The Enduring Light
A tarot spread for the Winter Solstice
A very happy and healthy Yuletide to you all! At 15:03 UTC today, Sunday 21st December 2025, the Winter Solstice reached its astrological peak and heralds the return of the sun.
For many, the return of the sun brings hope and reassurance that all is well and all will be well. It’s a reminder that we can whether the darkness and come through it to a new dawn. The sunlight shines with warmth and connection, and there can be flashes of insight within us.
Further to last week’s post about wintertime, I wanted to share with you a tarot/oracle card spread that I use around this time of year, to give insight for the year ahead.
It’s okay if you don’t use tarot or oracle cards; you could use each position as a prompt to take into your journal or meditation. Honour what works best for you, and roll with that.
This spread is inspired by the return of the sun and the light which never truly leaves us. The centre card is The Sun (#19), which should be left face-up. If you are working with an oracle, select the card which most closely represents, to you, the energy of The Sun: light, vitality, radiance, assurance, confidence, greatness, enlightenment, the archetype of the creator. Please place this at the centre of your spread.
Shuffle your deck and draw eight cards, laying them in a clockwise circle around The Sun, starting with card 1 directly above it, or whichever way feels most intuitive for you.
This spread is designed to advise you through the coming year. Here are the questions for each card position:
What does the still darkness have to teach me?
What needs purifying so that I can move forwards?
How can I achieve more balance in my life?
What is a passion for me in the coming year?
Where can I find strength in times of need?
What needs culling this year?
How can I best show gratitude and/or acts of service?
What overarching wisdom do my ancestors or guides have for me this year?
While you can read each card individually, you can also see if there are any patterns in the cards that you draw — for instance, positions 1 and 5 are directly opposite each other: what insight can you gain by considering them as two sides of the same coin?
Equally, remember the presence of The Sun card in the centre. Its light influences every card and position in this spread. When you read each card through the lens of the energy of The Sun, what additional aspects come to light?
Take some time to sit with your cards and journal about what comes up for you. If there is a particular image or question that draws you most, sit with that for longer. Remember that you can return to this card reading and its insights during the rest of 2025, and throughout 2026, for more inspiration and reflection.
And so the Wheel turns…
Join the magic: Do celebrate the Samhain? How do you feel about this season of souls, memories, and magic? Do you have a favourite seasonal practice? Do let me know in the comments:
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