Stop Mothering the Tarot: Part tarot analysis, part cultural critique
Sun Jan 25 2026
In this episode of The Tarot Diagnosis, I'm exploring something that’s been stirring in me since a recent book club event inside The Symposium: the way we unconsciously project motherhood onto tarot’s female figures.
After an insightful conversation in the book club (shoutout to Darcy for naming it so clearly: “Tarot doesn’t need another mother”), I couldn’t stop thinking about how often cards like Strength, the Empress, and all four Queens get flattened into maternal archetypes.
And of course, we’re not just doing this in tarot. We’re doing this everywhere, all the time.
In this episode, I explore:
Why the Strength card has become one of my least favorite cards (for now)
How projection and cultural conditioning shape our interpretations of female-presenting figures in tarot
The dangers of turning all gentleness and emotional regulation into compulsory/female/motherly care
What it might mean to view Strength as discernment, regulation, or even female rage instead of caretaking
I also talk about the psychological cost of maternalizing every act of compassion and why it limits not only women, but all people across the gender spectrum who wish to express care, leadership, or emotional depth.
This episode is part tarot analysis, part cultural critique, and part personal reflection on how we assign meaning to caretaking and why it matters.
I close the episode by offering a question for your next reading:
In what ways does this card validate me and in what ways does it confront me?
Book Referenced: Talismans and Tarot
Deck used: Tarot Vintage
📚 Order my book Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow for more therapeutic tarot practices!
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💌 Follow me on Instagram: @thetarotdiagnosis
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👥 Join The Symposium — my tarot & psychology membership community
If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a super easy and FREE way to support my work. Plus, it helps more people discover the podcast. I appreciate you all so much!
Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of Deep Resonance Sound
Music by Timmoor from Pixabay
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In this episode of The Tarot Diagnosis, I'm exploring something that’s been stirring in me since a recent book club event inside The Symposium: the way we unconsciously project motherhood onto tarot’s female figures. After an insightful conversation in the book club (shoutout to Darcy for naming it so clearly: “Tarot doesn’t need another mother”), I couldn’t stop thinking about how often cards like Strength, the Empress, and all four Queens get flattened into maternal archetypes. And of course, we’re not just doing this in tarot. We’re doing this everywhere, all the time. In this episode, I explore: Why the Strength card has become one of my least favorite cards (for now) How projection and cultural conditioning shape our interpretations of female-presenting figures in tarot The dangers of turning all gentleness and emotional regulation into compulsory/female/motherly care What it might mean to view Strength as discernment, regulation, or even female rage instead of caretaking I also talk about the psychological cost of maternalizing every act of compassion and why it limits not only women, but all people across the gender spectrum who wish to express care, leadership, or emotional depth. This episode is part tarot analysis, part cultural critique, and part personal reflection on how we assign meaning to caretaking and why it matters. I close the episode by offering a question for your next reading: In what ways does this card validate me and in what ways does it confront me? Book Referenced: Talismans and Tarot Deck used: Tarot Vintage 📚 Order my book Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow for more therapeutic tarot practices! 🌙 Stay Connected With Me 💌 Follow me on Instagram: @thetarotdiagnosis 🧠 Sign up for my newsletter at thetarotdiagnosis.com 👥 Join The Symposium — my tarot & psychology membership community If you love The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast, please consider leaving a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a super easy and FREE way to support my work. Plus, it helps more people discover the podcast. I appreciate you all so much! Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of Deep Resonance Sound Music by Timmoor from Pixabay