What happens when you take the tarot apart—piece by piece—to see what it’s really made of? In this lively and thought-provoking conversation, host Cyndera Quackenbush sits down with artist, author, and tarot creator Jennifer Cooper Steidley to explore her innovative deck, Tarot Disassembled, and its companion guidebook.
Born from an unexpected moment of inspiration (watching her young son take apart a sandwich!), Jennifer began to imagine what it would mean to “disassemble” the tarot—to pull apart its imagery and look closely at the symbols that make up each archetype. The result is a bold, colorful, and refreshingly playful deck that invites readers to reconnect with tarot through the pure language of symbolism.
Together, Cyndera and Jennifer dive into:
✨ The origin story behind Tarot Disassembled and its Kickstarter beginnings
✨ How removing human figures opens the door to a more universal, bias-free tarot experience
✨ The joy of rediscovering details hidden in the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery (yes—even the tiny eagle on the Fool’s satchel!)
✨ How “disassembling” tarot mirrors our own life process—taking things apart to understand, re-evaluate, and rebuild
✨ Ways to use this deck in tandem with traditional ones to deepen intuition and symbolic literacy
Their conversation unfolds like a creative workshop and a spiritual reflection all at once—touching on archetypes, imagination, and the art of seeing with fresh eyes. Cyndera connects the process to her own Story Through Stone deck, where ancient stone imagery becomes a mirror for intuition.
By the end, listeners are reminded that tarot—like life itself—is an ongoing process of discovery: a dance between taking things apart and bringing them beautifully back together.
Artist and tarot creator Jennifer Steidley has always been fluent in the language of symbols. With a background in graphic design and a deep love of intuitive storytelling, she brings a playful, insightful touch to her creations—including her innovative deck, Tarot Disassembled. Learn more at jennifersteidley.com/