My guest today on The Tarot Table represents The Empress tarot card. The Empress is a tarot card representing femininity, fertility, and abundance.It symbolizes the nurturing and creative aspects of life.The Empress is often associated with motherhood, nature, and the power of creation. It signifies a time of growth, abundance, and nurturing relationships.In a reading, the Empress card suggests that you are in a period of abundance and creativity and can manifest your desires.It encourages you to embrace your feminine energy and tap into your nurturing and creative abilities.That is why the Empress is an excellent representation of my guest today, Jillian Ribbons, as she has a very nurturing role as she helps those manifest their desires.Spiritual Nurture with Jillian RibbonsJillian is a lightworker and Akashic records practitioner who blends her unique perspective of emotional alchemy through sound with acupuncture and osteopathic principles to help spiritual entrepreneurs connect with their highest timeline so they can manifest an abundant flow of bliss.We discuss her unique ways of helping to nurture others so they can reach their potential spiritually, and some of the things discussed during the podcast are quite fascinating.Be sure to connect with Jillian through her website, joypointclinic.com.You will definitely want to square in some time to have a listen.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and bring on an awesome guest who aligns with the Death card.So you know this is intenseand has an enlightening story, which is why this is the best card fitting for her. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

I am so excited to interview my first guest on The Tarot Table. But before I get into it, I want to talk about the Justice card as there is relevance to it regarding my guest. Justice represents karma, cause and effect, balance, and fairness. It symbolizes the consequences of your actions and the need to take responsibility for your choices. In karma, the Justice card reminds you that your actions have repercussions and that you will experience the effects of your deeds, whether positive or negative. It encourages you to make ethical decisions and consider our long-term consequences. The Justice card also reminds you to seek balance and fairness and treat others with integrity and respect. And this is why Justice best represents my guest today, Laura Ordile. Laura Ordile and Karmic AstrologyLaura Ordile, from Montana, is a Master Hypnotist specializing in Anxiety and Confidence as well as trauma, including PTSD and CPTSD, in her programs. She is certified in several areas, including hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming, color coaching, life coaching, and more. She is also a professional astrologer. Today's focus will be on how astrology is indicative of karma that you are facing today from past lives, which is why you have sure gifts and lessons and are on the path you are on. I will be digging into that. Laura talks about what led her to her career path and interest in astrology today. She talks about the karmic indicators in your natal chart. Many people familiar with karmic indicators think about the north and south nodes. However, there are more karmic indicators in your natal chart, which can explain why you have the experiences you do, as they can result from your previous lives, positive or negative. It was an enjoyable interview, and if you want to connect with Laura Ordile, go to:https://lauraordile.com/Laura's podcast, The Change Gang Podcast https://changegang.libsyn.com/Laura's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lauraordile/Laura's Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LauraOrdile777Laura's Facebook group, The Change Gang http://changeganggroup.comNow you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday, and I will be bringing on an awesome guest who aligns with the Empress as she is an Akashic records practitioner. She will enlighten you with so many fascinating topics. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. What questions do you ask if you have gone for a tarot reading? Chances are you ask questions involving money, career, relationships, or family. That is all good. Conversely, how many memorable questions have you gotten if you are a tarot reader? I bet there are too many to count, right? Yeah, well, me too. First, I want to say that there are never dumb questions because you have a legitimate reason for asking any question you may have, no matter how strange it may be to someone else. However, if you are trolling or being silly, then that is another story. Many people who reach out to tarot readers need intuitive and psychic insight. Sometimes, they will ask these readers questions that may be off-limits or may sound strange because answers to those questions are what they need.But here is the problem. There are some questions you cannot ask the tarot if you want to get an accurate or meaningful answer.Reputable tarot readers need to be upfront about that fact because not many people will know that, and there needs to be more education. If you are looking for the best type of questions to ask, the tarot, I wrote a piece on my Tarot Talk publication on Medium and will link it to where this episode is here. It is "What Are The Best Questions To Ask The Tarot Cards?"The truth is, the tarot cannot answer every question you have. And you are better off doing a Google search on them to get the answer you need from a reputable source. Some questions are off-limits to ask the tarot, as I previously wrote, "What Are The 10 Questions To Not Ask The Tarot?" from my Tarot Talk publication. There was an old Business Insider article going over some of the funniest questions that people had asked tarot readers, as well as some shared on the Tarot Forum, and I will go over five of them so I can add my commentary.1. How Will the Weather Be?The tarot is not a weather reporter or a meteorologist. Check your local news, or download some weather apps to know the weather forecast the next day.You will get a much more accurate answer through those than you would from the tarot (though sometimes meteorologists get it completely wrong, you are still much better off with that source).However, if you want to ask the tarot a weather-related question, check the weather first and then ask, “What can I do to make the most of this sunny/cloudy/cold/snowy/rainy day?” You may get some good insight there.2. Will I be Physically Satisfied?Can you elaborate on what you mean by that? Are you looking to have a fun, intimate time with someone, or are you looking to indulge in some chocolates or fried foods? Either way, the tarot cannot help you.It is up to you if you want to be physically satisfied, depending on your wants. You can always