Hello Folks! I tell myself this lie each year, that now it’s October and peak spooky season, and it’s (supposedly) going to be cooler and rainy (ha) that I will suddenly have “more time” in which to be retrospective and a homebody and broody. This never. Effing. Happens. Needless to say my more “fun” to-dos get pushed back. I also am really overdue for posting a deck review—any decks y’all have been really wanting a review on that you’ve seen me use? That’s assuming that I’ve had it in rotation enough times to give a fair review.

Still, sticking with a Halloween theme, I wanted to focus on using decks that exemplified the concept of the “dark feminine” or otherwise, non-traditional takes on the feminine aspect. The choices for this theme are a little self explanatory in that they focus on mostly female presenting figures who are more witchy/outside regular expectations for women. Except for the Nameless One Tarot, which is the most exemplary example of a dark feminine vibe deck without any figures (except some great skeletons). Lets get on with the draw!

Quite the drastically different backs! Clockwise from noon: The European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle Deck, Discovering Beauty Tarot, The Nameless One, Blood Moon Tarot. Center She’s Wilderness Tarot

The European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle is a deck that I typically wouldn’t add to my collection but I really was enchanted with how the artwork mirrors many of the traditional tarot cards. Sol, the Norse/Germanic goddess of victory, hope, healing and vitality is perhaps the closest to the traditional tarot card of the same name. I love how we have the white horses which make me think of freedom, and the sun flowers possibly the most joyful flower, and the sun (of course), all traditional images of happiness and joy, but we have a wizened, lovely lady. The book that accompanies this deck is positively excellent, but let me focus on what really grabbed my attention and I’ve been thinking about all month, which is the concept of hope. There’s hope which you know will happen, like the sun will come up tomorrow, but then there’s this hope rooted in a deep sort of inner faith, like hope for a better future, even when it seems like there is no chance of that happening any time soon. Hope, unlike wishful thinking, is an active practice.

Y’all, The Blood Moon Tarot is coming out mass market. I have the second edition printing, but I preorded the MM for BORDERLESS GOODNESS! This deck is one of my soul decks for sure. The Blood Moon is definitely an OG in my tarot collection, but it’s rare I share it with the world at large as I find this a very visceral and personal deck, but I couldn’t pass up adding it into this month’s dark feminine theme! From the Blood Moon I drew the bold Page of Wands. This person is clearly off on and adventure and isn’t pausing one bit while they grow their delicious golden chanterelles! You’ve got momentum, you don’t have everything figured out, but you can figure it out on the way! Don’t be afraid to pause every once and a while and see what comes from those moments of down time–things grow in the breaks and silence. Also, get out there and forage some mushrooms!

She’s Wilderness Tarot was a deck I didn’t back on Kickstarter and regretted (same with the next deck, it’s been a weird year, okay?). I’ll start with the glaring negative of this deck which is it lacks age, shape, race, and a plethora of other diversities which was why I did not back it during it’s campaign. Now, it does do some really interesting things though which is why in the end I purchased it despite this lack. This deck is strange as it takes pretty typical RWS ideas and framework and really gives it a twist. At face value it seems like a very “women in the wild” feeling, with bright happy warm colors and expressive figures, but it provides some very different interpretations of the cards. Here with strength, which I typically think of as taming the animalistic inner self, we see a woman offering a little cat like dragon a drink. With the amphora and the cup I think of the traditional temperance card. I also see the opium poppy buds, a potent medicine that can be used for good or evil, and a DRAGON (of reasonable size), which makes me think of hoarding, emotional fiery outbursts, and mythical thinking. It is reminiscent of the phrase “having tea with your demons” which speaks to being mindful of your negative emotions, and seeking to have self compassion to understand them rather than reacting with shame.

Discovering Beauty Tarot was a deck I backed as I love Japanese Notan art (which is the inspiration for the art style) and then chickened out of and ended up buying for more after the KS ended (as one does). This is definitely one of those scary decks for me that hits a little too close to home. As a person who is more comfortable being a little removed from her emotions, I am not one to be drawn to imagery that demands embodiment, as this deck does. But when I saw my bestie using the deck (and using it myself) I realized this is a deck that will help me grow, not only emotionally by demanding I take a long look inward, but also in reading Tarot. While it uses a loose RWS structure, it is highly self-examining. When I see this IV of Water (Cups) I think of the song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, which says “Feel the rain on your skin, No one else can feel it for you, Only you can let it in.” This card calls me to let my feelings wash over me. Instead of a traditional Strength card which is taming those feelings, I need to accept them and truly feel them. My experience is unique and valid even if it isn’t necessarily a feeling I want to have.

These three cards together make me think that this month I must be present in myself, my body, my mind, and my emotions. There isn’t a demand to change or repress, but to experience. There’s a strong sense of bodily feeling and connection between the body and emotions and self-acceptance.

And we end our draw with the very alchemical feeling Two of Cups from The Nameless One. Immediately with the two snakes it makes me think of the caduceus staff of Hermes with the two entwined snakes, speaking of travel, commerce, and negotiation. Our two cups seem to represent life and the growing, and death and the wilting. With October being a turning point of fall into winter and with many cultures observing and honoring various days of the dead, this seems rather on point. We have two king cobras meeting and entwining, deadly creatures that are staying their bite to meet in unison. It makes me think of what from my past is here to help me now? What must I make friends with? Where can I find new love in my life? Seeing as it comes under the interesting strength card, it again seems to ask how can I make peace with my inner struggles. Such a cool card, one of my favorites in this deck.

Taking the whole reading together, I see October as a month where I learn how to foster hope by leaning into my self, feeling the feels, and integrating the old with the new. Though I tend to think of October as a month of harvest and the fields going fallow for winter, these cards speak of inner growth!

How has your October been? What decks are you using this month?