Writing with Tarot in October: A Ritual for Shadow, Story, and Seasonal Magic

October is a threshold. The veil thins, the air sharpens, and the stories waiting in the dark begin to stir. For writers, this season isn’t just about spooky aesthetics—it’s a time to honor transformation, explore shadow, and write with deeper emotional clarity.

One of my favorite tools for this kind of writing? Tarot.

Whether you’re crafting horror, magical realism, memoir, or ritual-rich poetry, tarot can guide your creative process with archetypal depth and intuitive insight. Here’s how to use tarot as a writing companion this October.

Why Tarot?

Tarot is more than fortune-telling—it’s metaphor, mood, and mirror. Each card holds:

An archetype (The Fool, The Tower, The High Priestess)A theme (beginnings, collapse, intuition)A feeling (hope, dread, longing, release)

When you write with tarot, you’re not just pulling cards—you’re pulling threads of story, emotion, and transformation.

October Writing Ritual with Tarot

Here’s a simple ritual to try each week:

1. Set the space.
Light a candle. Brew something warm. Let scent, sound, and texture ground you in the season.

2. Pull 1–3 tarot cards.
Ask:

What story wants to be told this week?What shadow am I ready to explore?What archetype is guiding my creative energy?

3. Write.
Let the cards shape your response. You might:

Write a horror scene inspired by The Moon’s illusionsCraft a character arc based on Death and transformationExplore emotional release through The StarJournal from the POV of The Hermit during Samhain

4. Reflect.
Note what surprised you. What themes emerged? What emotions stirred? Close the ritual with gratitude—or a playlist, if you’re like me.

Tarot Writing Prompts for October

Here are a few to spark your pen:

The Tower + October Fog: Write about a collapse that clears the way for truth.The Lovers + Haunted House: Explore connection tested by fear or illusion.The Devil + Ritual: Write about temptation disguised as tradition.The High Priestess + Samhain: Let intuition speak through the veil.The Wheel of Fortune + Autumn Leaves: Craft a story where fate turns with the season. Want to Go Deeper?

Pair this ritual with my October Creative Art Bingo—a grid of horror, Samhain, and spooky prompts designed to stir your imagination. You can use tarot to guide your bingo picks, deepen your responses, or create your own spreads for character development and emotional clarity.

October is a spell. Let tarot be your guide. Let your stories rise like mist. Let your writing become ritual.

Your pen is a wand. Your words are spells.