Encroaching Dark
Gilded clouds
like
gilded moments
are fleeting
and hard to
hold onto
when the dark
creeps in
to swallow
them up
and leave us
longing
for the sunrise
🌑 New Moon in Sagittarius – December 2025
Today is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @hermitsmirror
CLEARING: What sensitive areas have I poked and prodded enough for now?
Three of Pentacles – You’ve done really well at including those in your life more in dealing with your responsibilities. Teamwork is going well right now and there’s no need to keep picking at it for the time being. You’ve noticed this in the delegation of housework, daily tasks, and order processing of late.
TRANSITIONAL PAUSE: How has diving deep inspired me to look far and wide for my next journey?
Queen of Wands – Even when you are unenthused, you still need to keep moving. This is something that you’ve struggled with ever since you started exploring your emotions more in depth. As a result, you are coming to an understanding that even when your emotions are low, it is no excuse for not giving yourself the support you need; and that it’s through continuing on in creative endeavors that you enjoy that you are able to pull yourself out of these slumps.
NEW SEEDS: What mind-expanding experiences are made possible by boldness?
The Hanged Man – When you allow yourself to explore different angles of perspective, it gives you a far more expensive experience and understanding then you would otherwise receive. Sometimes these moments allow you to get a peek at the truth that you were trying to deny, while other times they allow you to see the truth in others that they are trying to hide.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS: How does constantly shifting allow me to find my flow?
Five of Swords – “Flow” is all about movement. When you remain still, things become stagnant and there is no “flow”. Stagnancy is toxic and promotes decay. It takes time to climb out of and recover from it once it’s managed to set in. You’ve found that it’s better to keep moving, even if you’re moving blindly, than to stand still and let the stagnancy gather around you.
PLANETARY BOON: What good fortune awaits discovery?
Eight of Cups – By sticking things out instead of giving up and walking away, sometimes those things that have you wanting to walk away will turn around, and you’ll find that you don’t need to move on after all. It’s all about picking and choosing which things you decide to take a chance on, and if you’re okay with it not turning out… because sometimes that can happen too.
New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.
Knight of Swords – Keep going. Just because things feel uncertain now and then doesn’t mean it’s time to put down the sword and stop fighting.
Other elements included in this reading:
Goat Figurine as Sympathetic Representation of Amalthea
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Scotch Pine Cones for Purging Negative Influences
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: X’MAS ELF TAROT GREEN EDITION
Shiny Digressions
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Archetype Prompt for December 18 : Luminous
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Magician card, which is traditionally a representation of capability, potential, resourcefulness, action, and manifestation. This often translates into themes having to do with being in possession of all of the skills, abilities, and tools necessary to reach one’s goals and accomplish one’s ends. It’s about being capable and skilled, resourceful and gifted with what is needed to get the job done.
Don’t be so set on your path and purpose that you lose sight of what really matters. There’s lots of bright and shiny prizes out there, luring you into the woods off your path. The thing is, though, stepping off the path means you lose your way… even if you manage to gain that bright and shiny prize in the process. Another bright and shiny will then come and draw you further from the path, and another… and another.
Today’s card is a reminder that we are capable of achieving all manner of great things, but it’s important that in choosing our goals we don’t lose sight of what truly matters.
DECK USED: RWS CHRISTMAS TAROT
@LightningWildflower December Arcana Challenge
Hanged Man Prompts for December 18th and 19th
What belief or pattern am I ready to release?
Five of Wands Rx and Death – You don’t have to give up your sense of security in order to get along with change. Not all changes bad or will cause problems in your life. Sometimes the upheaval in moments of change is caused by your resistance, instead of the change itself.
What clarity will I gain by slowing down and staying in the moment?
Queen of Swords Rx and The Emperor – By slowing down and staying “in the moment”, you give yourself the ability to step outside of your own opinions and role of leadership in order to better understand where others are coming from when they come to you for help.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Lace Agate for Increasing Inner Stability
Green Aventurine for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: TAROT OF THE RENAISSANCE
@aplacetodock #Yuletide Oracle Challenge
Prompts for December 18th and 19th
What favorite things come in brown paper packages?
Garden, Five of Wands, Snake – As long as you don’t have to get involved in the whole thing, there are times when you really actually enjoy watching people hash out their differences. It shows you a deeper look into who they are and how they think. You just don’t want to be involved in the conflict, but instead watch from the sidelines.
