Cardslingers Coast to Coast

Episode 60: WTC: Student Formula

Welcome to the wild world of reading for others. Our student formula helps you dip your toe into getting used to charing for readings. Students are those who have studied the cards for a bit and may still rely on books for deeper meaning.
At this level, you’ll be charging $25-$30 and hopefully you aren’t using your books. At this stage you’re learning you’re authentic reading self. Set expectations for the readings and be realistic. Be transparent in all you do, and let people know what is acceptable. Align your expectations and don’t compare yourself to others.
PREORDER HILARY’S TAROT BOOK ON AMAZON! Arrives this fall.
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 59: Introduction to What to Charge

Welcome to the long-awaited series on what to charge for your gifts and readings. We kick off this series by letting you know how this will go, some of our stories from the trenches, and other things to consider before you jump straight into making tarot a business. Thanks to our listener who came in and asked, “Being off book for 3 years, what can I start charging others for reading?”
Our formula takes the following into consideration: Where are you located? How long have you been reading? How much do you WANT to make?
We’re happy to you’re with us.
Homework: Figure out what readings you want to offer? Look at your readings and view them from their clients. Melissa wants you all to take a nap.
 
Recommended resources:
Jenna Matlin’s Have Tarot, Will Travel, and Have Tarot, Will Party for good beginner books on tarot business
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Need business help, visit SCORE where they have tons of hours of classes: https://www.score.org
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 58 Why is The Devil Always Hot?

Melissa, Hilary, and Jaymi bring up many Disney properties to discuss aspects of The Devil. Dating far back from Roman Catholic/Christianity origins, The Devil brings in the aspects of choice, from staying chained to following the pretty one who promises the world to us all. He is comfort, safety, and security that protects us from stepping into our promised greatness. This is an opportunity to remove the chains from your neck.
If you struggle with The Devil card, place The Hierophant next to it and see how they align and where they differ. Both teach you. Make sure the medicine you have is really healthy and not harming you.\
 
Call Safe Connections at 314-531-2003 to help get you out of an abusive relationship. 
As always, the National Suicide Hotline is 800-273-8255.
 
Decks mentioned:
Hilary
Legacy of the Divine by Ciro Marchetti https://bookshop.org/books/legacy-of-the-divine-tarot-with-paperback-book/9780738715650
 
Jaymi
Runic Tarot by Jack Sephiroth, Allen Dempster, and Jaymi Elford  https://bookshop.org/books/runic-tarot-kit/9780738770734
 
Melissa
The Sasuraibito Tarot
https://www.etsy.com/listing/963042390/the-sasuraibito-tarot-78-card-deck-and
The Housewives Tarot
https://www.amazon.com/Housewives-Tarot-Domestic-Divination-Kit/dp/1931686998
 
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 57: A Bunch of Queerdos

Representation matters. Melissa, Hilary, and Jaymi talk about their queerness and how we can see beyond the gender to get to the core of their energy. Jaymi’s mission is to remove the binary from the cards and give readers and sitters the power to create their own language for gender inside the cards. Hilary wants the bi-erasure to stop and to know that when we share our queerness with others it is with honor and privilege. And Melissa sees you. Really.
Please do not out anyone who is queer, it is not safe to do so everywhere. If you need help, reach out to one of these two hotlines:
The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org 800-273-8255
Decks we discuss:
Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow https://bookshop.org/books/queering-the-tarot/9781578636488
Pride Tarot by U.S. Games, Inc by various artists https://bookshop.org/books/pride-tarot/9781646710034
The Modern Witch Tarot by Lisa Sterle & Vita Ayala https://bookshop.org/books/the-modern-witch-tarot-deck/9781454938682
This Might Hurt by Isabella Rotman and Addison Duke https://www.thismighthurttarot.com
Melissa Recommends:
Mystic Garbage Tarot – forces you to be non-binary https://www.etsy.com/listing/779719080/mystic-garbage-tarot-rainbow-tarot-tarot
Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Eugene Smith
https://bookshop.org/books/animal-totem-tarot/9780738743486
Slow Holler Tarot (out of print) 
https://slowholler.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-slow-holler-tarot-deck
Jaymi Recommends:
Transient Light Tarot by Ari Wisner https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1788178203/ 
Charlie Claire Burgess from the Fifth Spirit Tarot has inspired Jaymi to expand and broaden the language of writing deck books to deconstruct the binary. https://www.fifthspirittarot.com/Hilary Recommends:
Any animal or nature deck for a workaround that helps bring out the energies and intent of the cards. Hilary also works with archetype decks.
Wild Unknown by Kim Krans https://bookshop.org/books/the-wild-unknown-tarot-deck-and-guidebook-official-keepsake-box-set/9780062466594
Wild Messengers Alchemical Tarot by Tanya Casteel
https://www.etsy.com/listing/716847128/wild-messengers-animal-tarot-card-deck
Tarot of the Burroughs by Courtney Weber (out of print)
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 56: Coming Out of the Broom Closet

