Its been a while since I’ve had my monthly decks in their original boxes!

It’s here! The most spookiest time of the year! It also is the month that I am most likely to purchase a deck because, well, October sends out a lot of really fantastic and fun tarot decks! Brace yourself!

I have several new decks that I’ll be working with this month and a very beloved old faithful…

Top row: Shadow Night Raven Lenormand, W.I.T.C.H. oracle. Bottom Row: Stars Lightening Up The Night Tarot, Silver Acorn Tarot, TrueBlack tarot

Mmmm, I like shiny backs and I cannot like! This has to be a selection of some of the most beautiful card backs I have in my collection.

The oracle deck W.I.T.C.H. was a kickstarter by Angi Sullins and Silas Toball that was, in my humble opinion, not the best managed kickstarter and I had worries when the deck came VERY late and was VERY glossy and rather darker in imagery than I imagined. That being said, after using it here and there for a few months, I must admit that this quirky deck has really grown on me. I’m not exactly a fan of collage decks (though I have several exceptions), but this one has what the kids describe as “main character energy” so I’m looking forward to using it extensively this month.

And, I almost didn’t include it, but it felt wrong not to, I added my faithful TrueBlack tarot deck. This is arguably one of, if not my most favorite, deck. It’s not exactly a nice reader though so I use it in small doses, but I adore the lux cardstock and the images are just breath taking. And its perfect for Halloween spooky season.

Is there a Tarot deck buyers anonymous support group? I might need to join one. I was SO intrigued by the anime art in Stars Lightening Up The Night Tarot. I don’t usually care for anime art in a tarot deck, but I found many of the images to have striking resemblance to Diana Wynne Jones’s various novel characters. I’m binge reading her novels, many of which I read as a kid, but now am revisiting as an adult, and I’m obsessed with some of the uncanny related images this deck has to her characters. I mean, who doesn’t love Howl’s Moving Castle? This may be the absolute dumbest reason I’ve ever bought a deck, but there it is. It is very close to standard RWS but there is some really intriguing imagery that’s been substituted.

Then, for the same reason as above, I saw the Shadow Night Raven Lenormand deck, which, despite looking like it was produced by the same artist that did Stars Lighting Up The Night, it is not. But you’d never know and assume they were sister decks. I also find the hexagon shape so intriguing to stack and make shapes with. I take small issue with the large gaudy borders, but they seem to aesthetically fit and I find the images fascinating.

I seem to be breaking all the rules this month; I typically don’t care for super “cutesy” decks, and I also don’t usually go for anthropomorphized animals (never mind plants) but the Silver Acorn Tarot just stole my heart. It is so freaking silly and carefree, I adore it.

And now, for da flip!

Well, I intended to draw three Lenormand cards, but the deck gave me two sets of two, so we’re getting four!

Okay, I won’t lie, The Story Keeper is one of my favorite cards in this oracle deck. The guide book asks us what are the narratives we tell ourselves–are they ones of empowerment, or lack thereof? Even when we do not have the agency over our life we want, if we tell the story of how we failed because of this, rather than how we managed despite it, this will profoundly affects how we perceive ourselves and what we’re capable of. I love how she’s sitting at the top most bow of a tree, and has set aside her story to look out at the magic around her. What can she see when she leaves the escapism of her book? Often we can loose our sense of adventure in the real life when we let humdrum take over. Where are you going next in your adventure? How are you going to get out there and find it? What adventure should I jump on board with this October?

My first jumpers from the quirky Shadow Night Raven Lenormand were the Crossroads and the Anchor. At first blush, these feel like two opposing cards–one calls for the need to choose a direction, a moment where paths divide and which will you go down, the other suggests being planted firmly in place, security, and stillness. Does this indicate indecision or a difficult decision? Going in circles? Or perhaps pausing before choosing? Maybe with the keen eyes of the Story Keeper we should first look carefully down each path before striking out?

This Garden seems very regimented, while the Tree grows haphazardly–another set of cards of similar but juxtaposing views! Both have a theme of nature. The garden seems very public and eye catching, and the tree has imperfections but does many services to various life forms and has fantastic yellow leaves. Perhaps this combination is a call to welcome the outside eye to your true self and nature, to allow closeness in your various communities. Don’t be afraid to be your true self, faults and all, in the pubic sphere. You don’t need to put on a farce to fit in with cold columns. You are entitled to basic needs just like everyone else. The best care you can give others is to first take care of your own needs.

Hmm, quite the curious draw thus far, lets see what else.

Such a stately King of Wands! Dare to see things how they can be rather than what they are now–you have the ability to take yourself where you need to go! Be the boss you are. You have mastery over your passions and you can be comfortable in your skill to get to where you need to be. You have succeed and used one success to springboard another. While you have many things at play, you have it under control and can sit back and watch it unfold.

Temperance as a trickster fox? Hmm! Not what I’d expect! I typically read Temperance as balance of give and take, blending ideas, patience for an outcome, and practicing moderation. But, the fox as our temperance angel, I’m getting a bit of a showmanship feel–like a magician who sets up a trick and employs misdirection. Showing a calm peaceful exterior while hiding a clever mind. Employing social savvy to make the seemingly impossible happen.

And finishing up with the two of swords–oftda! The card of heart/mind struggle, break down of discussion into discord, miscommunication, misunderstanding, refusing to see. Following the cool headed portrayal of King of Wands with a rather crafty Temperance, I’m really tempted to read this two of swords as purposeful misunderstanding! Or sly use of words to hide one’s actual goal. Employing evasive maneuvers in writing or spoken commitment.

Okay, so taken together, this is what I’d read: you are searching for your ideal path and next adventure (in fact your rather distracted about it), but you have social pressures holding you back from what you want to achieve. While you are a presence in many places, you are not bound to these various communities. You grow with in them perhaps, but also despite them–you are your own person. You got the chops and the social grace to pry yourself away with gentle misunderstandings or outright topic changing when people want your commitment when you do not wish to service them. Being completely honest all the time (especially when others take things personally) doesn’t always serve you.

Wow! Looks like I’ll have some demands on my time this month! What decks are you bringing out for this special season and what did they tell you to look forward to?