Episode: Summer Tarot Series with Jennifer Doman

Host: Terri Ann Heiman

Guest: Jennifer Doman, Owner of Ritual and Shelter

Episode Sponsor: Ritual and Shelter

Recording Location: San Diego, California

 

Episode Overview

In this enlightening episode of The Empowered Spirit Show’s summer tarot series, host Terri Ann Heiman sits down with Jennifer Doman, the inspiring owner of Ritual and Shelter metaphysical store in Homewood, Alabama. This conversation explores the transformative power of tarot, the journey of spiritual awakening, and how a metaphysical business can serve as a healing sanctuary for the community.

Jennifer shares her personal journey from chronic pain to healing through Reiki, her evolution as a tarot reader, and the unexpected discoveries about autism and telepathic abilities that have shaped her understanding of spiritual communication. The episode offers valuable insights for both tarot beginners and experienced practitioners, while highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces for spiritual exploration and healing.

 

Guest Biography: Jennifer Doman

Jennifer Doman is a Reiki Master Teacher and the visionary owner of Ritual and Shelter, a metaphysical store and healing sanctuary located in Homewood, Alabama. Her journey into holistic healing began through personal necessity after undergoing multiple back surgeries that failed to provide relief from chronic pain. Through her exploration of alternative healing methods, Jennifer discovered the transformative power of Reiki, which not only healed her physical pain but ignited a passion for helping others find similar relief.

In 2021, Jennifer successfully obtained her Reiki Master Teacher certification and has since developed a unique approach that combines Reiki healing with complementary practices including energy healing, crystal healing, sound healing, and intuitive healing. Her personal experience with trauma and pain has enabled her to create a deeply empathetic and effective healing practice.

Jennifer’s spiritual journey has recently expanded to include a profound understanding of autism and telepathic abilities, following her own diagnosis and exploration of the connections between neurodivergence and spiritual gifts. She specializes in working with autistic individuals and their families, helping them understand and develop their unique spiritual abilities.

Specialties:

•Reiki for pain and trauma

•Tarot reading with chakra-based approach

•Crystal and energy healing

•Supporting neurodivergent individuals in spiritual development

•Creating inclusive spiritual community spaces

Key Topics Discussed

1. The Tarot Journey: Finding Your Deck

Jennifer shares her experience of choosing her first tarot deck and the importance of artwork resonating with the reader. She discusses the challenge of learning with her first deck (Pagan of the World’s Tarot) and how switching to the Rider-Waite-Smith system accelerated her learning process.

Key Insights:

•Artwork must speak to you personally for effective deck connection

•The Rider-Waite-Smith system provides clear, descriptive imagery for beginners

•Each deck has its own personality and delivers different types of messages

•Learning tarot is a long-term journey that requires patience and practice

2. Reading Philosophy: Projection vs. Prediction

Jennifer explains her approach to tarot reading, emphasizing energy work and healing over fortune-telling. She describes her unique method of reading through the chakra system and how this approach provides more meaningful guidance for clients.

Key Insights:

•Focus on projection (energy reading) rather than prediction

•Seven-card chakra spread as a comprehensive reading method

•Tarot as a tool for identifying trauma, grief, and emotional blocks

•Integration of Reiki energy during readings for enhanced healing

3. Building a Metaphysical Business During COVID

The conversation explores Jennifer’s journey of opening Ritual and Shelter during the pandemic, transforming from a women’s wellness store to a full metaphysical sanctuary. She discusses the challenges and rewards of creating a spiritual community space in conservative Alabama.

Key Insights:

•Community need drove business evolution

•Customers seeking crystals and tarot sustained the business during COVID

•Importance of trauma-informed approaches in spiritual retail

•Creating safe spaces for spiritual exploration and healing

4. The Witch Archetype and Feminine Empowerment

Jennifer courageously discusses claiming the witch identity and what it represents in terms of feminine empowerment, rebellion against societal constraints, and standing up for personal rights.

Key Insights:

•Witch as archetype of empowered feminine energy

•Reclaiming power and refusing to be diminished

•The importance of not “playing small” in spiritual work

•Balancing controversial identity with love-based practice

5. Autism, Telepathy, and Spiritual Gifts

A profound discussion about Jennifer’s recent autism diagnosis and her discoveries about the connection between neurodivergence and telepathic abilities, particularly in nonverbal autistic individuals.

