creative self, emphasizing the value of diverse paths.

Inspired by these ideas, we entered into discussion to explore a more nuanced understanding of the shadow, how conventional careers helped Chelsey and I both step into our creative vocations, the gradual unfolding of the artistic path and much more! To close out the conversation, we drew a tarot card — Judgement — and offer reflections and considerations for the shadow artist based on the archetypal themes of the card.

Check out my collaboration over on The Shuffle

In addition to this discussion, I was featured on Chelsey’s series, Creative Arcana — an interview where the line of questioning is informed by a series of tarot card pulls.

Check out the collaboration and subscribe to The Shuffle for more:

Join the conversation

All comments are welcome, but here are a few prompts to consider:

* What are your thoughts on the shadow artist?

* How do you navigate the balance between pursuing your creative passions and meeting the practical demands of everyday life?

* What are your reflections on the tarot card pull of Judgement in relation to the shadow artist concept?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theartemisian.com/subscribe