The Archetypal Tarot Podcast

Your Life IS the Manifestation

The Archetypal Tarot Podcast

Show Notes

In this inspiring episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast, host Cyndera Quackenbush welcomes author, speaker and creator Jason A. Benefield, the visionary behind the Essence Illuminations Oracle Cards. What begins as a conversation about an oracle deck quickly unfolds into a profound exploration of healing, self-belief, spiritual empowerment, and the limitless potential within every human being. Jason shares the deeply personal origins of the deck, created during the pandemic as an extension of his book The Essential Pain and Peace of Life. The cards are made even more meaningful through the inclusion of artwork painted by his late mother, whose presence and creativity continue to live through the project.

Photo by Christina C.

Throughout the conversation, Jason opens up about his lifelong spiritual search and how personal struggles led him toward a deeper relationship with God, self-awareness, and ultimately becoming a spiritual practitioner. His vulnerability becomes one of the episode’s greatest gifts, especially as he speaks about redefining identity, trusting intuition, and embracing authenticity in a world that often pressures people to conform. Listeners will discover the philosophy at the heart of the deck: “Commodity.” Jason’s transformative concept reminds us that each person is inherently valuable and important. He breaks the word into three powerful stages:

Comm – Communication with inner wisdom through prayer, meditation, and reflection

Mod – Modification and transformation based on that inner guidance

Ity – Embodiment of one’s highest and truest self

This episode is ultimately an invitation: to believe in yourself more deeply, to honor your journey, and to recognize that your life itself is a sacred expression of possibility. Memorable Quotes from the Conversation

“Your journey is a testament to your authenticity.”

“Your might grows with every step you take.”

“You are the living manifestation of your dreams.”

Jason Adeniyi Ojudun Benefield is a licensed Spiritual Practitioner, speaker, published author, stage actor, and singer-songwriter who wears many hats with purpose and passion. Nearly 25 years ago, after delivering his first sermon, Jason recognized the depth of his connection to Source Energy (what many call God, the Universe, or simply the Source). He believes this greater energy dwells within all people and calls each person to evolve into their highest self. Through discovering and nurturing this spiritual connection in his own life, Jason experienced profound transformation and clarity, inspiring him to dedicate his work to helping others do the same. Jason is committed to guiding individuals toward embracing their inner energy, purpose, and peace through one-on-one support, intimate group settings, or speaking engagements. His work is rooted in the belief that nothing is ever truly lost or missing in the Universe; rather, it is waiting to be rediscovered. For those who feel disconnected, uncertain, or longing for something more, Jason offers compassionate guidance on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Walking alongside others as they reconnect with their truth and inner power is not just his calling, it is his life’s work. jasonabenefield.com

More from The Archetypal Tarot Podcast

Oct 16, 2026

What if death could teach you how to live more fully? What if the tiger on your card today is nudging you to stop accepting less than you’re worth? This week on the Archetypal Tarot podcast, host Cyndera Quackenbush welcomes back the brilliant Cat Pierce, creator of The Wandering Star Tarot, to unveil her brand-new deck, The Omen Oracle. Cat reveals why an “omen” isn’t something to fear, but a gentle nudge from the universe, and what it was like to leave the structure of tarot behind and chart her own path. Step inside the deck’s four enchanting realms:

Sep 12, 2026

In this episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast, Cyndera interviews Cherry Parra, author of The Left Hand Path of Tarot, for a provocative and soulful conversation about tarot as a tool of radical self-knowledge, creative defiance, and spiritual sovereignty. Cherry reclaims the “left-hand path” from cliché and controversy, redefining it not as rebellion for rebellion’s sake, but as the path of the outsider, the adversary, the visionary. Moving beyond traditional witchcraft and pagan frameworks, she shares how her solitary, closed practice centers empowerment, personal experience, and the courage to explore what lies beyond sanctioned spirituality. Together, Cyndera and Cherry explore:

