The Tarot Podcast with T. Susan Chang

n this week’s 5 Questions episode, we’re speaking with the inimitable Benebell Wen about her Spirit Keeper’s Tarot, which came out in three different editions (the First edition, the Vitruvian edition, and the Revelation editions) between 2018 and 2021. The “SKT” has become an integral part of many readers’ practices, and I thought it would be fascinating to get a closer look at the inner workings of this rich and complex deck and its creator. Although the Spirit Keepers Tarot is currently out of print, it is an open edition, so we can look forward to another printing at some p oint in the future. In the meantime, if you just can’t wait and are up for investing in a durable non-card version, the excellent tarot artist Jamie Sawyer has tarot tiles of the SKT, which she produces as a collaboration with Benebell, In addition to the Spirit Keeper's Tarot, Benebell is the author of three books: Holistic Tarot (2015), The Tao of Craft (2016), and I Ching, The Oracle (2023). She is currently at work on the Grand Etteilla Tarot of Thoth-Hermes.                      benebellwen.com youtube.com/BenebellWen instagram.com/bellwen   Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this episode, we examine how the 4 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary humans like you and me. The 4 of Wands often gladdens the hearts of those who encounter it, even though its gifts can be fleeting. When you draw it, look out for the following themes: Couples & weddings Birthdays, parties, festivals Temporary structures, safe spaces, refuges Respite and recovery Counting to 4 Venusian things! To share your stories about the 5 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment, please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for astrological perfumes, Tarot Podcast merch & other cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com Check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In our episode on“Will I Ever...?” we confronted the human longing for prediction.  In this companion episode, “Should I...?”, we confront the human longing for advice. Our guest is once again Theresa Reed, aka “The Tarot Lady,” dispenser of advice to countless seekers—and the Old Farmer’s Almanac! Should you ask your cards whether you should do something?  We’ll find out together! Theresa Reed, aka “The Tarot Lady”) has been a Tarot card reader and astrologer for 40 years. She’s the author of multiple best-selling and award-winning books, including The Tarot Coloring Book, Astrology For Real Life, and The Cards You’re Dealt. She’s a featured writer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she writes about moon phases, zodiac elements, astrocartography, and more. You can find her at thetarotlady.com and on Instagram as @thetarotlady. https://thetarotlady.com IG: @thetarotlady Re-listen to Episode 11: “Will I Ever...?” Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s Try This at Home! segment, we explore a life-changing approach to learning the cards: TAROT BACKWARDS. Memorizing meanings won’t make you a tarot reader.  Instead, learn how to see tarot in the world around you so that you come to know the cards by heart. Let me know what amazing connections you make in your own Tarot Backwards practice! — on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com Continue your tarot journey with exercises like the ones in this episode! with The Living Tarot book and/or The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book!) Learn your correspondences with Tarot Correspondences! 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s 5 Questions episode, we’re speaking with Lettie Jane Rennekamp, the creator of the Many Queens Tarot, a stunning, proudly queer, black-and-white deck. It was originally a Kickstarter deck; the mass market version was published by Andrews McMeel at the end of 2024. Lettie Jane is an illustrator and artist based in Portland, Oregon by way of Kentucky. Her illustrations are bold and tender at the same time, depicting motherhood, varying versions of gender expression, community, and nature all together. She has worked in both commercial and gallery spaces, creating everything from murals to wine labels, large cut-out paintings and small watercolors. Website: www.lettiejane.com Instagram: @lettiejanemakes   Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this episode, we examine how the 3 of Wands shows up in the lives of actual living, breathing human beings like you and me! The 3 of Wands is a quieter, more cryptic card than its predecessors in the suit. Join me to learn how to unpack its gifts and master its lessons. When you draw it, look for synchronicities in the following sectors: Leadership and efforts to excel Altruism and good intentions Waiting and watching Sense of awe and natural beauty Counting to 3 To share your stories about the 4 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment, please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com Check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Hang on to your hats, folks! In this episode we begin to approach the core paradox that haunts all of us who concern ourselves with divination: Fate vs. Free Will. My guest is Theresa Reed, aka “The Tarot Lady”.  One of her favorite catchphrases is “The cards tell a story, but you write the ending.” - which makes her the perfect expert to talk about the question that begins ”Will I ever...?” We’ve all asked this question, because we all want to know what our “fate” is.  Willl I ever...find the job of my dreams? Will I ever...find the one? Will I ever...be famous?  Surely our fate is written in the stars or shown in the cards.  But is it really? Tune in to find out. Theresa Reed, aka “The Tarot Lady”) has been a Tarot card reader and astrologer for 40 years. She’s the author of multiple best-selling and award-winning books, including The Tarot Coloring Book, Astrology For Real Life, and The Cards You’re Dealt. She’s a featured writer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she writes about moon phases, zodiac elements, astrocartography, and more. You can find her at thetarotlady.com and on Instagram as @thetarotlady. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In today’s “Ask an Expert” episode with tarot legend Mary K. Greer, we ask: Do the compelling human stories revealed in tarot have the same power, when the storyteller is an artificial intelligence? Can the brilliant mimicry of AI evoke real emotions and maybe even real healing in us? Is there truth to be found when we look at the diviner’s dance of chaos and meaning in the mirror of AI? In short, can AI read tarot???  Stay tuned, because two ordinary human, unartificially-enhanced beings are about to do their best to find out. Have you used AI to read tarot?  What did you think?  How did it compare to readings from a human? Tell me! on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com. Mary K. Greer is an independent tarot scholar, author and teacher who is known worldwide for her innovative teaching techniques.  She lives in northern California, but you can find her at https://marykgreer.com and on Facebook. [Please note: This conversation was recorded on May 18, 2025. The AI landscape changes rapidly, so some aspects of what we spoke about may have already evolved beyond what we were discussing at the time.] Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s Try This at Home! segment, we look at a two-card spread that will 100% change your life: The World’s Simplest Problem-Solution Spread. If you’re ready to start tackling your bugbears, remedying your missteps, and generally mitigating your angst, LOOK NO FURTHER.    Once you’ve solved your first problem, let me know how it went!  Share your results on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com.   Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s Ask an Expert episode, I speak with veteran tarot teachers Wald and Ruth Ann Amberstone, co-founders of the Tarot School in New York City. The Amberstonesteach, write, speak and publish about tarot on all levels from divination to psychology to esotericism and magical practice. They are perpetual pioneers of new tarot techniques and remain lifelong tarot students. In this conversation, we explore one of the Amberstones’ core techniques: using the inner eye to enter the world of tarot. They walk us through a guided visualization, and share how all of us can find these seemingly imagined worlds in ourselves. You’ll also hear about Ruth Ann’s mini tarot movies of the court cards, which you can view on Patreon if you’re a patron. (To enjoy this and other weekly extras, sign up at patreon.com/thetarotpodcast.) Facebook.com/TarotSchool X.com/TheTarotSchool Pinterest.com/tarotschool Instagram.com/thetarotschool thetarotschool.bsky.social linkedin.com/in/ruthannamberstone TarotSchool.com tarot@tarotschool.com 800-804-2184 Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s 5 Questions episode, we’re speaking with Joanna Powell Colbert about her ground-breaking nature-based deck, the Gaian Tarot, which first came out in 2009 and has just been re-released by Red Feather/Schiffer. Joanna writes and teaches about tarot, earth-centered spirituality, seasonal and lunar lore, and creativity as a spiritual practice. She lives on the edge of woods and lake in Washington State, and it’s her intimate relationship with her magical environs that gives the Gaian Tarot its sense of power and place. You can find her at joannapowellcolbert.com, as well as on Substack, Instagram and Bluesky. joannapowellcolbert.com gaiantarot.com joannapowellcolbert.substack.com @joannapcolbert (instagram, bluesky) __________________________________________________ Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this episode, we examine how the 2 of Wands shows up in the lives of actual living, breathing human beings like you and me! The 2 of Wands is the first of the “decanic cards” in modern tarot—the 2 through 10 number cards in each of the 4 suits. Because the astrology of the decans informs the way people experience decanic cards, this episode includes a very brief intro to decans and how they correspond to tarot cards.  To learn more about decans in the tarot, check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. When you draw the 2 of Wands, look for synchronicities in the following sectors: New beginnings and calendar matters Planning and executive decisions Two Trees Counting to 2 To share your stories about the 3 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment, please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

In this week’s installment of “Ask an Expert” on the Tarot Podcast, we speak with Lon Milo DuQuette - perhaps the best-known ceremonial magician in this country, an authority on Hermetic Qabalah, and one of the most respected and entertaining writers and lecturers in the field of Western mystery traditions.  You can learn more about Lon and his work at https://lonmiloduquette.net. In this conversation you’ll hear a magician’s perspective on what exactly is going on in the uncanny space where tarot readings occur. How is it that a tarot reading can so accurately comment on what is going on in our lives? Are we just making up the stories we see so clearly in the cards? It all comes down to the fundamental question: Is tarot all in my head?!   The Tarot Podcast relies on listener support to grow and expand! To support the show as a Patreon member, please visit patreon.com/the tarotpodcast.  If you would like to watch the video version, which has added features and graphics, you can do that at youtube.com/@thetarotpodcast.   Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

Try This at Home! segments of the podcast feature spreads, techniques to help you develop your tarot practice at your leisure. We begin with a foundational tarot practice: Card of the Day. Invite the poetry of Fate into your life and sharpen your powers of observation! as you hunt for echoes of just one card in your personal surroundings, over the course of each day. Once you've gotten your Card of the Day practice started, let me know how it goes!  Share your synchronicities on the Tarot Podcast Discord server if you’re a Patreon member - if you haven't yet,you can sign up on Patreon here! Or you can write in via the contact form at our website.     Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

The first installment of our Five Questions segment, in which we take a moment to learn about the creative process of tarot artists whose work has had a major impact on those of us who read cards. Our first guest is Chris-Anne Donnelly, maker of art and magic, and creator of the wildly popular Light Seer’s Tarot (2019).  You can learn about Chris-Anne's work on her website, and follow her musings on Instagram, where she is @pixiecurio. The Tarot Podcast relies on listener support to grow and expand! To support the show as a Patreon member, please visit patreon.com/the tarotpodcast.  If you would like to watch the video version, which has added features and graphics, you can do that at youtube.com/@thetarotpodcast.     Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

The first episode of the Tarot in Real Life segment! where we look at the way cards show up in the lives of actual living, breathing human beings.  We begin with the Ace of Wands. When you draw it, look for synchronicities in the following sectors: Fire/heat Significant anniversaries Phallic imagery! Influx of energy Energy overreactions To share your stories about the 2 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment, please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com Check out 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

The inaugural episode of The Tarot Podcast!  in which we ask legendary tarot teacher Mary K. Greer the fundamental question: why read tarot? Mary K. Greer is perhaps the greatest living tarot authority we have, although she prefers to call herself a “midwife of the soul.”    She’s the author of a dozen books on tarot, including the indispensable Tarot For Your Self. Mary’s blog on the internet features posts on Pamela Colman Smith, the history and practice of tarot, and on women's age-old role as diviners. She also comments on the appearance of tarot and divination in popular media from poetry to books, films and music. You can find her at marykgreer.com and on Facebook.   The Tarot Podcast relies on listener support to grow and expand! To support the show as a Patreon member, please visit patreon.com/the tarotpodcast.  If you would like to watch the video version, which has added features and graphics, you can do that at youtube.com/@thetarotpodcast.     Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast Shop for cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista Sign up for readings and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com   😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊

A new podcast for those who love tarot and those who are simply tarot-curious!  Launching May 27th.