October is for the Ancestors
Our monthly Tarot pull, giving coffee to the ancestors, and a call to action in response to Hurricane Helene.
‘Tis the season of dressing thematically for 31 days straight! Yesterday I snuck some spiderweb earrings into the mix, and as soon as it cools down I’ll be dawning an inordinate number of spooky-themed sweaters.
But this season is about so much more than pumpkins on the doorstep and ghosts adorning my clothing. We’ve officially entered the season of the Ancestors. I’ll be talking about the ancestors and how to work with them a lot this month, but it was no surprise to me that they came through en mass during our Tarot + Tea party last week. The dead are close, and they have a lot to say. So, without further ado, let’s give them a listen!
A Tarot Reading for the Month of October
At the heart of October, we pulled the Ten of Cups. What I didn’t realize until writing this email was that in our September reading, Ten of Cups was the energy we’re building towards. This tells me that October is working with the same momentum as September, we’re simply drawing closer to the reality Ten of Cups illuminates.
In September, we were asked to consider what a nourishing, emotionally abundant life looks like. Now, it’s time to get serious about what we need to do to make that emotionally abundant life a reality. In particular, October’s action step or energy to lean into is the Five of Cups.
Five of Cups asks us to think critically. What relationships are nourishing us right now? What relationships are we holding onto out of obligation that need released? How do we tend to our emotional needs? Are there old habits that aren’t serving us? Hobbies we’ve lost interest in but can’t quite let go of? Or perhaps a desire to try something new has been calling you in a different direction. What is our relationship to self love and self compassion? The Five of Cups asks us to be honest about what is or is not serving us at this moment, especially as it relates to matters of the heart.
‘At this moment’ is important here—there may be things we set down today and return to in a week, month, or year from now. The ebb and flow is part of the journey, and as you work toward a more nourishing, emotionally fulfilled life, you’re being asked to determine what needs to ebb and what needs to flow during this chapter.
Next, we have the Queen of Pentacles, Reversed in the position of what energies to release or lean away from. This is telling me two things:
We have a lot of cups in this reading, and this feels like a call to focus less on manifesting wealth/worrying about money/building your career and more on your relationships with others and your relationship with yourself.
Not every season is one of growth. As the season of the harvest wraps up, we shift into the season of the dead. This is not a time of planting seeds and watching them thrive; it is a time of stillness and pause as we prepare for the cold nights on the horizon.
We are being asked to be kind with ourselves and to be patient as the rapid growth and hectic momentum of summer cools into what might feel to many of us like stagnation. But this pause is necessary.
It is in the pause that we do the work of the Five of Cups to clarify what is in alignment with our goals. It is in this pause that we turn away from the questions of “what am I trying to build” or “how can I bring more wealth into my life” and turn toward questions like “what makes me truly happy”, “who nourishes my soul”, and “how do I want to feel when I wake up each day”. We are moving toward the seasons of deep reflection, healing, and hibernation, so it’s no wonder the abundant growth of the Queen of Pentacles is on the back burner as we enter into October.
On the far right, we have our advice from Spirit. In this case, it is the New Moon in Capricorn—Step Up and Lead. When I pulled this card, it came up as directly related to the guide of the month, which appears on the far left: The Elder—Move Beyond Ancestral Patterns. The message of the Elder was no surprise to me. During the season of the dead, our Ancestors are close… and that means all of our ancestors.
Yes, our supportive and protective guides draw near these days, but so do our unhealed ancestors. Ancestral Elevation (the ritual process of helping our unhealed ancestors move on and find peace) comes up a lot this time of year, and we are likely to come face-to-face with the generational patterns these unhealed ancestors bring into our lives.
The New Moon in Capricorn card asks us to “step up and lead,” but in this case, it’s not coming through as a loud, flashy leadership. It’s a dark moon, after all. The cards, instead, are asking us to lead by example as we shift our habits and behaviors away from the unhealthy or even harmful cycles of our ancestors and towards something that nourishes and serves our Ten of Cups ideals.
Overall, the message of this reading seems to be saying we’re still moving toward a future of emotional nourishment, thriving relationships, and inner joy, but getting there is no passive act. Now is the time to break generational cycles, release old patterns, and consider what habits, people, or behaviors you want to carry forward into your next chapter.
Private Mediumship to Meet Your Ancestors
I’m going to be writing a lot about connecting with the ancestors in the coming weeks, and the coffee offering details below is a great place to start, but I also wanted to make sure you know about my private mediumship sessions to meet your ancestors.
In my Approach the Ancestors sessions, I connect with my guides and open the door for your Ascended Ancestors to come through. During these one-on-one mediumship sessions, I directly channel any advice, wisdom, or insight your ancestors wish to give you. You will leave knowing which ancestors are nearby and wanting to support you, who needs healing in your ancestral lineage, and how you can better connect/work with your ancestors moving forward. We also might recieve instructions for rituals, spells, or healing they believe would serve you at this time.
My October private sessions are almost SOLD OUT, so make sure to book soon if you’re interested in getting to know your Ancestors this season! In-person, virutal, and house call sessions available.
Your Ancestors Want Coffee
This is the second year in a row that I’ve pulled the Coffee card multiple times leading up to October. I can feel a deep-dive into the historical and magical significance of coffee coming up in my near future (keep an eye out for that email).
Coffee ceremonies are a common practice in a lot of cultures, and serve as a way to connect with one another, share stories, and build deeper relationships. Coffee wakes us up, fortifies our energy, and enlivens us for what’s to come. All this considered, it makes sense that the spirits would want a cup!
If you have an altar for your ancestors (read about creating an altar here), I highly recommend leaving a cup of coffee on the altar. I try to refill mine daily, taking a moment to sit with the ancestors when I do. If you don’t have an altar practice, you can simply pour a bit of your first cup of coffee onto the earth as an offering for the ancestors, or pour them their own cup and invite them to sit with yo and enjoy the warm, comforting aroma as you sip your coffee together.
⚡October Private Readings are nearly SOLD OUT!
My private reading room in Downtown Truckee is up and running, and it has been so fun to host some of you here already! September filled quickly and October is almost sold out! I’ll be releasing Nov/Dec dates soon, but in the meantime, head to my website to explore the list of one-on-one sessions available this Autumn!
🔓 October 15th - Unlocking the Tarot: No Bad Cards
Join us for our monthly community class, giving you the tools to read Tarot with confidence! In October, the topic is “No Bad Cards”. We’ll look at some of the cards we usually fear, like Death, 3 of Swords, The Devil, The Hanged Man, or the Ten of Swords. We’ll explore the lessons and wisdom of these cards and how we can approach them without fear next time they come up in a reading.
6:30-7:30pm at Spirit Rebel, Truckee
Donation-based: sign up here or email sarahdittmore@gmail.com to reserve your spot
🔮 October 31st - Tarot + Tea Party
Beyond excited for a Samhain-themed Tarot + Tea Party! Join us for an evening of sipping herbal tea, gathering in magical community, and consulting the Tarot as we take a look at the month ahead. After exploring the energy of October, we’ll open the floor to individual questions and I’ll offer channeled Tarot readings in response to your queries.
6:30-8:30pm at Spirit Rebel, Truckee
$25-40 sliding scale: sign up here
I started teaching kids yoga again after a 4 year hiatus and it’s been so nourishing. The enthusiasm, the playfulness, and the joy that fills the studio is unmatched. There’s something about working with kids that has always filled my cup, and that cup overflows when I get to work with kids AND do yoga at the same time.
This past weekend was the ultimate Tahoe weekend. Charlie and I rode our bikes around Donner Lake and got a chai at the Mountain Brew truck, then after a rest at home met up with some friends to climb, eat pizza, and hang in the hottub. The next day we took Mowgli for a gorgeous hike around the Incline Flume Trail, which is easily one of my new favorite hiking spots! The aspens were glorious and I was at peace.
My heart has been heavy as I witness the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and in trying to find ways to help, I came across the Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Fund. They are doing a lot to support communities affected throughout Appalachia, as well as spearheading mutual aid work in Gaza, Puerto Rico, and beyond. You can donate directly here, or support their work in response to Hurricane Helene by shopping their Amazon Wishlist for their efforts in North Carolina, Louisiana, or Florida.