Christmas Cards

Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us with thy perfect light.

At this time of year, when the darkness creeps into every aspect of the day, and nibbles away at the precious moments of light until very little is left to brighten our hours, it is always for me, a time of introspection, a time of returning to source.
As I sit writing on this winter’s morning with the sound of the wind howling in the darkness and the rain beating on the windows, I reflect that the storms that reside deep within me often call louder at this time of year, when poignant memories of times past echo through the empty spaces that remain to me. I am not alone in this respect, and in this time of family “togetherness” it is hard for the many of us that hold on tightly to the precious memories of those who no longer sit at our table. 

Some years ago I designed a Tarot Spread to help me to draw hope in these times, and I am sharing it here below.

The concept of a “Guiding Star” was always highly attractive to me, even as a small child… “We Three Kings” was always my absolute favourite hymn, belted out with gusto every christmas from the age of about 4. No surprise then when I discovered astrology many years later and realised why I was so attracted to it… the “Three Wise Men” were of course “astrologers” as were all learned people at that time in earth’s history, and came from a part of the world that I feel such a strong affinity to that it feels like “coming home”. 

The applications of this spread are various, but its main aim is to be used as a focus, when emerging from a difficult and drawn out situation that has finally ended. It is a six card spread with a “helper” card, which could be interpreted as 2 groups of 3 cards, representing two interlocking triangles, the “Star of David” a symbol which among other things can represent the union of opposites. The triangle with the apex at the top (positions 1, 2 & 3) symbolizes fire whilst the downward pointing triangle (positions 4, 5 & 6) symbolizes water. Alchemists believed that if two opposing forces were joined, transmutation would occur in which “common metal” is transformed into gold. This is analogous with the combination of opposites thus enhancing the path of enlightenment. The 7th Card, placed in the center, is the “Guiding Star”. 

Joanna’s Guiding Star Layout

The positions are as follows: 

1. Gold : What is the “gold” that I bring forward from the past, that crowns my future

2. Frankincense: What spiritual strength  have I gained from the difficulties that I  have      endured?

3. Myrrh: What must be laid to rest and released, to ease my journey? 

4. Casper: What is my Material Guidance?

4. Melchior: What is my Spiritual Guidance?

6. Balthasar: What is my Emotional Guidance?

7. My Guiding Star? What draws me onward? 

So wherever you are, and whoever you are with this Christmas, may peace be with you.