In this episode of The Tarot Diagnosis, I’m exploring the psychology of shame, childhood wounds, and how our earliest experiences shape the way we show up in adult relationships - all through the lens of tarot.
This episode was inspired by Come Closer by psychoanalyst Dr. Galit Atlas, a book I recently devoured in two days and immediately started recommending to anyone who would listen. Atlas explores six childhood wounds and how they influence our experiences of love, intimacy, and relationships. And, naturally, as I was reading, I couldn't stop thinking about which tarot archetypes might represent these wounds.
In this episode, I focus on one specific childhood wound - the ashamed childhood wound (if you want me to explore more of these, please let me know!), and the card that immediately came to mind was the Nine of Wands. I know, not what we might traditionally think about, but I have my reasons, and you’ll have to listen to find out why I chose this card.
The Nine of Wands acts as an anchor as I explore how childhood experiences of criticism, rejection, humiliation, and conditional love can sometimes manifest as perfectionism, hypervigilance, self-criticism, emotional withdrawal, and defensiveness in adult relationships. I also look at the ways we sometimes reject ourselves before anyone else has the opportunity to as a form of self-protection. Think self-deprecating humor or when we point out our own flaws as a way to maintain control over how others perceive us.
And then I get into the fascinating (and painful) contradiction of the ashamed child: desperately wanting connection while simultaneously constructing defenses that make connection difficult.
I also bring in the Empress, but rather than exploring her through traditional maternal or nurturing symbolism, I consider her as an archetype of softness. What might it look like to offer ourselves a little less criticism and a little more tenderness, especially when we're carrying wounds that have made us feel fundamentally unworthy?
Finally, I created a three card therapeutic tarot spread to explore our internalized critical voices, where they may have originated, and what practicing softness with ourselves might look like.
Ultimately, this episode is an exploration of shame, attachment, self-worth, emotional defenses, and the possibility of developing a more compassionate relationship with ourselves. It’s also about discovering that sometimes the voice telling us we're not good enough isn't actually ours.
Exciting Announcement!
It’s here! My 2027 year-long tarot journal is now available (digital version forthcoming). We are stepping into an archetypal Justice year and to accompany Justice is the High Priestess and…The Fool. I had fun playing with numbers this year and decided to SUBTRACT instead of just ADD when it comes to numerology, which is how The Fool found itself amidst these pages. You’ll have to get the journal to see why I decided to subtract and what I think that might mean…
Grab A Year with Justice here! (Please note this journal is also available in pretty much every other country. This link takes you to the US site, but on your home site, just search for the title of the book plus my name and it should pop right up.)
Want more of this type of tarot experience?
📚 Order my book Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow for more therapeutic tarot practices!
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Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of Deep Resonance Sound
Music by Timmoor from Pixabay
