Functions of the Shadow: Complexes & Projections

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I felt compelled to approach the podcast a bit differently. Like many of you, I’ve been sitting with a deep sense of grief and uncertainty, and I knew it didn’t feel right to just dive into a typical episode without acknowledging that shared weight. So today, I’m letting tarot guide the conversation.  I pulled three powerful and pertinent cards: The Wheel of Fortune, reminding us of life’s constant cycles; the Four of Cups, encouraging us to hold true to our values; and the Queen of Swords, an encouragement to embody personal truth and strength. Together, they offer wisdom on how to stay grounded, thoughtful, and resilient. Join me as I reflect on these cards, share insights, and offer a space for finding strength and comfort in uncertain times. Deck Used: Jessica Dore’s The Change Tarot   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I explore how the Pages of the tarot function as symbols of childhood and early adolescence—key stages when our shadows first form. This episode highlights how each Page represents different childhood experiences and shadow traits. I also walk listeners through an interactive exercise called “Pages of the Past.” Plus, I share a clinical anecdote about using this exercise in session with a client!  Books referenced:  Tarot: Find Your Power by Erin Regulski A Little Book on the Human Shadow by Robert Bly Deck Used: Minds Eye Tarot   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠,  I am diving deep into the intersection of horror, monsters, and mental health in celebration of spooky season. I’m joined by special guest and fellow therapist Candis Green, host of the Mental Health is Horrifying podcast, who is an expert on horror and mental health.  We have a nerdy and enlightening conversation exploring how horror films and monsters are more than just entertainment—they are reflections of our psychic terrain, particularly the shadow.  Together, we discuss how horror helps us confront and integrate our repressed fears, the emotional release horror films provide, and how finding our "monster soulmate" can offer deeper insights into our shadow.  Candis and I also spend time talking about the emotional compensatory function of horror and its role in performing psychic balancing. We also walk listeners through a tarot based exercise in order to find our “monster soulmate.”  Tune in for a fascinating conversation about embracing the darkness within and using horror as a tool for self-exploration. Deck Used: Mind’s Eye Tarot   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected]

