The Archetypal Tarot Podcast

Intuitive Manifestation: Interview with Brigit Esselmont

In this episode of The Archetypal Tarot Podcast, host Cyndera Quackenbush sits with Brigit Esselmont to dive deep into "intuitive manifesting." Brigit, a leading expert in tarot and personal transformation, shares insights from her newly released book Intuitive Manifesting: Align with Your Inner Wisdom and Attract Your Dream Life. She explains how manifesting goes beyond the surface-level pursuit of goals and dives into a powerful co-creative partnership with the universe. By tapping into the wisdom of tarot and other intuitive tools, Brigit reveals how we can manifest more meaningfully, authentically, and in alignment with our true desires. Whether you're seeking clarity in your desires or looking to build a deeper connection with your intuition, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on creating the life you truly want. Tune in for an inspiring chat about blending psychology, spirituality, and tarot to manifest your dreams.

The Mystic Storyteller: Interview with Amanda Hughes

I truly believe everyone has something unique to offer the Tarot world. If you’re a writer or artist or wise wanderer YOU have a unique perspective that will enrich this community. You can offer yet another bridge to self-understanding and inner illumination that no one else can.

It has been my great joy to sit with and press “record” on over 100 conversations with wisdom seekers of the world.

And then I met Mandy.

 

When I had a chance to review Mystic Storyteller: A Writer’s Guide to Using the Tarot for Creative Inspiration, I had a moment to myself where I said, “THIS is the book I wish I could have written!”

Truthfully, Mandy’s got the creds to speak thoroughly on tarot and writing. She has written over a dozen literary works and even has a couple pen names under her belt!

Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, join em! And we do just that here on Substack in our latest Archetypal Tarot Podcast.

I cannot even begin to describe how much this book offers writers, creatives and tarot enthusiasts alike. This book is CHOCK-FULL of guidance as Mandy takes you by the hand, weaving in her personal experience with the timeless wisdom of the tarot. If you’re like me, you might for the first time feel capable of writing that first great American novel!

Her book covers:

• Enhancing creativity.

• Strengthening writer’s intuition.

• Inspiring ideas and composition.

• Improving storytelling proficiency through building confidence and encouraging authenticity of voice and style.

• Nurturing rich character- and world-building practices.

• Elevating plot and scene development skills.

• Troubleshooting writer’s block.

• Supporting self-discovery and wellness routines.

• Mapping out a memoir.

The companion deck, illustrated by Roz Kazaz, is inspired by Rider-Waite-Smith but incorporates the modern visages and true diversity that reflect our world. Playfully, writing paraphernalia populates the tools of the tarot characters:

 

 

Mandy’s fundraising campaign reached full support since we recorded this podcast. If you would like updates on the book’s release, join Mandy’s mailing list here: https://www.haintbluecreative.com/books/mystic-storyteller

Archetypes of the Election

In this episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast, hosts Julienne Givot and Cyndera Quackenbush dive deep into the archetypes surrounding the current political landscape.

This podcast begins with an exploration of how the ancient Greek legend of Cassandra’s gift of foresight—and the accompanying curse of being disbelieved—resonates with recent political challenges. Julienne shares her own "Cassandra moments," reflecting on alarming agendas such as Project 2025, while emphasizing the need for collective action and community in the face of rising authoritarianism. With insights into the dynamics of modern democracy and the importance of staying engaged, this episode is not just a discussion but a rallying call for listeners to remain vigilant and connected.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation that blends mythology, politics, and the power of collective heroism!

Have you registered to vote? You can check that out in just 30 seconds here:

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

The Numinous Tarot with Rashunda Tramble

This episode we welcome back a long time friend of the podcast, Rashunda Tramble.  (You might know her as Rash of Stay Woke Tarot). We recorded this late last year about her book: The Numinous Tarot Guide:  A New Way to Read the Cards.  If you don’t have a copy, well we highly recommend it.  We discuss her book, reexamine tradition and unpack some gems found in The Hierophant card. 

 

About Rash

Rashunda Tramble is a writer and Tarot reader originally from Memphis, Tennessee now living in Switzerland. She has a BA in Film and an MA in Creative Media Practice. She is also a member of Mensa and a certified Reiki IV practitioner. She has worked in radio and television in the US, and marketing and communications (art, luxury and finance) in Europe. Having worked with the Tarot for over 20 years, she offers professional readings under the moniker Stay Woke Tarot and is the co-author of “The Numinous Tarot Guide: A New Way to Read the Cards”.

