TABI's Tarot World (TABI Tarot)

In episode 10 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to Mary DuPlessis about the Tarot's lone wolf, The Hermit. Or is he? He's not doing all this internal work so he can sit by himself on the mountain top, you know. We chat about The Hermit as guide and compare him in this aspect to the Hierophant, and look at how his placement on the Tree of Life might be expressed in the card itself. The relationship between the staff and serpent leads us to some unexpected fire in this earthy Virgo card. We talk about Elemental Dignities and how we interpret The Hermit in a reading, whether upright, reversed, or ill-dignified. Mary mentions that The Hermit is the card for 2025 and suggests how we can keep an eye out for him once we get there. There are crystals and fragrances, and Mary brings it all together by drawing some cards that give us new insight into this liminal figure. Do you read with reversals? Let us know! You can find Mary on Instagram: @themysticsparlour and you can contact her at themysticsparlour@gmail.com. Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In episode 14 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to TABI Free Reader and Mentor Helen about Hollywood's most misrepresented card, Death. Is he the really the bad guy? Maybe he's just misunderstood. The Child of the Great Transformers (not those Transformers) is also, as you'd expect, the Lord of the Gates of Death, but hang on ... Those titles mean this is a liminal space, in between the past we can't return to and the future progress we're not quite ready for. We talk about where and why the fear comes in; and we uncover insights into how we can make it through this no-man's land. Mythological connections guide us on metaphorical journeys through the underworld, and we come to an understanding of the card's ruler, Scorpio, and its five — count em, five — symbols, which together illustrate the cyclical nature of the Death card. We chat about reversed meanings of the card and compare the illustrations on several decks. Flowers, herbs, crystals, and fragrances complete the cycle. You can find Helen on her website Jupiter's Realm, and on YouTube. Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at www.tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In episode 9 of TABI's Tarot World, Occult Projects' peaceful weirdo Helen Diamond joins Victoria and Gwen to wrestle with Strength and its Crowley counterpart, Lust. How different are they? Are they two different cards entirely, or two sides of the same coin? We start with numbers and ask why Strength is 8 in some decks and 11 in others, which leads us to consider the progression of the Majors — what happens to the order of things when we move Strength, and how flexibility leads to revelation. Wherever you place it, Strength is associated with Leo — meeting the beast within, and finding out who's in charge around here anyway. We look at some of the symbolism in the card, and chat about how we interpret Strength when it appears in a practical reading. What's Lust got to do with it? We're sidestepping the Bible this time and going straight to Mesopotamia and the goddess Inanna for inspiration, and pick up a connection to the High Priestess. We look at Strength in other decks we love, and we chat crystals, perfumes, and incense that we associate with Strength or Lust. Tell us about a Strength card in a deck that you love! You can find Helen on Substack: https://occultprojects.substack.com/ and Instagram and Tiktok as @occultprojects Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In Episode 6 of TABI's Tarot World, Clair Telford joins Victoria and Gwen to talk about The holy Hierophant, and the expectations we bring to this earthy, earthly teacher. In the RWS version, he looks very much like a church father, but is that all there is to him, even in that deck? It might seem like a very straightforward card, but there's a lot going on in the depiction of the Hierophant no matter which deck you use, and we work our way through some interpretations that might surprise you — they surprised us! Clair brings in the beautiful Angel Tarot and the mysteries inherent in the Marseille more generally, and finally we look at the crystals and the scent associated with the Hierophant, and the colours of the cards. TABI's Annual Summer Conference is this weekend and tickets are still available for in-person in Manchester, and streaming. Visit the website to get yours! tabi.org.uk Everyone with either type of ticket will get the links to watch the talks again. As a TABI member you can join us for our monthly Zooms — Let's Talk Tarot, Marseille Mondays, and Thoth Thursdays offer a friendly, welcoming space for sharing and discovery, whether you're already in love with a particular deck or are just starting you tarot journey. TABI membership is international and only £20 per year. Visit tabi.org.uk for details.