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠,  I am exploring two important functions of the shadow: complexes and projections. Inspired by recent talks, presentations, and my upcoming book on shadow work (to be published by Weiser in Fall 2025), this episode highlights how the shadow, tarot, and psychology intersect. Throughout the episode I discuss The Star as a shadow, the Six of Pentacles as a complex, and the King of Cups as a projection. We end with the Nine of Wands as our “Now what?” card. Episode Highlights: Complexes: These are stories that form from unacknowledged shadow material, often functioning autonomously and influencing how we see the world. For example, an inferiority complex might form in response to childhood experiences of being belittled or compared to others. Projections: A defense mechanism that allows us to attribute our own undesirable traits or feelings onto others, helping us avoid confronting our shadow. Deck Used: Tarot Vintage   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, Daylina Miller, a seasoned journalist and secular witch, joins the conversation to explore the delicate balance between staying informed and protecting mental health in the midst of the 24/7 news cycle. Together, we unpack how to gauge your limits, regulate your nervous system, and avoid the trap of doomscrolling—all while honoring the privilege and responsibility of staying informed. Listen in as we share practical tools, pull tarot cards, and discuss the emotional impact of news consumption. Keep scrolling for the tarot spreads we used in the episode!   Decks Used: Tarot Vintage and This Might Hurt Tarot   Learn more about Daylina Miller here!   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Check out The Symposium with The Tarot Diagnosis! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on ⁠The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast⁠, I am analyzing the symbolism of the Ten of Swords, focusing on its representation of fear, judgment, and self-sabotage.   I explore how this card encapsulates the culmination of suffering and defeat, not only from external forces but often from our own internalized fears. This episode looks at self-sabotage behaviors driven by the dread of being perceived or judged, how that prevents us from reaching our true potential and how we can shift to begin uncovering deeper truths about our lives and relationships.   Throughout this episode, I pull the Page of Pentacles, Knight of Wands, Four of Pentacles, and Two of Cups to help expand the discussion. I also spend time touching on Carl Jung’s theories on the shadow, the importance of parts work through Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the universal experience of projection. Deck Used: The Pulp Girls Tarot Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside⁠ The Symposium⁠! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community ⁠The Symposium⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I am exploring a concept that has been infiltrating several of my therapy sessions this past month - the idea of neutrality.  We can sometimes find ourselves emotionally charged when confronted with challenging cards like The Tower, Three of Swords, or The Emperor. These immediate reactions can cloud our judgment and hinder the insightful guidance that tarot offers. So, I explore the concept of value neutrality, a term rooted in research ethics, and how it applies to everyday life and practices like tarot. By maintaining impartiality and avoiding bias, we create space to interpret tarot beyond the surface-level knee-jerk reaction. This approach allows for a more balanced understanding, transforming fear and anxiety into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Through real-life examples and psychological frameworks such as Internal Family Systems and shadow work, I illustrate how neutrality enables us to confront and integrate the parts of ourselves we often suppress or project onto others.  By stepping into a neutral stance, we not only enhance the depth and clarity of our tarot readings but also foster emotional regulation and resilience. This practice encourages curiosity over judgment, enabling us to ask pivotal questions that unravel deeper truths about our lives and relationships. Deck Used: Tarot Vintage   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside The Symposium! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community The Symposium!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I'm having a bit of nerdy fun by exploring the top nine cognitive distortions I have been seeing inside my therapy practice. Surprise, but no surprise, I pull a TON of swords along with several reversed majors. Check out the cognitive distortions below and tune in to the episode to see which cards show up for each distortion! All-or-Nothing Thinking: Viewing situations in black-and-white terms, seeing things as either perfect or awful, with no middle ground, or willingness to acknowledge a “gray” area. Overgeneralization: Generalizing a single negative event to an overall pattern, leading to negative self-assessment and worldview. Mental Filter: Focusing on a single negative detail while ignoring positive aspects, leading to a pessimistic perspective. Magical Thinking: Making negative predictions about the future without sufficient evidence, treating them as facts. Believing we know what others are thinking, often assuming negative thoughts without evidence. Catastrophizing: Exaggerating the importance of negative events or minimizing positive achievements, skewing perspective. Emotional Reasoning: Accepting emotions as facts, believing that feeling something makes it true. Should Statements: Imposing unrealistic expectations on ourselves or others, leading to guilt and shame. Labeling: Assigning negative labels to ourselves or others based on a single event, often using emotionally charged language. Personalization: Blaming oneself for events beyond one's control, assuming undue responsibility for others' feelings and actions. Deck Used: Tarot Vintage   Want to find out all of the ways you can connect with me live this month? Join us inside The Symposium! Plus, use code Summer10 at check out for a special gift! If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a 5 star review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community The Symposium!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I was inspired by a facetious conversation inside The Symposium about how you could use tarot as a form of marketing (e.g., Want to go from the Ten of Swords to the Ace of Cups?) I sat on this conversation for a while because it did strike a cord - but I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to explore it. Then it hit me - this felt a lot like spiritual bypassing.  Spiritual bypassing involves using spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid confronting unresolved emotional issues and psychological wounds - it can also feel like toxic positivity. Going from the Ten of Swords to the Ace of Cups without acknowledging everything that happens in between is nothing but a disservice.  Join me as I reflect on this topic and pull cards like the King of Pentacles, Queen of Wands (reversed), The Hanged Man, and The Hermit.  Deck Used: Tarot of the Abyss If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please be sure to hit those 5 stars and write us a review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community The Symposium!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay

This week on The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, I explore the challenges and rewards of seeking deep, meaningful connections in a fast-paced, often superficial world. Inspired by the King of Cups and the Ten of Wands, tarot helps me discuss the burden of healing, the desire for depth, and the paradox of increased self-awareness. Join me as I navigate the complexities of relationship dynamics and the importance of patience, empathy, and authentic connection. This episode was inspired both by a conversation I recently had with a client and by a question submitted by a listener. Deck Used: Tarot Vintage If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please be sure to hit those 5 stars and write us a review on whatever platform you listen to us on. It really is a HUGE help to us and allows more people to see our podcast! Have a topic you’d like to hear about? We’re always interested in hearing your suggestions!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a topic! Don't forget to subscribe to our email list to get all kinds of free mental health and tarot goodies on our website, as well as access to our private membership community The Symposium!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Tarot Diagnosis on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheTarotDiagnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: [email protected] Music by Timmoor from Pixabay