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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.

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Welcome to episode 63 of Show Me Your Deck, where hosts Dean Sage and Jack Kervin sit down with Joey Stalks, the Creative Director of Summoners Ensemble Theater in New York City. The trio dives deep into the power of the second chakra when Joey shares a profound story about witnessing a vibrant, spinning wheel of orange energy during a family crisis. This visceral, "I feel" energy sets the tone for a fascinating conversation about trusting our visceral sensations, the danger of ignoring our inner truths, and Joey's upcoming haunted house production of an Edgar Allan Poe play featuring a psychic medium.

During the oracle reading, Joey opens up about a personal solo storytelling project he has been putting off for over 30 years out of self-doubt. Through a series of insightful card pulls—including reminders to be mindful of self-inflicted words and to find lift from within rather than relying on external storms—Dean and Jack encourage Joey to finally bring his project to life. The reading culminates in a beautiful discussion about exchanging "juicy juju," emphasizing the deep, energetic gratitude and joy that is shared between a storyteller and their audience.

Tarot Mentions in this Episode: Traditional tarot makes several distinct appearances throughout the conversation. Early on, Joey shares that his husband is an avid tarot practitioner who has taken formal classes and practiced readings on him. Additionally, Dean reminds listeners that his original oracle deck was designed with a direct one-to-one correspondence to the traditional tarot. During Joey's specific reading, Dean draws two cards with direct tarot equivalents: "The Source of Storms," which he notes is the Queen of Swords, and "The Primal," which represents the ultimate call to action of The Magician.

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After some opening banter about highway speed limits, the hosts pull a card bridging the root and crown chakras that sparks a moving discussion about performing "unexpected miracles". Unlike the expected miracles we actively pray for, unexpected miracles are spontaneous acts of giving that catch people by surprise and inspire future generosity. Through a touching anecdote about a pizza shop that created a perpetual community fund for a local women's shelter, Dean and Jack illustrate how small, authentic moments of humanity can ripple outward to create a beautiful, generational footprint in the world.

The conversation then grounds itself in the "Three of Seeds," exploring how we must deliberately tend to the people and projects that support our broader community. The hosts use the metaphor of a garden to explain that while we should be generous, we also have limited energy; therefore, it is sometimes necessary to "weed out" toxic influences or misaligned relationships so that the rest of the garden can thrive. This focus on mindful energy management seamlessly transitions into a warning about the power of our words. Drawing an air-element haiku about "self-inflicted tornadoes," the hosts caution against the destructive nature of negative self-talk. They encourage listeners to speak truthfully and from a place of pride rather than arrogance, calming their internal winds to avoid tearing themselves apart with anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

Finally, the episode shifts into the realm of action and personal accountability. When pulling the "Eight of Flames" to discuss harnessing internal energy for a greater purpose, the hosts draw direct parallels to the tarot. They compare their deck's flame cards to the tarot's suit of wands, noting that just as the "Three of Wands" in tarot is about finding direction and setting stakes in the ground, and the "Two of Wands" is about choosing a path, their flames represent giving your internal fire a focus. They also mention the tarot's "Seven of Wands" to illustrate the danger of action, warning that engaging with other people's flames can sometimes leave you burned. The reading concludes with the empowering "kiln" card, declaring, "I profess that I am the architect who builds my life". Touching on the toxicity of cancel culture and the paralyzing nature of shame, Dean and Jack remind us that we are not fossilized by our past mistakes; we always have the power to heal, evolve, and rebuild ourselves.