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 Black Goddess Within

Archetypal Tarot is thrilled to release this latest podcast with guest Dr. Giavanni Washington about her new oracle deck, The Black Goddess Within. It was inspiring to meet a woman who has followed her ancestral wisdom and is blazing a powerful path of healing through conversation and connection through the imagery and words of her oracle.

This deck, for Every Body, features photographs of real woman embodying the goddesses of Africa in its many territories and elements (beautifully bedecked by illustrator Marla Warner). Meet stunning mermaids in the deck along with warriors, healers and other divinities of different ages, body types, abilities, skin tones and gender expressions. 

The deck links the Black body to her storied, ancestral and mythology past in the roots of Africa. Past and present are bridged offering specific healing to Black women in particular, and any who wish to welcome the deep expressions of these goddesses within their modern lives.

This deck welcomes and challenges us to see beyond the veils of a white-valued society to the many-faceted aspects of Black Beauty, Black Divinity and Black Joy.

Many thanks to Dr. Giavanni for joining the Archetypal Tarot Podcast <3 You can find out more on her website and even draw a card online!

A Deck for the (Lunar) New Year and the Age of 9

The Chinese 5 Elements Oracle is a deck to accompany you in the adventure that is and will be 2024, and also in the new cycle we find ourselves according to Chinese Metaphysics. 2024 launches “the Age of 9” which is the last cycle of the 180-year great cycle of the Nine Periods. It is said to bring back a rise in Yin Energy, ruled by the Fire trigram Li which is associated with spirituality and middle aged women (never been so excited to turn 40 this year!!)

The Lunar New Year itself will welcome the Wood Dragon. We met with Vicki Iskandar, creator of The Chinese Five Elements Oracle, in this podcast to discuss what we can expect from this cycle and symbolism.

Surprisingly, Vicki’s words on this card and cycle were all about joy.

In 2024, we find ourselves in an election year, not just in the United States, but with over 50 countries deciding between authoritarian and democratic leaders.

Already we see divisiveness and tension playing out with over 110 armed conflicts through out the world - how can we possibly participate and cultivate joy?

"Joy, associated with Fire element, is the key to raising our frequency. This is especially critical in the Age of 9… As the world becomes more divided, those who are able to cultivate inner joy will be the ones who’ll keep moving up on the path to bring light to others; fear and negativity may push others to spiral downward."

~Vicki Iskander

Many of the messages within The Chinese Five Elements Oracle are designed lovingly to stoke your inner joy. From the messages of Heaven and Earth to the charming illustrations provided by Candice Soon, you are sure to find that special spark that is uniquely your own joy.

Happy 2024! Happy Lunar New Year! Happy Age of 9 to you!

To glimpse imagery from this glorious deck in the Video Interview, along with other perks, please become a paid subscriber on Substack!

The Beloved Dead: Divining Ancestral Wisdom

This newly released oracle deck was created by artist Carrie Paris and writer Tina Hardt. The Beloved Dead invites us into conversation with ancestor archetypes and spirit guides. Pictures of the past from both known and unknown sources help to shed light on unconscious patterns unfolding in our daily lives.

This rich conversation between Tina and Cyndera unveils how this Oracle deck came to be (it started with a picture!) and how the collaboration between Tina and Carrie blossomed (it started with a card reading!).

Amongst these stories, Tina delves into the structure of this 81-card Oracle, tips on usage, and some ways to look at the shadow aspects of the cards. She also distinguishes between the process of divination and mediumship, both of which she has pursued and practiced in her extensive channeling of words, Spirit and ideas.

Additional collaborations between Carrie Paris and Tina Hardt include The Siren’s Song and The Relative Tarot.

Taking Back the Magic: Interview with Perdita Finn

Co-Creator of The Archetypal Podcast, Julienne Givot, returns for this very special podcast and interview with Perdita Finn!

Perdita, Julienne and Cyndera discuss the deep meaning and magic inherent in having a daily connection with ancestors, and all friends, beyond the grave.

Perdita Finn's father, a doctor, used to arrive home in the middle of the night and find his three-year-old daughter sitting in the dark in front of a broken figurine from some lost Nativity scene of the Virgin Mary. Not only was their family not religious but Perdita would not even see the inside of a church for another decade. Perdita didn't remember this...and her father would not tell her this story until just before his death. It took her almost a half century to uncover her childhood devotion and to begin to make sense of it.

