Yuletide Tarot

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Yuletide Tarot and Vintage Yuletide Lenormand

Earth – King of Candles (Wands) Rx – It’s time to take stock of what you are putting your energy into and if it’s really what you want to be putting your energy into. Consider where would it be better to sit back and watch, rather than participating let alone taking the lead.

Air – Five of Candles (Wands) Rx – Take care not to allow yourself to be drawn into conflict this week. It won’t end well for you if you do. This is one time when it’s better to walk away and deal with it later than to engage now just to “get it over with”.

Water – Five of Good Cheer (Cups) Rx – Really lean into your positivity and optimism exercises this week. You need the extra uplift to help keep your pessimism from dipping into dark places and dragging you along for the ride.

Fire – Queen of Candles (Wands) – Enthusiasm is an important part of making it through the holiday season with health and good cheer intact this year. Look for those things that you can enjoy, and encourage others to do the same.

Waning – Fish and Ship – The less amount of travel you do this week, the better. It could be costly for you if you’re not careful to keep excursions to the minimum.

Waxing – Whip and Paths – Practice a little more discipline this week to keep you from being distracted by flights of fancy and overfilling your plate with the opportunities on offer.

Take Away – Make sure that the enthusiasms you decide to participate in this week in order to keep your spirits high are things that still move you in the direction that you want to head as you get closer to the new year and what lies beyond. Choosing to travel during the flooding that’s going on could be more costly than you realize. If and when staying home as an option, do that instead of taking the risk.

DECKS USED: YULETIDE TAROT AND VINTAGE YULETIDE LENORMAND

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Christmas Tales Tarot and Yuletide Lenormand

Earth – Wheel of Fortune – Remember those “sea legs” that you were working on developing so that you could keep a solid foundation during times of uncertainty and unsteadiness in the world? This week will give you your first test of these new “sea legs” of yours. Take note of what works and what doesn’t, and take care not to brace so hard that cracks form in the foundation.

Air – King of Pentacles – Your greatest stability will lie in your ability to communicate well with others this week. Make sure that you are grounding yourself through communication and not closing yourself off from the support and stability that others may be able to provide for you.

Water – Page of Swords – Don’t allow your emotions to step in and keep you from communicating with others. Communication is key this week, even when you’re feeling vulnerable. You need to work through expressing these vulnerabilities rather than trying to hide them.

Fire – Five of Swords Rx – Step away from conflict, instead of locking into it with determination. Now’s not the time.

Waning – Mountain and Dog – Remember that trust and faith aren’t the answer to all problems and obstacles.

Waxing – Stork and Star – Take care not to lose sight of your efforts to focus on the good aspects of things and lean into positivity and optimism. You need that extra boost this week.

Take Away – There’s a great deal of stress placed upon making sure that you are communicating and not trying to hide away your vulnerabilities this week. Instead of leaning into old habits, work on consistency in the positivity exercises that you have been doing to help give you a bit of a lift, both emotionally and otherwise.

DECKS USED: CHRISTMAS TALE TAROT AND YULETIDE LENORMAND

Finding the Positive for December 29 – 31

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Card of the Day Tarot Reading with the Christmas Tales Tarot, Christmas Cheer Tarot, and Yuletide Tarot

December 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is the Five of Cups combined with the affirmation “You are not failing. Depression lies. Keep going.”

There is a specific reason that these card of the day exercises are always focused on the positive. It’s a part of the mental health exercise that my therapist encouraged me to start a few years ago.

The problem is that when your brain resides constantly in a state of negative inner narratives and pessimistic views, it begins to hold sway your emotions and outlook on life, and can thus negatively influence your mental health. That is where my therapist comes into the picture, because I am absolutely one of those people whose brain lives in that negative space when left to its own devices.

This card of the day exercise is for self-care, and focuses on helping in seeing a more positive, optimistic perspective. When I started a few years ago, I really didn’t think it would help. In fact, I scoffed at the idea and was not at all enthusiastic about it.

Years later, though, there’s no arguing with the results. By pulling a card each day asking for “a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and offer perspective”, and taking the time to write out what that positive message is each day?  I have managed cut down on the number of depressive episodes I experience as well as shorten their duration.

This exercise doesn’t mean that the bad stuff isn’t still there, or that I ignore it. It just provides a positive touch of perspective to my otherwise pessimistic mind. It helps.

With the holiday rush over, it’s time to get back on the wagon. Today’s cards are a welcome back, as well as a reminder about what this exercise is all about.

I hope that in my sharing these daily cards publicly, it helps you too.

