Sun-Steeped: Summer Affirmations with Shannon Christie

Even the most night-souled and moon worshipping amongst us sometimes just need to soak in the SUN and open to the gifts of warmth and light. In these last hours of late summer, step into the golden glow with this special episode of the Archetypal Tarot Podcast. Host Cyndera Quackenbush welcomes illustrator and mental healthcare worker Shannon Christie, whose radiant affirmation deck Sun-Steeped invites us to bring the warmth of golden hours into our daily lives.

In their conversation, Shannon shares the unlikely path that led her from a 90s video game to her lifelong love of tarot and card decks, the inspiration she found on sunlit hikes during the pandemic, and how affirmations can act as both gentle companions and bold invitations to growth. Together, they explore how the Sun-Steeped deck balances encouragement with challenge, offering phrases that feel less like lofty pronouncements and more like wise words from a trusted friend.

Shannon also opens up about her journey as an artist—shifting from intricate laser-cut line work to the playful, light-filled illustrations of the deck—and her evolving creative life as part of Portland’s Haven PDX art collective, where murals, stages, and even castle-like studios are coming to life.

Whether you’re curious about using affirmations, hungry for artistic inspiration, or simply looking for a dose of sunshine to carry with you, this episode is a bright reminder that strength, warmth, and possibility have been within you all along.

 

Shannon Christie is an illustrator and mental health care worker living in Portland, Oregon. Born in Southern California and transplanted to the Pacific Northwest as a child, she attended the University of Oregon where she majored in psychology and minored in music and studio art. She received a master of science applied psychology from Sacred Heart University.

Her work is highly reflective of her background, exploring themes of identity and emotion while incorporating elements of whimsicality and surrealism. The focuses on both psychology and art in her life give her inspiration and perspective on how a piece moves a person and how creativity connects us all.

Some cards from the deck: