The first card drawn is number five from the abstract deck, representing the intersection of Muladhara (I am) and Vishuddha (I say). This card, depicted as a millstone, signifies how one's sense of safety, security, and identity is impacted by communication, emphasizing the power of the physical self and voice to effect positive change, as encapsulated by the haiku "spoken millstones, crush injustice, lying rubble, pulverizing truth". The hosts discuss the importance of being mindful of one's words and intentions, highlighting the speaker as the active agent in creating change.
The conversation then delves into the complexities of intentions and ethical principles, noting that while intentions inform actions, results are what truly matter, and ethics often resides in a "gray in the middle" rather than absolute rules. They use examples from religious traditions, such as the detailed interpretations in the Talmud and Mishna, and workarounds for Sabbath laws (like "Shabbos elevators" or subtly prompting a "gentile friend" to turn off a light), to illustrate how rigid principles can lead to inconvenient or seemingly ridiculous situations, obscuring the original intent of reverence. The second card drawn is The Sentinel of Seeds, which is identified as the Knight of Pentacles in the Tarot. Its message, "Do the work that now needs doing," reinforces the theme of action and prompts listeners to evaluate if their "pillars" (principles) truly serve them now. This is further explored through anecdotes of a coach suspended for helping disadvantaged students and a teacher forging a signature to ensure a student received meals, highlighting the tension between principles, intentions, and the desire to do good in complex situations.
The third card revealed is number 15 from the "Projections of Joy" or the "sassy deck"), representing Manipura or the solar plexus, with the theme of "fire on fire" and "I do on I do". Its message, "Potluck your gratitude," focuses on giving versus sacrificing, receiving versus taking, and abundance versus scarcity, emphasizing collaboration and community over individual burden. Rituals are discussed as powerful tools for directing intention and aligning communities, but cautioned against being merely transactional or performed without full presence. The fourth card, number 11, Defend, is identified as the Justice card in the Tarot. It calls for defending one's actions by first acknowledging an inner "gut level" answer to whether an action was right, before attempting justifications. This leads to a discussion of "The Good Place" television show, which explores moral philosophy, point systems, and what it means to be a "good person" in a complex world. The final card, number 15 from "the professions" deck, reiterates the "fire on fire" theme with the profession, "I profess that I do everything from the intent of balance". This capstone emphasizes that balance, rather than perfection, should be the guiding intent, recognizing that life requires constant, vibrating effort and adaptation, much like a dancer maintaining balance or the body regulating homeostasis.

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The reading begins with Deck Number 3, "The Intersections," card number 30, representing Vishuda (throat chakra - I say) intersecting with the third eye (I see). This card prompts a reflection on how one's intellect influences communication, serving as a reminder that personal perception, while invaluable, is not the sole perspective. They recall an earlier reading featuring "the first sewing, the Ace of Seeds," emphasizing grounding. The discussion expands on the dangers of self-talk and "echo chambers" within oneself, where unhelpful messages can become noise and degrade clarity. This leads to an inward focus, encouraging listeners to examine their spiritual landscape and beliefs to ensure their expressions align with their true selves, performing a "reality check" on their internal and external reflections.
The hosts delve deeper into the cyclical nature of beliefs, suggesting an opportunity to let go of old ideas that no longer serve one's growth, likening it to a "sundown" cycle. They connect this evolution of thought to scientific understandings, including quantum mechanics, the observer effect (illustrated humorously with a cat anecdote), and recent breakthroughs in creating matter from energy, underscoring how belief and action can physically shape the brain and reality. The conversation transitions to the second card, The Seeker of Seeds, which is the Page of Pentacles in the Tarot and represents the root chakra. This card symbolizes curiosity, wonder, and the preparation stage of planting, emphasizing patience and the understanding that initial sprouts are not the full plant; success or failure cannot be immediately judged. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and working within limitations, much like understanding soil composition for gardening, to foster boundless creativity within given boundaries.
The final two cards expand on interpersonal and personal responsibility. Projections of Joy (Deck Number 1), card number 23, illustrates the Heart (I love) influenced by Air/Aqua (I say), with the message to "see both sides of the board, play yourself at chess, listen as much as you speak, let people disagree". This encourages honest self-assessment and empathy, contrasting with debate as "winning". The hosts discuss the importance of listening as much as speaking, even to oneself, to mature and understand reactions, citing cognitive behavioral therapy and systemic biases (like racism) as examples. They explore the concept of "tainted" perspectives, particularly from privileged viewpoints, and the necessity of owning one's fallibility and allowing for change and forgiveness rather than engaging in "performative purity tests". The discussion references Wicked as an example of sympathetic antagonists and the experience of being "othered". The final cards drawn are The Creator, a major archon in Dean's deck, equated to the Empress in Tarot, representing the third chakra's ability to shape what one imagines with responsibility and purpose. Alongside this, The Source of Waves, the Queen of Cups in Tarot, signifies being the authentic source of one's emotions, leading to freedom from guilt through acknowledgment and self-understanding. The episode concludes with a powerful message about shaping oneself and one's expression, owning one's context, and using one's creative "fire to light lights, not to burn forests".