Follow her on IG & Twitter: @staywoketarot

Website (book a reading!) https://www.staywoketarot.com/

 

Stay in touch with us!  We’re in Instagram & Facebook @TarotPodcast  our email is tarotpodcast @ gmail.com

 

BIG Thanks to our patrons:  Joro, Peter, Janet, Richard, Juniper and Rash of Stay Woke Tarot.   We appreciate our Patrons and their support!  You can find out more about the fabulous benefits of being a Patron at http://tiny.cc/tarotpodcast

 

The podcast is produced by Both/And Media 

Theme music by: The Lunar Group

 

2022 New Year Focus Cards

Happy New Year from the Archetypal Tarot Podcast! For their annual New Year's ritual, Julienne Givot and Cyndera Quackenbush sit down with a couple decks to draw their cards for 2022. For the Major Arcana card, Cyndera picks from the recently released Tarot in Pandemic and Revolution and Julienne picks a card from the Archetype Cards of Caroline Myss. These cards are not pre-picked before the podcast, allowing listeners to hear the intuitive, gut reactions to the revealed images, themes and archetypes. Find out what's in store for 2022 with The Archetypal Tarot Podcast New Year's edition! 

 

Stay in touch with us!  We’re in Instagram & Facebook @TarotPodcast  our email is tarotpodcast @ gmail

 

This episode is sponsored Freerange Priestess on Etsy - you’ll find unconventional rosaries, quirky prayer beads, tarot jewelry and more. 

freerangepriestess.com  /  https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

 

The Wandering Star Tarot with Cat Pierce

For our latest installment of star Tarot deck makers, we’re thrilled to share this interview with artist-extraordinaire Cat Pierce! Known for her successful contributions in psychedelic indie music, she has recently turned her artistic expressions towards her own version of the classic Tarot. The Wandering Star Tarot is a beautifully illustrated deck acting like a compass for individual readers to use in their own inward journeys of reflection. Our interview explores the topics of intuition, creative process and the relationships between music and Tarot. We delve deep into the youthful, feminine and haloed figures that gaze out directly to each reader. The Mother Star and The Creator, additions to the traditional 78 cards of the Rider Waite, are discussed in detail along with the ethics of Yes/No Questions. There is also an undeniable presence of CATS. Get ready to play with Cat Pierce and Julienne and Cyndera in the latest Archetypal Tarot Podcast!

 

More about Cat Pierce: 

Cat Pierce is a singer, songwriter, visual artist, self-proclaimed psychonaut, and spiritual evolution enthusiast. Known primarily for her music, she is one half of the sister-band The Pierces, and has also had success as a solo artist. Her songs have been featured in movies and television shows such as Dexter, Gossip Girl, Riverdale, and more. Most notably, she penned and performed the theme song for the ABC hit show Pretty Little Liars. She has toured the world with Coldplay, Lissie, Adam Green, and Albert Hammond Jr., and performed with Emmylou Harris and Elton John. She has garnered two top ten albums in England, one of which reached Gold status. Her love of drawing, writing, and delving into the mystical inspired her to create her first tarot deck: The Wandering Star Tarot (available now).

 

Instagram: @iamcatdog

Facebook:@CatPierceMusic

YouTube: thepierces

 

Stay in touch with us!  We’re in Instagram & Facebook @TarotPodcast  our email is tarotpodcast @ gmail Now you can find Cyndera and I on clubhouse! 

 

This episode is sponsored Freerange Priestess on Etsy - you’ll find unconventional rosaries, quirky prayer beads, tarot jewelry and more. 

freerangepriestess.com  /  https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

 

BIG Thanks to our patrons:  Joro, Peter, Janet, Richard, Juniper and Rash of Stay Woke Tarot.   We appreciate our Patrons and their support!  You can find out more about the fabulous benefits of being a Patron at http://tiny.cc/tarotpodcast

 

The podcast is produced by Both/And Media 

Theme music by: The Lunar Group

Archetypes of the Masculine & Feminine

It’s tempting to assign gender to the Archetypes of Masculine & Feminine but this is often a folly because no matter what you outwardly identify with the most we all have qualities of the Masculine and Feminine or as Carl Jung puts it the Anima and Animus.  

 

This topic is ginormous but Cyndera and Julienne focus on how these archetypes show up in the major arcana.  Julienne parses out several sets based on themes of how the archetypes manifest in the world and as usual the conversation ranges from the personal to the political and how we can use the mythology of tarot for a better understanding of ourselves and our world.  

 

Be sure to check out Cyndera’s new online readings at storythroughstone.org/readings 

 

Be a part of our Patron Team! Tiny.cc/tarot

Connect with us on Social Media :)

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

 

Julienne’s sets of the Major Arcana for contemplation of the Masculine & Feminine Archetypes. 

