Christmas Affirmation Cards

Movement Over Stagnancy

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Today’s meditation was an ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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Christmas Cheer Tarot - 2 of Wands and Christmas Affirmation CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Two of Wands (Candles), which is traditionally a representation of planning, decision making, looking ahead, and themes to do with progress.

The Two of Wands has then been combined with one of my Christmas Affirmation cards,  which says, “Just because you can’t find your happiness today, doesn’t mean that you never will.”

If you’re unwilling, it’s never gonna happen.

Even in the depression, there’s the need to keep a little ray of hope going that will keep you moving forward. For me, that’s the phrase “it’s temporary”.

If something is temporary that means that sooner or later it’s going to end, I’m going to come out the other side, and if I don’t keep up on the things that need to be done during this temporary time of discomfort, I’m going to have to play catch-up once I manage to crawl my way out of it.

During these times, I might not get as much done because I’m not really enjoying what I’m doing. Even then, though, keeping in mind that the slump is temporary keeps a bit of momentum going during the lull so that there’s not as much to catch up on later when I’m ready to start really moving again.

The message in today’s cards is that just because you’re not enjoying the day, the activity, or the experience that you’re currently going through, doesn’t mean giving up. Sure, slow down, but don’t stop. The unpleasant moment is temporary. Treat it as such so that when you come out the other side, you have plans and movement already on your side.

DECK USED:  CHRISTMAS CHEER TAROT TWIST’S CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2025 Challenge
Prompt for December 21st : Do Spread 3

Christmas Tarot Reading with the Christmas Cheer Tarot

Where do you need to practice more tolerance with others?

Six of Candles – Remember that you don’t have to fulfill other’s expectations, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to fight against them either. You can acknowledge them, and validate them with kindness and acceptance, without committing yourself and your energy to their fulfillment.

How can you foster more tolerance within your heart?

Two of Candles Rx – Keep in mind that even the best plans go awry now and then. It takes patience to adapt and keep going, so don’t get yourself so tied up in rigid plans that you can’t pivot when needed.

Where do you need to step up with your self-care over the holidays?

Queen of Candy Canes – Practice what you preach. You give good advice about self-care when speaking with others, but you need to make sure that you’re taking your own advice as well. Listen to that advice you’re giving others this holiday season, and take that advice to heart for yourself as well.

What do you need to focus on to keep your holiday cheer intact?

The Moon – Let others lead during times of uncertainty during this holiday season. Just as Santa lets his reindeer lead the sleigh through clouds and storms, you also need to allow others to lead sometimes when things feel uncertain or unclear.

How can you best respond to those that try to “stir the pot” this holiday?

King of Ornaments – Lead by example, and don’t allow them to upset your footing. Hold yourself above such pettiness and bullshit by grounding into your foundation.

How can you express your emotions with more love and kindness?

The Hanged Man – Consider how others best receive love. Not everyone’s “love language” is the same. Some people need different things than you do in order to feel loved. Make sure that you are paying attention to these differences, so that you can express your emotions in a way that communicates more clearly with them how you feel.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Foraged Branch covered in Parmeliaceae for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Resilience, Growth, and Renewal
Scotch Pine Cones for Purging Negative Influences
Moss Agate Tree for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Serpentine Dragon to Bolster Heart and Emotions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: CHRISTMAS CHEER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I let myself get pulled into some play today instead of doing the grumpy “stand alone in a corner” thing.

Finding the Positive for December 4 – 5

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The Storybook Christmas Tarot, The Christmas Tarot, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 4th : Wonder

Today’s card is the Lovers card combined with the affirmation “You make Christmas feel like a warm and cozy hug.”

This affirmation card triggers a specific memory for me.  Last year (I think it was last year?) Gideon gifted my sister with a weighted axolotl plushy, which she absolutely loves.  Because the ends of it’s long arms are weighted, she says when she snuggles with it she can wrap its arms around her, and it feels like a real hug. I also have a weighted plushy from him (a fox) that I snuggle with often, because it’s size and weight makes it feel somehow… more substantial than a pillow or regular stuffie. Mutually, when we snuggle with these plushies, we feel a miraculous kind of release and easing in our chests and solar plexus.

Which brings us to the message in today’s cards and the wonder prompt for today.  For when we find things that make us feel good and soothe us on the inside, it feels like a kind of magic. Something wonderful to wallow in for a moment, and return to again and again.

In life, there are times when we need that connection. Not so much to a person, but to that feeling of peace and soothing. Today’s cards are a reminder to return to what helps us in connecting with that feeling.  It’s important to untie the knots inside now and then, especially when stress in life is high.  Doing so is a healthy choice, and a kindness.  An act of self love that we all need from time to time.

DECK USED: THE STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 5th : Healing

Today’s card is the Four of Wands combined with the affirmation “Tis the season to be jolly. Fuck jolly.”

