It feels like spring outside folks, so though the cards have a dark theme, the tea cup tells the truth!

November can be a real hit or miss month, but so far we’ve been blessed with unseasonably warm temperatures, lots of sun, and an extended leaf-fall period to enjoy! This year, the leave-colors were stupendous, probably the best I’ve ever seen!

When I choose my tarot decks, the weather is the largest factor in what makes the cut and what goes back on the shelf. I wish I could say otherwise, that I use some divine intervention to choose my decks, but no, that’s not how it works for me. In a way, given the balmy temps, I’m having a bit of October take-two, which is great seeing as there’s always too many spooky season decks to go around.

I will admit that the one specific “November” deck I have used conservatively for a few years is the stark Lost Hollow deck. The barren forest theme in the deck looks like November does here, so it always ends up in the post-Halloween rotation, because, like birds that migrate or animals that hibernate, I’m seasonally and weather motivated. And, it’s also pretty bad ass!

I…have a pretty dysfunctional family. BUT, I like the idea of Thanksgiving family get together, even if mine turn out to be Friendsgiving more often than not (chosen family and all). However, if I had an imaginary family it would be the characters in The Dark Mansion Tarot. There are some true characters in those cards! This is a deck that I’d say is my second or third most familiar tarot deck, so it’s an easy grab-and-go where as some of the decks in this month take a little more effort.

Both the Oak, Ash & Thorn and the Blood Moon Tarot are harvest season decks for me (so September through October), but they didn’t get to make an appearance this year, and I missed them. So seeing as we’re having second October, I get the excuse to let them out for exercise! Both of these decks are rather hard-hitting readers for me—I bet you wouldn’t think that with the OA&T! But those cute animals are savage as all get out, just you wait. They don’t shy away from hard truths of mother nature, even if its wrapped in a “cute” facade. And of course, the Blood Moon is a very visceral, primal deck that does tap into both animalistic and dream-like imagery. I suspect these two are actually going to pair and read well together.

And then, I’ve been waiting impatiently to bring out a birthday gift, the beautiful, colorful, limited print Earth, Moon, & Shadow Oracle. This deck is just stunning and I regretted not backing it on Kickstarter, but my dearest Tarot friend Val snagged me an extra copy. Based upon Jungian ideas of the shadow self, its gentle yet profound. It also has *gasp* keywords! I’m going to flex my card reading muscles this month and try to use keywords more readily!

Clockwise starting from top left: Oak, Ash & Thorn tarot, Earth, Moon, & Shadow Oracle first edition, The Dark Mansion Tarot large size edition, Blood Moon Tarot, Lost Hollow tarot

So…I don’t know about anyone else, but, sometimes there are draws I do and I’m just plain ol’ stumped. I did this monthly draw with dearest Val and I was just sitting there, thinking that “well, I guess I don’t Tarot after all!” Val suggested, you know, using the key words of the Oracle card! Preposterous! With some degree of hand holding, I was able stumbled through this spread!

With her nest-hat made of wheat and lavender to protect her precious and fragile eggs, our oracle representative of the month shares that the home space should be fertile, abundant, calming, and above all safe. It should be the place you return to, to feel good. Also, notice how her nest is on her head? Much of what we feel about “home” is very much a mental thing!

Okay, so if we take the keywords literally, my “nest” is looking pretty sad, isn’t it, with the three of swords? (You see what I mean about this cute animal deck being gnarly?) There is a history of this being the truth for me–I have never know a place that feels like “home.” I’ve always just occupied space that serves me, but it doesn’t embody a feeling of safety and calm. And, many spaces that should have been “home” were instead spaces of heartbreak and loss. So, clearly, this season that usually marks the kickoff of holiday seasons needs a little help in making the “nest” feel better!

Then for “Spiritual Hearth” the absolutely delightful four of wands makes an appearance! We even have the keyword “fulfillment” written here! Also, this strikes a very personal chord because I really love to dance with my dance class, and I often feel happy when I’m doing something in my body physically. I love that we can only get a sense for the flesh of the bodies here, the skeletons are more base, stripped down from everything else, leaving the rest behind as they cavort around the candles. I get some major “home is where the heart is” sentiments.

Here’s another prominent bony figure. I have to say, of all the cards in the Blood Moon Tarot, II The High Priestess is one of the creepiest to me. This represents “Comfort” from the oracle keyword?!? Val pointed out that I gather a lot of creative inspiration from dreams and they are very close to my heart and important to me, much like this pomegranate/heart is to the sleeping skeleton. Again, without a body, the skeleton feels like a very “down to the bones” understanding of who I am as a person. Also, this skeleton dreams of things much bigger that its self. Perhaps we can say I find comfort chasing my dreams?

For “Well Being” we see the Sun (daww!) and the text on a poster saying, “le voyage a traver l’impossible,” which translates to “the journey through the impossible.” Little dreams can become big dreams and those can become reality. Many of the dreams I have are quite impossible, until they are committed to the page (or, well, the word document) and through my writing, myself and perhaps more importantly my audience are transported into impossibilities! My well being is reliant on my ability to create and do things that are thought of as impossible, making those strange (if a little scary) dreams into reality.

Okay, looking at the reading as a whole, it would seem as if my sense of “home/nest” in the spiritual and mental sense are quite strong! And my comfort is less connecting with physical comfort and more at home with how I think and imagine. I fell “at home” in myself more so that the physical space! I think it’s a good time then to think of doing a deep clean of my physical space before winter and maybe consider hanging up those painting’s I’ve been neglecting!

How does your November look? Do you use keywords in a literal sense or are you more abstract in reading? Let me know!

Sage tea advice I keep on my deck with other dust collectors: “The purpose of life is to know yourself, love yourself, crust yourself, and be yourself.” Go forth and be your best toast self.