Aug 6, 2026

On this spellbinding episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast, host Cyndera Quackenbush sits down with author and professor Enid Baxter Ryce for a mesmerizing journey through the hidden history of magic, language, and humanity itself. Together, they explore Enid’s captivating new book, Ancient Spells and Incantations: Echoes of Magic Through the Ages and Across Cultures, a collection of ancient blessings, curses, healing charms, and spoken rituals gathered from manuscripts spanning centuries and civilizations. From Roman curse tablets to sacred healing prayers, from incantation bowls used to trap spirits to the secret preservation of indigenous magical practices by the very people who sought to erase them, this conversation reveals how deeply human our longing for protection, love, healing, and transformation has always been. Enid and Cyndera dive into the magical power of words themselves: why poetry, prayer, storytelling, and even cursive writing have long been intertwined with spellcraft. They discuss the emotional resonance of ancient incantations, the art of translation across time and culture, and the enduring mystery of words like “abracadabra,” whose origins may point toward the profound idea that we create reality through speech. The episode also touches on tarot, visual symbolism, herbal wisdom, mysticism, language, and the strange beauty of discovering that people thousands of years ago struggled with the same heartbreaks, envies, hopes, and desires we do today. Thought provoking, poetic, and deeply enchanting, this interview is an invitation to remember that magic has always lived in the stories we tell, the words we speak, and the meanings we weave into the world.

Jul 4, 2026

Host Cyndera Quackenbush welcomes author and tarot scholar Mariana Louis for a profound exploration of tarot, Jungian psychology, archetypes, synchronicity, and the lifelong journey of self-discovery. Centered around Mariana’s book, Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul: Exploring the Archetypal Mirrors of the Psyche, the conversation dives into the ways tarot can function not simply as divination but as a mirror to encounter the deepest layers of the self. Mariana shares her unexpected path from aspiring musical theater performer to scholar of Western intellectual traditions after discovering Carl Jung’s The Undiscovered Self in her grandfather’s attic. Soon after, a transformative tarot reading revealed to her the uncanny overlap between Jungian archetypes and the symbolic language of tarot, setting her on a years-long quest to understand how these systems intersect and how they can be used as tools for personal transformation. Together, Cyndera and Mariana explore some of the most fascinating ideas in Jungian thought, including individuation, synchronicity, the collective unconscious, projection, the shadow, anima and animus, and the mysterious “psychoid” realm where psyche and matter appear to meaningfully intertwine. Rather than treating tarot as a rigid fortune-telling device, Mariana presents it as an invitation into dialogue with the unconscious. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply inspiring, this episode is a celebration of tarot as a tool for soul-making. Whether you are new to Jungian concepts or a longtime tarot practitioner seeking greater depth, this conversation bridges intellect and intuition, mystery and meaning, psychology and spirit.

Jun 7, 2026

In this deeply affirming episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast, two Geminis (Alethea Crimmins and Cyndera Quackenbush) have a conversation that begins with a simple correction of pronunciation and unfolds into a profound exploration of boundaries, self-worth, identity, and healing. Alethea shares the heart behind her wildly uplifting affirmation deck, Have a Good Day on Purpose, a collection of bold, humorous, and emotionally resonant cards designed not just to inspire, but to help people truly receive kindness and encouragement for themselves. Together, Cyndera and Alethea explore the tension between humility and self-love, the struggles of people-pleasing, mom guilt, chronic overthinking, and the lifelong challenge of choosing oneself without shame. Alethea opens up candidly about living with depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, revealing how the deck was born from her own need for compassion and support during difficult times. Rather than waiting for someone else to become her cheerleader, she became that voice for herself and then for thousands of others. The conversation dives into why affirmations often fail to “stick,” and how Alethea’s unique format (pairing empowering declarations with deeply personal, conversational pep talks) creates a bridge between the mind and the heart. Filled with laughter, emotional honesty, and unforgettable one-liners, this episode is both a soul-level conversation and a reminder that self-worth is not something granted by others, but something we learn to claim for ourselves.

See all episodes →