A few days ago, I had a COTD that encouraged seeking out the magic in the holiday season, even when it’s not your favorite part of the year.  Today’s card is a reminder that sometimes it’s okay to retreat when you need to… even when others hold expectations over you to not do so.

Healing takes time, and isn’t always convenient. Whether you find refuge in being home alone, or refuge in the embrace of family or friends… the cards for today are encouraging us that it’s okay to give yourself what we need. If that means celebrating?  Then celebrate.  If that means retreating and being a Grumpus over the holiday season?  That’s perfectly okay too.  The key is that whatever you choose, it is a healing process, and not just letting old wounds fester.

DECK USED: THE CHRISTMAS TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS
Note: This particular affirmation card was made from a Christmas Card gifted to me. I don’t know the artist’s name as it wasn’t on the card.

Finding the Positive for December 1 – 3

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Winter Magic Tarot, Snowland Tarot, Winter Waite Tarot, and Self-Made Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 1 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 1st : Nostalgia

Today’s card is the Devil card combined with the affirmation “Have an ice day and stay frosty!”

A lot of the cards in the affirmation deck I’m using this month hold a great deal of nostalgia for me. Not because the characters are familiar, but because I remember these corny little cards (like valentine cards kids exchange at school) that we used to have for different holidays.

It reminds me of feelings and fun and childhood moments of hope.  It reminds me of bushing hotly as I made little cards to give out because my parents wouldn’t buy the store-bought ones for me, and how fascinated I was with each of the little sayings on the store bought ones given to me on the day.

There’s danger in nostalgia, though.  The same danger that lies hidden in pretty much anything pleasurable. For  if you dip too far into it, you lose sight of reality.  You forget about the bad parts, just as if you lean too far into thinking about the bad parts of your past that you lose sight of the good parts.

Today’s cards, for me, are a reminder that too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Balance is important.  Take the bad with the good and vice versa in order to keep the scales balanced in your life and your memories based more solidly in reality.

DECK USED: WINTER MAGIC TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 2 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 2nd : Magic

Today’s card is the Page of Swords combined with the affirmation “Have an elf-cellent holiday season!”

There is a lot of really amazing things happening this time of year.  Charity ramps up and kindness with it. There’s community events like parades and holiday bazaars. Gift giving and generosity rise.

It can be hard to enjoy, though, if you spend too much time in your head.  Doing so can separate you from the warmth of the season and the bits of fun that it has to offer.

I hear a lot of people that bitch about the music or the crowds, etc.  Fair.  We all have things we don’t like about the holiday season.  But what do you *like* about it?  And more important yet, what do you feel ambivalent about that you might actually like if you gave it a chance?

Today’s card (combined with the Healing the Inner Child prompt) reminds us to stay open to the joy and the fun that this time of year has to offer.  Don’t get caught up in the negative aspects, but reach for the positive ones to make these busy weeks ahead feel happier and warmer, lighter and more magical than they otherwise might.

DECK USED: SNOWLAND TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 3rd : Curiosity

Today’s card is the Queen of Swords (landed on the table reversed) combined with the affirmation “There’s no need to be so hard on yourself, you’re managing as best you can.”

I have met a few people in my life that have a woe that I personally have a hard time understanding. I’ve been thinking about them a lot the last little bit, because I ran into another one just the other day.  These are people who have come to the belief that they have no true talent or skill. That they are a waste of space and time because they have nothing that they are good at, no hobbies or interests, nothing at which they shine.

And then… today’s cards brought to light an understanding of this mindset that I hadn’t considered before.

What drives inspiration? Curiosity does.  It’s the spark of fire that gets inspiration started and us moving to explore whatever has caught our attention.  And what kills curiosity? Internally directed negativity.  It is the voice within us that tells us we can’t do something, that we’ll suck at it, that it’s a waste of time. That inner voice may have been created by someone else, but by the time we get to the point where we believe we are talent-less and without merit?  It’s playing on repeat in our own heads.

The key to breaking this pattern comes in turning to that negative voice and saying “fuck you, I’m doing it anyway”.  Not worrying about if you’re good or not and just sating that curiosity anyway. Letting yourself have fun with it, play with it, and mess things up.

Even when you -know- you might fail, it’s in doing it anyway in order to gain experience and just -see- what happens.  Because if you don’t do that?  You can’t learn.  And if you don’t learn?  You never find those things you enjoy and are good at.  And yes… sometimes that negative voice in your head is going to whisper away in the background those things you don’t want to hear, but the idea is to not listen.  To have some fun.  To let your curiosity flourish.  Experiment and explore.

Then… our of nowhere?  You might just some day you just might surprise yourself by ending up being good at something you once were bad at… or good at something you didn’t ever even consider you might be good at.   That’s how you find where personal talents lie and those things that you enjoy.  Dive in, and have fun… and don’t worry so much about if you’re good at it or not.

