Monday, December 1, 2025
Waxing Moon
Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn and Mercury Direct
Welcome to a new week, a new month, and a different deck!
If this past weekend was a holiday one for you, I hope you enjoyed it, broke toxic traditions if necessary, and created new ones. Last week, I definitely felt the 7 of Wands, especially as the retrogrades went direct. It was a challenging week, although the holiday itself was lovely. Yesterday, we celebrated the First of Advent, another family tradition, lighting the first of the candles.
Saturn went direct on Thanksgiving (last Thursday), and Mercury went direct on the 29th (Saturday). We have a full moon this Thursday, December 4th. Our family tradition is to celebrate St. Nicholas night on the 5th into the 6th. This is also Krampus night, but our family has always focused on the more joyful aspects of the night.
For December, we use the Yuletide Tarot by Kristopher 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: 4 of Gifts
This is an interesting and somewhat disturbing card to have at the center of a reading leading into the holiday season. The man sits in his chair, clutching his gifts to his chest. Perhaps we feel we can’t be generous this year? Maybe we’re afraid to spend anything for the season (especially in the US right now) because of the current dumpster fire in which we live? Maybe we’re honoring the blackout on large corporate businesses, but still find much of the locally made goods beyond our budgets. Maybe we’re tired of being asked to give all the time, and feel the need to receive. Since we’re not receiving from those around us, we feel that we have to give to ourselves. That’s our current reality. Take a breath and give yourself grace. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now. Where will annual traditions make you feel more secure? What family stories or traditions can you share that will bring joy, without depleting you? We’re always encouraged to launch into the holiday season at full speed (and with Saturn and Mercury going direct, we feel that impulse even more). But maybe this year, with Jupiter in retrograde over the holidays, we need to have a slower holiday season. Give gently and in a way that makes you feel grounded rather than giving beyond your comfort due to expectations. Take time to assess the season, and make gentle changes that will make you and those around you comfortable and happy.
North – Earth/Tangibles: Seven of Canes
This is the equivalent to the 7 of Swords, which is the card of treachery and slyness. In the position of the north, tangibles, it has to do with material things. Is someone lying to you and trying to con you? I mean, here in the US, on a national level, we are in the midst of an enormous systemic grift, but this card is probably speaking to you on a more personal level. Tied to the previous card, the 4 of Gifts (4 of Pentacles), which tends to be about hoarding, and the images in both cards of clutching material goods close, there’s a sense of fear related to the week. Be cautious of opportunities that seem too good to be true this week. Also, make sure you are not hoarding beyond your needs. In terms of material goods this week, be thoughtful, and be careful not to be taken in by someone lying to you, while also not becoming the liar.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The List
This is the equivalent to the Judgement card in other decks. We make our lists in this season, deciding to whom we send cards and/or give gifts, and which names we cross out. Others are doing the same to us. There’s nothing wrong with outgrowing connections that no longer serve us, or cutting back if we can’t afford something. But there are also connections that reward nurturance, and spending 5 minutes writing a card to someone who matters to us, or who might be lonely and need remembrance can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Make sure every choice is mindful and purposeful.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Father Christmas
This card is the equivalent to the Hermit in other decks. Since 2025 is the year of the hermit, it makes sense this would turn up in the “identity” slot. Listen to your inner guide. The holiday season tends to be about external pressures. But it is also winter, the dark time of the year, and we need time for quiet and reflection, so that we can hold up the lamp for others.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Krampus
This card is the equivalent of the Devil in other decks, about being concerned with things on the physical plane, and feeling constrained by them. Again, it ties in with the 4 of Gifts, the 7 of Canes, the List, very closely. We are stressed about the material aspects of the coming weeks. We need to look within and find our light (Father Christmas) and the gentler, more loving, warmer aspects of the season that aren’t all connected to stuff. When you’re just trying to pay the bills AND show those around you that you celebrate them this season, it’s tough.
This week’s reading is about acknowledging the tensions you feel with seasonal expectations, and recalibrating. What will make YOU feel good within realistic parameters this season? How can you be generous and joyful without feeling depleted? Where will you have to draw boundaries?
Instead of driving forward full speed ahead (after all, no Chariot showed up this week), ease into the season with a realistic eye and taking small steps, rather than trying to get it all done.
Did anything in particular resonate with you? Or do you have a completely different interpretation? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.