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3 Tarot Spreads for December: Clarity, Power, and Care

  • 12 min read
Festive christmas tree with red and gold ornaments surrounded by wrapped presents, featuring the text ‘3 tarot spreads for december: clarity, power, and care’ in bold orange font.

December is a month of transition—a bridge between the past year and the fresh start of the new one. It’s the perfect time for reflection, realignment, and planning for the future. Tarot can be a powerful tool during this time, helping you gain clarity, step into your personal power, and nurture your inner self.

In this article, we’ll explore three transformative tarot spreads for December that are designed to help you reflect on the past, empower yourself for the future, and focus on self-care. These spreads include:

  1. Cold Truth Spread – A spread to reflect on the lessons and challenges of the past year.
  2. Empowerment Expedition Spread – A spread to reclaim your inner strength and set goals for the future.
  3. Mirror Moment Spread – A spread to reconnect with your self-care practices and holistic wellbeing.

These tarot spreads are perfect for anyone looking to close out the year with intention, clarity, and purpose. Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or just starting out, these spreads offer a framework for meaningful reflection and personal growth. Let’s dive into the first spread: Cold Truth.

Cold Truth Tarot Spread: Reflecting on the Past Year

The Cold Truth Tarot Spread is the ultimate layout for end-of-year reflection. December invites introspection, and this spread provides a framework for understanding where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and what you need to leave behind before stepping into the new year. Inspired by winter’s stillness, it’s a moment to pause, reflect, and prepare for the next chapter.

Purpose of the Cold Truth Tarot Spread

Winter is a time for retreat and reflection. The Cold Truth Spread aligns with this season’s energy, helping you assess the lessons, challenges, and triumphs of the past year. By taking a closer look at where you’ve been, this spread provides clarity on what to release and how to embrace the opportunities ahead. Whether you’ve faced a tough year or celebrated milestones, this spread offers an honest and compassionate lens for self-discovery.

Card Breakdown

  1. Current Winter Standpoint: Where are you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually this winter?
  2. Leave Behind: What habits, beliefs, or situations are no longer serving you?
  3. Fall Lessons: What wisdom have you gained from the previous season?
  4. Winter Focus: Where should you direct your energy and intention this season?
  5. Frosty Challenges: What obstacles might you face in December?
  6. Melting Challenges: How can you soften and overcome these barriers?
  7. Snowy Opportunities: What new possibilities are emerging this winter?
  8. Chilly Chances: What risks or decisions require careful consideration?
  9. Personal Growth: How can you expand and evolve as the year draws to a close?
  10. Cozy Balance: How can you nurture yourself and find harmony?
  11. Winter Relationships: How might your connections shift this season?
  12. Overall Theme: What is the overarching lesson or energy of your winter journey?

How to Use the Cold Truth Tarot Spread

  1. Set the Scene: Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted. Light a candle or play calming music to create a reflective atmosphere.
  2. Lay Out the Cards: Follow the visual layout of the spread as shown in the graphic. Draw one card at a time, focusing on the question for each position.
  3. Reflect and Journal: After pulling your cards, spend time reflecting on their meanings. Write down your thoughts in a journal to deepen your understanding and create a record of your insights.

Why This Spread is Ideal for December

December is a transitional month, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. The Cold Truth Spread helps you:

  • Process the Past Year: Understand the key themes, challenges, and growth points of the year.
  • Release What No Longer Serves You: Identify the habits, relationships, or mindsets to leave behind.
  • Focus on the Future: Gain clarity on where to direct your energy as you prepare for the year ahead.

This spread is a powerful tool for aligning with the rhythm of the season, offering closure and clarity as you step into the new year.

Key Takeaway

The Cold Truth Tarot Spread is a reflective and grounding practice for December. It offers a structured way to process the past year, uncover hidden lessons, and prepare for personal growth in the months ahead.

Visual Aid

Cold truth layout | tarot with gord

Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread: Reclaiming Your Power

The Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread is designed to guide you in reclaiming your personal power. As we move into a new year, this spread invites you to identify your strengths, overcome limitations, and envision an empowered version of yourself. It’s not just about discovering what holds you back; it’s about equipping yourself with the tools and insights to move forward with purpose and confidence.

Purpose of the Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread

The new year is a time for setting intentions, and the Empowerment Expedition Spread helps you chart a path toward growth and renewal. This spread provides clarity on your current self-image, highlights sources of strength and pain, and offers actionable steps to overcome obstacles. By visualizing your empowered future, it encourages alignment with your values and goals.

Card Breakdown

  1. Current Self-Image: How do you see yourself right now in terms of confidence and self-worth?
  2. Sources of Power: What inner strengths or external resources can you rely on?
  3. Sources of Pain: What unresolved wounds or challenges need your attention?
  4. Overcoming Limitations: What barriers or beliefs need to be addressed to reclaim your power?
  5. Core Values: What principles guide your decisions and actions?
  6. First Step to Empowerment: What immediate action can you take to step into your power?
  7. Second Step to Empowerment: What follows as you build on that first step?
  8. Your Support System: Who or what can support you on your journey?
  9. Vision of Empowered Self (1): A glimpse of your ideal empowered self.
  10. Vision of Empowered Self (2): Another layer of insight into your empowered future.