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

December 30 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is the Knight of Wands combined with the affirmation “I choose to see the magic and wonder in every moment.”

There is a reminder here about being enthusiastic in the pursuit of the things that you enjoy.  Don’t trudge through life with your enthusiasm flagging, but instead sprint forward eagerly like a kid with a sled in the snow. 

When you bring this enthusiasm into the every day, and apply it to ordinary moments, it allows you to see life through a lens filled with magic and wonder, rather than the sloop shouldered disregard that us adults often cast our gaze upon the world around us.

Don’t let fun, amusement, and moments of gaiety and laughter pass you by.  Dive in to experience and savor them instead.

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

December 31 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is The Hierophant combined with the affirmation “You make the world merrier with your festive cheer.”

Okay, so… to be fair?  I’m not really the cheery type. This isn’t really a surprise to those that know me. I do, however, really love the holidays.  I love seeing everyone’s enthusiasm for decorating and making things look beautiful and festive.  I like seeing the traditions that take place, and how they differ from person to person and from family to family.  I find a great deal of joy in these things.

In the week following Christmas? I’ve actually been able to enjoy some of them too.  I’ve taken drives to look at the decorations that people still have out on display, and visited stores where I’ve taken pleasure in seeing the holiday frosted cupcakes, the decorations on last-minute sale, and enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere of everyone -not- rushing around like spastic chickens with their heads cut off.

In doing these things, I’ve seen those around me also finding enjoyment in them… in getting to share them with me.

Today’s cards are a reminder that when traditions are shared? They take on meaning. Importance.  And an atmosphere of joy and enjoyment that touches everyone involved.  Traditions are important. They’re special, and they’re meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Happy New Year everyone!

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

Finding the Positive for December 22 – 24

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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.”

Pixie's Whisper Tarot Christmas Edition, Winter Magick Tarot, Yuletide Tarot, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 22

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Knight of Swords – “Just because you can’t find your happiness today doesn’t mean that you never will.” Don’t run yourself ragged charging after those things you want without strategy and forethought to guide you. Instant gratification often means settling for something less-than.  Remember that a little strategy and patience can go a long way towards achieving true treasure instead of ending up with a handful of cheap trash.

DECK USED: PIXIE’S WHISPER TAROT CHRISTMAS EDITION AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 23

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Seven of Wands – “We can take today one small thing at a time.” Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Not everything has to be tackled at once, and not every battle needs your attention in this moment.  Take a step back from the fray and take a breath. Pick apart what needs done and do it one thing at a time instead of charging in with both barrels blazing to do it all at once.

DECK USED: WINTER MAGICK TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 24

Today’s meditation was skipped.

King of Swords – “You deserve to celebrate your victories rather than immediately moving your goalposts.”  You put a lot of thought, work, self-education, research, and energy into getting to where you are and accomplishing all you have done. Don’t disregard these accomplishments as insignificant. They are huge… and worth celebrating before you go pushing to continue on marching forward and achieve even more.

DECK USED: YULETIDE TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 13 – 15

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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.”

Finding the positive with the Christmas Tarot Major Arcana Deck, Christmas Tarot, Yuletide Tarot, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 13

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Star – “Your speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward.” Faith bolsters us. Whether we are believing in ourselves, in the universe, or just -hoping- against all odds that things will change. It’s the carrot that pulls us forward even when we are struggling the most.

Today’s card is a reminder not to lose sight of that carrot.  You may have to move slowly and it may not -feel- like you are moving at all… but as long as you keep a glimmer of faith/hope in your heart, you’re still moving forward which means the potential for change and something better ahead is there.

DECK USED: CHRISTMAS TAROT MAJOR ARCANA DECK AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 14

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the Daily Calm sessions from the Calm app.

Three of Cups – “Depression Lies. There is no circumstance that is unchangeable. There is no situation that’s ever hopeless.”  Don’t allow the whispers of depression and negativity in your head to convince you that you are all alone. You are not alone.  That lie is depression trying to close you off from others so that it can eat you alive from the inside.  Seek out your friends and loved ones and allow them to help keep the darkness at a bit more of a distance. You don’t have to do this alone, and those closest to you have the potential to help lift you up and distract you from depression’s call if you let them.

DECK USED: THE CHRISTMAS TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 15

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Nine of Pentacles – “You are NOT unworthy. You deserve peaceful days.”  Take some time today to sit back and look at how very fortunate you are, and how far you have come. You have built a life for yourself and accomplished much.  It’s okay to take some time to really appreciate and enjoy these things,  instead of always looking ahead and striving for more.

DECK USED: YULETIDE TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS