Monday, December 22, 2025
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Hello to this new week! We just had a new moon last Friday, the Solstice was yesterday, and, for many of us, there are stresses and celebrations coming this week.
Deep breath.
For December, we use the Yuletide Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes, with art by Erin O’Leary Brown. You can read more about them by clinking the link on their names, and you can buy the deck from Llewellyn here.
The Minor Arcana correspondences are as follows:
Candles = Wands
Good Cheer = Cups
Canes = Swords
Gifts = Pentacles/Coins
This is one of my spreads, that I call The Elemental Spread. It is very similar to many of the Medicine Wheel spreads I’ve seen, but I made a few tweaks to the way I use it over the years.
We start in the center, with Spirit/Self. This is the overall energy of the week, and how we relate to it.
We move to the position above, with is North/Tangibles, connected to the element of Earth, advice on how to deal with the week on a tangible, materialistic level.
We move clockwise to the third position, East/Thought, connected to the element of Air, advice on how to intellectually deal with the week.
Then we move down to the bottom of the spread, the 4th position, South/Passion, connected to the element of Fire, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of passion and identity.
Then we move up to the left side of the spread, the 5th position, West/Emotion, connected to the element of Water, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of creativity and emotion.
We wind up where we started, at the spirit center, integrating all the information for the week.
These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork.
You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the week as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.
Center – Spirit/Self: Matrona
This card was in the south/identity/passion position last week, but moves to the center/spirit this week. Be as nurturing as you can this week. Encourage yourself and those around you to take a breath, because creation is a process and it needs time and nurture. Be as kind as possible as often as possible, and also hold your boundaries, so you don’t get depleted.
North – Earth/Tangibles: Sinterklaas
This card is the equivalent to the Hierophant, in other decks. Sinterklaas embodies the spirit of the season. Tied with Matrona, the card reminds us to be our best selves this season, without letting ourselves be exploited, which is sometimes a difficult path. But there is support – look at the forest creatures willing to lend a hand. No, not like a Disney cartoon, but the energies are around and you can tap into them as you need. Take time for yourself and let ancient magics speak to you. Enjoy your favorite traditions of the season. Let those you don’t enjoy fall away and create something new. Be present with the season in tangible ways that are meaningful to YOU, not to the advertisers trying to get your money.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Seven of Good Cheer
This is the equivalent to Seven of Cups in other decks. So many choices! We are popular this week, and may feel like we have an endless round of “good cheer” events where we have to show up. It can be exhausting, but we want to have fun, and don’t want to miss anything. No matter what you choose, that choice will be right, and you don’t have to say “yes” to everything. In fact, say “yes” to yourself in there a few times. This card of emotion is in the position of thought/intellect, so you may be calculating where you feel you should put your energy. Tying back to the two previous cards, remember to let your intuition and your sensory enjoyment guide you in these choices. Wherever you end up will be the right place, and you don’t have to be everywhere.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Three of Gifts
This is the equivalent to 3 of Pentacles in other decks. It’s about those last-minute touches you are putting on everything, and all that you’ve learned that drive you to create right now. This card is unusual because this figure works alone, and the threes are usually about collaboration. Don’t forget to include others, and make it a group activity. You can finish off your creative projects, write cards together, bake together – enjoy the spirit of collaboration, balancing it with getting it all done.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: King of Canes
This is the equivalent of the King of Swords in other decks, and it is in the position of emotions. It’s a reminder that sometimes people fall off our holiday card lists, or we lose touch, or we want to cut them away because the relationship is unhealthy. That’s okay. Do so with kindness, whenever possible. People grow away from each other, and relationships have to either evolve or end. It’s as natural a cycle as moving from Solstice to Imbolc, moving from the holidays into the New Year.
The main themes this week are kindness and a balance between personal boundaries and collaboration or group involvements. You can take care of yourself while taking care of each other. We’ve been taught that one party is always supposed to give all to make the holidays work, but what if we all contributed some labor, some laughter, and some love, and built something more inclusive?
Did this resonate, or did you get something different? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Have a wonderful week!