Monday, December 29, 2025
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Welcome to the time between times, where we don’t know or care what day it is, and all we want to do is rest. I hope you can build some time for that into your week.
I hope last week was a good balance for you between joy, peace, nostalgia, and all good things.
This week has a lot going on. We have New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and all that goes with it. I hope you are creating your own traditions, and integrating them with those you enjoy and want to continue from earlier in your life.
We are in a waxing moon, with a full moon on Saturday, January 3rd. Chiron goes direct on the 2nd, meaning a long stretch of healing work comes to a close, and you integrate that healing between now and the next Chiron retrograde, which begins on August 3rd of 2026.
This is the last week we are using the Yuletide Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes, with art by Erin O’Leary Brown. You can learn about each of them by clicking the link on their names, and you can buy the deck from Llewellyn here.
In January, we will switch decks.
The Minor Arcana correspondences for the Yuletide Tarot 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: Page of Gifts
This is the equivalent to the Page of Pentacles in other decks. The Page is engrossed in a book, a favorite of all the gifts under the tree. I relate to that! In our family, we spend a lot of time enjoying our new books on the Eve and the Day! The Page is curious, interested, dedicated to studying and learning. Sometimes, it can cross the line into obsession, especially with a new interest. It’s easy to get caught up in all the calls to create a “new you” and all the things you “should” do in this New Year. Consider taking time to figure out what you really want. It doesn’t have to all change on January 1. It can slowly evolve throughout the year, changing as your life changes. Take your time and study the possibilities.
North – Earth/Tangibles: Ten of Good Cheer
This is the equivalent to the 10 of Cups in other decks. There’s so much pressure around “having a good time” around New Year’s Eve and implementing massive changes on New Year’s Day that we often don’t have any fun at all. So remember to enjoy what’s around you, your home, family (be it blood or found), and the joys of what YOU really want, not what others tell you that you should want. Live the joy that is your home, family, and friends. This week, especially, they are tangibles in your life.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Page of Candles
This is the equivalent to the Page of Wands in other decks. Feed your passions this week. Light those candles of inspiration and inner fire, and tend to them this week. Allow your passions to provide inspiration. That ties in with the Page of Gifts and the 10 of Good Cheer: study and enjoyment around your passions will lead to inspiration. It’s a fire card in an air slot, indicating that the fire of inspiration needs attention this week.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Knight of Canes
This is the equivalent of the Knight of Swords (intellect) in other decks, and it is in the position of fire/identity. Knights take their suit out into the world. This Knight can be unapologetically blunt, but it’s because he burns with passion and belief of his mission. This supports the previous cards encouraging your inspiration this week, although you might want to pause and temper your speech a bit, so that you don’t cause harm. However, if someone causes you harm, especially if it’s deliberate, bite back.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Strength
The figure in this card offers gentleness and nourishment to the wild reindeer. They deal with each other at eye level, as equals. With all the expectations and loud noises and demands of the New Year, hold firm in the inspiration, passion, and seeds starting to form in these other cards, take them forth when it’s time with firm boundaries, blunt words if needed, but also compassion. Start the New Year and meet the full moon with a gentle strength.
We have one Major Arcana, three Court Cards, and one Minor Arcana card (a joyful one) this week. Take as much time for yourself as you can, and share joyfully with those of your choice. Meet the new year with a gentle strength.
Did anything resonate with you, or did you get a different interpretation? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
I wish you a lovely and a gentle entry into the New Year.