The inner forest tarot spread for the season of the witch

Inspired by the Kim Krans Archetypes Deck

Happy Monday

I'm under my duvet and a familiar inertia has hit. The clocks have changed. I feel heavy and the darkness outside looks blacker than it did a few weeks ago. I wonder if you feel it too?

This heaviness is a clue. My body is telling me to stop and rest. But I've been on the go in my day job for weeks on end.

It's not always possible to go from activity to rest so seamlessly is it? Hibernation isn't an option when you have a job, kids, a home to look after.

But today my husband has been kind. He’s told me to let myself off the hook. Forget the jobs and rest. I'm not sure if writing my Substack post counts as rest but here I am anyway.

A walk in the forest yesterday helped. The silence there. The colours. The magical feel. The quality of the light.

Although I love the magic of this time of year, the lack of natural light does lower my mood.

It's all the more reason to get outside in nature when you can and enjoy the playfulness you find when you get out your cards and journal.

I'm writing this in case you feel similar. Perhaps the shorter days make you feel tired too.

Halloween feels like entering a forest to me so I wanted to create a tarot spread for this time of year with the forest in mind.

In her archetypes oracle deck Kim Krans says this.

Consider for a moment your earliest memory of the forest. It's likely it included all the mythic dimensions of this archetypal space. A little fear, a little enchantment, perhaps losing your way, perhaps discovering a secret mystical treasure. Such is the magic of the forest.

This description of the forest struck me as a foundation for a good tarot spread so perhaps if you're feeling a little low you might enjoy a small ritual to give you a lift.

A tarot spread to find magic in the dark inspired by Kim Krans

Shuffle your cards and make yourself at home. If you can light a few candles or switch on the fairy lights. I have orange pumpkin lights.

Once you have shuffled your cards take the top 3 cards and place them in the following spread positions.

Card 1

My fear as the dark season arrives

Card 2

How to connect with enchantment as the days grow shorter

Card 3

The mystical treasure found in the dark

Don't worry too much about getting the reading ‘right’ Just journal about what you see and feel.

I say read tarot like nobody is watching. You can always look things up in your guide book once you've given it a go.

Tarot is as much about play as it is about answers. Enjoy a little play and if you would like to connect more with your deck and through this season and like me you're looking for a way to unravel and take care of yourself through midlife you might like to join my membership for just £35 for a whole year. Click here to discover more.

With all good wishes Claire