Show Me Your Deck

Episode 68: Accept the Compliment

http://patreon.com/deansagemedia We begin by pulling a haiku card about photosynthesis, using it as a metaphor for nourishing friendships with just the right amount of light and fire so as not to overwhelm or burn them out. This theme of proportion leads us to our second card, the eight of waves, which is explicitly connected to the eight of cups in the traditional tarot. Just as the tarot's eight of cups involves moving away from messy situations and following intuition, our card reminds us to free ourselves from the chaotic shallows and flow toward the source in deeper waters. This prompts a deep discussion on the necessity of allowing our gut instincts and our rational heads to have an open conversation, ensuring that neither type of intelligence is ignored. As we move higher into the chakras, we draw our third card, which humorously but firmly advises us to play hide-and-seek with ourselves, get some therapy, and journal our experiences. This card encourages us to gamify and examine our internal landscape so we can do the difficult work of disassembling past trauma, ensuring we do not navigate the world purely from a place of fear. Our fourth card, the six of flames, brings another direct reference to the tarot as it corresponds to the six of wands, which is described as the stardom card associated with public approval and getting your flowers. This card instructs us to abandon false humility and feel the warmth of those who celebrate our work, reminding us that graciously accepting a genuine compliment is a healthy way to absorb positive energy. We wrap up the reading with our final card, an intersection of metal and air in the sacral and throat chakras that deals with the concepts of feeling and saying. This serves as a vital reminder that our internal emotions and sensations deserve a voice, and if we do not express what we are feeling, we ultimately shortchange ourselves. Looking at the reading as a whole, the progression of these cards guides us through managing the energy we share with others, doing the heavy lifting of internal healing, and ultimately allowing ourselves to both express our truths and accept love from the outside world. Though we note that we did not pull a grounding root chakra card during the episode, we close with the reflection that doing this deep emotional work is like swimming; eventually, you step out of the water, plant your feet firmly on the earth, and use that stabilized foundation to feel your own strength.

Episode 67: Sacred Icons

http://patreon.com/deansagemedia In this episode, we pull a haiku card about savage gales and use it to dive into the complexities of radical honesty, asking whether it is sometimes more loving to withhold the brutal truth. As we slide down the chakras from the throat and heart to the solar plexus, we pull the eight of flames and discuss the vital difference between guilt and shame, exploring how a healthy sense of shame can actually provide the conviction and power needed to change who we are at our core. As our reading progresses and we forge a path toward emotional healing and leadership, we touch on the power of interpretation, which naturally brings us to the tarot. During our discussion on intuition and the connotations we place on literal imagery, the tarot is specifically highlighted for its unique imagery that can be adapted and applied to many different life circumstances. We note that while every tarot deck is slightly different in its visual representation, the foundational ideas remain universal. This tarot connection surfaces again when we pull the Director card, which is explicitly identified as being the equivalent of the Chariot, the seventh card in the major arcana of the traditional tarot, representing the willpower needed to influence others and draw them to a path. Finally, we ground our energy in the root chakra with a closing projection card that reminds us to perform unexpected miracles and leave a kind legacy. We reflect on how tempering our inner fire and honing our intuition can help us create a sacred icon, a perpetual gift that will continue to speak and bring comfort to others long after we are gone. We hope you find the willpower to tell yourself that you can achieve your goals, and we invite you to join us on this journey of creating a positive bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Episode 66: Spiritual Wealth

