Tarot for the Month of December 2020
Katie-Ellen Hazeldine – Seven of Swords / Two of Cups
I have drawn two cards for this month; the shady, subtle, diplomatic, or downright sneaky Seven of Swords, and the gentle, reconciling, gifting, healing, and trading Two of Cups. Both were drawn upright in their dignified interpretation.
The Seven of Swords
The Seven of Swords promises another unsettled month in many countries, and how we all rejoice at this prospect, though none of us need the Tarot to tell us this. But this card confirms it. There will one heck of a lot going on behind closed doors this month, and that means speculation is rife, disinformation, and doubtless conspiracy aplenty, real and/or imagined.
This is THE card of diplomacy in high office.
Look at this figure, confiscating the swords while no-one’s about, all sleeping in their tents. Why? So, he has them all for himself? Or to prevent a fight?
This is particularly time critical in the US, and in the UK, as the US prepares for a new incoming administration, impeded by the administration still in office, while in the UK, December 31st, 2020, marks the end of the Brexit transition period, but with intense negotiations still ongoing for some kind of a trade deal and clock counting down fast.
I have been shown since 2016 it is basically a No Deal exit, as in, no ‘package’ such as many might have preferred, though many others would far prefer a clean so-called WTO exit.
BUT still, the Seven of Swords in its most diplomatic guise suggests there will be some kind of a Deal. And then the question will be whether it constitutes what some might call a ‘sell out.’
I sense good faith on the part of the UK government in office. But it may be that the UK government, while acting on good faith, negotiating between The EU, COVID-19, and a new US administration reportedly hostile to Brexit, though hopefully, pragmatic and respectful of the UK’s own mandated decisions, must work with mutual respect and goodwill as represented by the Two of Cups (here representing some measure of an entente cordiale).
This is an entirely characteristic Seven of Swords scenario. Politics is the art of the possible, though in fact the UK has left, though subject to EU Laws until the end of this Transition period. What now remains is new Law and separation in Law (represented by those two swords.)
The suit of Swords is the suit of Law.
Feelings are strong in the US, a worrying level of anger on both sides. The measures that would now be required to prevent a Biden Presidency are surely unthinkable at this point, as too costly a threat to the wellbeing of the nation as whole, but again the Seven of Swords is the suit of Law, and there may be continuing legal challenges during December.
There will be much noise both sides of The Atlantic and both sides of The Channel; spin, accusations, counter-accusations, subterfuge and sabotage, moderated here and there, tempered by skill of diplomacy.
But the conversations that will get the big things done, signed, and sealed will be secret, private, quiet. In politics as at work or at home, the message of this card is the same. Always allow the other party a way to retreat while saving face. The saving of face is the saving of peace.
The Two of Cups
This tension is offset, moderated, or resolved by the Two of Cups; a calming, gentle Minor Arcana card of offers, agreements, reconciliation, and healing exchanges; the Christmas spirit, one might say.
The odd glass of something *nice* to drink won’t go amiss either. Make mine a whisky and lemonade, or a vodka tonic. Cheers!
This easing of tensions may come late in the month but there seems to be some shift in mood, and if so, it looks for the better by and large.
Specifically, this Two of Cups corresponds astrologically with the December full moon – December 30th. This full moon will be in the sign of Cancer, and, notably, this is the second Cancer full moon of 2020, book-ending the year. The first was on January 10th, 2020.
I feel this card partly refers to the vaccines for COVID-19 of which several are in development. It may be telling us something about the timescale for achieving any mass rollout. If so, this could suggest June 2021. This does not mean it won’t or couldn’t happen sooner, only that I am looking through that wide-angle lens of The Two of Cups with its Cancer timeframe, June 21st – July 1st.
I sense major developments in public health before we get to that point, during Pisces, late February-late March 2021.
There is a business reference here too. That staff of Mercury or Hermes with the Lion’s head on top refers to trade, and we can all see online delivery companies will be recruiting in December. They will be maxed this Christmas like never before.
The constellation of Cancer the Crab is known in Platonic and Chaldean legend as The Gate of Men. Platonic legend said the souls of Mankind descended through the stars of Cancer to be born on Earth.
The December full moon in the first decan of Cancer Moon, happening 9 days after the winter solstice, is a reminder of the summer solstice which occurs at the start of Cancer. Babies conceived then, during the season of Cancer, are born in the spring when food became available again. Babies conceived this December during or after the winter solstice will be born during Virgo, at harvest-time, late August to early September.
This new lockdown in the UK, while not anything like the first lockdown, still may result in many more Virgo-born babies in 2021, even more than usual when this is already the most common birth sign in the northern hemisphere for this same and very ancient reason.
Personal
What could these cards signify on a personal level? What can one do for the best on a personal level? Everyone has an opinion. We can all make a noise. Nothing is easier on social media, and maybe that makes us feel better, relieves our feelings in that moment, though it may do the very opposite, because of the backlash from people who feel every bit as strongly as we do.