DECK USED: THE WINTER WAITE TAROT REVISED EDITION (2019) AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 30 – 31

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These Card of the Day readings are a mental health exercise (suggested by my shrink) used to help counterbalance my natural tendency toward pessimism, negative inner narratives, and depression. The request posed to the cards is, “A positive message to carry with me throughout my day and foster perspective.”

December 30

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Six of Cups – “Life will always bend you, but you’re too strong to break.” Don’t forget to remember the good. Your history is not just full of challenges, tests, and trials; it is also full of moments of survival, valuable lessons, and successes. Don’t let that negative and pessimistic tendency within you turn you away from the memories of the good things you’ve experienced.

DECK USED: LE TAROT ARTHURIEN AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 31

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Eight of Pentacles – “You are strong and smart and you’ve got this!” You have come a long way and proven your resilience again and again, and with each challenge along the way your skills in not just your work but in life as a whole level up. Don’t let moments of doubt and that negative inner narrative of yours convince you otherwise. In a couple days you will step back into life with renewed focus on those things that truly matter to you, your transition from the holiday rush back to regular life ending like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.  Don’t allow self doubts to hold you back, but instead lean into your experience.

DECK USED: WINTER MAGICK TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 28 – 29

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These Card of the Day readings are a mental health exercise (suggested by my shrink) used to help counterbalance my natural tendency toward pessimism, negative inner narratives, and depression. The request posed to the cards is, “A positive message to carry with me throughout my day and foster perspective.”

Trickster's Journey Tarot, Snail Marseille, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 28

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the Daily Calm sessions from the Calm app. It was a yoga nidra session that involved scanning the entire body from head to toe before expanding one’s focus to incorporate the entire body and your surrounding energy, combined with a reminder that this time of year is often about resetting ourselves and that a part of that is in treating ourselves kindly.

Three of Cups – “I am a work in progress, and that’s okay.” You don’t have to be “good enough” to have a little fun and revelry in your life. You don’t have to be “perfect” to celebrate. Don’t let your issues with not feeling as if you’re “enough” hold you back from enjoying time with others and having a bit of fun. Life’s too short to be serious all the time.

DECK USED: TRICKSTER’S JOURNEY TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 29

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the Daily Calm sessions from the Calm app. The topic of today’s meditation was Carpe Diem, and reminded the listener that when opportunities present themselves it’s important to strike instead of procrastinating.

Le Pape – Sage advice crops up again and again because it’s good advice. Sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.  It returns to you again and again through elders and the wise. Don’t discount it as boring or droll, for those reactions are you shrugging off wisdom hard-earned by others. Instead, try listening and taking what advice is being given to heart. Today, that wisdom is “Let’s just deal with today. You can deal with tomorrow tomorrow.”

DECK USED: THE SNAIL MARSEILLE AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 25 – 27

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These Card of the Day readings are a mental health exercise (suggested by my shrink) used to help counterbalance my natural tendency toward pessimism, negative inner narratives, and depression. The request posed to the cards is, “A positive message to carry with me throughout my day and foster perspective.”

Christmas Tarot Major Arcana, Seasonal Fox Tarot Night Edition, Bearot Deck, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 25

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The High Priestess – “You’re doing fine! Don’t give up.”  You can’t expect your intuition, which you’ve learned over the past few years is connected to your emotions, to just rise back up to normal standards overnight after having shut down your emotions for a good six weeks… not to mention what went on over the summer.  It’s no surprise that you’re running blind right now.  Although your intuition isn’t completely silent, you’re working at a level closer to where you were a good five years ago than the level you’ve developed into over those past five years.

Just take a breath and keep going, give yourself the healing self care you need and allow yourself to relax and enjoy. It will come back, it’s just waiting for you to plow the soil of your emotions, digging them up and loosening the soil to allow for your more recent growth to return and continue. You’re doing fine… just focus on taking care of yourself and everything will fall into place.

DECK USED: CHRISTMAS TAROT MAJOR ARCANA AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 26

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Three of Pentacles – “Even on the coldest of night the stars still shine bright.” Let others help you in seeing the positive and in keeping you out of depression’s pit. It doesn’t have to be a solo effort, and they all have abilities and techniques different than your own that can assist you in this endeavor. Leaning on them and allowing them to help is healthy, and will build a path towards success that will be harder to obtain on your own.

DECK USED: SEASONAL FOX TAROT NIGHT EDITION AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 27

Today’s meditation was skipped, although I may do one a bit later tonight while soaking in the tub, if I get the chance to soak as I’d planned.

King of Swords – “You are judging yourself too harshly.”  I usually associate the Queen of Swords with harsh judgements, but in this case it is referring to my responsibilities and obligations, and how I am judging myself harshly in not having done more and over taking this break over the new year in the wake of the holiday rush.  And… the cards are right.  I am judging myself harshly.  These cards are a reminder that I need to set judgements aside and breathe instead of rehashing what went wrong and pushing on where to go from here.

DECK USED: THE BEAROT DECK AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS