The Winter Solstice is tomorrow! This holiday is (in essence) the Pagan equivalent to Christmas. Fun fact… when Christmas was placed on December 25th, the church chose that day to coincide with the pagan holiday of Yule (because as most know, Christ was actually born in the spring, not in December).

Although many of us have been feeling like we’ve been in it for months, the Winter Solstice is the “official” first day of winter, and marks  its spot on the calendar not by its date, but by being one of only two days each year where the daylight and darkness are equal.  In my path, this holiday marks a day of hope for the future, and candles are lit to celebrate the return of the sun as it begins to now become more and more prominent with each day that passes and every day becomes longer as the nights decrease.

Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. This spread is an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, so there are some similarities in how it is read. The focus of this spread, though, is not about Self Care, but rather about progress and my path. The time period is also longer, reaching through the next handful of weeks until the celebration of upcoming Imbolc at the beginning of February.

Theme of the Season – Winter Solstice, New Moon, Zea Mays

The Winter Solstice is a time of celebration that the light is to begin returning to us.  From now on until  mid-summer, each day will be longer and each night shorter.  With the longer days and the return of the sun, the earth will begin to warm.  It is the very first step towards warmer weather, spring, and rebirth.

This year, the Winter Solstice lands on the Waning Crescent Moon. This is a very auspicious time for the Winter Solstice, as the holiday itself is about the end of the cold winter and rebirth of light upon the world as the days begin to become longer. With the Waning Crescent Moon, we see themes that do with putting away and setting aside the old so that we can begin making room for the rebirth to come.

Corn (Zea mays) is associated with the sun and the elements of fire and earth, and are often associated with good luck, abundance, prosperity, and the balance between life and death.  Arriving as it does in this card on Winter Solstice, this card reminds us that the sun will soon come again.  It is a promise of what is to come, just as this holiday is as a whole.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is all about looking forward to the thaw.  Yes, it is still a long way off, but there is good fortune and warmth coming, and the first and finest seeds of that are being planted in the present so that they can awaken as the sun becomes more and more present each day… and flourish as spring and summer eventually arrive.

Earth – Nine of Cups atop Three of Cups – It’s time to once again return to leaning into what makes you happy and celebrating those things you enjoy. Spoil yourself with the bounty of what lies all around you.

Air – Ace of Cups – Don’t sink into your head, but instead be open to the return of your emotions now that the holiday rush is coming to the end and let them flow freely.

Water – Wheel of Fortune – Not everything is going to go 100% smoothly all the time. Just make sure that you are flexible enough to land on your feet no matter the scenario before you. Becoming disheartened and giving up will help no one.

Fire – Nine of Coins – Appreciate and enjoy what you have accomplished throughout the holiday season. I look at where you are with clear eyes and a positive outlook in order to keep yourself from falling into negative patterns.

Waning – The Weaver and Offering – Throughout the holiday season you have created many beautiful things that you have sent out into the world at a rapid pace.  Now that things are slowing down, it’s time to turn all that energy in another direction.

Waxing – The Alchemist and Bee – Creativity abounds, and with the support of your community around you, you will have the time and energy to pour into your creative spark. Give it some priority moving forward.

Take Away – Plant the seeds for what you want to flourish later on next year.  Now is the beginning of these things, so reflect upon what you want to accomplish and start planting those seeds in your life now.

DECKS USED: SABBAT THEMED ART CARD, PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 & 2