Joy?
An older man celebrates Christmas on the beach.
‘Joy’ is a word we often hear in this season. Over the past few years, this word has trended in our culture. We’ve been seeking joy, looking for things that spark joy, and trying to hang onto our inner joy, not just this season but all year. That’s a lot of joy.
But are we feeling joyful right now?
The song says this is the happiest time of year, but the holiday season can be burdensome for many. Even those who usually enjoy the festivities may be dealing with circumstances that make it hard to find the joy this time.
What is joy?
The dictionary defines it simply as a feeling of great happiness and pleasure. We associate joy with the holiday season because of the spiritual meanings of our celebrations. On a more secular level, advertisers have sold us a brand of holiday joy associated with presents, decorations, and food. I will be the first to say that those things bring me joy. But I also know the stress and pressure of providing and preparing those things can be daunting and joy-killing.
The pressure to be joyful when we aren’t feeling it is an added stress. At the same, I do think that cultivating joy is a wise practice throughout the year. It balances between honoring our feelings and leaning into what is most positive and helpful.
Joy is a personal thing. We all have the things that bring it and the things that steal it away.
If you are having a joyful holiday season, I am celebrating with you. If you are having difficulty, please allow yourself to feel what you feel and prioritize your well-being. Self-care is a gift we give ourselves but also a gift we give those we love.
If you don’t have joy this season, can you muster, “I will get through this!” or even, “This cookie is delicious”? Sometimes, the best we can do must be good enough.
Whatever brings you joy, I hope you have much of it this season and in the coming year! One of my greatest joys is being able to do the work I do. Thank you so much for being a part of that.
The StaarCon Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.
The StaarCorner
If you are coming in person to StaarCon in January, please know that the hotel room block expires this Friday!
I am delighted to announce that Karen Winkel will be an in-person presenter at StaarCon 2024.
Karen will teach us to use astrology, tarot, crystals, and the moon to manifest our desires.
Karen joins a roster of over fifty presenters who will share their wisdom at StaarCon 2024. When the conference is over, the AfterGlow begins, and all that wisdom remains available to ticketholders for an entire year.
Make your plan now to join Karen Winkel and the rest of the StaarCon 2024 presenters at StaarCon, either in West Palm Beach or on Accelevents.
StaarCon presenter Karen Winkel.
A three-card spread on a table.
Three Cards for Joy
Here is a spread to help you find your joy at any time of year. Use it with tarot or oracle cards.
Let Card One offer a solution or comfort regarding something hurting, worrying, or bothering you.
Let Card Two tell you how you are showing up in the world right now. Receive the card and consider how that could bring you joy.
Let Card Three show you something around you that can be a source of immediate joy, happiness, or relief.
Solstice Gathering December 21, 7-8pm on YouTube Live.
The Week in Review
Join us tomorrow evening, Thursday, December 21, for our Solstice Gathering on YouTube. That link will take you to the replay if you miss the live stream.
Your January TarotScopes will be available on my YouTube channel beginning December 31. As a special gift, channel members will have access to the beginning on December 25.
From Around the Web
StaarCon presenter and community member Amie (Mouser) Emberharte has suffered a series of health issues and needs some help. Check out the crowdfunding campaign and do what you can if you feel so called.
Joanna Powell Colbert, the artist behind the fabulous Gaian Tarot, shared a winter solstice tarot spread in 2018 that I love to perform every year. Try it for yourself!
Can tarot really help us find happiness? Here are some interesting insights!
Close-up of a woman's hands with tarot cards.
Creation and Divination
This column has run in this newsletter for the past year. Over this year, we have shared poetry from readers and from my 78 Cards Tarot Poetry Project. We have explored many ways that creativity and divination intersect. At StaarCon 2024, we will explore this theme even more thoroughly.
This will be the last installment of this series. Beginning in February, after StaarCon, I will start a new series. What should that series be? In the past, I have featured all seventy-eight tarot cards and all 36 Lenormand cards, sharing their classic meanings. I have also shared a single-card reading for the week.
What would you like to see in this spot for 2024? Use your creativity, and let me know!
Try this exercise to stretch your creativity with tarot and help you find joy.
Go through your deck, card by card, face up, and look at each card. Does the image make you feel joyful? Are you aware of a classic meaning for this card that involves joy or happiness?
If you find joy in a card, put it in a pile. Once you have been through the entire deck, you will have a stack of joyful cards.
Shuffle that joyful stack of cards and pull one at random to tell you what you need to do to nurture joy today.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
Christiana Gaudet with Christine-Claire Mallet at Mandel Public Library.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Zoom parties and group instruction available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
New! Schedule Appointments Online at acuity:scheduling!
Schedule online at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 6 Issue 51
December 20, 2023
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
