Greetings!
Although I typically send one email a month, October – being Ancestor Month for me – definitely warranted a second go-round.
On Kickstarter
First, Kayti Welsh just launched 78 Tarot Ecological Limited Edition Deck and Book. Within a couple of hours of launch the deck is almost at half it’s goal. Quoting the Kickstarter site, this is “A deck created to illustrate the effects of climate change on our Mother Earth and how we can help her heal.”
The cards are gorgeous and I was delighted to help fund the project.
On Instagram
SilverRavenTarot and I will be getting together on Halloween, October 31, 2020. We’re teaming up to do ‘messages from beyond the veil’. If you have an interest in receiving a message from Spirit, be sure to follow @silverraventarot as she will be going live at 6PM Pacific, 8 Central, 9 Eastern. I’ll join her immediately after she launches.
An Ancestor Story
I created an Insta #AncestorChallenge and was so taken with a story from @the_magpies_pendulum I wanted to share it with you:
“Even though my 4 grandparents all played major roles in my life, my grandfather Emile was the true patriarch. A true Capricorn, he didn’t speak much but if you had a question he turned into a walking encyclopedia.
He lived through both World War I as a young boy whose house was occupied by the enemy soldiers, and the second World War as a soldier and friend to the Resistance. He read and journaled every day, including recording temperature, weather, wind direction, etc. . . .
When I was about 8 yrs old, he took me to the garden with the instructions “don’t tell grandma!”. He gave me a hazelwood dowsing wand and told me to walk around the property. I had no idea what was happening. When the wand started turning in my hands I got spooked but he was laughing and jumping, repeating “I knew it, I knew you could do it”. He then started digging til he found water. He’s also the one who taught me how to use a pendulum.”
After reading this I wondered how many of us had magical ancestors but what they did was so ‘normal’, we never thought about it as being extra-special. Something to think about, yes?
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
Day of the Dead begins on October 31 and ends on November 2, 2020. It’s celebrated throughout Mexico as well as in border towns like here in San Diego. It’s a time of praying for and remembering friends and family who have departed the earth.
Even with COVID, I’m fairly certain our Old Town will have it’s normal decorations and altars, just like in years’ past. A photo of my mom and other family members is always on one specific altar. Last year I left a Snickers by mom’s photo, as it was one of her favorites. The altars hold food that was important to the departed, as well as drinks. It’s not unusual to see bottles of whiskey or cans of Coke.
Because we are so close to Day of the Dead, I wanted to do a reading especially for my newsletter readers. Using the Santa Muerte Tarot, I drew three cards, asking for a message about how we can best honor our Ancestors.
I drew the 10 of Pentacles, Empress, and King of Cups. I loved that the first card was the 10 of Pentacles as it is the card of Legacy. It’s reminding us of the Legacy we have inherited as well as the Legacy we’re creating now. King of a nudge to keep our side of the street swept clean!
The Empress beckons us to ask the Ancestors for assistance, not only when we’re engaged in creating, but as we do our everyday lives. The ones who have passed love helping us, but they need to be asked.
Lastly, I believe the King of Cups is telling us that on Halloween, or Samhain, or Dia de los Muertos, All Soul’s Day, All Saint’s Day, or ANY day . . . to lift a cup in loving remembrance for those whose DNA created us. Say their name and then drink from the Cup of Memories.
A Zoom Class on Communicating with the Ancestors & the Angels
My friend, Tarot Grandmaster Christiana Gaudet, is offering a two hour Zoom class on October 27, 2020, 7-9 PM Eastern. Christiana will be teaching how to do mediumship work with Tarot. If this is a skill set you’d like to add to your Tarot offerings, sign up for the class today. Full details and sign-up here.
I’ll see you back here in November – have a lovely day!
Nancy
Nancy Hendrickson
Author, Ancestral Tarot (March 1, 2021)
