Episode 157. There will be times when you’re reading for someone and suddenly you lose your sense of objectivity. For example, you’re reading for a loved one - and you see something bad and don’t want to tell them so you sugarcoat your delivery. Or perhaps you have someone at your tarot table that you don’t like. Maybe they are doing something that you feel is morally wrong. In that case, you may find yourself looking for the so-called bad cards because you feel some type of way.

If you ever find yourself in one of those situations, don’t feel bad. It happens to all of us at one time or another. BUT if you don’t get out of your own way, this will hinder your ability to deliver a helpful reading for the person at your tarot table.

Remaining objective isn’t easy but it can be done. The key is to keep a neutral mindset at all times, no matter who is in front of you, what questions are being asked, or what cards show up. This Tarotcise involves role-playing and can help you learn to get centered - before you're actually in a real-life situation that makes you squirm.

Episode 156. Sure, you could use traditional spreads such as the Celtic Cross. But what if you wanted to create your own tarot spreads? Custom layouts that are tailored to you - or your clients - are not that hard to do! I'm joined today by Weston of Root Lock Tarot for a discussion on best practices for creating your own tarot spreads. Weston recently created The Root Lock Book of Spreads, an ebook filled with thirty-three original layouts. If you've ever thought that you wanted a fresh spread for any situation, Weston's advice is spot on.

Episode 155. If I had to label my style of reading, I would definitely fit in the "intuitive tarot reader" category. While the traditional meanings of the cards form a framework, I like to let my sixth sense lead the way in the interpretations. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, I'm sharing one of my simple "Tarotcises" for intuitive tarot reading.

This is an easy, effective way to get out of your head and into your gut. (By the way, Tarotcise is a term I coined for Tarot Exercises. I think it's cute.)

Episode 154. Years ago, I purchased a set of Runes. I couldn't seem to make heads or tails out of them, so I gave up. Turns out I needed to give those Runes some time, according to Abbie Plouff. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Abbie teaches what Runes are, how to work with them, and how you might incorporate this magickal tool into your tarot readings. I may have to give those Runes another chance!

Book mentioned in this episode: Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic by Diana L. Paxson.

Episode 153. What is the Left Hand Path? How might a practitioner of this path approach tarot? I was curious. So I reached out to Bere Parra, a Mexican theistic satanic witch to learn more. Bere talks about common misconceptions about the left hand path, the Devil card, and more. This enlightening conversation sheds new light on a practice that is often viewed as "negative" or "scary." I have a better understanding of readers who follow this path. If you're wondering how a satanist might approach tarot, listen in.

Episode 152. Sometimes tarot takes us to places we don't expect. For example, we may come to the tarot table with a desire to sort out the future - but the cards take on a more therapeutic vibe. Tarot can go deep - and create profound healing. In this episode of Tarot Bytes, Ashawnee DuBarry of ElysianSpiritTarot shares her story on how tarot helped her find peace, balance, and wholeness. We talk about self-sabotage, peeling away old stories, and finding clarity

If you're ready to go deep with tarot, you'll want to listen to our conversation.

Episode 151. One of the most stunning decks to come out in the past few years is Dust II Onyx by Courtney Alexander. Some of my listeners wanted to learn more about the deck - and the talented artist behind it. In this episode, Courtney joins me to talk about the inspiration for her deck, invocation, ancestors, ritual, and bonding with the deck. We also learn about the mysterious "Black Onyx" card and practice one of the spreads in the book.

If you have this deck and want to learn more about it, you'll love this episode! Don't have it yet? This may convince you to get it. (PS a travel version is coming out! YAY!)

Episode 150. Although we often associate tarot as a tool for divination, modern readers are also using it for self-care. In this episode, I'm joined by Sarah Chappell for a discussion on how tarot helped her with sobriety. You'll learn how tarot can become your ally on the road to recovery.

Episode 149. Charm casting has become extremely popular amongst tarot devotees. We can thank Carrie Paris for this - she's been a leading force for this ancient form of divination. With products like the Magpie Oracle, Carrie has been helping people determine the future with simple, everyday objects.

In this episode, Carrie shares how she got into charm casting, how to use it with tarot, and create your own talismans for divination. 

Episode 148. Believe it or not, tarot clients aren't always asking about love and money. Sometimes they want to talk about the state of the world - and what it may mean for the future. In this episode, Georgianna Boehnke of The Tarot Room joins me to talk about how tarot can be used as a tool to understand current events - and how to deal with an unpredictable world.