Athena
Tarot & Queer Deities
Welcome back to Everyday Tarot! Season 16 is devoted to queer deities, and today, we turn to Athena—patron of Athens, goddess of wisdom, warfare, art, and reason.
In this episode, we'll explore her myth, queerness, and resonances with tarot archetypes of clarity, leadership, and disciplined creativity.
What we explore in this episode:
The myth of Athena
Athena as a queer deity
Tarot cards resonant with Athenian themes: Emperor, Queen of Swords, Hierophant
The Myth of Athena
Born fully armed from Zeus’s head after he swallowed Metis, Athena is the patron of Athens, keeper of the owl and the aegis, mistress of crafts and counsel. She champions heroes, founds institutions, arbitrates disputes, and weds wisdom to wartime strategy, shaping civic life through skill, order, and foresight.
Athena as a Queer Deity
Athena’s queerness shows up as chastity and virginity, in some traditions, and as an asexual or aromantic archetype in modern readings—sovereign over her body, uninterested in compulsory pairings.
As a gender-nonconforming warrior-scholar who privileges intellect, craft, and civic duty, she stands with those outside rigid roles: queer, trans, ace/aro, and anyone claiming autonomy and self-definition as sacred.
Tarot & Athena
In tarot, Athena appears wherever reason meets courage: cards of justice, tradition, and piercing clarity. She calls us to disciplined creativity and just leadership, where truth is sharpened by practice, and courage guided by reason.
Queen of Swords - clarity, candor, independent thought
Emperor - strategic leadership, structure, governance
Hierophant - tradition, institutional wisdom, learning by practice
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 Brynhild Self-Awareness, Consumption, Engulfment
It calls us to face the shadows we avoid, to free ourselves from overwhelm, and to honor the discipline required for real creation.
Reflective prompts on this card:
Where am I burning the candle at both ends, and what boundary restores balance?
What skill or study deserves structured, consistent practice right now?
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.
Newsletter: Get my FREE 2025 5-Card Tarot Spread PDF + weekly musings, event invites, and magic straight to your inbox.
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