We all write, read, and live tarot. Yet, there are people who still discriminate against tarot and paganism is very real. So, today we tell stories about our experiences around this. Melissa wasn’t able to come out until she wrote her first book. Jaymi had friends who refused to acknowledge her growing passion for the cards and her path. And while Hilary grew up in a progressive location, she still felt the eyes of others upon her.
If you can’t come out, stay where you are and know we support you. Your beliefs are yours. We’re here to protect you. We can carry the weight for you. We want you to be safe. 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255
St. Louis Pagan Picnic happens on June 4th & 5th. Go see Melissa and have your books or decks signed. Admission is free. 
Books Mentioned:
Silver Ravenwolf - To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Raymond Buckland - Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft (aka the big blue book)
Scott Cunningham - Wicca, a guide for the solitary practitioner
 
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 55: Temperance Says, Being is an Art

This week we delve into the alchemy of the Temperance card. Hilary nails the meaning, by saying “focus on balancing yourself rather than your entire life.” Heck. Even Crowley’s Thoth Tarot gives Temperance the name of Art. And it’s so true because balance is a verb, not a noun. We stand with Ukraine; we’re thinking of you and we send our love and balance out to you. Find joy in the small moments.
Decks Mentioned:
Hilary - The Luna Sol Tarot by Darren Shill and Mike Medaglia
Jaymi - Cosmobeings by Joanna Nelson; quote from Trish Sullivan
Melissa - Mystic Garbage Tarot by Junkyard Prints Co
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 54: Under the Influence

The cardslingers dive deep by discussing reading/divining under the influence of prescription drugs, and how stress affects readings. We touch on trauma responses and therapy techniques that can help us. We also tackle the myth of near-death and gaining psychic powers; we all have our own powers and they are unique to each one of us. Thank you to the listener who reached out to us to ask us this question and to hear our stories. We love you. We see you.
Don’t let medicine and science scare you from getting the help you get or from reading cards for yourself or others. 
Check out Episode #29 for more information on reading while sick, or drunk. 
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 53: To Spread or Not To Spread

Our episode this week is inspired by listener Lindsey O. who said, “Hi there. I am brand new to Tarot and I am confused about spreads…. I feel like you can go to Pinterest and find millions of spreads. But I also feel like sometimes they get in the way of the actual message of the cards. I can’t keep track of what each position of the spread is, and then the meanings of the cards, and reversals…. It’s just so much. So my question is: what are the spreads you guys use, and how do you determine which to use for each client?”
Melissa uses the same spread in her profession because it works. She fills in the gaps between the cards with her intuition.
Hilary uses them in her readings when the clients need them. She doesn’t see 3-card readings as a “spread”.
Jaymi does keep a folder with a canned set of spreads she uses for her clients. None of these are more than five cards. Occasionally, she’ll try something out for herself to learn more about them when she needs to write them for other spreads.
We totally recommend you sign up for both Beth Owl's Daughter and Joanna Powell Colbert’s newsletters. Also, sign up for Hilary and Melissa’s newsletters, too.
Well, Lindsey hopefully we’ve given you some good information on spreads, collecting them, and how to use them. May their sacred space containers serve your needs. And you don’t need to memorize any of the spreads in your collection.
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 52: Death, Touches Us All

The Poe Tarot’s Death card says, “The boundaries which divide life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”
Death. It touches us all. It’s hard, it’s painful, and we aren’t well versed in dealing with it. While we all agree that death is transformation, we spend time focused on the deeper implications of loss and grief and how it changes us all. Especially with the past two years and all we’ve dealt with. Death does sport the number being 13, so keep in mind that it’s a small comfort to know that we’re about halfway there. It reminds us that there is something coming next in the sequence of majors.
Bottom line: Keep your dreams and goals high. Don’t fear death and roll with the punches.
Resources:
Melissa: The Mystic Garbage Tarot
Hilary: The Mary El Tarot by Marie White
Jaymi: The Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pu-Mun Law
The Poe Tarot by Trisha Leigh Shufelt
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.

Episode 51: The Good, The Bad, and Those A$$hole Cards

We address some fun listener questions in today’s episode. Anna F. asks, “What is your favorite minor arcana suit and why? Which do you least relate to?” while someone on Melissa’s Facebook said, "How do you know which cards are the asshole cards?" Strap in and enjoy our thoughts.
Jaymi: My favorite is Wands and the least relatable are Cups.
Hilary: Favorite is Cups and the least relatable are Swords (due to the time she spends in her head).
Melissa: My favorite is Swords and the least relatable are Pentacles. 
We think all the cards, no matter what their standing meanings, can be assholes. It all depends on the question asked and the bias of those sitting in the reading. It’s important to have these questions and discussions and to understand the tools we have at our disposal.
Homework: Do what we did and rank your minors from favorite to least favorite. Doing this exercise every now and then can show you insights to where your life may be. Keep a record of your asshole cards and what situations they show up.
Upcoming News: Melissa wants to let you all know about her new podcast, “Hey, Cynova” where she and Bo pull cards for questions you all send in.
Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.