Key Insights:

•Reference to “Telepathy Tapes” podcast and its revelations

•Autistic individuals may have enhanced telepathic abilities

•Children with autism drawn to specific crystals for healing

•Connection between neurodivergence and star seed/galactic energies

Memorable Quotes

On Choosing Tarot Decks

“The artwork must speak to you. If you want to resonate with that deck and you want to get messages from that deck, you must resonate with the artwork. It must speak to you. You have to like it.” – Jennifer Doman

On Reading Philosophy

“I typically do not like it for prediction because I know that we can change every circumstance. So I am reading tarot based on energy.” – Jennifer Doman

On Spiritual Communication

“Those cards are universe speaking through me… it is almost comical how often I pull those cards and it reflects exactly what we’ve just been talking about.” – Jennifer Doman

On Self-Healing with Tarot

“When you’re just reading tarot like it’s a book and just looking at those messages, what does this card represent in myself? Right now, it’s automatically a healing session for yourself.” – Jennifer Doman

On Feminine Empowerment

“The witch represents this sort of female rage. And I think we need that so bad right now… when you say I’m a witch, it says, I’m not gonna let somebody just walk over me anymore.” – Jennifer Doman

On Playing Small

“You’re playing small. Stop it… why do I play small to fit in? I never fit in… I’m not gonna fit in.” – Terri Ann Heiman

On Spiritual Awakening

“There is a spiritual responsibility to our souls, to ourself, to upgrade our energy and recognize a vibration with which we work with every single day.” – Terry Ann Hyman

Actionable Takeaways

For Tarot Beginners

1.Choose Your Deck Mindfully: Select a tarot deck based on artwork that genuinely resonates with you, not just popularity or recommendations

2.Start with Rider-Waite-Smith: Begin your learning journey with a Rider-Waite-Smith based deck for clear, descriptive imagery

3.Practice Self-Reading: Use your tarot deck like a book for self-reflection, asking “What does this card represent in myself right now?”

4.Be Patient with Learning: Expect a learning curve of several months to feel comfortable with your deck

For Spiritual Practice

1.Focus on Energy, Not Prediction: Use tarot for understanding current energy patterns rather than trying to predict the future

2.Try Chakra Spreads: Experiment with seven-card chakra spreads to understand energy blocks and healing needs

3.Combine Modalities: Integrate tarot with other healing practices like Reiki, crystal work, or meditation

4.Trust Your Intuition: Pay attention to intuitive hits and messages, even if they seem unusual or unexpected

For Personal Empowerment

1.Stop Playing Small: Embrace your authentic spiritual path without shrinking to fit others’ expectations

2.Create Sacred Space: Establish environments where spiritual exploration and healing can occur safely

3.Support Spiritual Community: Seek out and support local metaphysical businesses and practitioners

4.Embrace Your Archetype: Understand and embody the spiritual archetypes that resonate with your authentic self

For Parents and Caregivers

1.Observe Crystal Connections: Notice if children, especially neurodivergent children, are drawn to specific crystals or spiritual tools

2.Explore Alternative Communication: Consider that nonverbal individuals may have enhanced telepathic or intuitive abilities

3.Lower Your Energy: Practice calming techniques to create space for subtle spiritual communication

Resources and Links

Ritual and Shelter

•Website: ritualshelter.com

•Instagram: @ritualshelter_shop

•Pinterest: Ritual + Shelter

•Location: Homewood, Alabama

•Services: Tarot sessions, Reiki, Sound Bowl healing, Crystal healing, Witch consultations

Tarot Decks Mentioned

•Pagan of the World’s Tarot – Jennifer’s first deck

•Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot – Recommended for beginners

•Dreaming Moon Tarot – Australian artist, beautiful Rider-Waite-Smith variation

•Somnia Tarot by Nicholas Bruno – Based on sleep paralysis dreams, Jennifer’s current favorite

•Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans – Mentioned for artistic evolution

•Empowered Spirit Deck by Terri Ann Heiman – Host’s tarot deck

Books and Learning Resources

•“78 Degrees of Wisdom” – Recommended tarot learning book

•Terri Ann Heiman’s Tarot Course – Mentioned as a valuable learning resource

•Telepathy Tapes Podcast – Referenced for autism and telepathy research

Host’s Offerings

•5-Day Summer Bootcamp for Emotional Eating (July 22-26)

•Focus on Gap tapping™ technique

•Addresses cravings, binging, body image, and “fat talk”

•VIP option available for deeper one-on-one work

•Gap Tapping Technique – Method for bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be

Spiritual and Healing Modalities Discussed

•Reiki Healing – Energy healing for pain and trauma

•Crystal Healing – Using crystals for energetic support

•Sound Bowl Healing – Vibrational healing therapy

•Chakra Balancing – Seven-energy-center healing approach

•Intuitive Healing – Psychic and empathic healing methods

Current Astrological Context (as of recording)

•Full Moon in Capricorn – Recently passed, supporting grounding and growth

•Mercury Retrograde – July 17th through August, in Cancer and Leo

•Potential for emotional reflection and relationship changes

•Mindfulness is needed for travel, communication, and technology