Summary
In this episode, Matt and Brandi interview Hana O'Neil, a professional tarot reader, natal astrologer, and witch. Hana shares her journey from having a regular corporate office job to pursuing her passion for tarot and astrology. She discusses the challenges of coming out as a witch in a religious family and how she eventually embraced her true calling. The conversation also includes a tarot card reading, with the High Priestess, the World, and the Hermit cards symbolizing the culmination of their search for knowledge and intuition. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss their experiences with different tarot decks. They talk about the Vampire Tarot deck and its unique design, as well as their favorite decks and how they use them in their readings. They also mention decks that they haven't connected with and why. Hana shares her experience creating her own tarot deck and how she incorporates storytelling and literary devices into the cards. In this conversation, Hana and Matt discuss the importance of finding a tarot deck that resonates with you and how different decks can offer unique perspectives and symbolism. They also explore the idea of using themed decks and the benefits of incorporating astrology and witchcraft into tarot practice. Hana shares her advice on getting into the right mindset for a reading, emphasizing the importance of creating a sacred and personal ritual. Overall, the conversation highlights the versatility and personalization of tarot reading.
Takeaways
Hana O'Neil transitioned from a regular corporate office job to pursuing her passion for tarot and astrology.
Coming out as a witch in a religious family was a challenge for Hana, but she eventually embraced her true calling.
The tarot card reading with the High Priestess, the World, and the Hermit cards symbolized the culmination of our collective search for knowledge and intuition.
The conversation highlighted the power of connecting with people online and the ability to create meaningful connections across continents. The Vampire Tarot deck has a unique design and is perfect for video game and spooky themes.
The hosts have their favorite tarot decks, including the Mythos Tarot and Rider Waite Smith, which are easy to use and have great imagery.
Hana is creating her own tarot deck, incorporating storytelling and literary devices into the cards.
Not all tarot decks resonate with everyone, and it's okay to pass on decks that don't connect with you.
Using tarot decks with familiar symbolism can enhance the reading experience.
The hosts discuss the challenges and benefits of using different tarot decks in their readings. Finding a tarot deck that resonates with you is important for a meaningful reading experience.
Themed decks can be fun and offer unique perspectives and symbolism.
Incorporating astrology and witchcraft into tarot practice can deepen the understanding and connection with the cards.
Creating a sacred and personal ritual before a reading can help get into the right mindset.
Tarot readings are a personal journey and can be tailored to individual preferences and beliefs.
Sound Bites
"I come from an extremely religious family. A lot of my friends are still in the church. I went to an extremely religious school. A lot of my friends from school are still in the church. Like, I didn't know any other people that did this. Like, I literally didn't know a single live human did tarot or astrology."
"I had the freedom and I guess the privilege to do that in a risk-free way and also we were moving to the other side of the country, like a six hour plane ride away. I didn't know anyone. I could suddenly be me and it was okay. I wasn't hiding it because no one knew me."
"We're going to see what this, you know, the energy or feel of this particular conversation is going to be about. And so we have each chosen a deck and I'm going to pull a card and Brandi's going to pull a card and we're going to weave that together into something."
"It's almost like you're watching one of those old flip movies and you're just kind of like going, 'I was like this is amazing, I love this.'"
"This deck, I'm gonna start pulling from this every day because just for the for amazing."
"I can just easily convert the Rider Waite Smith so much easier, if that makes sense, in my head to what that future tarot deck's going to be."
"What does this give me that the Rider Waite Smith can't?"
"Don't be ashamed of using themed decks. They can be really fun and great for learning."
"A daily draw will teach you so much more about learning to read with your cards than anything else."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:28 Transitioning to Tarot and Astrology
11:53 The Power of Online Connection
12:43 Pulling Cards Together
25:47 Favorite Tarot Decks
27:14 The Storyteller's Tarot
36:05 Decks That Didn't Resonate
41:40 The Importance of Symbolism and Connection
44:43 Choosing the Right Deck
48:31 The Importance of the Daily Draw
53:11 Integrating Astrology and Witchcraft with Tarot
01:01:09 Creating Rituals and Sacred Spaces
Show References
Hana’s unboxing and flip through of the Tarot of the Vampires
Hana’s unboxing and flip through of the Hieronymus Bosch Tarot
Keywords
tarot, astrology, witch, corporate job, religious family, coming out, passion, journey, High Priestess, World, Hermit, tarot decks, vampire tarot, favorite decks, creating a tarot deck, storytelling, literary devices, tarot decks, symbolism, themed decks, astrology, witchcraft, ritual, mindset
S1E1: Witchcraft and Wisdom - A Conversation with Hana O’Neill