 

Androgynous (Containing both at once organically)

• Justice
• World
• Temperance
• Judgement

 

Male 

• Hierophant
• Chariot
• Emperor
• Magician 

 

Female 

• Empress
• Priestess
• Star
• Strength

 

Dualistic (containing both but with distinction between the two) 

• Devil 
• Lovers
• Tower

 

Open Masculine (Externally masculine but requiring aspects of feminine interiority.)

• Hanged Man 
• Hermit 
• Fool 

 

Open Feminine (Externally feminine but requiring aspects of masculinity)

• Sun
• Moon
• Wheel 

 

If you would like to become one of our most favorite people in the world become a Patron!  just visit tiny.cc/tarot and you too could be like these awesome humans: Sara, Geneva, Richard, Hilary, Cat, Peter,  Rash, Christine,  Alli,  & Yvonne!  Thank you guys!  your support makes all this happen  & you make us smile every day! 

 

Produced by Both/And Media 

 

Theme music by: The Lunar Group 

Under The Witches Hat with Author Marieke Lexmond

This episode Cyndera interviews writer and film maker Marieke Lexmond about her writing of the Madigan Chronicles with the use of the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Tarot. Throughout this interview, the influences of nature, magic and archetypes pervade and are revealed through the creative writing process. We'll hear a selection from Marieke's first book, The Dagger and discuss the Magical Tarot Deck that is introduced and explored through her second book of the same title. We have 6 in total to look forward to, as well as a specially created Tarot deck of animals and nature illustrated by Marieke's friend from childhood, Nicole Ruijgrok. Thank you for joining us on this journey of magic, life lessons and tarot-inspired characters as we go "Under the Witches Hat."

Marieke Lexmond reads tarot cards, loves food, photography, and travel. She has three sassy little dogs that she likes to take everywhere and have their own Instagram account @urbandogsquad. Her background in filmmaking enabled her to travel and live around the globe. Storytelling is in her blood, from saving her allowance from a very young age to buy books, to her master's degree from the Dutch Film Academy. Fantasy and science fiction are her favorite. She prefers to write fun and mystical stories. Her attraction to nature and places with a magical history brought her to New Orleans and the West Coast of Ireland. As a pagan, she felt an instant connection to the land; it feeds her imagination and has become the inspiration for the Madigan Chronicles.

Her website and instagram tag: underthewitcheshat.com @underthewitcheshat

Stay in touch with us!  We’re in Instagram & Facebook @TarotPodcast 

 

This episode is sponsored Freerange Priestess on Etsy - you’ll find unconventional rosaries, quirky rayer beads and more. 

freerangepriestess.com  /  https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

 

BIG Thanks to our patrons:  Joro, Peter, Janet, Richard, Juniper and Rash of Stay Woke Tarot.   We appreciate our Patrons and their support!  You can find out more about the fabulous benefits of being a Patron at http://tiny.cc/tarotpodcastt

Deja Vu - The Hierophant

It’s the year of the Hierophant - by calculation as well as last months guidance reading for 2021.  SO much Pope and a whole year to work with it. ;-) Both Cyndera and Julienne are in the process of moving, so this month we offer you a replay of our original episode on the Hierophant from 9 years ago! (January 2012)

 

We hope you enjoy this vintage episode and we’ll be back next month with a fresh one. 

 

Many thanks to our generous Patrons: Peter, Janet, Richard, Juniper and Rash of Stay Woke Tarot.   We appreciate our Patrons and their support makes all of this possible.  You can find out more about the fabulous benefits of being a Patron at http://tiny.cc/tarotpodcast

 

This podcast is sponsored by: freerangepriestess.com  /  https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

The podcast is produced by Both/And Media 

Theme music by: The Lunar Group

Focus Cards for 2021

Aloha!  It’s time for our annual new year card draw.  Cyndera and I got together on Zoom the Morning of January 1st 2021 and drew three focus cards for the new year.  One major arcana card, one Hawaiian Mana card and this year we added one of Cyndera’s Story Through Stone Card.

 

Episode sponsored by:  Free Range Priestess unconventional rosaries & prayer beads on Etsy . Podcast listeners get $2 off their order by using the code MAHALO at check out.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

 

Cyndera's classes: https://www.storythroughstone.org/workshops

 

Cards for 2021:

Our card from the Story Through Stone deck doesn't have a name but we've dubbed it "The Cave of Light"

 

From the Hawaiian Mana Cards:

Nalu (card 26)

 

 

Major Arcana Tarot Card:

The Hierophant