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Welcome to Show Me Your Deck, episode 46, titled "Go Stop Go: Finding peace in stillness and action," where hosts Dean Sage and Jack Kervin explore the intersections of oracles and chakras. This episode features special guest Kaelan Strouse, an influencer and author, who shares the journey behind his original oracle deck. Kaelan's deck, which became the topic of his third book, features 48 spiritual lessons he consistently revisits, evolving from an initial idea of deities to broader spiritual messages. His creative process was deeply personal, even unfolding while visiting his father during his last months, adding a card about reclaiming one's power, making it 48 cards from an initial 47.
The episode delves into a powerful reading using a combination of the hosts' and guest's decks, beginning with Dean's "sassy deck" where a tetrahedron and 50-sided dice determine card pulls. The first card pulled is card 40, "Prioritize your polish," representing the intersection of the third eye (blue) and solar plexus (yellow) chakras, signifying a blend of insight and action – "I see with I do". This card emphasizes refining one's expertise, creating inviolable sessions, and eliminating distractions. Kaelan then pulls his card, "Enjoy simplicity," which beautifully contrasts, advocating for quiet, stillness, and removing clutter to allow answers to reveal themselves. The reading continues with Dean pulling the 10 of Seeds, explicitly noted as a Tarot reference, tied to the root chakra, symbolizing completeness, generational impact, and the idea that "Your seeds given to others will grow for generations". This prompts a discussion on karma and the lasting effects of actions. Kaelan's next card, "Let your body move you," highlights somatic wisdom and learning through both stillness and motion, celebrating the inherent intelligence of our physical forms. The final card pulled is Dean's "Step to it, honey. You thought enough now. Define the milestones. Start walking last Monday," a clear call to action after contemplation, with inverse colors (yellow on blue) of the first card.
Throughout the discussion, a central theme emerges about the dynamic balance between stillness and action, emphasizing that both are crucial for effectiveness, not just productivity. The hosts and Kaelan challenge the societal pressures of constant busyness and the capitalist idea of "productivity," suggesting that true fulfillment comes from acting with peace and clarity rather than obligation. Kaelan particularly highlights his deck's universal approach to spirituality, deliberately avoiding terms tied to any single tradition to make spiritual truths accessible to everyone, emphasizing that wisdom can be accessed through personal experience without gatekeepers or appropriation. The episode concludes with the profound insight that wisdom and right action arise from integrating all aspects of oneself – mind, body, and spirit – in a beautiful, complex whole. You can find more information about the hosts and guest at their respective websites.

