Math is Magic

In full disclosure, this was the first episode we ever recorded. It felt a little aggro to start off our podcasting journey with an hourlong deep-dive into our astrological charts and the saga of our friendship. So we decided to hold onto it for a rainy day. When this publishes, we’ll be reunited IRL (!) in London (!!) for one of our closest friend’s wedding (!!!). So for us, at least, it will almost definitely be a rainy day.

We also have a good number of new friends here — Hi! Are you lost? No? Then welcome! — so it feels like a good time for you to get to know us a bit better.

Our villain origin story

We obviously have to start where it all began: two stunted preteens walk into a musical theatre audition room and a bond is forged in fire…at a Dave & Buster’s. 15 years later, and we’re still best friends. That’s how we found ourselves starting a tarot podcast together in our crystal anniversary year. That’s witchcraft, America.

Our astrological charts

Shaz is an Aries rising, Capricorn sun, and Taurus moon (Taurus moon…AKA exalted placement AKA a slut for lying down).

Shenel is a Scorpio rising, Sagittarius sun, Leo moon (Scorpio rising…AKA The Hex Girls vibes AKA weapons-grade resting bitch face).

So much more could be said about the intricacies of our charts and how they’re in conversation with each other (probably by someone more knowledgeable than us). Though we say in the episode that we probably shouldn’t be so compatible, we’ve since revised that statement. Shaz’s Cap sun? Meet the rest of Shenel’s big six placements, Capricorn the house down. Shenel’s Sag and Leo placements…fire sign dominance achieved with Shaz’s Aries rising. We literally complete each other, or bring out maximal chaos in each other. Same thing, right?

And isn’t that the beauty of all of this astrology business — giving us a shorthand for naming our strengths and weaknesses?

And some tarot, I guess

Once we get our gabbing in check (again, first episode!), we review our personal tarot cards and get into our collective card of the year.

Decks used: the classic Rider-Waite Smith and the Salvador Dalí Tarot. L-R: Shenel’s personal card, Shaz’s personal card, both of our card of the year, and the collective card of 2024.

Tutorial time!

Here’s how to find your personal card: 

• Add together the digits of your birthday. For this example, using our pod’s birthday for the gag of it all: 2/26/2024

• 2 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 4 = 18

• If > 22, add the digits together again because there are only 22 cards in the Major Arcana.

• Look for card 18 and you get THE MOON. 

  • The dog, the wolf. Docile and wild. One path between. Two possibilities, two canines, two towers…twin flames?! 

  • In the episode, we do briefly pop off on the concept of twin flames in general, and Shaz’s extremely specific and hilarious misunderstanding of them in particular.

And here’s how to determine your personal and collective cards of the year:

• Your Card: Add together your birth day, month, and the current year. 

• The Collective Card of 2024:

  • 2 + 0 + 2 + 4 = 8 = STRENGTH.

  • This bitch has no sense of self preservation and I’m into it.

In conclusion: math just might actually be magic. Tune back in next week for a special IRL reading and, as always, our continued irresponsible tarot practice. See you then!