October Tarot Forecast: The 5 of Cups & Judgement, What These Cards Mean For Us

If you’re anything like me, tarot isn’t just about prediction; it’s a mirror. A tool. A way to check in with the deeper rhythms of our lives.

As I get ready to spend October in Bali, these two cards, 5 of Cups and Judgement, feel like more than symbols. They feel like guides. So I’m writing this not just to reflect on what they mean for me, but also to offer something to you, in case these cards, or this energy, are showing up in your world too.

The 5 of Cups: Honouring What Was Lost

When I first saw the 5 of Cups, I’ll be honest — I sighed. It’s not exactly the party card of the tarot deck. It usually shows a figure in black, grieving over spilt cups, not noticing the two still standing behind them.

For me, this feels like a call to process something I haven’t fully let myself grieve, maybe an old version of myself, a path I didn’t take, or a feeling I’ve tried to tuck away in the busyness of everyday life.

On a deeper level, it’s saying:

“You can’t fully move forward until you acknowledge what hurt. But also, not everything is lost.”

What I’m taking with me into Bali:

Time to reflect, not just “relax”
Permission to feel sadness, even in beautiful places
An openness to discover what’s still full, not just what’s fallen

The Judgement Card: My Inner Wake-Up Call

Judgement came up alongside the 5 of Cups, and the message couldn’t be clearer: This is the moment to rise.

If 5 of Cups is about letting go, Judgement is about what comes after. It’s about clarity. Renewal. That deep soul nudge that says, “You’re not who you used to be, and that’s okay.”

And isn’t that what travel, the real kind, is often about?

This trip to Bali is more than just a vacation for me. It’s a spiritual reset. A chance to step away from everything familiar, and ask: Who am I now?

What This Tarot Combo Could Mean for You

Now, if you’re not packing for Bali (yet!), these cards still hold weight for your October too. Think of them as two parts of one story:

5 of Cups asks:
- What are you still carrying emotionally?
- Is there grief, regret, or disappointment that wants your attention?
- What would it look like to feel it, then release it?
Judgement follows up with:
- What truth are you waking up to?
- What version of yourself are you being asked to embody?
- Is there a call you’ve been ignoring — and are finally ready to answer?

These questions don’t need dramatic answers. They just need honesty.

How I Plan to Navigate These Energies in Bali (And How You Can Too)

1. I’m Making Space to Reflect

I’ll be journaling each morning with the ocean nearby or tucked in a little café, asking myself:

What’s still hurting?
What am I ready to let go of?

If you’re at home this October, light a candle and ask yourself the same. Healing doesn’t need a plane ticket.

2. I’m Saying Yes to Transformation

I’ve got a few spiritual things booked in Bali, yoga classes, sound baths, a visit to a local healer — but I’m also staying open to what I can’t plan.

You don’t need to travel to awaken. You just need to stay open to unexpected moments, even quiet ones, that shift your perspective.

3. I’m Choosing Forgiveness

Both of these cards hint at something tender: forgiveness.
Forgiving others. Forgiving myself. Forgiving life for not going the way I thought it would.

If you’ve been hard on yourself lately, maybe this is the month you practice some radical gentleness.

Themes to Watch For This Month

If you’re syncing up with this energy, and I believe some of you will, here’s what might show up in your life:

Emotional memories resurfacing out of nowhere
Unexpected closure (from someone or something)
A clear “next step” finally reveals itself
A deeper sense of who you are becoming, and what you’re leaving behind

And remember: not every release has to feel like a breakdown. Sometimes it’s just an exhale you didn’t realise you were holding.

Rituals You Might Try (Wherever You Are)

Here are a few simple things I’ll be doing and you can, too:

New Moon Release List: Write down everything you’re ready to let go of. Burn it or bury it. Let it go for real.
Forgiveness Meditation: Sit quietly and bring to mind someone (or yourself) you want to forgive. Just breathe.
Judgement Card Journaling Prompt: “If I weren’t afraid, what would I do next?”

This Is a Month of Soft Power

There’s something tender, yet incredibly strong, about this reading.

October isn’t about sprinting into success. It’s about pausing, reflecting, releasing, and rising. Whether you’re in Bali, Brighton, or your bedroom, this is a month to come back to yourself.

I’ll be somewhere on a beach, probably with a salty beard and my journal in hand, thinking of how far I’ve come, and letting the waves take what I no longer need.

I hope you’ll take a moment this month to do the same, in whatever way you can.

Because you’re not the person you used to be.
And thank goodness for that.

Quick Recap for You

5 of Cups: Feel the feelings, but don’t live in the loss. There’s still beauty behind you.
Judgement: It’s time. Answer the call. Step into your next version.
Your October Invitation: Reflect. Release. Renew.
Wherever You Are: You don’t need Bali to begin again, but if you’re craving change, it’s already waiting inside you.

October Tarot Forecast: The 5 of Cups & Judgement, What These Cards Mean For Us