Halloween Affirmation Cards

Letting Go of Judgemental Recriminations

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Today’s meditation was Today’s meditation was a ten minute Daily Calm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #OctoberAlchemy26 Challenge
Burn Prompt for October 1st : Release
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Happy Halloween Tarot's Four of Wands

Today’s draw is the Four of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of one’s passionate love for the security and welcoming energies of home. This often translates into themes that have to do with homecoming, celebrating home and stability, as well as relaxation in comfortable spaces.

I am a judgy SOB. Not so much when it comes to others, for when it comes to others, there’s a great deal more forgiveness and effort towards understanding… but when it comes to myself. This includes those things that are associated with me such as my car, my home, etc.

It’s not so much that I expect them to be of a greater value than they are. I love my Prius. I love that I have a mortgage instead of rent. But at the same time, my place is a mess. Never mind all the very good and acceptable reasons why it’s a mess; it’s still a mess.

I try and whittle away at it a little bit at a time, and I pay someone to come in and clean the bathrooms and the kitchen as well as dust and vacuum… and yet it’s still a mess.

That’s the thing, though, right? If you’re not willing to look at the causes of the situation and take them into account, how can you really judge yourself for the mess? And yet I do.

The message in today’s Four of Wands and Release prompt is a reminder that just because my house is a mess doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong, nor does it mean there’s anything wrong with it being a mess. Today’s cards are an encouragement to let go of unreasonable expectation around this hot button topic for me personally.

The mess is here because life is busy, because I’m running a home business inside a small home that I also live in, and because I’m passionate and have lots of interests. None of these are bad things and just because the house is cluttered doesn’t mean that it is unhealthy… thus it’s time to let go of harsh judgments in this area.

DECK USED:  HAPPY HALLOWEEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2026 Challenge
Prompt for October 1st : Do the Fourth Quarter Spread

Fourth Quarter Tarot Reading with the Happy Halloween Tarot, Hellow Tarot, Awry The Forest Game Cards, and Twist's Halloween Affirmation Cards

Year Ahead Theme : The Devil

The Devil card is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm. Temptation is not always bad for you, but neither is it always good. It’s through grounded and sound judgement that we are able to make healthy decisions when choosing what temptations we indulge in and which ones we leave behind.

Theme for October : Trick or Treat

Seek out joy. You can look at the world as scary and intimidating, or you can choose to have fun with it and focus on the rewards. The choice is yours.

Focus / Advice for October : Bow

Keep those things you want in your sights. You will forget about them, and as a result lose your chance to seize them, if you aren’t paying attention and focusing on what you want to achieve.

Ray of Hope for October : I am brave and unafraid to explore new haunted paths on my journey.

Confidence is the name of the game! When you focus on what you want this month, by keeping things turned in the direction of fun and the rewards involved, the scary stuff and challenging situations aren’t quite so difficult to overcome.

Theme for November : Seven of Swords

You may find yourself feeling cheated this month, as if someone has runaway with your hopes for the future. Pay attention to hints that malicious tomfoolery is afoot.

Focus / Advice for November : The Stream

One person’s loss is another’s gain. Look at not what has been lost, but where to go from here. The key to moving seamlessly forward during these disruptions lies in not grieving for the past, but adapting to the future.

Ray of Hope for November : You’re still making progress, even on your worst days.

November may feel like a setback, but keep in mind that progress is still being made, even if more slowly than you’d like or expect. Celebrate the small wins.

Theme for December : Eight of Wands

Busy, busy… go, go, go! November may have felt like a loss but December has the potential to feel llike you’re running yourself ragged. Make sure you are getting enough rest to give yourself the energy you need to just keep up this month.

Focus / Advice for December : Moving Trees

The goalposts are moving and you’re going to have to be quick on your feet to keep up. Even those things that you thought to be immovable are going to try to prove themselves otherwise.

Ray of Hope for December : Ghosting what no longer serves me

Clear your plate of those things you can let go of in order to give yourself more wiggle room in all that rushing around.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Pin Oak Leaf for Strength and Endurance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: HAPPY HALLOWEEN TAROT, HELLOW TAROT, AWRY THE FOREST GAME CARDS, AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS

October Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for October 1st : the ghost in my coffee cup

Creative Writing Activity with A Striking Collection Matchbox Label Art Playing Cards

Turnera diffusa
for a gentle lift
that allows joy to sink in
(Nine of Cups)

Verbascum thapsus
for a breath of fresh air
and a kiss of calm on the skin
(Six of Spades)

Artemisia vulgaris
then opens the door
to what lies beneath and beyond
(Ace of Clubs)

while the remnants
in the bottom of the cup
tell us of what’s to come and has gone
(Jack of Spades)

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Amethyst Mushroom for Fostering Spiritual Connections
Smoky Quartz for Introspection and Emotional Balance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  A STRIKING COLLECTION MATCHBOOK LABEL ART PLAYING CARDS

@owlandbonestarot #OctoberinBetween Challenge
Prompts for October 

Tarot Reading with the Happy Halloween Tarot

Stop – Eight of Wands – Stop pushing and shoving and rushing so much. You are allowed to take your time, and now is a good time for doing so.