No-one has all the answers, or a monopoly on information, or virtue or the truth The advice of the Seven of Swords is always to use tact, play clever, keep your own counsel, stay low, stay quiet, do not tell the world your business, and watch your back. In particular, watch your personal and financial online security this coming month. Guard your online bank and other vital information. Update passwords. This card can warn of scammers and other online fraud, mishaps, confusions, or losses.
This is a card of treading on eggshells at home as well as online, resisting the temptation to add to all the shouting on social media. It may relieve our feelings but what does it actually achieve? If treading on eggshells means calming ourselves down, biting our tongue, or biding our time, sometimes that is the wisest thing to do, that will cause least damage.
A constructive place to use our personal power is where it counts right now, and right now, that means not giving free rein to anger born of frustration as we go out and about. If someone gets angry with us, we can still choose to respond kindly. It’s strength, not weakness that says we can afford to do so, and a joke, a soft word ‘turneth away wrath.’
People are tired.
The Two of Cups is a meeting point of commerce, love, and healing. This might mean for example, that we spend in such places, and in such ways that our spending lightens someone else’s load, e.g. buying charity Christmas cards.
This positive card is about romance, but also in more general terms, talks about give and take between equal partners.
A question represented by this second Full Moon in Cancer is, what chapter has ended, what page has been turned in our own stories this year?
What changes, even if enforced by the needs of wider society, have been for the better, and not only the worse? What new habits are worth keeping?
But there could hardly be a calmer, kinder and for many, romantic card with which to end this deeply challenging year, as the second Cancer Full moon of 2020 bows us out to the tune of its first decan, ruled by Venus
The Two of Cups says we raise a toast to one another as friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, lovers, spouses, partners- but above all, fellows and equals.
Wishing you a safe, happy, and peaceful Christmas, and a brighter, better New Year in 2021.
Katie-Ellen Hazeldine, BA Hons, is a Tarot and Rune reader/consultant, writer, and historian in the UK, and has been reading professionally since 2006. Website – True Tarot Tales. Twitter: @truetarottales
Kyra Oser – Ace of Pentacles (Reversed)
The tarot card I drew for December is Ace of Pentacles Reversed. This card features a hand emerging from a cloud and holding one coin. A garden below features a gateway to the mountains, signifying how one step down the path of earthly ventures at a time brings you closer to your material goals. At the same time, this hand reaching out of a cloud reminds you that higher forces and a bigger plan are at work in your life, even right down to the details of your financial decisions and material needs. There is a spiritual aspect to be uncovered in even the most apparently mundane of events—if you’re willing to look for it.
Global News
In global news, this card indicates a fiscal disruption that could make previous plans obsolete, or at the very least, creates a need to revise former goals. Chaos around the U.S. post-election season and impending inauguration could create market uncertainty and causes some to scrap their original plans.* Radical decisions could be radically altered by January, when we can expect the radicalism of political and social reformation to be on the rise.
Personal Life
In your own life, this card might either encourage savings or warn against spending too much, especially on credit or promises. Extra caution is advised when this card arises in a reading. In another sense, Ace of Pentacles Reversed is a reminder that there is no earthly “boss”. Even if you’re self-employed, you’re working for an energy beyond that of any one person. There is a higher force you can connect to at any time through meditation, hypnosis, or dreams that will guide you as to what you need to do for your greatest good and in the highest interest of our collective planet. If you actively and sincerely listen to this higher force (or even your “inner self”), you’ll be able to detach from the outcome of work situations and focus more on the content of what you create than the structure. This potentially transcendent way of thinking about work and money will help prepare you for the upcoming radical transformation in old-world corporate structure that will become increasingly evident in 2021 and beyond.
Sometimes no action is an action, and you can decide to not make a decision, at least not yet. Therefore, if you don’t feel ready to finalise plans for 2021 you can find out what the other options are when someone presents you with a new opportunity for advancement in the physical world. For instance, you don’t always have to say “yes” or “no” right away. You might choose to say, “Let me think about that and get back to you,” or maybe you’ll ask additional questions. Perhaps, you’ll enquire about possible deadlines or deadline extensions, which gives you more time to explore your wants and needs and how you can ultimately be of greatest service to your community and the world.
In Summary
Overall, this card asks you to pause and to wonder if something you’re pondering purchasing or someone’s offer you’re thinking of answering can wait until next month. There will be many global and U.S. changes in January, so plans might need to be revised once those new phenomenons transpire anyway. Save some energy for the ones you love, and the things you love to do.
Please stay safe during this holiday season and remember that the more you exercise caution now, the sooner we can all be together again. Happy Holidays!
You can read more from Kyra at her website here.
NOTE: These predictions are for entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your physician concerning any health issues. Please contact your financial advisor regarding any monetary decisions.
Recent Posts