go on Bumble or Tinder to enjoy a one-night stand or go to the best buffet in town.There is too much free will on your part for the tarot to give you any proper guidance or answer.If you want insight into why you have such an intense need to be physically satisfied, whether you want sex, food, or whatever, then the tarot can help.Therefore, you can ask, “Why do I have this intense need for physical pleasures from food/fun time in bed/booze?” (or whatever it may be) This could be a good opportunity for some shadow work.3. Will I be Able to Lose Weight or Not?Once again, that is not a question the tarot can answer. The first thing you need to do is if you want to lose weight, talk to your doctor, not the tarot.Secondly, look for reputable sources such as a free calorie calculator by the Mayo Clinic. Look for articles from medical sources about the best foods to eat to help support your weight loss and keep you full.If you want to involve the tarot in this, you can ask What I should do to maximize my weight loss efforts. Again, only the doctor can give you the best answer, but gaining some insight in non-medical terms does not hurt, such as doing some activities you may have yet to think of, which can help.4. Is My Mother-In-Law Docile?That is another question the tarot cannot answer. And you are also going into third-party reading territory there, where you are asking the cards about someone else that has nothing to do with you.You cannot tap into someone's energy without gaining their permission.However, I understand the need to ask this question as someone with a Monster-in-Law, now deceased. If the MIL is unreasonable and challenging, a better question to ask the tarot is, “What can I do not allow my MIL to get to me so much?” Then, you may get some good insight.5. Will My Husband Become a Millionaire in a Year?Another third-party reading, and secondly, that is not an appropriate question to ask the tarot, especially if the partner is not aiming to become wealthy. That is a money-grubbing question.However, if you and your partner are on board to increasing your wealth, that is a different story. You can always ask the tarot: What steps should my partner and I take to increase our wealth?You may get better insight and use it to explore options you may not even know exist to help you get there.There are so many more silly questions that people have asked tarot readers, but I would have to write a long novel to get through more of them. Either way, I hope your face does not hurt from all the face-palming you have done from listening to this.The gist is that people must learn the proper etiquette when asking tarot questions and understand how to frame questions to get the necessary answers. Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday, as this is my last solo podcast. My first guest next week is great, as the Justice Tarot card represents her. I am looking forward to you meeting her as we delve into the karmic aspects of astrology. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. Do you think there are other purposes for tarot other than divination? I am here to tell you that you can use tarot to promote your creativity, especially if you are a writer. That is good news for you. If you don’t feel comfortable with divination, that is okay.You can still use tarot cards for creativity. Here is the thing: if you use tarot cards for creative writing, it can be fun and inspiring to spark your imagination and explore new ideas. Are you ready to learn more about how you can incorporate tarot cards into your creative writing process? Okay, let’s go!Set the IntentionBefore you begin, set the intention to use the tarot cards as a creative tool. Clarify that you’re seeking inspiration and guidance for your writing project.You are not using these cards for divination, only for creativity. Therefore, if you are not open to divination and feel nervous about having a deck of tarot cards in your hands, remind yourself why you are using them. You are doing it to stimulate your creative side so you can begin to do some creative writing.Select a Tarot CardShuffle the tarot deck and select a card randomly. Trust your intuition or use a specific spread, such as a single-card draw or a three-card spread, for past, present, and future influences.It is up to you how you want to use it, as there are no rules for tarot, especially when using it for creative writing. Some may find enough inspiration from drawing one card, and others may want to do a ten-card spread. You do what feels right to you.Study Each CardBriefly study the card’s imagery, colors, symbols, and overall mood. As you observe the card, pay attention to any emotions or thoughts. And if you decide to pull a few cards to inspire you, study each card individually.Take a pad of paper and pen, and write down all your thoughts and emotions when you look at each card. And there are no right or wrong answers to this.Reflect on the Card’s MeaningConsider the traditional meanings associated with the card, but also trust your interpretation and intuition. Reflect on how the card’s themes, symbols, or energy resonate with your writing project or the specific aspect you’re focusing on.For instance, the Six of Pentacles is a card that represents giving and receiving something physical, whether it has to do with money or materials. But my interpretation of that card is giving and receiving energy and time. Energy and time are physical anyway, but you never hear traditional tarot resources say that about the Six of Pentacles.Start WritingStart writing freely, allowing the card’s energy and symbolism to guide your words. Write without judgment or self-editing, letting your thoughts flow naturally. You can write a scene, a character description, a dialogue, or even a poem inspired by the card. It does not matter.For example, if you pull the Three of Swords, Two of Cups, and Fool, you can write a sob-worthy story of how a couple who loved one another ended up breaking up and going their separate ways.Once they went their different ways, they began to explore aspects of themselves that they never knew they had, which meant they went on exciting travel adventures or did some experimenting in other ways.Explore Themes and SymbolismDelve deeper into the card’s themes and symbolism. Consider how they can be incorporated into your writing project. Explore how the card’s energy can influence your characters, plot, or setting.By the way, here is what I do. I use the court cards and the Major Arcana cards to create characters and their personalities. The Fool can represent someone who enjoys going on one adventure after another and is not afraid to push their comfort zone.The Queen of Cups can be someone in the story which is always there for everyone else, supporting them emotionally but tends to forget about her needs.The Minor Arcana cards can reflect on aspects of their personalities or experiences. They can also serve as events that take place in the story.For example, if you pull the Three of Cups, you can include a part of the story about friends going out and having fun, or you can write about a couple having a baby. That all depends on what you want for your story. The Minor Arcana cards are also suitable for setting the plot.You can repeat the process with additional cards to explore different aspects of your writing project or gain further inspiration.You can draw multiple cards and weave their meanings together in your writing. After your writing session, take some time to reflect on what you’ve written and how the tarot cards have influenced your creative process. Look for connections, insights, or new ideas from this exercise.