What if tarot wasn’t something you memorize - but something you talk to ? In this magical episode of Big Crystal Energy, host Ashleigh Bodell welcomes her first-ever tarot guest, Samantha Rose Hicks - author of Talking with the Tarot: Conversations with Your 78 New Best Friends. A grief alchemist, intuitive teacher, and crystal expert, Samantha shares her vibrant, no-fear approach to tarot that makes the cards feel like trusted companions instead of something intimidating or mysterious. Together, Ashleigh and Samantha explore: ✨ How to build a conversational relationship with your tarot deck ✨ Ways tarot can become a tool for healing, reflection, and self-empowerment ✨ The structure of the deck and how to start a daily practice ✨ Why intuition matters more than memorization ✨ How crystals + tarot create powerful ritual moments This episode is filled with wisdom, real talk, and heartfelt magic - from Samantha’s eclectic upbringing to her Atlanta spiritual community and her online ritual garden. Grab a crystal, brew your tea, and get ready to reclaim your power because tarot becomes life-changing the moment you learn to talk back. Key Moments: 10:23 "Starting Before You're Ready" 14:44 "Validation from a Stranger" 21:08 "Embracing Mysticism Without Fear" 21:53 "Kitchen Table Tarot Origins" 31:25 "Tarot as Reflective Therapy" 33:19 "Intuitive Approach to Tarot" 38:24 "Choosing Your Tarot Approach" 43:04 "Transformation Through the Tower" 48:11 "Daily Reflection with Prompts" 54:51 "Magic, Tarot, and Gratitude" 59:43 "Finding Personal Spiritual Connections" About the guest : Samantha Rose Hicks is an author, witch, intuitive guide, and grief alchemist whose work helps women come home to themselves through ritual, reflection, and emotional truth. She is the author of Talking With the Tarot: Conversations with Your 78 New Best Friends and a beloved teacher in the realms of intuitive tarot, witchcraft, and embodied spiritual healing. With a practice that blends magic and practicality, Samantha holds space for people to reconnect with their inner knowing, feel seen in their emotional lives, and reclaim the parts of themselves they’ve been taught to suppress. Through her books, readings, community offerings, and her online ritual garden, she invites women to explore healing as a spiral - not a straight line - rooted in authenticity, tenderness, and sovereignty. Samantha’s work is grounded in the belief that grief and magic belong together, that spirituality can be both mystical and deeply human, and that every person carries the power to rise into their truth. Known for her warmth, humor, and grounded witchy wisdom, she continues to build spiritual community and empower others through story, ritual, and real connection. How to connect Samantha : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantharosetarot/ Website: https://www.samantharosehicks.com/ Meet Ashleigh Bodell - your guide to the mystical and the magical on the Big Crystal Energy Podcast. By day, she's a dedicated orthopedic physician assistant, but by night, she dives deep into the metaphysical, exploring crystals, energy work, and the unseen forces that shape our world. From childhood fascinations with witches and faeries to a transformative rediscovery of crystals, Ashleigh’s jo Send me any questions or comments you may have and I will answer them on upcoming podcast episodes!! Looking forward to hearing from you! Please message me with any questions or comments. bigcrystalenergypodcast @gmail.com
