Welcome back to Everyday Tarot! Season 16 is devoted to queer deities, and today we turn to Dionysus—ecstatic liberator, boundary-crosser, and patron of queer joy, embodied freedom, and sacred revelry.
In this episode, we'll explore his myth, queerness, and resonances with tarot archetypes of transformation, celebration, and creative revolt.
What we explore in this episode:
The myth of Dionysus
Dionysus as a queer deity
The Myth of Dionysus
Dionysus is the twice-born god: first from Semele, then sewn into Zeus’s thigh and brought to term—a myth already bending binaries. He is torn apart and reborn, descends to the underworld and returns with gifts, presides over theater and trance, and gathers devotees into ecstatic community.
Dionysus as a Queer Deity
As a liminal deity, Dionysus blurs lines—mortal and divine, masculine and feminine, sane and mad, civilized and wild—honoring truth found in altered states, communal joy, and honest feeling.
In many traditions, he is patron to those outside norms: queer, trans, intersex, gender-expansive, and all who reclaim the body as sacred.
Tarot & Dionysus
In tarot, Dionysus emerges in cards that hold both revelry and upheaval—the sweetness of the vine and the intoxication of the wine. He calls us to embrace complexity: joy intertwined with sorrow, freedom forged through dissolution, and creativity that blooms at the very edge of boundaries
The Fool - risk, innocence, the leap into ecstatic experience
Temperance - alchemy, union of opposites, sacred blending
The Tower - chaos, destruction, necessary transformation
The Sun - radiant joy, creative vitality, celebration
Three of Cups - communal revelry, chosen family
Four of Wands - ritual gatherings, collective belonging
If you haven't listened to my other seasons yet, go check them out!
💭 Today's Tarot Pull:
From Norse Goddess Rune Oracle by Rebecca Joy Stark and illustrated by Sharon McLeod, I pulled the Iðunn Gift, Exchange, Love
A reminder that love is an exchange of time, attention, presence, and care. Let your joy be a gift to community, and let community pour back into you.
Reflective prompts on this card:
Where is my giving outpacing my receiving and how can I rebalance?
What gift is ready to be shared now?
Which relationships feel reciprocal, and which need clearer boundaries?
Ways to Connect & Support
Tarot for Transformation Live Course: In this offer we will be deep diving into the Major Arcana to Discover Our Best Selves and Create a Life Worth Living. Check out the full details here!
Tarot Card Creation Workshop: Get the full recording, examples of the tarot cards I’ve created, journaling questions, and PDF to walk you through it for just $33. Click here to purchase now!
Patreon: For individual readings, and behind-the-scenes peeks, join the Every Day Tarot Patreon family.
Newsletter: Get my FREE 2025 5-Card Tarot Spread PDF + magic straight to your inbox.
Check out my Let’s Talk Tarot Meetup group. Come chat with other tarot enthusiasts, bring your favorite decks and play with tarot and oracle decks with us!
If you’re interested in celebrating the Full Moon I will be holding Full Moon Womxn’s Circles for the rest of 2025. Join my colleague, Izzy, and I under the glow of the full moon for an evening of connection, reflection, and ritual. This gathering is a space for all womxn. We will be meeting at Threshold’s Collective in Tacoma, the first Sunday of the month to welcome in the full moon together. Upcoming dates: 11/2, and 12/7.
Book a Consultation: I’m a sex & relationships therapist and coach working virtually from my home office. Let’s see if we’re a fit: camilleasaunders.com
