Cardslingers Coast to Coast

Episode 50: The Cardslingers Weigh in on Significators

Tarot is a language of symbols and we are found in every card. In this second episode Hilary, Jaymi, and Melissa share their thoughts and stories about significators. Fear of screwing things up and being wrong is what keeps beginners from playing with ideas and owning them as their own methods. Try it and use it if you like it. 

Hilary didn’t use them when starting out. She doesn’t use them now. However, she can and does use cards chosen with intent as the client and reading needs. She will pick a card based on personality traits rather than the image.

Jaymi didn’t start out with it because it’s too much to memorize and remember. She does intentional draws with cards for herself and with clients for homework purposes. But as far as what significators were meant in the past, no she doesn’t use an older system.

Melissa thinks significators are stupid. She learned from Eden Gray, and back then, genderized cards were more important back then. Because of that, she would pull the cards. As she grew in her style and reading practice she grew away from the practice.

We also think significators and how they were used in the past brings up how we can pick apart the tarot so white issues. The world is more diverse than what the cards wanted to display on the cards. 

Thanks again to Chuck K. and Karin S. for giving us something to dive deeper into.

Decks mentioned

Pocket of Peers by Jamie Sawyer

The 90s Tarot by Kristi Prokopiak

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 49: What are Significators?

Historically, significators were pulled to represent the person being read. Usually chosen by their appearance. More modern definitions allow the full deck and can represent the client in reading, or a situation that is drawn randomly or handpicked. In Lenormand, they are used to represent clients and partners and many modern decks include a bigger diversity of images for people. Thanks to Chuck K. and Karin S. for taking us down the significator hole.

There are so many other ways to use them in your readings. You can keep them out for magical intent. You can even use ALL the cards out of the deck to physically focus a reading.

We want to remind everyone that while we say gender is a social construct, it STILL is hella important to one’s identity and it does matter.

Homework:
Research significators and think about how you’d use them for yourself or for clients.

References mentioned:

Eden Gray’s The Complete Guide to the Tarot

Carrie Paris's “The Relative Tarot” Guidebook has a whole section on how to choose them

Benebell Wen Holistic Tarot (from her website) 

Pocket of Peers Tarot

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 48: Unclench Your Fist and Just Be, The Hanged One

This week Melissa, Hilary, and Jaymi dive back into the series on the Major Arcana with a discussion of The Hanged One (aka The Hanged Man). Yes, we’re renaming it because gender is a social construct–many other decks do this too! 

So, if The World card–the beginning and end of cycles–is a portal; then the Hanged One is the middle pause. They bring self-sacrifice for the greater good. They bring enlightenment and get new perspectives on the situation at hand. It’s time to sit back, relax, and just be in the moment. No matter what.

Decks we mention

Transient Light Tarot (sold out and coming back in June 2022)

The Pacific Northwest Tarot

The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot

The Wild Messenger’s Alchemical Tarot 

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 47: We’re Baaaack

Hey, look, new year, new us! We’re back and feeling spunky. Just a short episode to touch base and let you all know where we’re at and what we’ve been up to. We share what we got from the winter holidays. We also talk a lot about our lifelong addiction to collecting, storing, and displaying stickers. And we give you all some insight into what to expect from us in 2022. We love you, we think you’re worthy, and you’ll always have a seat at our tarot table. Nurture your light!

Decks we mention

Tarot for Kids https://www.soundstrue.com/collections/authors-theresa-reed/products/tarot-for-kids

“Guide to the Strange and Eternal” Tarot Deck https://cosmicbutcher.bigcartel.com/product/gttsaetarotdeck

The Meme Tarot https://usa.doiydesign.com/products/meme-tarot/

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 46: Uh-oh! Freezing in a Reading

Picture it, you finish shuffling your cards and turn over three. You start your reading and deliver the first part of the reading. All of a sudden your mind blanks, and nothing comes. Uh-oh! You’ve hit a mid-reading block. Hilary and Jaymi demystify mid-reading blocks and give some suggestions for how you break free from the mental block. Thanks go to L for sending in this fun question.

Recommended Books:

Melissa Cynova’s book Kitchen Table Tarot

Liz Worth’s Going Beyond the Little White Book

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 45: Sign Them Up

Pre-recording chatter can lead to a great podcast. In this case, Jaymi asks Melissa and Hilary about how they do their newsletters. Not wanting to waste the airtime, we jumped in and turned it into a podcast. See how awesome we are? 

We share tips on getting started on yours. Keep a file on newsletters outside of the tarot world and be engaged with who you connect with. Don’t fear your writing style, it takes some time to cultivate. Speak to your friends in the message, know they want to hear from you.

Becky Skoobish from https://skoobmark.com recommends:

1. Be consistent (time and date)
2. Use a cohesive theme for the month
3. Drive people to your website cos that’s where the work happens

Great Newsletter Resources

Melissa and Hilary use http://www.mailchimp.com

Jaymi uses https://madmimi.com

Book to get Newsletter Ninja https://newsletterninja.net

Homework: Do you have space and time for the newsletter? Answer this and then figure out your themes of the year.\

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 44:Post-reading Aftercare for Readers

Event season is now upon us and knowing how to care for yourself after you do readings is extremely important. Hilary, Onareo, and Jaymi talk about what they do after their readings (both for events or in general). Grounding and disconnecting is the name of the game when it comes to post-reading aftercare. Time to let go of the readings, forget them, and enter back into your own world.

• Take a simple bath or shower. Turn it into a ritual by adding Epsom salts (magical properties) or baking soda (good for detox). If it’s too late in the evening, then at least wash your hands and face.
• Wear or keep stones nearby: black tourmaline, selenite wands (good to clear your decks and body). Tiger’s iron helps Jaymi while Onareo uses tiger’s eye. Hilary keeps her mala beads on while reading and she takes off when she’s done.
• Putting a pinch of salt under your tongue keeps you grounded in-between readings.
• Scented sprays: Hilary uses color energy aura spray, Jaymi uses 7 Brooms, and a palo santo spray. Onareo uses bergamot (a citrus that helps in getting your power back) on his hands or in his bath. Florida Water is another good cleansing spray.
• Sleep: Reading is hard work on your body. Let your body get as much rest as it needs to reset itself.
• Eat something: It doesn’t need to be the fast-food junk that Jaymi gets but eating something after reading does help to break the energy you have.

Onareo’s Post-Reading Aftercare Ritual

Take the four aces from the minors and shuffle them as you ask, “what should my after-reading ritual be?” Then pick one of the aces and think of all the ways that the elemental energy and do one. Some examples might include

• Swords (air) = do something mental; read, use feathers.
• Cups (water) = drink water, have a bath, use sprays.
• Wands (fire) = burn incense, cleanse with smoke, rub a taper candle over your body and then light it to release that energy.
• Pentacles (earth) = do something physical; walk, play with crystals, do mudras or yoga.

Extra Resources:

Aftercare article by Hilary

http://tarotbyhilary.com/tarot-reading-aftercare-from-both-sides-of-the-table/

Jaymi’s Favorite Clearing Spray, 7 Brooms https://www.byailynn.com/shop/7-brooms-a-clearing-spray

Herbs, oils, and stones can be found everywhere, make sure what you purchase is ethically sourced.

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 43: Event Season Cometh

Editor’s note: this episode was recorded on Jaymi's birthday in August. Some shenanigans took place…

The holidays are coming up! This means lots of people want to hire readers for their parties. Listen in as we help you go from horror story event pain to living your best event plans. Be aware and understand your needs as you learn the ropes of reading at parties. We’re going deep into some event self-care tips.

Do these things during event season:

• Raise your event prices from Halloween through New Year’s Day.
• Don’t be near a sound speaker (at all). Where you sit DOES matter.
• Manage your health. Know who you can get for your backup support.
• Get a headcount to read for everyone (or offer certificates to those who didn’t get a reading).
• Clearly express your needs to the client.
• Take breaks, get help from bartenders, or other helpers.
• Have an event-aftercare routine.

Bring an event go-bag! Things to include (besides decks) are table dressings/crystals, battery-operated candles, tissues, face wipes, hand sanitizer, energy clearing spray, tissues, throat lozenges, water, business cards (and holder), timers (sand or meditation), payment readers.

You can still sign up for the Kitchen Table Gathering happening November 6-7, 2021. It’s virtual and you’ll be able to learn from Onareo, Potter, V from Redlight Readings, and our very own Melissa. Hilary and Jaymi will also be in attendance. It’s a fun and fantastic time! 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kitchen-table-gathering-tarot-conference-tickets-157000112563

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 42: Spooky Scary Horror Cards

Hilary and Jaymi welcome guest host Onareo for a spooky trip through tarot’s scary horror cards. Chris is a mystic from the East Coast, and his Instagram feed is fun and informative. He’s also one of the instructors for this year’s Kitchen Table Gathering.

As an added bonus, this week’s episode is brought to you by one of our 13 listeners. Lucky number 13 asked, “Which cards for you are the cards you never want to see in a reading for yourself and especially, if different, what cards do you find difficult to read for a client. And how do you overcome that situation, what methods do you use?” Thanks for this excellent question! Hope you don’t get too scared of our responses! *cue maniacal laughter here*

You can still sign up for the Kitchen Table Gathering happening November 6-7, 2021. It’s virtual! Come learn from Onareo, V from Redlight Readings, Potter, and our very own Melissa. Hilary and Jaymi will also be in attendance. It’s a fun and fantastic time! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kitchen-table-gathering-tarot-conference-tickets-157000112563

 

Resources Mentioned:

Mary K Greer’s Archetypal Tarot and Who Are You in the Tarot?

Theresa Reed’s new deck Tarot for Kids (which is fantastic for readers of ALL ages)

 

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 41: Give Us Your Gentle Honesty

Fire signs adore honesty; sometimes "brutal honesty." However, sometimes the brutal truth doesn't deliver the message appropriately. So, Melissa, Hilary, and Jaymi answer a listener's question, "How do you handle readings where the cards show an outcome that will disappoint?" This week, we share our stories on delivering messages while remaining kind. This is a different delivery than “sugar coating.” Tarot can be a reflection, and our job is to help clients navigate the situations they present to us.

Props and shout-outs to Madame Adam for restoring Melissa's tarot faith. Look him up on https://linktr.ee/MadamAdam3

Do you like what you're hearing? Send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cardslingerscc.