Dionysus
Welcome back to Everyday Tarot! Season 16 is devoted to queer deities, and today we turn to Dionysus—ecstatic liberator, boundary-crosser, and patron of queer joy, embodied freedom, and sacred revelry.
In this episode, we'll explore his myth, queerness, and resonances with tarot archetypes of transformation, celebration, and creative revolt.
What we explore in this episode:
The myth of Dionysus
Dionysus as a queer deity
Tarot cards resonant with Dionysian themes: The Fool, Temperance, The Tower, The Sun, Three of Cups, Four of Wands
The Myth of Dionysus
Dionysus is the twice-born god: first from Semele, then sewn into Zeus’s thigh and brought to term—a myth already bending binaries. He is torn apart and reborn, descends to the underworld and returns with gifts, presides over theater and trance, and gathers devotees into ecstatic community.
Dionysus as a Queer Deity
As a liminal deity, Dionysus blurs lines—mortal and divine, masculine and feminine, sane and mad, civilized and wild—honoring truth found in altered states, communal joy, and honest feeling.
In many traditions, he is patron to those outside norms: queer, trans, intersex, gender-expansive, and all who reclaim the body as sacred.
Tarot & Dionysus
In tarot, Dionysus emerges in cards that hold both revelry and upheaval—the sweetness of the vine and the intoxication of the wine. He calls us to embrace complexity: joy intertwined with sorrow, freedom forged through dissolution, and creativity that blooms at the very edge of boundaries
The Fool - risk, innocence, the leap into ecstatic experience
Temperance - alchemy, union of opposites, sacred blending
The Tower - chaos, destruction, necessary transformation
The Sun - radiant joy, creative vitality, celebration
Three of Cups - communal revelry, chosen family
Four of Wands - ritual gatherings, collective belonging
If you haven't listened to my other seasons yet, go check them out!
Season 1 - Tarot basics
Seasons 2 & 3 - Major Arcana and 4 suits
Season 4 - Tarot in Pop Culture
Season 5 - Tarot Spreads
Season 6 - Suit of Wands
Season 7 - Suit of Pentacles
Season 8 - Suit of Swords
Season 9 - Suit of Cups
Season 10 - Tarot and Witchcraft
Season 11 - Tarot and Plant Allies
Season 12- Tarot and Animals
Season 13- Divination and the Harry Potter Series
Season 14- Frequently Asked Questions: Tarot, Witchcraft, & Divination
Season 15- Tarot and Crystals
💭 Today's Tarot Pull:
From Norse Goddess Rune Oracle by Rebecca Joy Stark and illustrated by Sharon McLeod, I pulled the Iðunn Gift, Exchange, Love
A reminder that love is an exchange of time, attention, presence, and care. Let your joy be a gift to community, and let community pour back into you.
Reflective prompts on this card:
Where is my giving outpacing my receiving and how can I rebalance?
What gift is ready to be shared now?
Which relationships feel reciprocal, and which need clearer boundaries?
Tarot for Transformation Journey
UPDATE: Starting at the end of January 2026, join me for my foundational live course all about Tarot for Transformation!
We’ll work through the first 12 of the Major Arcana as archetypal guides. Each lesson will come out monthly and we will:
Focus on one major arcana card and the life themes it highlights.
Explore journaling prompts and exercises from Dreya Blume’s book.
Share experiences and support each other in a safe, witchy, and affirming space.
Participate in live one-hour calls (with replays available if you can’t join live).
This is not just about learning tarot — it’s about using tarot as a vessel for real, meaningful change in your life.
If you've ever longed for a supportive community to explore big personal shifts, or if you’re ready to commit to discovering your most authentic self, this journey is for you.
You can sign up to receive more information (no FOMO!). We’re planning to begin at the end of August, so there’s plenty of time to get ready.
📥 Sign up for the Live Course of Tarot for Transformation here!
Ways to Connect & Support:
Join my Tarot for Transformation Live course starting in January 2026 where we will be deep diving into the Major Arcana to Discover Our Best Selves and Create a Life Worth Living. If you’re interested, sign up here!
Get my Tarot Card Creation Workshop including the full hour long recording with my step by step method, examples of the tarot cards I’ve created, journaling questions, and PDF to walk you through it for just $33. Click here to purchase now!
Patreon: For new moon readings, tarot Q&As, individual card pulls, and behind-the-scenes peeks, join the Every Day Tarot Patreon family.
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Support the Podcast: If you love the show, the best way to support it is by listening daily, leaving a review, and subscribing or following in your favorite podcast app.
If you’re Local:
Check out my Let’s Talk Tarot Meetup group. Come chat with other tarot enthusiasts, bring your favorite decks and play with tarot and oracle decks with us!
If you’re interested in celebrating the Full Moon I will be holding Full Moon Womxn’s Circles for the rest of 2025. Join my colleague, Izzy, and I under the glow of the full moon for an evening of connection, reflection, and ritual. We will be meeting at Threshold’s Collective in Tacoma, the first Sunday of the month to welcome in the full moon together. Upcoming dates: 11/2, and 12/7.
Book a Consultation: I’m a Sex and Relationships therapist and coach seeing clients virtually all over from my home office. I love working with queer, poly, and witchy clients. If you’d like to work with someone that doesn’t judge you, is witchy just like you, and helps you learn how to deal with anxiety, chronic pain/illness, communication issues, self-advocacy and sex head to my website and book a FREE consultation now to start your journey, camilleasaunders.com