http://patreon.com/deansagemedia This episode centers on the idea that spiritual wealth should not be hoarded; instead, it must continuously diffuse and move through us, much like global ocean currents or wind powering a windmill. By examining the intersection of the crown and solar plexus chakras, the hosts highlight the balance of sharing your spiritual treasures without sacrificing yourself, and gracefully receiving help without taking from others. The hosts also heavily integrate the tarot into their chakra readings, specifically exploring the often-misunderstood "Swords" suit. Pulling the "Source of Storms" card, which Dean equates to the Queen of Swords in traditional tarot, they discuss how the tumultuous energy of a storm actually originates from within, reminding us that we wield the power to direct our own energy rather than letting external forces batter us. Later, they draw the "Nine of Storms," corresponding to the tarot's Nine of Swords. While traditional tarot often depicts this card as highly negative or painful—such as someone surrounded or pierced by swords—Dean reframes it as the bracing, sharp touch of an icy wind that brings sudden, undeniable clarity to the present moment. Bringing these cosmic concepts back down to earth, the episode concludes with a profound look at human connection through the lens of the "third eye," likening individuals to water droplets ultimately returning to the same cosmic ocean. However, the hosts do not shy away from the real-world friction this interconnectedness can bring. They engage in a candid, vulnerable discussion about the tension between broad societal inclusion and the painful erasure of distinct, lived experiences and personal labels. Ultimately, even when dealing with grief or navigating the frustrating zeitgeist of the modern world, the hosts remind listeners that spiritual energy is not ours to keep—it is just passing through us, and we must allow it to flow.

Episode 65: Prioritize Your Polish

http://patreon.com/deansagemedia In Episode 65 of Show Me Your Deck, hosts Dean Sage and Jack Kervin dive into the concept of "Prioritize Your Polish," discussing the value of intentionally refining your skills by creating inviolable sessions and eliminating distractions. They caution against over-refining or striving for an unhealthy level of perfection, noting that hyper-focusing on one single area can lead to burnout. To illustrate the need for balance and a diverse set of life skills, they explore how different personality traits—categorized in this episode as Eagles, Parrots, Doves, and Owls—influence the specific areas we choose, or are forced, to polish. As the oracle reading progresses, the hosts draw a few direct connections to traditional tarot cards to deepen their insights. They pull "The Creator," linking it directly to the number three in the major arcana, also known as the Empress in the tarot, which embodies generativity and the idea that "what you imagine you can shape". Later in the draw, they reveal the "Sovereign of Flames," which they explicitly identify as the tarot's King of Wands. This card brings a powerful message about releasing shame—a feeling that ultimately blocks you from taking creative action—and prompts a conversation about maintaining proper discernment and self-trust when receiving harsh feedback. The episode concludes with a joyous call to action: "Gush your brilliance". Dean and Jack encourage listeners to celebrate their accomplishments, brag in their journals, and express positivity without the fear of judgment. They remind the audience that true freedom comes from letting go of the guilt of not being able to do everything perfectly at once. Ultimately, the hosts invite you to fully embrace being average at some things, noting that you don't need to be an expert in every aspect of life to be successful and happy.

Episode 64: Releasing Your Grief

http://patreon.com/deansagemedia In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of sudden inspiration and the heavy, deflating physical sensation of grief. When profound loss leaves empty spaces in your life—described as missing "standing stones"—that negative space must be intentionally filled to keep you from sinking. We discuss how acting as a "lightning rod" or obelisk allows the electric strike of creative inspiration to flow smoothly from the crown chakra down to the root, offering a way to stitch together a new lattice of active creativity and positive space in the wake of profound loss. Our reading brings up several specific connections to the tarot to guide this journey of healing and expression. The Sovereign of Storms is directly linked to the King of Swords in the tarot, echoing the broader suit of swords' themes of loss, grief, and finding balance on the cutting edge of life, much like the Page of Swords. We also draw parallels between the Four of Seeds and the tarot's Four of Pentacles, serving as a warning that the "cupboard can only hold so much harvest" and a reminder to share your psychic energy and ideas rather than hoarding them in fear. Finally, the fiery process of refining these creative ideas is mirrored in the Eight of Flames, which connects to the Eight of Wands in the tarot, representing the crucial moment when raw fire is internalized into a furnace to harness creative pressure. Ultimately, true healing and inspiration require a constant process of active engagement and refinement, much like adding water to clay to keep it supple, moldable, and safe from cracking. We remind you not to be overly precious with your creative output; whether you are writing fanfiction, philosophizing on camera, or simply putting a "five out of ten" idea into the world, your work needs to be shared to have a life of its own. Releasing your grief means letting your ideas flow back out into the community, trusting that dynamic balance and shared inspiration are far more valuable than static perfection.