THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Therapeutic Tarot
A Samhain Inspired Self-Care Guide for October
Luna Hammond, Med, MS, LCPC
Shannon Knight, MS, LMHC
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The Tarot Diagnosis Podcast
Shannon Knight, M.S., LMHC
Luna Hammond, M.Ed., M.S., LCPC
www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com
AUTHOR NOTE
& IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS
While our hope is that the material covered in this
workbook is beneficial to your personal development,
please note this material is for educational and
entertainment purposes only. This workbook is not meant
to take the place of mental health counseling.
The Tarot Diagnosis grants you a non- By participating in, downloading, reading, or
transferable, non-exclusive, revocable, limited completing the content within this guide, you
license to access the this material solely for your understand that it is purely for educational and
own personal, noncommercial use. You hereby entertainment purposes only. Neither The Tarot
release and forever discharge The Tarot Diagnosis, Luna, nor Shannon claim to be
Diagnosis, Luna Hammond, and Shannon experts on tarot. While the content within this
Knight, and our officers, employees, agents, guide may explore the nature of mental health,
successors, and assigns from, and hereby waive wellness, and psychology, it is not meant to be
and relinquish, each and every past, present and viewed as therapy, therapeutic advice, health
future dispute, claim, controversy, demand, advice, or a form of mental or emotional
right, obligation, liability, action and cause of treatment. We believe therapy and counseling
action of every kind and nature, that has arisen are beneficial to many and recommend seeking
or arises directly or indirectly out of, or that guidance and treatment from trained
relates directly or indirectly to, the content professionals when necessary.
within this guide.
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Introduction
Traditionally a Celtic celebration commonly credited as being the direct forbearer of the custom
we know today as Halloween, Samhain has deep historical roots that represent the integration of
the physical and spiritual worlds. Many believe that the elimination of the barrier between these
two worlds creates a powerful source of transformation. As therapists, we love applying this
same concept and energy to mental and emotional health. So, we’ve created this Samhain Self-
Care Guide to aid in breaking down emotional and cognitive barriers that stop us from
experiencing or fully embracing the life we want to live.
As we approach Samhain, we come to the end of the time of harvest and are forced to face the
time of winter and darkness. We can use this time to welcome deep reflection and the potential
of transition and transformation. In doing so, we might experience our own sensation of a lifting
of our consciousness to get a glimpse into the more spiritual, emotional, or unconscious and
shadow aspects of ourselves that have been obscured by the sunlight of summertime.
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Gratitude Spread
Card 1: What am I currently grateful for in my life?
Card 2: What could I be grateful for, but am not seeing?
Card 3: How can I express this gratitude?
2 3
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Assessment Spread
Card 1: What is currently going well in my life?
Card 2: What is an area I would like to improve?
Card 3: What is blocking me from improvement?
Card 4: What do I need to know to move forward?
4
1
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Future Planning Spread
Cards 1-3: What are my current strengths?
Card 4-5: What areas of my life do I need to build upon?
Cards 6-7: What tools and/or support do I need?
1 2 3
6 7
4 5
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Protection
Many traditions around this time of year speak directly to protecting oneself against unfriendly
spirits. We thought we would put our therapeutic spin on this concept and offer some work
around creating boundaries in our daily lives.
In our “Set Some Damn Boundaries” episode, we talk extensively about the importance of
protecting our mental, emotional, and physical health by implementing healthy boundaries. We
use the metaphor of a garden, as well as brick walls and picket fences, to explain the difference
between loose, rigid, and healthy boundaries. This metaphor has been a stable in our therapeutic
practices for years and has been found to be incredibly healing when implemented.
Check out the "Set Some Damn Boundaries" episode, and use the following exercise to assess
your current boundaries. Then pull some cards using the boundary spread on the next page.
Loose Rigid
- Difficulty saying "No" - Avoids intimacy
- Often overshares - Difficulty asking for help
- Over-involved with others - Doesn't share information
Healthy
- Acknowledges and communicates personal needs
- Shares personal information appropriately
- Accepts the needs and wants of others
Boundary Setting Spread
Anchor: Go through the Major Arcana and choose a card the represents your current boundaries
Card 1: What keeps me balanced?
Card 2: What challenges my boundaries?
Card 3: Where are my areas of weakness?
Card 4: How can I practice setting healthy boundaries?
Card 5: How may others perceive my boundaries?
Card 6: Where can I derive strength and wisdom to set and maintain healthy boundaries?
3 5
Anchor
2 6
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Death
Death is a major theme of celebrations this time of year, due in large part to the end of the natural
cycle of summer turning to winter and life seemingly going dormant and underground.
As a part of this self-care exercise, we invite you to consider the deaths over the past year that you
must come to terms with.
Think of this next exercise in the way we interpret the Death card in tarot. Typically, the Death
card represents change, transitions, something coming to an end or transforming. It does not have
to represent actual death. We also will explore themes of grief. Anytime we must say goodbye to
something (a person, relationship, idea, dream, etc.) we can experience the cycles of grief.
Reflect on the following question:
What has left your life that you need to grieve?
The following spread is designed to help you mentally and emotionally release something that has
“died” in the past year (or even before). Like we mentioned, death can come in many forms, so this
may mean a literal death of a person (or pet) or can be more metaphoric. Perhaps you need to
grieve the death of a friendship that recently ended? You may even need to let go of a way of seeing
yourself, or a part of your identity.
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Death Spread
Anchor: The Death card
Card 1: What needs to be released?
Card 2: How was this was meaningful or previously beneficial to me?
Card 3: What have I learned from this?
Card 4: What parts of me will grieve when I release this?
Card 5: What might I still keep from what is being released?
Card 6: What will help me heal after I release this?
Death Card
6
4
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Insight
In some circles, Samhain is known as the “witches new year,” and it’s clear why - this time of
changing seasons acts as the end of a long harvest and the beginning of rest. It traditionally
represents a time of deep reflection about where you have been, all you have done, and where
you want to go.
Samhain marks the beginning of cooler days and longer nights. For many, the changing seasons
are not welcomed with opened arms. The shorter days can have significant mental and emotional
impacts on some. For this, we encourage you to reframe the shorter days as a nudge from the
universe to allow yourself to rest. How might your body, mind, and soul need to be replenished?
Use this time to care for yourself in ways you’ve been unable to throughout the rest of the year.
We also encourage you to look back on all that you have been able to accomplish physically,
mentally, emotionally, professionally, academically, etc. It might surprise you.
We invite you to use the Insight spread on the next page to help you consider the year that has
just passed, and to spend some time in reflection about the year to come.
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Insight Spread
Card 1: Last Fall
Card 2: Last Winter
Card 3: Last Spring
Card 4: This Summer
Card 5: Lessons learned this year
Card 6: Lessons to learn next year
Card 7: Advice for the upcoming year
2 3
1 4
5 6
THE TAROT DIAGNOSIS
Thank You...
Your continued support, encouragement,
engagement, and interaction with The Tarot
Diagnosis Podcast and community has been
incredibly powerful and rewarding. We are
honored to be a resource for the Tarot and
mental health communities.
You can find additional tarot and mental
health related offerings directly on our
website www.TheTarotDiagnosis.com.
We have some incredible products and
announcements coming up within the next
few months and into the new year - so keep an
eye out on our Instagram account. In fact, to
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With Gratitude,
Shannon & Luna
