Don’t mind me. Trying to get back into the groove of habits left behind. Today is October 17, 2025, and it’s time to have some fun. Each day of the month of October, I’m going to put together a little spell that involves one of my favorite tools: Tarot cards.
None of this is meant to be taken seriously, unless you want to do just that. All of this is in fun and with good intentions. All of this is meant to bring me joy. If you get some of that joy-juice as well, then all the better.
These spells are meant to be modified, adapted, used “as is”, or as inspiration for your personal rituals. Feel free to change them to suit your personal circumstances.
Day 17: 8 of Cups – A Drop of Courage
Gather the following:
- The 8 of Cups card from your tarot deck. If elements are your priority, then pull from the suit that corresponds to Water.
- A small plate that has a smooth surface without cup indents. (So, no tea cup saucers.)
- A small ramekin, pinch bowl, dipping bowl or other small container. If you have no such thing, then use the smallest bowl or mug you have. You may need to use a larger plate in this case.
- Something to cover the chosen container. Could be the matching lid. Could be another saucer. The cover does not need to be air tight, but does need to prevent anything from falling into the chosen container.
- A index card or other small section of paper.
- A writing utensil.
- Water for drinking.
- A place where the working can be left unbothered overnight (or at least an hour).
- A towel or similar cloth for cleaning up spills.
- Optional: An air-tight storage bag.
- Optional: A copy of your chosen 8 of Cups card.
There is something you have to let go of, but you can’t. All of the tangible hurdles have been cleared, all of the tangible leashes have been cut, but there is still something keeping you from making that last cut and walking away. This is a spell for that.
By itself and in the form presented here, it is a little thing. A drop of water trying to affect a well established flow. But if you have already been working on changing things, then this spell can be the “last drop of courage” you need to leave the thing behind for good.
The spell:
- On your index card or note paper, write the name/title/keywords of the thing that you are want to break away and leave behind. If there is room, also write the reasons why it’s time to make this cut.
- At your chosen working area, prepare it as necessary for your work. (Optional: Make any dedications of the towel, cup, plate, and lid at your usual working space and bring them to where you will be leaving it overnight in the next step.)
- From this point on, you will be working in silence when present at your working area.
- Place the plate in the middle of your working area. Your working area could be a table, a sink, the top of a cooler in the garage, the floor of the closet, wherever you are comfortable leaving a small (covered) container of water out for at least an hour without interference. You want to keep your towel at your working area.
- Take your 8 of Cups card and place it in the middle of the plate, face up. (Optional: Use the copy of your card, or place the card in the airtight storage bag to prevent possible water damage.)
- Take your inscribed paper and place it on the 8 of Cups card with the words facing up. (If using an airtight storage bag, only the tarot card is sealed within. The inscribed paper goes on top.) (If you wrote on both sides of the paper, then the side with the concern’s name is face up.)
- If your water container is small, you may fill the container first and then place it on top of the layered cards. If this is difficult for you, then you may place the empty container on the layered cards and then fill with water from a separate jug/carafe. Take care not to spill the water, and do not fill the container more than you are able to drink later.
- Cover the container with your lid so that nothing can enter the water.
- Keeping your silence, leave the working in place for at least an hour, preferably overnight. Once away from the working area, you may make as much noise and sound as you like.
- When your chosen time period has passed, be sure to wash your hands and face before returning to the working. If you have particular purification rituals for such events, complete them now.
- Resuming your silence, return to your working area.
- Before you lift the lid from the container, consider one last time why you are performing this ritual. What is it that you want to depart from and why are you seeking this last drop of courage to do it. There is no judgement here, only awareness.
- Remove the lid from the container and place to the side. Depending on your environment, there may be condensation under the lid. If your tarot card is exposed, take care to not drip water onto it, or use the cloth at hand to quickly care for any spills.
- With deliberate movement as smooth as you can complete, pick up the container and drink from it as silently as you can. Drink as much of it as you can, preferably all of it.
- Keeping your silence, use the towel to soak up any spills and to dry the container (and the lid if needed).
- Place the container back on the working area, but not on the layered cards on the plate. Without words, tell yourself that when you complete the spell and put the items away, you are going to follow through with the spell’s intent.
- Spend a few more minutes in silence. Then, with deliberate movements, disassemble the working area. The container, plate, and lid may go to your dishwashing place. The inscribed paper (and copy of the tarot card) may be kept as a reminder or discarded via your usual methods. Reuse the storage bag if possible. Hang the towel to dry.
- As the last step, return the tarot card to its proper deck. The spell is concluded and you are now free to speak as desired.
This spell may be repeated as needed, but should not be relied upon as the primary source of impetus. It is a small thing with a small effect, but sometimes all you need is that last drop of courage and away you go.
May the way be made open.
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