What is the warning from the Grinch?
Clover, Wheel of Fortune Rx, Coffin – Not all bad luck is actually bad luck. Sometimes it brings an ending to things that need to be over, so that better things can bloom in their place. This is why it’s important to look for the boon, even in those things are all down hill and falling apart.
Other elements included in this reading:
Deodar Cedar Ceramic Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Shiva Shell Heart for Wisdom and Discernment
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: RWS CHRISTMAS TAROT AND NÖEL’S X-MAS LENORMAND
I weatherized my balcony today. I don’t want to bring in the potted plants out there as it will require setting up grow lights. Instead I winterized them in the hope they’ll handle any inclement weather and come out the other side okay.
Gideon’s Challenge – The Inner Child
The Inner Child
I am a
child at heart
when it comes
to food
with a
sweet tooth
and a love for
sugared cereal
that’s irresistible
delighted by
cartoon characters
on boxes
and the puzzles
and games
offered
on the back
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Bolstered By Memories
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Archetype Prompt for December 17 : Fierce
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Six of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of nostalgia, joyful memories, childhood experiences, and revisiting the past in some way.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. It can lift you up or it can tear you down. The memories that we decide to keep have the ability to give us a great deal of joy and strengthen confidence, or if we let them, they can create a mindset of trauma and victimization that can be hard to escape.
The message in today’s card and prompt combo is a reminder that we need to carry with us the memories that make us fierce and strong, bolstering us when we need that extra boost to get through the hard parts. Let go of those memories that can hurt us or discredit us or otherwise tear us down. The bad things that happened to us in our past teach us lessons, but they don’t have to be an ever-present open and infected wound that we poke and prod at.
DECK USED: KING’S JOURNEY TAROT CHRISTMAS EDITION
@LightningWildflower December Arcana Challenge
Justice Prompts for December 16th and 17th
How can I align my decisions better with my core values?
Four of Cups atop Three of Cups – Pause before you act. Even with others taking the lead, it’s always up to you to pause and have a little chat with yourself before you act. That moment of reflection is important, especially when you’re letting others take the lead. It’s easy to just follow along, but connecting with what’s right for you needs to always take priority even during these moments when you’re stepping back from making decisions.
Where am I being asked to take greater responsibility?
The Hierophant and Knight of Cups – Make sure you are owning your actions and reactions. Don’t just write off your emotional reactions as something that happens. Having a bad day or a flare of temper is no excuse for behaving badly. Remember that you’re on a learning journey with your emotional intelligence, and that requires you to look at things in a more responsible manner rather than writing them off as “that’s just what happened”. There’s a lot to learn from your emotional reactions.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Polar Bear Figurine for Perseverance and Strength
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: TAROT NOVA KIT
@aplacetodock #Yuletide Oracle Challenge
Prompts for December 15th, 16th, 17th and 20th
What ancestor message is for this holiday?
Eight of Wands – Enjoy the slow down. Usually at this time of year, you’re so busy that you can’t even breathe and have trouble remembering to eat. The slow down this year is giving you an opportunity to enjoy the holidays more than you normally would have the opportunity to.
What task is delegated to Santa’s Elves?
The Hierophant – Let others dictate what holiday traditions to observe this year. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
What glows from Rudolph’s shiny red nose?
Queen of Coins Rx – You don’t have everything in balance, and because of that, you are the one in need of nurturing this year. Expend less of your energy on nurturing others, and seek out those that are willing to spend their energy on you.
What is my Silent Night candle Christmas wish?
Six of Cups – What you want more than anything is to end up with some positive memories to carry forward with you into the future. You struggle with memory, and need others to keep things fresh or you have a tendency to lose them. You want memories you can hold on to and enjoy in future trips down memory lane with others that you share them with.
Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Deer Figure for touching base with Tenderness and Vulnerability
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: KING’S JOURNEY TAROT CHRISTMAS EDITION
Left to head back home a bit early today, and that’s a very good thing since the road out to get onto the highway was already flooded and they were getting ready to close it down.
Gideon’s Challenge – Fleeting Warmth
Fleeting Warmth
No rainbows
flash colorful
and bright
in the face
of sunbeams
and rainfall
as clouds skim
above
and give peeks
at blue
that disappear
too quickly
to catch
Twisting the Leaf 