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"Show Me Your Deck" episode 45, titled "True Pleasure: Speak your truth, free from guilt, grounded in you," opens with hosts Dean Sage and Jack Hervin exploring the intersections of oracles and chakras using their original decks. The first card pulled is from the "sassy deck" (Projections of Joy, Part 14), representing the Svadhisthana (orange metal) and Muladhara (red earth) chakras. This card presents the query: "an orgasm usually helps distinguish sin and pleasure define pleasures role evaluate shame's influence". The hosts discuss the double entendre of the word "deck" and how the card encourages visualizing pleasure and shame distinctly, especially when grounded enough through the root chakra to enjoy "orgasmically living," which can extend beyond sex to activities like food or art. They highlight how Western culture often makes pleasure a "naughty word," with shame applied not just to sex but also to food, sleep, or "unacceptable" forms of reading like manga versus "serious literature". The conversation then shifts to the "ecstatic state of creation," with Dean sharing a personal experience of staying in bed to let ideas percolate, challenging the societal pressure to be "productive" early in the day and the concept of "sloth" as a sin. This segues into the idea of internal vibrations and sympathetic resonance found in creativity.
The second card drawn is from Jack's deck: "The six of storms," described as the six of swords in the tarot, symbolizing being "Swept away by the storm, you are washed free". This card is connected to the heart chakra and represents movement and liberation, suggesting that storms, while devastating, can clear away what is no longer needed, leading to freedom, even if accompanied by grief. The hosts discuss the importance of learning lessons from these "storms" and rebuilding differently, distinguishing between unpredictable events like tornadoes and predictable ones like floods where people rebuild in the same vulnerable spots. This idea ties back to the first card's theme of finding freedom and safety in enjoying oneself by letting go of guilt (bad action) and shame (being something wrong), which are often perpetuated by external forces, including religion. They caution that while seeking pleasure is vital, unhealthy pursuit can lead to addictions, and true happiness isn't constant bliss but rather peace, calm, and balance, or simply being content and realizing "you're exactly where you're supposed to be right now". An alternative card that almost emerged, "The source of flames" (the queen of wands in the tarot), reinforces the message that personal power and the ability to create are internal, akin to Dorothy's realization that "the magic lay within her the whole time". Dean and Jack then explore generational differences in learning, with Dean suggesting suffering can be a necessary part of the path, while Jack argues that wisdom can be shared to avoid pain, ultimately affirming that personal power is an internal resource that no one can steal.
Finally, the third card, from the "Intersections" deck (The Bouquet of Flowers, No. 26), brings the reading to a close. It connects the Anahata (heart) and Muladhara (root) chakras, symbolized by "I love and I am". This card emphasizes how one's sense of identity, safety, and security profoundly affects their connections with others. The hosts conclude that when individuals embrace their instincts, act authentically, and speak their truth without shame, they naturally attract a community or network of people who resonate with their genuine self, making connections feel natural. Dean shares his experience of creating a small community around his writing and Dean Sage persona, noting how "speaking truth... brought me truthful people" despite some "inconvenient" truths and pushback. This overall reading is framed as an answer to shame and guilt, showing how "joy and empowerment can hold hands" to navigate life. The episode concludes by inviting listeners to explore their Patreon, YouTube channel, books, and decks for a deeper engagement with these concepts.