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, let's laugh as I will go over some of the silliest questions that were asked of tarot readers. There are no dumb questions, but these are definitely silly. This will be my last solo show, and as of February, I will be beginning to host guests. That will be exciting, as I have some lined up already. And stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, see you next time. Ciao for now.Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. When you pull a card for yourself each morning or evening, or if you have a reading done and you get the Sun, do you always get excited since the Sun is supposedly the brightest card in the deck? And, of course, you would get excited since the Sun is known for representing success, warmth, fun, positivity, and vitality, especially if it is the outcome card for a reading. But I will ask this as well. Do you ever look beyond the excitement and ask yourself what message this card could have for you?I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Sun is not always the best card to get. You already know there are no "good or bad cards." The Sun has many dark aspects, but no one likes to discuss them. And that is what I am doing right now. I will reveal so much about the Sun that will make you rethink the excitement you get when you do a daily pull, and that card comes up. Before delving right into that, here is something else to consider. When the Sun tarot card falls into a position in a spread that represents obstacles or challenges, what are your thoughts then? Or, what happens if it happens to be your shadow card, which is the card at the bottom of the deck? That is when you will begin to learn about the shadow side of the Sun tarot card.There are several meanings behind the Sun's shadow side, and let's begin to delve into them.Toxic PositivityThe Sun can also represent toxic positivity, and it does not always have to be in the reversed position if you read reversals. For example, if you are doing a reading about someone and the Sun comes up as their negative trait, that can represent that they are likely the type that would toss toxic positivity at you.Other cards in the spread would have to support that, especially if the Moon and the Seven of Swords, which both represent dishonesty and hiding things, are in that spread. Toxic positivity is highly invalidating.Unrealistic OptimismThe Sun can also represent unrealistic optimism or magical thinking. If you are going for a tarot reading about love, and the Sun is in a position where a challenge or an obstacle can come up, that could mean some idealism and magical thinking involved.That is when you would believe that a prince or princess charming would unexpectedly appear at your door. But let's be honest; there is no such thing, and what are the odds of that happening?If the Knight of Cups, upright or reversed, is in the same spread, which is the idealistic romantic, then that supports that magical thinking issue. What happens to you when you look directly at the Sun? It will blind you, as magical thinking does from reality.The solution to the challenge is a card from the Pentacles suit tied to the earth element, hence highly practical, such as the Two or Queen of Pentacles, which would bring you back to Earth.Too Much EgoThe Sun could come up in a reading about an individual's negative personality aspect, and aside from tossing toxic positivity, the Sun could represent having too much ego. But, of course, that would be upright or reversed, depending on the spread. Again, think about the solar system, as the Sun is in the center as the planets orbit around it.Also, think of the dark side of Leo, which the Sun rules, and that is being egotistical. Hence, it is unsurprising that the Sun would also represent someone with an entitlement complex.Exhaustion And BurnoutYou would not think of the Sun representing burnout and exhaustion, as that is a card represented by the Nine and Ten of Wands. However, it can, because when you think of how being out in the Sun too much as you exert yourself would burn you out and leave you exhausted.For example, if you were to have a reading about why you cannot complete a task you want to do and the Sun shows up in a challenging position, it can mean that you are exhausted and burned out — which also depends on the surrounding cards if the Nine of Ten of Wands is in that spread somewhere, that supports that reason.Getting BurnedConsider what happens when overexposed to the Sun, even if you have applied sunscreen with a 60 SPF. First, you will get sunburn because even the best sunscreen will not prevent it.Therefore, you could get burned if you are overexposed to something better for you, especially if you put too much trust in something or someone who severely lets you down.Solar StormWhat happens when there is a solar storm? Once a solar flare reaches the area around Earth, it can heat the ionosphere where the Earth's atmosphere ends — hence the reason for the gorgeous auroras that are usually seen in the polar regions or areas with higher latitudes.However, if the solar storm is out of control, it can hit the Earth's power grids and cause widespread power outages and communication-device issues. Therefore, in this case, the Sun tarot card can represent anything out of control in your life.If there is chaos in your life, and you find a tarot spread that includes a position representing the cause for chaos, and the Sun shows up, that is what is happening. There is a "solar storm" that has gotten out of control happening around you. It is time to firm up some boundaries.DroughtThe Sun without rain causes drought. The specific meaning behind the Sun tarot card is vitality, but it can represent the opposite of that. For example, suppose you feel unmotivated and stuck, and the Sun tarot card comes up as the position in a reading representing the cause.In that case, you are facing a drought of your own, which can highlight the area shown by the surrounding cards where you are not getting enough "water" in your life to nurture it. Therefore, you must add something to your life to help you thrive.Now you see how the Sun tarot card is only sometimes the most positive in the deck. But remember, even the "worst" tarot cards have some upsides. There are times when it is exciting to see the Sun tarot card come up in a reading, but there are other times when it reveals that you must address a significant obstacle or challenge.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Remember to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, I want to discuss using tarot cards to stimulate your creativity. This episode may be helpful if you are a writer because tarot can be a fantastic tool for stimulating creativity. I will also be hosting guests in February, as I have a few lined up already, so stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. When the Death card comes up in a reading, how do you feel? Before I ask that, what do you know about the Death tarot card?Suppose you knew a little tarot before you knew the true meaning behind the Death card. In that case, you may have feared it because, understandably, you would have associated it with physical death (and if you don't know much about tarot, you are learning something new and essential now).However, it is rare for the Death tarot card to represent a visit from the Reaper, except if it pertains to someone terminally ill and about to cross over. I have written many articles about this topic before, but I want to touch on another aspect of the Death Tarot card that people fear.The Death Tarot Card Represents Change.. Which Is What Scares Everyone Sh*tlessEveryone has a fear of change, even those who are adventurous. That may be hard to believe, but there would be no comfort zone if fear of change did not exist. Some may embrace change more than others, but even those who do struggle to some degree with a fear of change.Others fear change so much that they have a phobia of it, known as metathesiophobia. However, life is full of changes, and unexpected changes occur. Something as simple as the changing of the seasons also represents change.Think about when winter finally ends, and then spring takes its place. And there are many seasonal changes even in a warm climate. For example, you may get a lot of rain instead of snow during the winter. And with the seasons changing, you may suddenly get drier and hotter periods.Every time you have a birthday, you have to face another change. But the impact of it may not be significant if you are not hitting a milestone birthday.If you hit the big 4–0 or even more so, the big 5–0, that scares you because it reminds you that you are getting older and there is nothing you can do about it. Middle age is a scary stage for this reason.You are forced to deal with the inevitable change, which is aging. You get the idea. Now, let's talk about why change is something that people fear.What Is So Scary About Change?There are several reasons that so many people fear change. First, after researching this, I found that there is a similar feeling to the unknown of failure, and everyone also fears failure. You are no exception.Think about it. If you are challenged to try something new, you will have a lot of fear washing over you. The fear of failure is a component of that fear, in addition to the unknown.There is also that fear of losing control. When you approach the unknown, you will feel vulnerable, and no one wants to feel that way. Everyone wants to be in control, no matter what. I'll be vulnerable and tell you that I am emetophobic, as I am phobic of vomiting, as it has been years since I did it. But when I look into what is behind the phobia, there is a significant aspect of control. When you get sick, you lose control. That scares me. Aside from that, unfortunately, there are many times when you have no choice but to make a sudden change, such as unexpectedly being laid off from your job or finding out you have a medical condition that will force you to change your lifestyle.What do you do when you cannot ease yourself out of your comfort zone? First, you must go through the fearful emotions and some grief and talk to yourself to know that you need to take that plunge to make that change since delaying the inevitable would be worse.In other words, you know that the sooner you brush up on your resume and start job hunting, the better you will be. Or, the sooner you learn more about your condition and make an appointment with a specialist to talk about changing your lifestyle, the better you will be.Oh, and the pandemic was when the change was forced upon you! I don't need to elaborate on that. But, for one reason or another, 2020 was one of the most brutal years for people, even if they did not experience loss by losing loved ones, friends, or their jobs or businesses.You get the idea of how the average individual reacts to change. Lots of fear. Some embrace it more. Others struggle with metathesiophobia, which will require a lot of therapy because, as I said, you cannot avoid change.How Do You Handle The Reality of Change Upon You?Whatever change you are facing, you know you cannot escape it. Aside from being emetophobic, I am one of those people who genuinely dislike change, but I embrace it more than my husband does. So, unfortunately, I have had to be the one to force him to make changes.So, this is what has helped me cope.Deal With The Change Bit By BitEven though I said you might be forced with some change, like suddenly losing your job overnight, it is never a good idea to plunge into it.You need time to process it, so if you don't immediately start brushing up your resume, for example, that is fine. But you know you have to face it, so that is when you need to ease out of your comfort zone and deal with it bit by bit.Hope For The Best, But Plan For The WorstThe truth is if you are always catastrophizing the worst-case scenario, that can cause you a lot of anxiety and harm your mental health.However, at the same time, you cannot be mindlessly optimistic that everything will stay the same. Being delusional will only make matters so much worse. You must prepare for the worst, such as losing your job or ending up with a crime problem in your neighborhood that will cause you to move, even if that is not what you envision yourself doing.That way, you can mentally prepare yourself for any potential change, good or bad.If You Know You Need To Make A Change, Determine Your WhySometimes, you may be forced to change even if outside forces are not doing it for you.For example, you are being mistreated at work and growing tired of it to an intense desire to quit and find another job.Or, your clothes no longer fit you properly, and you are constantly out of breath. You know you need to lose some pounds to feel better, but changing your lifestyle scares you.Those are situations where you are facing negative consequences from the sameness, and the only way to break it is if you are the one to make that change. That is scary, even though you are in control this time.In that situation, you must determine why you are making a change. Then, when you do, you can start making the change slowly and keep building upon it.Reward Yourself When You Get Through The ChangeRewarding yourself can mean anything attainable, such as buying a new pair of shoes, a trip to the spa, or something else that does not involve money.However, each time you get through a change that scares you, the best thing you can do is reward yourself for getting through it.You will also have something to look forward to as you go through the change, which will motivate you to push through your fears.Get SupportThe best thing you can do is get support. Whether it is from online support groups or if you have a friend you can talk to about what you are facing, get emotional support.If you can talk to someone about how this change affects you mentally and your fears about it, it will make it easier to face.Changing is hard enough, but it is hell if you have to go through it alone.The next time you go for a tarot reading and the Death card shows up, yes, there is some change you will face, but at least you will have the time to prepare for it ahead of time, making it easier for you to face when it does happen.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, I want to discuss another card many love: the Sun. Do you get excited every time that card emerges? Maybe you will want to hold in your excitement the next time you pull the Sun during your morning tarot card pull routine; if that is what you do, find out the dark aspects of this seemingly extremely positive tarot card. I will shed some light on that! Until then, see you next time, ciao for now. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. What is your first thought when you think about the Tower tarot card? Do you shake yourself crapless when you get the card in a reading, or if you pull a card during your morning ritual and you get the Tower? Here is a spoiler alert. If you get the Tower in a reading, it can be the best card you can get. The Tower is associated with sudden destruction, cataclysm, and immediate shock. You have to remember that the purpose of the Tower is to destroy what is no longer helpful to you so you can make room for the new, but that is never pleasant. Sometimes, it can mean pure shock and destruction, like how the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly appeared to wreak havoc on people's lives. However, other meanings behind the Tower go beyond that. Let's go over seven of them now.A Big Eureka MomentThe worst thing is when you think you have an idea for something, and you cannot break through the barrier of the thought behind it, which means it won't be fruitful. For example, you develop an idea for a blogging strategy, but suddenly, there are blocks around it that only frustrate you.But suddenly, you end up with an ah-ha moment around it, the big eureka moment that helps you work with your original idea. That means you now have a robust strategy because of that eureka moment. The Tower can represent something as simple as that.Shaking Up Your RoutineYou need a routine that can help you stay organized and secure. It is also essential for parents of young kids to keep their kids on routines. However, the issue with routines is that there is a risk that they can turn into boredom and apathy. Get up for work, wash up, have breakfast, fight traffic for your 9 to 5, fight traffic heading back home, have dinner, watch TV, get ready for bed, rinse, and repeat the next day.There is no excitement there at all, which is risky for you to develop an 'I don't give a crap" attitude because it is so dull. That is why you will want to shake up your routine. Think of getting a pet or breaking up your day if that is not an option for you in some way. During your lunch break, do something different, such as a short workout or something you have not done before once you return home from work. Again, the Tower can mean that your routine needs a shake-up.Freedom After Going Through Pain Or DiscomfortYes, the Tower represents the destruction of something that no longer works. And ouch, that hurts. You will want to focus on the other side of pain: freedom. Think about how the Tower is a welcome card if you are in a situation where you feel trapped, such as being in a bad marriage or in a lousy job that you did not think you could escape from. Still, the Tower can lead you to freedom on the other side of whatever it is that is trapping you.However, remember that to get to that freedom on the other side, you must go through a grueling process, such as leaving a bad marriage. The Tower can signify that you will finally get out of hell. Being Proactive To Prevent A ProblemYou will see the Tower card come up as a warning that a problem could happen if you are not proactive in preventing it. For example, if the weather forecast appears that there will be a storm so bad that it will cause power outages, you will want to stock up on non-perishables before the storm so you are not stuck without having food to eat when and if it happens.In my case, I will talk about my Tower moment in this regard. I have yo-yo'ed my life with dieting, and I have gotten tired of it, but because of heart disease and diabetes in my genetics, I knew it was time to end this lunacy and get some help.So, I heard a lot about Ozempic and went to my doctor in January to inquire about it. The doctor checked my sugars, and as it turned out, they were high. Yikes! So, since then, I have been on Ozempic to help me lose weight and control my sugars, and I am being monitored. It could have ended up badly if I did not make this inquiry. I am 40 lbs down now but still have more to go. Cleansing And PurgingThe Tower can mean you must cleanse and purge what is no longer working for you, such as a cluttered home causing distractions. Therefore, if the Tower comes up, it does not always mean something bad or a shock is on the horizon. It can be a message to cleanse and purge your office, home, and mind. It is an excellent time to do that spring or fall cleaning.A BreakthroughYou already know that the Tower can represent a eureka moment. It can also present breakthroughs in other ways. Think about a teacher trying to work with a student struggling to grasp a math problem they are working on.However, the teacher presents the students with a method that can help them figure out the math problem, and that method helps them solve it. That is a breakthrough, and the Tower can represent that.Developing A Thick SkinThe Tower can signify that if someone has been taking advantage of you, being unkind, and gaslighting you, it is time to end it and stand up for yourself.The Tower moment would be to the one abusing you, seeing that you are no longer taking their crap. That is shocking to them. I will say that the Tower got me out of echoism. You will know what I am talking about if you have read my book. Now, you can see that whenever the Tower pops up for you, it does not necessarily mean that something unexpected will ruin you! The context of the tarot reading means everything, which is what you must look at when the Tower shows.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, I want to discuss another card many fear: Death. I think enough people who know some things about tarot realize that Death does not usually mean physical death, but there is one aspect of the card that they fear, which has nothing to do with physical death. I will shed some light on that! Until then, see you next time, ciao for now. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.I am so glad you are here. I have a question for you. How often do you cleanse your tarot cards? If you never do, and you find that your readings are crappy, then it is time to listen up because you need to cleanse your cards.When you consider that tarot cards are only 78 pieces of beautiful cardboard, you may wonder why it is necessary to cleanse them. Nevertheless, if you are truly getting into the craft, you will see that these cards have more meaning than just being 78 pieces of cardboard.It is essential to do that when it comes to cleansing these cards; it is a great self-help tool for divination and spurring creativity.Cleansing Tarot Cards: Why Should You Do It?Everything is energy, and everything you touch is where your energy is transferred. You want to ensure that your frequency is high when reading tarot, whether for a client, a friend, or yourself, so you get a precise reading.A stagnant or polluted energy will taint the cards and affect the reading negatively. You want to practice your best spiritual hygiene, so cleansing your cards is essential.The Effects of Not Cleansing ThemWould you want to wear a shirt every day that is full of sweat, dead skin cells, and food crumbs that you have eaten even if you can’t see them?You are practicing poor physical hygiene unless you cleanse your cards every time. I hate to say this, but it is not really any different from not washing your hands after using the toilet. And yes, I am making that comparison.Your cards may not smell bad if you don’t cleanse them, but you might feel stagnant energy and pull up either readings with bad outcomes or readings that don’t make sense if you don’t cleanse them. I mean, It makes sense to clean your tarot cards.Consistently cleaning your cards is similar to regularly doing laundry or showering. The things you do cannot be imagined without them. Because otherwise, ewww gross. You may wonder how often or when to cleanse your cards. Let’s discuss that.How Often Should Tarot Cards Be CleansedYou don’t have to cleanse your cards at any particular time or frequency. When cleaning your cards, you should use your intuition.If you feel stagnant or unhealthy energy around them and don’t remember when you cleaned them last, it is overdue and time to cleanse them.You don’t have to cleanse a deck of cards if you don’t use them too often and feel their energy is fresh each time you use them.You decide how often and when to cleanse them. When you start a new deck, you must first cleanse it to know what energies surround it.You must know the energies surrounding the manufacturer's printer if you purchase a brand-new tarot deck from Amazon, Etsy, or a shop.Negativity could rub off onto your new deck if negativity existed around the printer. You don't want to read a deck that has the energies of someone that has been having a crappy day, right? You should cleanse the new deck as soon as you receive it or before you use it.Also, cleaning your cards is a good idea if you have done plenty of emotional readings for friends or clients.No matter how many positive readings you have done, your cards must be cleansed. You should keep cleansing your cards as long as you are using them. You are entirely responsible for determining how often to cleanse your cards. You may now be wondering how to cleanse your cards.Are you washing them? You can do that if the cards are laminated, or you could ruin them. I mean, that is not rocket science. How Can Tarot Cards Be Cleansed?There are several ways to cleanse your tarot cards. Choosing a way that resonates with you is essential.Put A Crystal On The DeckYou can cleanse your deck by absorbing its energies, such as clear quartz, selenite, or black tourmaline, by placing a crystal on the deck.To absorb negativity and stagnant energies from the deck, place the cleansing and protective crystal on it overnight. The crystal can be placed on the deck for an hour if you want to do a light cleanse due to reading for several clients in one day.Cleanse with Sacred SmokeUse sage, lavender, palo santo, cedar, or dried rosemary to cleanse your deck. During the burning of the herbs, you will place the deck near the smoke with the other hand so that the smoke will surround the cards and remove negativity or stagnant energy.Ensure that all corners and sides of the deck of cards are in contact with the smoke so you are effectively cleaning it.The cards can be purified by placing them in a bowl of sea salt. Salt is known to be very cleansing, so you can cleanse your cards effectively by placing the cards in the bowl and allowing them to absorb their energies.Obviously, you should ensure that humidity levels are manageable when cleansing them this way. Having clumped salt stuck on your cards will ruin them and your mood. Allow Sunlight To Cleanse The CardsThe cards can always be placed on the window sill during the day to be cleaned by the sunlight. Keep your cards away from the sun for too long, or they may warp.Negative and stagnant energies can be washed away by sunlight, however. If kept too long in the sun, the art can be damaged, so you should keep them there for only a few hours at most during the day.To soak up the moonlight, place the cards on the window sill overnight: If you are concerned that sunlight could warp your cards, you can always put them overnight so they can soak up the moonlight even if you don’t want to place them on the window sill during the day.Cards can be cleansed at any time, not just during full moons. Nevertheless, you would not achieve anything with a New Moon, as there would be no moonlight. Some may argue with that, but I have found that the New Moon energy does not cleanse the cards. The cleansing process may be interfered with if