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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.