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Today's log line, "Play the rest: Be as you are, in silence, ready for action," sets the stage for a deeply introspective reading focused on self-awareness and authentic being. The reading begins with Deck 4's 49th card, "Ozone Thunder, Hush, Electric Tension, Listen, Cascading Rain, Learn," which highlights the importance of introspection, quieting oneself to sense transformative insights, and constantly learning about strengths and weaknesses, much like the onset of a summer shower. This emphasis on personal context and internal resonance prepares listeners to discover what is important for themselves.
The reading continues with the Celestial card (number 0 in Dean's deck), which is identified as the Fool in the Tarot, representing a journey of being and becoming. This card underscores the idea that one is "new again, ready to be and to become," emphasizing that the celestial's journey through the chakras is deeply personalized and not tied to any single chakra. The conversation highlights that the Celestial's true purpose is to be, not to perform, drawing parallels between structured orchestral music and free-flowing jazz to illustrate the balance between prescription and improvisation in life. This theme is reinforced by Deck 4's first card, "Stars, dust, Salt, earth, clay. Me, life's face, birthing diamonds," a root chakra card reminding us that we are the "stuff of eternity" and must remain grounded in our physical being even while approaching the infinite. The Sage card (number 5), representing the throat chakra, reveals the powerful truth: "The hardest truth to admit is that you need help," emphasizing communal learning, the value of both harmony and dissonance, and the critical role of silence and internal reflection in the journey of self-discovery. The phrase "playing the rest" is used to describe the quiet, non-verbal moments of introspection crucial for true understanding.
Finally, the Bouquet of Flowers card (Deck 3, number 40), representing the third eye influenced by fire, serves as a powerful call to action. After the deep introspection and self-awareness gained from the previous cards, listeners are encouraged to utilize their understanding and ignite their "fire into the world". This card emphasizes that insights and realizations, while valuable, are incomplete without subsequent choices and actions in the world. The hosts stress the importance of not just having deep thoughts or experiences, but of examining these truths within one's own context and seeking community feedback to avoid falling into unexamined traps or perpetuating narrow perspectives. Ultimately, the reading encourages small, consistent actions that contribute to positive change, aligning perfectly with the episode's log line: to embrace one's present, cultivate silence, and be ready to act on resonant truths.

A familiar face, we are warned to be careful what we are imbibing and how that is effecting what we are putting out into the world. There is toxic material in our waters, and it is coming from every direction. We must be careful and vigilant about it. That starts with surrendering to stillness and silence. Waiting for when the time is right and accepting that active inaction is an acceptable place to be, despite so many calls to action surrounding us. We are not just standing, we are building. Like steam in an engine we bring things to boil and prepare them to give us energy to move, to reshape things. Water and fire mixing together to make productivity and difference. While we wait, we gather our community together and celebrate the things we have. Even though they may be small we are here to build together. Action will come, but now is the time to praise each other and raise each other up. Then like sand dunes, our whispers will begin to reshape the world around us. A million voices become a gale force wind that cannot be denied.

What we say is effected by what we know, what we believe. Our core principles, our first idea and the metaphors that we live by. What we believe and know intuitively is mediated by what we can say. To speak it is to know it. To say it is to believe it. We are truth tellers by our very actions. And we stand on a precipice looking out over a grand vista, feeling the wind buffeting our wings as we prepare to leap into space. It’s challenging to remain at peace when fear and fascination fill your body and your mind. Inspiration is there for you, but it requires you to jump and lose your connection to the earth, but just for a time. And the true sense of security is within you. When you are sure and certain, when your knowledge is true, you can be secure in what you say, while still being open to inspiration and change. Just because what you know it true, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other truths to be gained as well. One truth does not have to deny another. We are the primal, the magician, the one who shapes. To truly be alive is to be ready to shape ourselves. Let our brain remain mutable to change. From a place of peace, from a place of connection, you will be able to see the rainbow of truths there are to grasp. You will be made better for it.

What happens when you start by joining the crown and the throat, what are you spreading out into the world, even without others realizing it’s you. What vibrations are you producing and sending that will resonate with others. How do you bring the good news, the joy and the truth to yourself. No matter what you think, you are the ever burning flame and you have the power within you to shine and emanate outward. You can overcome the shame that dulls your light, and you can resonate from a place of power. As you are sending things out, other things are coming in to you. But you don’t have to drink them. You don’t have let them set off resonances within you. Examine them. Why do they make you feel the way they do? What are they touching on that you may need to examine. Because you can trust your dreams that rise up from your deep emotions. They are nuggets of truth. You don’t have to follow them, but you can believe them. They will tell you core things, memories, ideas, reverberations. Finally you need to balance all this out by reminding yourself that you are heartwood growing in sacred ground. It is only with a community that you can grow and expand and resist erosion and solitude that breaks down your connection with your people. But don’t forget to be human. It’s the simple acts of kindness and togetherness that we need the most.