For episode 7 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to Tarot counselor Diva DeFaria about the beautiful moving target that is The Lovers. It's a card with so many possibilities. Is it about romantic love? Choice and free will? Balance and union? Maybe a bit of all of these, but how? We chat about the Garden of Eden imagery in the RWS and the alchemical roots of the Thoth version, and look to the Marseille for some historical clues about what might be going on in the card. In a reading, so much depends on surrounding cards, so we have a go at answering a question with The Lovers and the 8 of Swords. We all learned a lot about this card in the discussion and we'd love to know what you think! You can find Diva at https://www.tarotcounselordivamar.com/ on YouTube as The Therapeutic Tarot Diva @divatherapeutictarot and on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok as @divamarcavalcanti Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In episode 11 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to Al about the various incarnations of the Wheel of Fortune. Al tells us about the goddess Fortuna and how the historical Tarot illustration in the Visconti Sforza was adapted to bring new meaning to the card in the Marseille. We take a deep dive into what's going on in the Marseille Wheel — the platform, the crank, the sword, and the figures, just for starters — then the Thoth and RWS versions, and we see more in common than we expected. There's so much to the meaning of the card — is it about having more agency over changes in our lives, or exactly the opposite? Unavoidable change can lead to great realisation and evolution, if we can only be brave enough to give the Wheel a whirl. All discusses why it can be difficult for readers to get into the Marseille, and what makes a Marseille deck, anyway? And he tells us about his favourite Marseille deck — one to look up for sure! Crystals and fragrances round out the chat. If you'd like to have a look at the fantastic website Victoria mentions for stones, herbs, incense, and a lot more good stuff, it's alchemy-works.com You can find Al on Instagram: @harandayltarot Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In Episode 5, TABI Chair and deck creator Janine Worthington returns to TABI's Tarot World to chat with Victoria and Gwen about The powerful Emperor. Talk turns to Elemental Fire and astrology for this initiator of the zodiacal year, and we look at what The Emperor has to do with us as individuals and what kind of sacrifice he might represent. Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all. We compare the RWS and Thoth interpretations to other decks including Janine's own Inbetween Tarot. She also gives us the lowdown on what's coming up for TABI this summer including the CARTA Awards and the two-day Summer Conference in Manchester. This is one not to miss! You can find Janine at: https://theinbetweentarot.com/ and TABI: https://tabi.org.uk/  Links to all our social media are at the bottom of the home page. TABI membership is international and only £20 per year. Visit the website for details. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria or Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org.uk

In episode 8 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to deck creator, author, and professional joy seeker Arwen Lynch-Poe about the The Chariot. It's a card whose image is deceptively straightforward — there is a lot of symbolism here, in both the RWS and the Thoth. We start with a discussion of the mysterious moons on the Charioteer's shoulders, how they might relate to the divination of black and white, and how the Charioteer is connected to the Magician. The depiction of The Chariot and the Charioteer comes directly from the Book of Ezekiel, which leads us to humanity and divinity; mistakes and lessons learned; control and the need to drive your own Chariot in life; and the grounding connection to earth that is the hub of it all. We also talk about approaches to reading more generally, especially for beginning readers and anyone looking to find their own particular style. Please have a listen and let us know what you think! How do you interpret The Chariot? You can find Arwen at https://www.tarotbyarwen.com/ Her online course 'Trust Your Gut: Intuitive Tarot in Nine Weeks' is available now at half price. She is also on IG @tarotbyarwen and Threads @tarotbyarwen. Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In this bonus year-end episode of TABI's Tarot World, your hosts Victoria and Gwen are joined by TABI members Helen, Cadence, Eala, and Al for a wish-list extravaganza of our favourite decks published in 2024! Here is a list of the decks and where you can find them: Telos Tarot of 777 by Mel Meleen The Awakening Tarot by Monica Bodirsky The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot by Nick Lawyer Starlore Arcana by Nitasia Roland Unfinished Business: A Ghostly Tarot by M.J. Cullinane The Alchemical Tarot of Marseille by Robert M. Place Mystic Augur and Sage Oracle by Kelly Burton Metanoia Marseille by Kerri Snook Oracle of the Hekatean Path by Kenn Payne and Chris Butler Did we miss your favourite? Let us know! All the best for 2025!

Welcome to TABI's Tarot World! In our first episode, your hosts Victoria and Gwen chat to our first guest, TABI Chair Janine Worthington, about the symbolism and interpretations of The Fool. Janine also gives us some insights into the big changes coming TABI's way this year, and some clues about what you can look forward to. Are you a TABI member? If so, and you'd like to join us on the podcast to talk about your favourite Major, get in touch! podcast@tabi.org.uk Not a member? It's only £20 per year with oodles of benefits and perks. Visit our website for details and to join: www.tabi.org.uk

In Episode 4 of TABI's Tarot World, Marseille reader Stephen McCabe from Green Temple Therapy joins Victoria and Gwen to talk about The earthy Empress. Position, direction, and colour are particularly important in the Marseille, but there are some solid connections to the Thoth and RWS. Stephen discusses the kind of surprises you can find in Marseille imagery, and in the regal Empress, if you look closely.  You can find Stephen here: https://naturetherapyonline.net He is also a Free Reader for TABI, which is one of the many amazing options you have as a TABI member. TABI membership is international and only £20 per year. Visit TABI.org.uk for details.  

In episode 12 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen are joined by Holistic Therapist and Cartomancer Margo Benson for a balanced discussion of Justice/Adjustment. There's a whirlwind of activity going on behind that calm, still façade; initial perceptions of Justice as a stone-cold reckoning expand geometrically into the interconnectedness of everything. The wheels of Justice grind slowly but very fine, and this card takes its time. And don't try to sweet-talk her because Justice is too cool for that. What can we see in Justice's open-armed posture? Margo walks us through the illustrations of Marseille and DruidCraft versions of Justice, and gives us some historical background on the character of Justice in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. We chat about Thoth Adjustment, too, and look at colours, more medieval connections, plus the Tree of Life, and feminine vs masculine energy and imagery. The Fool and High Priestess make surprise appearances, and we finish up with reversals, crystals, and herbs. Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In Episode 3 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to Keziah Gibbons about the High Priestess, and how she -- and Tarot more generally -- relates to meditation and initiation. We compare the Rider Waite Smith card to the Thoth Priestess, which leads us to pomegranates and Keziah tells us her own inspiring version of the Persephone story. Keziah has a wonderful app, 'Guided by Keziah', and she has very kindly lent us her High Priestess meditation to share with you. You'll find it at the end of the podcast. Keziah's upcoming projects include a workshop for TABI in May. You can find her at keziahgibbons.com and her app is available in all the usual places. TABI membership is international and only £20 per year. Visit TABI.org.uk for details. 

Welcome to the watery world of the Hanged Man, the second of the four Elemental trumps, where everything stops whether we like it or not, our expectations are turned on their head, and the question might just turn out to be the answer. In episode 13 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen are joined by Heather Jones, owner of Numinous Press and creator of The Great Workbook, for a discussion about how the Hanged Man manifests in real life. Heather tells us about her experiences in the last year, and how living in very close quarters with the Hanged Man has given her a new perspective on the interlinked role that symbolic and literal water can play in our lives. We take a deep dive into the esoteric implications: are we being drowned? Baptised? Just hanging in there? Associations with Odin, Christ, and Osiris are well-known, but the Egyptian frog-goddess Heqet reminds us that the whole point of drowning is what comes after. Depite the constant roar of the Mighty Waters, the Hanged Man is 'The Path of Stable Intelligence', the presence of Consciousness in every aspect of the world around us and beyond. We discuss different illustrations and interpretations of the Hanged Man in readings, what we do when the card is reversed, and Heather brings in Crowley's 777 for a look at stones and scents associated with the card. Heather writes for Substack https://shorturl.at/pu6HM and you can also find her on the Numinous Press website https://www.numinouspress.com/ , and on Instagram and Facebook as @numinouspress. Want to find out more about TABI? Visit our website at www.tabi.org.uk Membership is international and only £20 per year. If you'd like to get in touch with Victoria and Gwen, you can email us: podcast@tabi.org

In episode 2 of TABI's Tarot World, Victoria and Gwen talk to Melissa Mercury about the alluring and enigmatic Magician Tarot card. We look at the Rider Waite Smith Magician and the Thoth Magus, exploring Mercury's role in the meaning and interpretation of the card, plus we get into colour correspondences and other magickal workings. How could we not? To find out more about TABI and the benefits of membership (£20/yr), visit our website: www.tabi.org.uk