Christmas,
season of goodwill and cheer is nearly upon us. Whether one loves it or hates it there is no avoiding it. Many people try to escape it by flying off to sunny seasides in an attempt to rid themselves of tinsel mayhem and misery. Yet try as they might they are still dealing with Christmas, still acknowledging its inevitable existence and making plans to avoid it.It's around this time of year, late October, maybe a little earlier, when Christmas starts to show itself in many, many readings. What I'd like to share with you are which key tarot cards to look out for that can depict Christmas, and
type of events going on around it.
One of
most pertinent tarot cards for depicting Christmas is
Ten of Coins as it symbolises what I call
"hierarchical family". This is Mum, Dad, brothers and sisters, grannies and grandads, aunts and uncles,
cat,
dog,
new boyfriend,
difficult wife,
screaming babies,
noisy toddlers and
long lost relatives. If they are in any way related to your family, whether through blood or marriage, then they are symbolised by
ten of coins.
The Ten of Coins tarot card not only depicts
people but also
family values, beliefs and dynamics. This, along with
actual people, is what starts to become important when predicting what type of Christmas any individual is likely to experience. One member of
family might desire a traditional Christmas dinner while another might want something less exacting.
The next most important card is
Nine of Cups. This tarot card symbolises parties and get togethers in which people generally have a few drinks, socialise, and are friendly and animated.
Put
Ten of Coins together with
Nine of Cups and we find a lovely fun filled Christmas.
Next one needs to take into consideration which family member this reading is for, what part are they playing in
family festivities?
One woman had
Ten of Batons leading up to
Ten of Coins and
Nine of Cups. The Ten of Batons in Tarot symbolises excessive burdens and responsibilities, running around after other people and forgetting about oneself. This woman was
mother of all mothers, from October until early January busy shopping, cooking and organising so that her extensive family could have a wonderful Christmas. When I suggested that she might wish to share
burden she came up with two comments: that she preferred to have people come to her home, and that she was
only one who was capable and that no-one else would bother.
Looking at Christmas from another perspective was a reading for a woman whose sister-in-law was much like
previous woman. She had her Christmas day shrouded by
Three of Coins reversed. This card symbolises being weak willed and subservient, an unwilling servant who does not have
ability to stand up for their own needs. "My husband wouldn't dare defy his sister and not go to her Christmas do," she said wearily. "I just keep quiet and get on with it."
There are many other characters within any family, here are just a few examples of what I have seen, and what kind of gifts they might, or might, not appreciate.
The Queen of Swords: This card is traditionally "The divorced, widowed, embittered woman." Around Christmas time she generally shows her face as
unpopular wife of a much loved son,
mother-in-law, or a much older woman, such as a grandmother, who is on her own in life. Gift type: Usually this type of person is never satisfied with anything. If you give them a gift voucher they say you haven't bothered, if you take flowers they complain that they will die and shed upon their floor. Best to take them a bottle of wine and get them drunk. This might exacerbate their poison tongue but it might also send them to sleep.
The Queen of Cups: This is
tarot card of
perfect mother and good cook! Gift type: Take her something personal and special. She has enough pots and pans and homely type things, so something beautiful that she wouldn't buy for herself. Anything from perfume, to a silk scarf, to a pamper day at a local health farm.