September inspo from The Citadel

The design of The Citadel is gorgeous, with octagonal cards of quality stock, a red-white-black color story, sturdy boxing with magnetic closure, and copper foil palette.

Writers use all kinds of tricks to find inspiration.

At WorldCon 2025 in Seattle, Oregon HWA member Remy Nakamura moderated a panel that focused on using the tarot in one's writing life... not only for ideas and inspiration, but for resolving process challenges, seeking mental health support, and finding answers to stubborn plot questions.

Folks who know me know I love using oracle cards, tarot and Lenormand in my writing life.

Inspired by the WorldCon panel, I've decided to "pull" a card for my Seattle HWA writing peers at the top of the month to offer a framework for solving problems, refining process, or kindling ideas.

This also gives me a reason to use a deck I've had for a while but haven't really put into practice: THE CITADEL, created by illustrator and folklorist Fez Inkwright (publisher Liminal 11).

From the creator:

“This is the Citadel, home of fates and possibilities, and host to remarkable people whose stories provide an insight into the nature of humanity itself.”

I mean, isn't this pathway inextricably linked to our purpose as writers?

Horror writers, in particular, eagerly dig into human nature, including its shadow side, as part of our task in storytelling.

This oracle leans into a favorite wellspring of inspiration for writers: archetypes.

The Citadel borrows ideas from both fantasy literature and tabletop roleplaying games, which further adds to its appeal as an oracle for writers." Learn more here.

Given how much this oracle's purpose likely appeals to our membership, and because this is such a gorgeous, artful deck to tuck into, I'm going to pull from The Citadel on the first of every month to see what it can inspire for all of us.

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The Citadel, September 2025

THE SMITH

Card is in upright position and reveals a hand using a mallet to smash an iron anvil. Keywords and phrases: "Overthinking" and "Taking Action"

L: An image of The Smith

R: The Smith, as interpreted by the creator of The Citadel.

How to use this prompt

You can approach having a specific question or problem you need solved, or you can approach with an open mind waiting for inspiration.

Look at the card and note any ideas that come to mind. Write them down, or draw them. Think a bit about how these ideas inform your work, your process, your situation. Imagine how a current work in progress, or a new one, can benefit from exploring this archetype.

Other details to meditate on: the keywords and phrases, the elements of the image (in this case, earth and fire), any personal connections you have with the archetype of The Smith in real life.

Questions you can ask yourself:

• Who is The Smith (to you)? Is it you? A character? Does it represent a theme?

• How does the concept of The Smith inspire your process? The plot or structure of y0ur current work in process? Your mental health?

• Does The Smith have a personal meaning for you?

• Is there any creative energy that the concept of The Smith sparks for you?

Now that you've had a chance to review The Smith, think about the way you might incorporate these ideas, energies, thoughts, or feelings into your work. Have fun!

Note: If you've not used oracle cards of any kind, there's only one real rule (besides having fun, because this is creative play!): take what resonates for you and leave the rest. Every writer is going to interpret an oracle card in their own unique way... there is no right or wrong interpretation, only an opportunity to contemplate an archetype in the context of the writer's situation. The situation can be linked to writing/creative process, some aspect of plotting or other storytelling decision- making, personal circumstance, or the conscious filling of one's well.

You're invited to share any outcomes related to your work with The Smith in the comments.