A longtime Zen student, she decided she'd had enough of priests and lineages and fundraising campaigns soon after the birth of her children. She preferred to be out in the woods with her kids and caring for various wild animals they discovered that needed help. Once they rehabilitated 16 baby possums together. A pet goose marched up and down the long driveway to their house in the Catskills.

In 2011 in the events described in The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary her life changed forever. Rediscovering her devotion to the Lady freed her own voice at last. She is the co-founder with her husband Clark Strand of The Way of the Rose, an eco-feminist rosary fellowship dedicated to the rights of the earth and the rights of women. More of her writing can be found at wayoftherose.org

*This description contains content from Perdita Finn’s bio featured on Amazon.

*Julienne Givot's amazing Ancestor Hoops are available in her Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeRangePriestess

You can access the video of this interview by subscribing to archetypalstories.substack.com!

 

The Rosebud Tarot: Interview with Amanda Lee Stilwell & Diana Rose Harper

This podcast celebrates the beautiful blooming of the Rosebud Tarot, now available from Weiser Books! Cyndera interviews artist Amanda Lee Stilwell and writer/diviner Diana Rose Harper.

This deck depicts the glories of roses in their many forms along with vintage photographs collaged with sensuous altar imagery. Each card interpretation is introduced with an individualized poem that opens and expands the image translation (this podcast features Diana reading her poem from “The Star”). Tarot titles and suits are creatively re-imagined, busting old tarot restrictions to make both a queer and BIPOC-friendly deck.

In addition to deep discussions on process and collaboration details, this podcast also unveils powerful gardening magic such as intentional tools and the use of rose stems as protective wards.

After witnessing this playful deck and its creators, prepare to have your perspective of roses - and tarot - transformed.

You are the Medicine: An Interview with Asha Frost

Asha Frost, a member of the Chippewas of unceded Nawash First Nation (present day Ontario, Canada) shares with Cyndera about her Oracle deck and recently released book, You are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection and Animal Spirit Guidance.

When so much traditional knowledge, life and livelihood has been lost through colonization, where can we even begin to pick up the pieces? New hope is found in the great gift of Frost’s Oracle, illustrated by Steph Littlebird. Steeped in Ojibway teachings, Asha has retrieved this wisdom from ancestors and from her own bones, to share with both indigenous and non-indigenous seekers. She instructs her audience on how to approach and use this medicine respectfully, with the true belief that these teachings can guide each of us back to our own unique medicine. How might the world transform if we are to walk in our own gifts, tailored from our own healed ancestors?

While revealing traditional insights, Asha’s work is also immensely inclusive for our modern world. Asha embraces two-spirit folks in her work and introduces guides that are non-binary in both her imagery, stories and language.

A whole-hearted gift from a rainbow healer, podcast listeners will love Asha Frost and for the visionary work that lies within her words and Oracle.

ASHA FROST (she/her) is an Indigenous Medicine Woman and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. As an energy healer, homeopath, and mentor, Asha has guided thousands of people through profound and lasting transformation with her ceremonies, teachings, and speaking events. Asha lives on Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee Territory, with her husband and two beautiful children, with whom she co-creates a better world for the seven generations to come. Visit her online at ashafrost.com

Melissa Townsend: A Talk on Tarot & the Sutras

Cyndera welcomes Melissa Townsend - artist, psychic and card creator - to her home in Suisun, California. Over tea, the two discuss the deep process of working with the philosophies of Putanjali through the creation of art work inspired by the yoga sutras. Townsend has dedicated a painting of her personal process to EVERY yoga sutra (Books 1-4). The work of the sutras and the art of Tarot are compared and contrasted. The vital nature of doing such deep artistic work in the age of AI is revealed. 

Melissa's work can be purchased through her website at https://melissa-townsend.com

Melissa's Bio: 

Melissa Townsend is an Artist, Author, Psychic & Astrologer, and  lives in San Francisco with her husband and son. 

She has been a practitioner of Yoga for over 35 years, and studied Sanskrit for over 15 years, now teaching the language to others. Melissa has also translated the Yoga Sutras, and has been creating paintings inspired by them since 2011. The paintings, translations, and commentary of the Yoga Sutras, Book One and Book Two, have been published in full-color, soft-bound books and as Meditation Cards. 

You can also find Melissa on YouTube videos on Astrology and the Tarot. She has created a couple Tarot Decks including The Subtle Tarot. 

The unifying force behind all of Melissa's work lie the age-old questions, the ones that push us onto the spiritual path, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” All of this is a way to engage with each other, as we all ask and try to answer those questions.