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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.