Let yourself savor things for a little while instead of rushing through everything. That rushing is just another way of closing yourself off.

Start – Judgement – It would be a good idea to start checking in on yourself more often to ensure alignment with the path you want to take in life and the person you want to become.

Evolution of the concept of that future person is allowed, but it’s important to keep tabs on the changes you make in that vision so that you aren’t accidentally left trudging down a path that’s no longer relevant.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  HAPPY HALLOWEEN TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I got the template set up for my October posts today instead of putting it off. It’s one of those things that can feel overwhelming (especially when done on my phone as I did today), but if I don’t do it right away, it ends up feeling as if it’s piling up and holding me back from stepping into the transition from one month to the next.

Nurturing the Beginner’s Spirit

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Grim Tales Tarot - Ace of Cups and Halloween Affirmation CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

The Ace of Cups has then been combined with a Halloween Affirmation card that says, “Stop calling yourself garbage. You’re a shimmering star. You are amazing.”

Yes, it’s true that emotions are not my strong suit. This is an area that I got a late start learning about and am struggling to understand, but that doesn’t mean I’m trash at it. It means I’m learning.

I feel like that should be my new mantra.

This is true of any new endeavor that starts off as unfamiliar and needs time to develop. Your emotions might tell you that your crap at it, but it’s important not to listen to those inner voices and instead give yourself the understanding that when starting out on something new there’s always going to be a learning curve involved.

Today’s message is a reminder to go easy on yourself in these moments. Berating yourself does nothing but drag you down and make the learning process take longer as a result. Be kind and understanding instead, and nurture your enthusiasm to keep going.

DECKS USED:  GRIM TALES TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS

@LightningWildflower October Tarot Challenge
Fire and Air “The Eights” Prompts for October 22nd thru 24th

Tarot Reading with the Grim Tales TarotEight of Wands

What is something that needs my immediate attention?

The Hanged Man – You caught yourself with this earlier today; you need to remember that sometimes in your head you have a tendency to lean a little too hard into “this way is the right way” when it comes to certain things.

Instead of jumping forward and correcting others in these moments, make sure that you are stepping back. Listen instead of speaking. Remember that in doing so you are rewarded by seeing things from a different perspective and possibly learning something new in the process.

Eight of Swords

In what area of my life am I feeling stuck?

Knight of Swords – It’s hard to put strategy into action when you don’t know what’s going to happen next.  You want to leap forward and prep for the holiday rush by making extra and ordering extra supplies that you would normally need. You want to act on advertising opportunities and other tried-and-true methods in order to generate results.

You have been working hard to adjust to the transitions that started this year with your business.  At this moment in time, though, you’re stuck in a sort of holding pattern. You’re ready to act, but there’s nothing to do yet due to circumstances outside your control.

What self-imposed limitations are holding me back?

King of Pentacles – Perhaps you are holding back just a little bit too much right now? It seems that there should be things you can do at this time; even small things to further your goals. Look at what these small things might be so that you’re headed in the right direction when greater movement is allowed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GRIM TALES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.

Stagnancy vs Movement

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Ghost Boy Tarot's King of Swords and Halloween Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with someone that has a way with words and is able to use those skills to lead others to their way of thinking, as well as those that are in authority on intellectual topics such as professors, doctors, etc.

The King of Swords has then been combined with a Halloween Affirmation card that says, “I see the beauty in the darkness, finding balance between the light and the shadows.”

Finding balance sucks. That’s because it’s one of those things that has never still or stagnant. It’s always moving, which means in order to find balance, you also have to always be moving and adjusting.

I like deep roots. I like stability. I’m not even particularly opposed to stagnancy as long as that stagnancy is in a place that I am comfortable. These things are a part of my nature. It’s also a part of my nature to strategize, though.

Logically speaking when you think of stagnancy there’s a reason that it is frowned upon. It’s a place where things become rotten and decay over time. Therefore, if for no other reason than logic itself, seeking balance is the healthier option and creates a greater sense of stability over time as you get your “sea legs” and are able to stand firm, walk, or even run in the storm.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that as comfortable as stagnancy feels, it’s not your friend. Part of being responsible is taking care of yourself, and that requires freedom of movement in order to achieve balance.

Don’t just sit there and rot. Instead, get out and start climbing those mountains.

DECK USED:  GHOST BOY TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Prompts for October 18th and 20th 

Tarot Reading with the Terrestrial Tarot and Wayward Dark LenormandVampire – How can you suck more joy out of life this season?

