Teneice Durrant, creator of Tarot with Ten, will mark each full moon with a tarot reading, ritual for releasing creative blocks, and writing exercise. Writers, exchange a hard thing for a soft one.
Writers, what the October '22 full moon means for you
The Full Moon for the month of October is the Hunter's Moon, and it comes to us in the moody, aggressive sign of Aries. Aries is the God of War, represented by the Emperor in the tarot. There’s a lot of power and action behind this moon, but it’s up to you whether you channel the King of Kings or the Childish Tyrant. As they say, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
In what areas are you letting a little power go to your head? Examine your life (or your stories) for anything you’re micromanaging. In the end, ruling with an iron fist could mean you’re afraid of someone finding your weakness, and no one can live in fear forever. Successful emperors allow each monarch to do what is best for their region and solve problems together.
This moon also indicates a time when many birds migrate south for the winter, and it is in their example that we get our ritual for the month. This month, we will be releasing one hard thing in favor of something soft, just for now. As the birds leave the northern regions where they toiled on building nests and hatching families, they let go of the inconsistent weather for something softer and easier. They give themselves time to rest, knowing that they will go back to their work of perpetuating the species in the spring.
A writer’s ritual for the October '22 full moon
In this same spirit, think of a few hard things that you can lay down for now with the promise of picking them back up in the spring with renewed purpose. What projects are you holding on to with a clenched fist? Which stories or home improvement projects make you feel like you are throwing yourself into a brick wall? What places have begun to feel inhospitable?
Write down the opposite of these things and pick the one that feels delightful and easy. Writing a difficult memoir about childhood trauma? Spend the next few months reading cozy mysteries. Trying to make a side hustle work? Declare that the only work on Sundays is hot tea and 80’s prime time reruns.
If you have the means, consider actually migrating. Book an AirB&B studio apartment in a town further south and work remotely for a month. Understand, as the migrating birds do, that you will always come back when you are ready to do the work to which your instinct calls you. You can always come back, but first, you might have to leave, literally or figuratively.
Tarot reading for writers
This month, we have the Eight of Wands and the Three of Cups.
October could see you/your character hurtling towards a good time. The Eight of Wands indicates rapid-fire communication, possibly via text or phone (not so much social media), or a flurry of letters delivered by messenger. It is a feeling of “everything is just working out”; you’re in “the zone.” There’s an element of different threads finally coming together to a successful conclusion…and celebration! The Three of Cups is my May Day celebration card: A joyous event where all feel good and celebrate the basic fact that they are alive.
A writing prompt
Your writing exercise, then, is to pick three characters from your story and start at the end of the scene: they have all come together in a place of your choosing to celebrate a successful outcome. Work your way backward, starting with some ideas on how each character physically got there (carriage, bus, walked, etc.), who they left at the place before the celebration, what they were wearing and why. You don’t necessarily need to know what each character is celebrating yet, but no matter what happens during the day, they all end up having a great time.
Hopefully this prompt helps you feel a little lighter, a little softer, a little less encumbered by hard things.
Until next month, check out my daily podcast and follow me on social:
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What did you think of Teneice's offering for this month? Will you try the exercise and see where your writing takes you? Share with us in the comments.
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