A Light in the Darkness
A lantern in the snow.
As we begin the final month of the year and are flung, ready or not, into the 2025 holiday season, one seasonal theme is strongly on my mind.
No matter which of the many winter holidays you may celebrate, they all seem to have one thing in common. During the darkest time of the year, we seek, provide, and gather around the concept of light.
Whether we are enjoying Christmas lights, lighting the Menorah, lighting the kinara for Kwanzaa, or celebrating the return of the sun at Yule, the winter festival season is tied together by the concept of light in darkness.
Sacred and philosophical texts, as well as epic novels, often use the concept of a light in the darkness to illustrate hope, truth, and resilience in the face of despair. Perhaps this holiday season, more than ever, we need to welcome that sense of hope and resilience into our hearts.
We need not argue or fuss over which holidays we are celebrating and how. Rather, let us welcome the light of hope together, at a time that is sacred to us all.
A fairy looking forward to StaarCon 6.
The StaarCorner
As the end of the StaarCon 5 AfterGlow draws near on January 26, I find myself thinking back to the very first StaarCon. Of course, we had planned to have a three-day in-person conference in Palm Beach Gardens. The pandemic changed our plans. Now, five years later, we are building our own online platform, StaarCast, and getting ready to plan a new in-person conference using everything we have learned over the past five years.
Of course, the StaarCon 5 AfterGlow is a gift that will keep on giving right up until the end, and then StaarCast will take over, offering our community the opportunity to meet and learn together all year.
We have some great events scheduled for December!
On Thursday, December 11, at 5:30 pm ET, Mystic Lounging with Serena Fox will offer seasonal contemplation and divination.
On Thursday, December 18, at 7 pm ET, join us for a very popular offering, Spirit Circle: A Modern-Day Séance with Kimberly Scheurer.
On Sunday, December 21, at 7 pm ET, bring a candle and your tarot deck for a Winter Solstice Tarot Gathering with Christiana Gaudet.
Mary K Greer presenting at StaarCon 2021.
StaarCast News
This week, the development team tested the payment and fee-sharing systems, which were among the last to complete. We hope to mail your beta tester invitations soon! Registration for the test phase is almost full, so act now if you want to participate in testing.
StaarCast will offer Pay-Per-View and other features you have requested over the last five years. Basic membership will be free and will allow you to purchase access to premium webinars and videos. Premium membership will be offered on a monthly or annual basis. Premium memberships will receive discounts on pay-per-view and premium workshops and will have unlimited access to recorded StaarCon public sessions.
Nancy Hendrickson, moderated by Christiana Gaudet, at StaarCon 2021.
The Hermit, with the Star and the Sun.
The Light of the Hermit
When I think of the phrase, “A light in the darkness,” I immediately think of Major Arcana 9, The Hermit. The theme of light runs through the tarot, especially in the Major Arcana. The Sun reminds us to let our own light shine. The Star reminds us of the healing light that is available to us all.
The light of the Hermit, or what we often call ‘the Hermit’s lamp,’ is an interesting concept. The first tarot book I ever read described the Hermit as holding the light of wisdom for all to see. Yet, I later learned that the original Hermit was holding an hourglass, not a lamp. This is because the Hermit is Father Time. The hourglass turned into a candle, which served as a timepiece.
Why did the Hermit stop holding a clock and start holding the lamp of wisdom? My thought is that he didn’t. The Hermit reminds us to be patient. The Hermit is old and has witnessed the passage of time. To me, that the Hermit is Father Time is what gives him the authority to wield the light that brings us hope, wisdom, and clarity. We may focus more on the concept of his light these days, but I will take this idea a step further.
If, in literature, archetypes, and sacred text, we see light as our hope in darkness, it makes sense that the light also be a timepiece. Not only must we draw strength from the light, but we must also find our patience as we wait for the darkness to dissipate. Perhaps hope can never exist without patience. This may be one of the most important lessons we can learn from the Hermit.
Global Tarot Circle Live on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook & Instagram - Wednesday, December 3 @ 7 pm.
The Week in Review
This is a busy week! Join us tonight at 7 pm ET for Global Tarot Circle on YouTube, multi-streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.
This Saturday at 1 pm, it is time for my monthly tarot class at Mandel Public Library in downtown West Palm Beach.
On Sunday, local tarot friends are invited to join us at 4 pm for our monthly meetup at Panera Bread in Palm City.
I am excited to be teaching a small-group beginner-friendly tarot class in Stuart on the third Tuesday of each month. Our next class on tarot spreads will be on December 16.
Make sure you check out your December TarotScopes on YouTube for members and everyone else, and on TikTok.
From Around the Web
It’s a new month, Mercury retrograde is over (for now), and Theresa Reed has your December Astrology.
December 1 marked the start of the Advent season. This year, I have noticed so many tarot and witchy advent calendars! Whether or not you have purchased one, here is an advent tarot spread for you to try.
Of course, there is a Wicked Tarot, and Nerdist wants to show it to you.
Stay Tuned, Coming Soon banner.
Communities
2025 is the eighth year that we have formally published a weekly newsletter, although the Tarot Topics Newsletter began casually several years earlier. This column traditionally changes each year. At the beginning of 2025, I chose ‘Communities’ as the topic to explore here each week. I chose that topic because I was so pleased and impressed with our tarot community locally, our StaarCon community, and the community we now call ‘The Village’ that has sprung out of my YouTube channel. It has been delightful to explore the concept of communities with you over these past months.
Now, this column will disappear. At the beginning of 2026, we will begin a new column series that takes a deep dive into the seventy-eight cards of tarot.
Thank you for being an important part of our spiritual community!
Unseen hands leafing through a calendar.
Upcoming Events
Weekly Livestream Events
Monday 9:30 am: Your 3-Card Weekly Reading
Friday Noon: Your Friday Weekly Wrap-up
Saturday 12:30 pm: Saturday Psychic Sampler
Sunday 9:30 am: Tarot Topics Newsletter Recap
Watch on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram! (internet willing!) Schedule subject to change without notice.
Christiana Gaudet circa 2022.
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
770 SE Indian Street Suite 10
Stuart, Florida 34997-5604
Locations in Port Saint Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Stuart, Florida!
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
TikTok @christianagaudettarot
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 are available almost everywhere!
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
For business or agent inquiries, call 772-301-0232
For appointments, call or text 561-655-1160
Schedule Appointments, Mentoring Sessions, or Purchase Gift Certificates Online!
Schedule your private reading or mentorship session, or purchase gift certificates at https://christiana-gaudet.as.me.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 8 Issue 49
December 3, 2025
Christiana Gaudet Your Tarot Fairy Godmother banner.
Join us for "Autumn Arcana Class Three: Spread the Word!" on December 16, 7-8:30 pm at W Executive Suites, Stuart, FL. Discover ways to perform a tarot reading.