Lily, Nine of Pentacles, Tower – Don’t allow your accomplishments to elevate you so far up on a pedestal that you can’t get down and dirty with everyone else.

You don’t have to stay up there to protect what you value, nor do you need to stay up there to lord your accomplishments over everyone else. True joy is down among the throng.

What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s new moon?

Stork, Ten of Wands, Clouds – Just because you have the energy right now to take on new projects and responsibilities doesn’t mean that down the road you’re going to feel quite as capable. Take care that you don’t over-commit yourself during this time, or you’ll regret it later when you feel trapped in overwhelm and overburdened.

Other elements included in this reading:
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TERRESTRIAL TAROT AND WAYWARD LENORMAND

@LightningWildflower October Tarot Challenge
Fire and Air “The Sevens” Prompts for October 19th thru 21st

Tarot Reading with the Ghost Boy TarotSeven of Wands

In what area of my life do I need to stand my ground?

The Sun – Personal happiness and your own success need to come first. If you’re not taking care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of anybody else? Don’t allow other manipulations to compromise going after what makes you happy.

How can I stay true to my values, even if this leads to conflict?

Four of Pentacles – Be stubborn. Staying true to your values sometimes means digging in and staying put when people are trying to budge you from what you feel is most important. Stay strong during these times, and focused on what truly matters.

Seven of Swords

What is an inconvenient or strategic approach that I can take at this time?

Six of Swords – Sometimes moving forward means backing off. If something isn’t working for you, leave it behind. This can be inconvenient, as it means finding another path and sometimes starting again, but when you let go of what isn’t working,  you’ll find a better way forward in the end.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Flower Agate Moon for Opening the Mind to New Possibilities
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GHOST BOY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.

Without Waders

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The Halloween Tarot's Knight of Pumpkins (Knight of Pentacles) and Halloween AffirmationsThe @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Maiden Prompt for October 14th : Acceptance
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Knight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of an active, projective beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, labors, and manifestations. This often translates into a slow moving but determinedly forward moving energy, personality, or person that has their eye on the prize regardless of the slow and steady speed they may be moving at.

The Knight of Pentacles has then been combined with a Halloween Affirmation card that says, “Some days are awful, but they always end.”

One step at a time. Just keep your eye on the ball and you’ll get through it. Sometimes to get where you’re going you have to wade through the sewage in your sandals.  It sucks. It’s gross. It’s a bad f’ing day all the way around and feels like a slog through hell that takes forever.

The message for today is that regardless of how miserable it is? You get through it. You come out the other side.  Time marches on, and so do you. And maybe, just maybe? Tomorrow will be better. So don’t give up.

DECK USED:  THE HALLOWEEN TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Philosophical Questions for October 8th and 15th

Tarot reading with The Halloween Tarot and Autumn Night LenormandWhy do the living feel a desire to connect with their ancestors?

Clover, Six of Ghosts, The Gate – It’s about belonging and connection. People don’t like to feel like they’re being left out, and they crave a feeling of belonging. Memories gathered that they think can be of value are treated like treasure. This is especially true when those memories make them feel like they belong, and provide a taste of connection to something that they otherwise wouldn’t have as a part of their own personal history.

Is there an afterlife? (dig deep for a detailed answer)

Caged Heart, Five of Imps, Star – These cards indicate that for those that are trapped on this side of the veil by love or conflict; absolutely. As for whatever comes next beyond the veil, it’s all about hope and faith and finding a way forward beyond these things that hold us trapped within the “afterlife” previously mentioned.

These cards seem to be referring to what I see as “ghosts” as the afterlife, and that what comes beyond that “afterlife” as something else.  I didn’t at first understand what I was reading here in these cards, but when I consider it in the scope of reincarnation, it makes sense that only those that linger would be considered in an “afterlife” type state.  This is a bit of food for thought for me today.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Yew Tips for Ancestral Connections
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE HALLOWEEN TAROT AND AUTUMN NIGHT LENORMAND

Daily Self Kindness

I managed to borrow a charging cord at work to charge my phone enough to check in with Gid.

Performance Not Considered

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Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app.

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Carnival at the End of the World Tarot's Nine of Swords and Halloween AffirmationsThe @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Maiden Prompt for October 2nd : Curiosity
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, and negative thoughts and inner narratives.

The Nine of Swords has then been combined with  one of my personal affirmation cards that says “You don’t have to be perfect to be lovable.”

I’ve discussed before in my posts how “doing your best” is not a particularly helpful affirmation for me as an individual, due to its connotation that if I self sacrifice just a bit more, I can do a bit better, and thus it’s never enough.

