October Reflection Spread: What Is Dying? What Is Rising?

October 28, 2025By Sheila Ellis

In the space between endings and beginnings, wisdom reveals itself.

October asks the most profound questions of the year: What have you outgrown? What wants to be born through you? What patterns are ready to compost into fertile ground for new growth?

As we reach the final week of this transformative month, with Samhain's threshold energy at its peak, it's time to gather the insights from all we've experienced. The Death card taught us about sacred endings, the ancestors shared their wisdom through fire and smoke, The High Priestess showed us how to trust our inner knowing. Now we weave these teachings together in a practice of conscious reflection and intentional transition.

This isn't just about looking back—it's about recognizing the alchemy that's been happening within you all along. Every challenge faced, every old pattern released, every moment of trusting your intuition has been preparing you for what wants to emerge. The question is: are you ready to name it and claim it?

Reflection is different from analysis. Analysis dissects and examines; reflection allows experiences to reveal their deeper meaning through patient observation. Like looking into still water, true reflection requires us to become quiet enough that our inner landscape can show itself clearly.

During October's intensity, many of us have been so busy navigating transformation that we haven't fully absorbed what's been shifting. This spread creates sacred pause—a moment to honor what's been moving through your life and to recognize the new self that's been quietly emerging.

October has been asking you to live differently, think differently, trust differently. Before you step into November's energy, take time to acknowledge how far you've traveled, even if the journey felt more like surviving than thriving.

The October Reflection Spread: A Map of Transformation

This seven-card spread is designed to capture the full spectrum of October's teachings while setting clear intention for the path ahead. Lay the cards out slowly, allowing each position to speak before moving to the next.

Card 1: The Dying (bottom left) What pattern, belief, or way of being has completed its purpose in my life?

This card represents what October has been asking you to release. It might be an obvious ending—a relationship, job, or living situation—or something subtler like a limiting belief, a way of relating to yourself, or an old fear that no longer serves your growth.

Look for themes of completion rather than failure. What has this pattern taught you? How has it served you in the past? Honor it as you prepare to let it go.

Card 2: The Composting (center bottom) What gifts am I gaining from this ending?

Nothing truly dies—it transforms. This card reveals the wisdom, strength, or clarity you're receiving as old patterns decompose into fertile soil for new growth. Even painful endings carry medicine.

Perhaps you're discovering inner resilience you didn't know you possessed. Maybe a dissolved relationship is teaching you about your own worth. This card helps you recognize the treasure hidden in the transformation.

Card 3: The Rising (bottom right) What new aspect of myself wants to be born?

Here's the emerging you—the version of yourself that's been gestating in October's transformative darkness. This isn't necessarily a complete picture, but rather the first green shoots of new growth.

Pay attention to qualities, desires, or ways of being that feel both exciting and slightly scary. Growth often feels vulnerable because it asks us to show up differently in the world.

Card 4: The Foundation (center) What strength or wisdom will support this new growth?

Every new beginning needs strong roots. This card reveals the inner resources—skills, insights, relationships, or spiritual practices—that will anchor and nourish your emerging self.

This foundation might be something you've recently discovered or a longtime strength you're learning to use in a new way. Trust what this card reveals about your capabilities.

Card 5: The Challenge (top left) What fear or resistance might try to hold me back?

Growth rarely happens without internal pushback. This card illuminates the inner voices, old patterns, or external circumstances that might challenge your evolution.

Naming these challenges doesn't give them power—it helps you prepare. When you know where resistance might arise, you can meet it with compassion and wisdom rather than being caught off guard.

Card 6: The Ally (top right) What support is available to help me grow?

You're not transforming in isolation. This card points to the help available—whether through relationships, spiritual practices, creative outlets, or inner resources you haven't fully recognized.

Sometimes our greatest allies are qualities within ourselves that we've undervalued. Other times, this card reveals external support that's been available but unnoticed.

Card 7: The Integration (top center) How can I honor both endings and beginnings as I move forward?

The final card offers guidance for walking consciously through transition. It shows how to hold space for both grief and excitement, how to honor what's been while embracing what's becoming.

This card often reveals specific practices, perspectives, or approaches that will help you navigate change with grace rather than just endure it.

After laying out your spread, spend time journaling with these questions for each position:

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The Dying: How has this pattern served me? What am I ready to thank and release?

The Composting: What unexpected gifts have emerged from recent challenges? How has difficulty become wisdom?

The Rising: What excites me about this emerging aspect of myself? What feels scary but right?

The Foundation: How have I grown stronger this year? What inner resources can I depend on?

The Challenge: Where do I notice resistance to change? What old stories try to keep me small?

The Ally: Who or what supports my growth? How can I better receive this support?

The Integration: What daily practices will honor my transformation? How can I be patient with my own process?

Sometimes the cards reflect aspects of our experience we'd rather not acknowledge. If challenging cards appear in positions meant to be supportive, or if the "rising" energy feels more overwhelming than exciting, remember that tarot tells truth, not fantasy.

Difficult cards in supportive positions might be pointing to strength you haven't recognized yet. The Tower in your "ally" position could mean that destruction of old structures is actually your greatest support right now. The Five of Pentacles as your "rising" energy might indicate that learning to ask for help is your emerging superpower.

Trust that whatever appears is part of your path. The cards don't show you what you want to hear—they show you what you need to know.

Transform this card reading into a full ritual of conscious transition:

Prepare Your Space Light candles representing both endings and beginnings. Include elements from October—autumn leaves, bare branches, late-blooming flowers. These remind you that beauty exists in all phases of the cycle.

Call in Support Before laying out cards, invite the presence of your ancestors, guides, or any spiritual support you work with. You might say: "I ask for wisdom as I reflect on this month of transformation. Help me see clearly what has been, what is, and what wants to emerge."

Work with the Elements

Earth (salt, stones, or soil): Grounds your insights in practical reality
Water (bowl of water or moon-charged water): Cleanses old energy and blesses new growth
Fire (candles or small safe fire): Transforms and purifies your intentions
Air (incense, feathers, or simply breath): Carries your prayers and commitments

Close with Gratitude Thank October for its teachings, even the difficult ones. Thank your cards for their guidance. Most importantly, thank yourself for showing up to this process of conscious growth.

Your October reflection shouldn't end when you put the cards away. Here are ways to carry these insights forward:

Create a Transition Altar Include representations of what's dying (perhaps written on paper you'll eventually burn) and what's rising (symbols, images, or objects that represent your emerging self).

Daily Check-ins Each morning, ask yourself: "How can I honor what's ending while nurturing what's beginning today?" Let this question guide small choices throughout your day.

Share Your Story Find a trusted friend or spiritual community where you can share what you're discovering about yourself. Speaking transformation aloud helps make it real.

Seasonal Adjustment As you move into November, let go of October's intensity and embrace the deeper, quieter energy of late autumn. Your transformation doesn't need to happen all at once.

As October draws to a close, remember that transformation isn't a linear process with a clear beginning and end. You're not trying to "complete" your growth or "finish" releasing old patterns. You're participating in the eternal spiral of death and rebirth that moves through all life.

What's dying in you now may need to die again at another level next year. What's rising now may be just the first glimpse of possibilities that will unfold over years. This is natural and beautiful—not a sign that you're doing anything wrong.

October has been your teacher in the art of conscious transition. The Death card showed you that endings can be sacred. Your ancestors reminded you that you're part of a lineage of resilience and wisdom. The High Priestess taught you to trust the knowledge that emerges in silence and darkness.

Now, as November approaches with its deeper invitation to rest and restore, carry these teachings with you. You've learned to navigate transformation not as something that happens to you, but as something you participate in with awareness and grace.

The old you is composting into rich soil. The new you is sending up green shoots toward the light. And you—the eternal you that witnesses all transformation—are learning to hold both realities with equal reverence.

In the space between what was and what will be, you are exactly where you need to be. Trust the process. Honor the spiral. Welcome what wants to emerge.

Monthly Integration Commitment: Based on your reflection spread, choose one small daily practice that honors your transformation. This might be a morning affirmation, an evening gratitude practice, a creative outlet, or simply a way of being that reflects your emerging self.

October Gratitude: "I thank this month for teaching me that I can navigate change with grace. I honor what has ended and welcome what is beginning. I trust that I am exactly where I need to be in my journey of becoming."