the cards are placed during a lunar eclipse.Shuffle ChaoticallyArrange the cards chaotically on the floor. You can also use that method to purge the cards of stagnant or negative energies. It may be an excellent way to get rid of it quickly if you read for clients.These are the main methods of cleansing cards; however, you choose to cleanse them is up to you! Don’t hesitate to follow your instincts. How To Clean Tarot Cards The Right WayWhen cleaning your tarot cards, there is no right or wrong way. However, you should be responsible for how you do it. What I mean is to use common sense. If you put your cards on the window sill, they could warp and ruin the cards, and, at the very least, the artwork may be destroyed if they are left there for over five hours.Cards should be cleansed using alternative methods if humidity levels are high instead of salt, as I already discussed.To avoid readings with old energies tainted by your cards, you must cleanse them in the ways mentioned. Whether you received the cards directly from the manufacturer, were given them as a gift, or used them for some time, it doesn’t matter.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, I want to talk about one of the cards that scare people, the Tower, and explain why it may be one of the best cards to get in a reading. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now. Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer. I am so glad you are here. Today, I will discuss why specific tarot cards keep appearing repeatedly. Whenever you do a tarot reading, it can happen when one card keeps appearing… like a bad penny. Tarot readings can be done for anyone, whether for yourself or someone else. But that particular tarot card will always follow you. In your tarot community, you might have asked questions about it. They may tell you to journal or meditate to figure it out. Maybe they give you other suggestions. Yet, despite everything you try to make sense of, the card doesn’t let go of you. This type of card is called a stalker card.Why Is The Stalker Card Relevant? Whether you read for yourself or others, it can happen when a tarot card shows up in your readings, taunting you with its message. As the stalker card has a message for the querent, it may not be relevant for you when reading for others. Nevertheless, the card still appears for you as the reader.Stalker cards usually stop appearing once you understand what they are trying to say. It took me almost two years to realize how traumatized I was during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns. My mind was a wild mess after that. I was stalked by the Tower, of course. As a result, I only thought about how the crap would keep hitting the fan in my presence. And it did. As a result, I assumed I was doomed. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, to put it lightly.Nevertheless, the message was clear, and I received it in a calmer state. Without the right help for my issues, I would continue to face destructive situations without even realizing I was the cause.Once I returned to therapy (reluctantly, I will admit, yes, I was pretty feral), The Tower stopped stalking me.I’ve Been Stalked By A Tarot Card For Other Reasons LatelyI’ve been getting a stalker recently. The Emperor keeps appearing; sometimes, it is upright, and sometimes reversed. As a result of my trauma, I became an echoist due to a perpetual fawn response. Having done the unthinkable (to society, at least), I began saying “no” more often, redefining my boundaries, and speaking up for myself.My room is a mess, but I’m developing self-discipline by slowly organizing it, so I don’t want the Emperor breathing down my neck about how to set boundaries and create order.The thing is, however. Someone recently mentioned that they kept coming across stalker cards because they were relevant to their past lives. It’s interesting, that’s for sure. I had several past life regressions, and based on what I learned, it does resonate, especially with how the Emperor sometimes goes the other way.Tarot Card Stalker Reflects Past LivesHere’s the thing. Over the past while, I have wondered how such an old soul (well, I am an older mature soul, but it is up to my soul, not my ego) was thrust into an environment with so many new baby souls.New souls pick up on your sensitivities and differences and will prey on them. Of course, it is also true that older souls have more complicated lives and deal with traumatic experiences, but you cannot plan your traumas before birth!I believe you are born with lessons to learn; some lessons are big ones, and trauma is a risk, but you don’t plan for it! Others misusing their free will and you being caught in the crossfire is what often happens, which can become very traumatic. Victims and survivors of bullying and abuse are usually told that they planned it by many mediums that perpetrate victim-shaming. People seem to eat it up, and it’s sad!Nevertheless, I know I was highly narcissistic during Victorian times, and I looked down on less fortunate others. Shaming people was something I did. As a wealthy woman in England, I abused my power to order maids around the mansion or estate.Guess what? With many social stigmas attached, I was the ultimate outcast, the bullied one. Having abused others, I had to feel what they felt. That makes sense to me. When I consider that I did not receive a lot of kindness during my life, it is sad that so many people say I am amazing for being kind to others. I’ve said many times that everyone is responsible for their behavior and actions, regardless of their trauma. I’m trying to balance my karma here, so I’m not so “amazing.”Apparently, the Emperor stalks me (in reverse at times) to remind me of my previous life when I was in a position of power in an abusive way. As a helpless echoist in this life, I also lacked power for a long time. However, now that I have regained my power and using it better, that’s where it sits. Hopefully, I have figured this out; I won’t see the Emperor as much! I will now ask you. Are you finding that you have a tarot card that stalks you? And if you have any awareness of your previous lives, do you feel it may have to do with a lesson you need to learn from any of those lives? There is something to think about for the time being. Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com and my Instagram.Next week, I will cover the importance of cleansing your tarot cards, how to do them, and how often, as this is a question that many tarot readers have. Let's answer this next time! See you next time, ciao for now.  Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer. I am so glad you are here. Today, I will discuss some of the tarot cards that mean something similar yet have subtle differences with one another. I wanted to cover this because there are plenty of discussions about that among tarot readers and those studying the tarot. There are 78 cards in the tarot deck, and you will find several cards with similar meanings, whether part of the Major or Minor Arcana. But, again, the cards’ appearance is different; they are of other suits and may be part of the Major or Minor Arcana, but they have similar meanings with subtle differences. The cards’ differences will impact the tarot reading and interpretation of that card. Now, let’s go over some tarot cards that have similar meanings but are also different.Devil And Eight of SwordsThe Devil and the Eight of Swords both represent entrapment. However, the Devil means you have physical desires trapping you, which can also represent addictions or a need for decadence. The Eight of Swords represents your negative mind, keeping you trapped, which can sometimes mean literal entrapment.That depends on the reading. Let’s go over an example. You have a mother who cannot stop eating, as she is addicted to food. She keeps ordering takeout and runs to the store to get junk food.The Devil represents her addiction to food, but the Eight of Swords represents her belief that she cannot get out of the addiction, so she keeps herself trapped even though help is out there. She may also feel trapped by caring for her kids while having no life. There are other cards with similar yet different meanings.Death And TowerDeath and Tower both represent transformations and endings that are life-changing and shocking. The Death card represents an ending and transformation while you are emotionally going through it, whereas the Tower represents sudden endings or transformations without any emotional preparation.I will go over another example. Being a first-time mom means both. Death represents the woman becoming a mom for the first time, and there is a lot of emotional preparation during the pregnancy or adoption process. However, the Tower represents the unprepared upheavals of being a first-time mom, as suddenly, the needs are no longer about the woman! That is a shock.Lovers And Two of CupsLovers and Two of Cups can represent a union or a marriage. The Lovers is about the spiritual connection and commitment from making a choice, and The Two of Cups is about the emotional relationship between two people. The Two of Cups indicates marriage is happening because two people are in love.Still, the Lovers is not about emotional attachment but about making a spiritual commitment after choosing to be together. Think about an arranged marriage that lacks the Two of Cups aspect but is all about the Lovers. If the couple falls in love with one another, that would fit the Two of Cups. Four of Swords And HermitFour of Swords and Hermit are about seclusion but have different meanings. The Four of Swords means resting and recovering after being hurt, or it can mean sleeping, which you need to do since your body goes through a “beating” each day that comes from simply being alive.The Hermit represents pulling back from society to understand life better. Talking to a coach, psychic, or therapist counts. You usually go into hermit mode after dealing with a blow from life. However, if you go through a blast from life, you must rest to process and recover from it, which is the Four of Swords. Then, you will examine what happened, which the Hermit represents.Four of Wands And Three of CupsYou may think the Four of Wands and Three of Cups are interchangeable because both mean having a good time with friends. However, the Four of Wands is a passionate celebration or gathering with friends, whereas the Three of Cups is an emotional gathering.For example, you may have a party to celebrate a milestone, as passion would drive you to have the party and to have some fun at it. However, the Three of Cups represents connecting with friends on an emotional level, such as enjoying the company of your friends while going out for dinner or having a get-together.Ten of Cups And Ten of PentaclesMany people get confused with these cards. The Ten of Cups represents an emotional connection to a family (or it could be friends that you consider family as family is not always blood). The Ten of Pentacles is strictly wealth and material abundance. The Ten of Pentacles has no emotional tie, as it can represent inheritances. Still, there is no material wealth with the Ten of Cups, which means an entire and supportive family.Ace of Pentacles And Six of PentaclesThe Ace of Pentacles and Six of Pentacles can represent getting money. However, the Ace of Pentacles is a small amount of money that is coming to you that you earned or through a bonus. The Six of Pentacles can represent money you are getting as a gift, donation, lottery, money someone owed you, or through other means that had nothing to do with you earning it.For instance, if you successfully raise a GoFundMe cause, the Six of Pentacles represents that. If you end up with a work bonus, the Ace of Pentacles means that.Six of Swords And Eight of CupsSix of Swords and Eight of Cups represent walking away from a triggering, stressful, or harmful source to get a fresh start. However, the Six of Swords represents moving forward with your emotional baggage and grief, whereas the Eight of Cups can sometimes mean escaping something stressing you.Both cards can, for example, represent a residential move. However, with the Eight of Cups, you are moving because your neighborhood has become more of a jungle, and crime rates are higher, or others are gossiping about you because of some misunderstanding, and they are cruel, so you need to escape that.When it comes to the Six of Swords and making a residential move, you are moving because you lost a loved one who lived with you or in your neighborhood, and the grief is too much for you to bear to stay where you are. So even though you make the physical move, the grief and emotional baggage follow.Justice And Two of SwordsJustice and Two of Swords are cards that represent decision-making. Justice means making a conscious decision while undertaking cause and effect. The Two of Swords goes deeper than that, as yes, you have to decide based on weighing the pros and cons, but there is an intuitive factor with the Two of Swords where it is more of a subconscious decision you make.There may be other sets of cards with similarities and subtle differences that I have not covered. With that said, if you know of a set of cards that are like that, please let me know.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.Next week, I will cover stalker cards. Why do some tarot cards stalk you? Maybe it is a past-life issue? Who knows, but that is something I will cover next week! See you next time, ciao for now.  Get full access to Miriam Reads Tarot at miriamreadstarot.substack.com/subscribe