Today’s cards touch upon this concept. The Nine of Swords challenging it by telling me that my fears that I am unacceptable as anything but my best is all in my head, and not a reality. The affirmation card then telling me that this is because I am lovable regardless of my performance.

These are concepts that are really difficult for me to internalize. I grasp them in my head, and through logic I can accept them as truth. But. somewhere deep down in my heart, or perhaps in my inner child, it just doesn’t want to sink in.

I’ll keep trying though. Some knots from the past are just harder to untangle than others, and take more time to work through.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder, not just to myself, but all of us that we are not loved based upon our performance. That means we are good enough just as we are. Don’t let anyone make you think differently, not even that negative inner voice whispering in your head.

DECK USED:  THE CARNIVAL AT THE END IF THE WORLD TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Ghouls Prompt for October 2nd : Who in your life needs a bit more acceptance and understanding?

Tarot Reading with Carnival at the End of the World Tarot's Nine of Cups and Strange Curiosities Playing Cards ReadingReading Summary: This person always has too many things going at once (all the cups in the air) and is just a bit full of herself (the figure’s mask, attire, and posture), which means she often misses when she’s hurting others and sees their reactions and retaliations through the lens of a victim instead of the perpetrator (the snake under foot hidden among the flowers).

You’ve connected with her in the past on collaborations in life (Three of Diamonds is on the left) and were once quite close with her, but you’ve kept your distance recently because you’re still trying to process the emotions that rose up for you when her true colors started to show through (Jack of Hearts is on the right).

Take Away: Perhaps you need to look at what you’re doing and how you’re reacting. Are you not following the same pattern as her own behavior? Some food for thought.

DECK USED: THE CARNIVAL AT THE END IF THE WORLD TAROT AND STRANGE CURIOSITIES PLAYING CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I spent yet more time (over 4 hours the other day, another 2 hours today) on the phone with the new shipping fulfillment company I’m working with to get more information on how to work in their system and get the results I want.

Collateral Damage

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Jack-O'-Lantern Tarot's Page of Swords and Halloween Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords combined with the affirmation “I embrace the shadows, knowing they make my light shine brighter.”

Watch your back swing, and make sure as you strive to move forward you aren’t leaving anyone behind. Ambition can sometimes make us take action, when we should remain still and wait.  In those moments of impulsivity where we fumblingly try to act, sometimes we generate collateral damage rather than solve anything.

Instead?  Sit in the darkness and uncertainty of the moment. Embrace it and take your time, for sometimes when you wait? The solution lands in your lap.

DECKS USED:  JACK O’ LANTERN TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 31st : Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Ghost Boy Tarot - Knight of Swords, The Chariot, The Lovers, Two of Cups, Justice, King of Cups

What do I want to bring into my home?

Two of Cups – Love and trust. Harmony and togetherness. A cohesive working environment, where everyone is on the same page not just with what needs to be done but with how everyone feels about each other as well.

What needs to be swept away?

Justice – Don’t worry so much about what’s fair, or what’s right. Trust the universe to balance the scales instead of trying so hard to do it yourself.  Sometimes, you just have to leave it up to the universe’s need to seek balance, rather than seeking that balance yourself.

What do the squeaky floorboards conceal?

The Lovers – A long life of love lives in every squeak of those boards, as it’s your loved one’s feet that put those squeaks there in the first place. Make sure you aren’t losing sight of that love when irritation raises its ugly head.

What has been caught in the spiders web?

King of Cups – Gideon, of course. That loyalty bordering on obsession makes him your no.1 fan of all time and your greatest source of emotional support and stability.

What does the smoke from the hearth reveal?

The Chariot – That smoke isn’t from the hearth, but from the dust kicked up in your passing. All this uncertainty and worry clouding your path right now will lift under the strength of your determination to keep going.

Where will the broom take me this season?

Knight of Swords – If you’re not paying attention? It will take you charging headlong into the past. Make sure you are facing the right direction before putting the force of your ambition to the task.

DECK USED: GHOST BOY TAROT

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 31st : Tonight, I honor the witch within, my lineage, my roots, my craft and my kin. Guided by ancestors beyond the veil, what shall this night of my Sabbath unveil?

Jack-O'-Lantern Tarot - Page of Pentacles, Queen of Swords, Five of Wands, Eight of PentaclesReading Summary: You are far more skilled in your craft (Eight of Pentacles) than you realize (Page of Pentacles Rx). Don’t let naysayers’ and harsh words convince you otherwise (Five of Wands atop Queen of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Not everyone has the capacity to be supportive, especially when their own agenda is contrary to your cause.

Don’t let the negative things that others may say bring you down or distract you from the skills that you have honed so well throughout years of practice. Not everyone’s opinion matters and you can’t please everyone all the time.

DECK USED:  JACK O’ LANTERN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I ordered pizza today, which I’ve been craving for what feels like forever.