How to Use the Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread

  1. Preparation: Begin with a grounding exercise or a short meditation to center yourself. Focus on your intention for the reading.
  2. Lay Out the Cards: Arrange the cards in the spread’s layout as shown in the graphic. Reflect deeply on each card’s position and meaning as you reveal them.
  3. Record Your Insights: Use a journal to document your thoughts and emotions. Writing helps solidify your understanding and creates a reference for future reflection.

Why This Spread is Ideal for December

As the year ends, many of us reflect on personal growth and set goals for the year ahead. The Empowerment Expedition Spread:

  • Encourages Self-Awareness: Understand your current state without judgment.
  • Highlights Strengths and Challenges: Identify what empowers and hinders you.
  • Provides Actionable Steps: Break your journey into manageable, strategic actions.
  • Inspires Vision: Focus on the future self you aspire to become.

This spread offers a structured and supportive approach to stepping into the new year with clarity and purpose.

Key Takeaway

The Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread is a transformational tool for self-discovery and growth. It helps you reconnect with your core values, identify actionable steps, and envision a future where you fully embody your power.

Visual Aid

Empowerment expedition layout | tarot with gord

Mirror Moment Tarot Spread: Realigning for Holistic Growth

The Mirror Moment Tarot Spread is your guide to self-care and alignment. This spread helps you reflect on your current state, identify areas of neglect, and uncover ways to nurture yourself holistically. With its vertical layout, it mirrors the concept of balance and invites you to explore your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

Purpose of the Mirror Moment Tarot Spread

Self-care often takes a backseat during busy times, but December’s reflective energy is the perfect opportunity to refocus. The Mirror Moment Spread helps you evaluate your well-being across different dimensions—mind, body, and spirit. By addressing neglected areas and adopting supportive practices, this spread guides you toward holistic growth.

Card Breakdown

  1. Current Self-Care Energy: How are you currently showing up for yourself in terms of self-care?
  2. Neglected Areas: What aspects of your well-being need more attention?
  3. Better Nurture: How can you better nurture yourself moving forward?
  4. Emotional Needs: What do you need emotionally to feel balanced?
  5. Physical Needs: How can you better care for your body?
  6. Spiritual Needs: What can you do to connect with your inner self or higher purpose?
  7. Adoptable Practice: What new habit or practice can support your overall well-being?

How to Use the Mirror Moment Tarot Spread

  1. Create a Calm Environment: Set the mood for your reading by finding a quiet space and incorporating elements like candles or soft music.
  2. Lay Out the Cards: Arrange the cards vertically, following the spread’s design. Focus on each card’s message as you draw it.
  3. Reflect and Act: Use the insights from this spread to create a self-care plan tailored to your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

Why This Spread is Ideal for December

The Mirror Moment Spread helps you pause and realign during the holiday season, a time when self-care can easily be neglected. This spread:

  • Promotes Self-Reflection: Understand your current self-care practices and their effectiveness.
  • Identifies Gaps: Highlight areas of your well-being that need nurturing.
  • Encourages Action: Offer practical steps to restore balance and harmony.

By focusing on holistic growth, this spread ensures you end the year feeling more grounded and aligned with your needs.

Key Takeaway

The Mirror Moment Tarot Spread provides a comprehensive approach to self-care and personal alignment. Use it to nurture your mind, body, and spirit as you prepare to step into a new year.

Visual Aid

Mirror moment layout | tarot with gord

Combining Tarot Spreads for December: Cold Truth, Empowerment Expedition, and Mirror Moment

December is a pivotal time for introspection and renewal, and these Tarot Spreads for December—the Cold Truth, Empowerment Expedition, and Mirror Moment—work together to provide clarity, empowerment, and self-care as we transition into the new year. These spreads are ideal for anyone looking to reflect on the past year, reclaim their personal power, and create a self-care plan that aligns with their intentions for the future.

Reflect, Empower, Align: How to Use These Tarot Spreads for December Together

  1. Start with Cold Truth: The Cold Truth Tarot Spread is the perfect way to reflect on the past year. Use this spread to uncover lessons, identify what no longer serves you, and clarify the energy you’re carrying into the next year. It’s a grounding way to start your December reflections.
  2. Move to Empowerment Expedition: After processing the past, the Empowerment Expedition Tarot Spread helps you step into your personal power. It encourages you to define your strengths, overcome challenges, and set actionable goals that align with your core values. This is the perfect spread to help you plan for a strong start to the new year.
  3. Finish with Mirror Moment: Conclude with the Mirror Moment Tarot Spread, which focuses on realigning your self-care practices and nurturing your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. This spread allows you to cultivate balance and create habits that will sustain you in the coming months.

Practical Tips for Using These End-of-Year Tarot Spreads

  • Journal Your Reflections: Each of these spreads offers deep insights. Writing down your interpretations and how they resonate with you can enhance your understanding and track your personal growth.
  • Spread Them Out: You don’t have to complete all these spreads in one sitting. Use them throughout December to guide your reflections and set intentions at your own pace.
  • Create a Ritual: Ground yourself before each reading by meditating, lighting a candle, or simply taking a few deep breaths to connect with the moment.

By combining these tarot spreads for December, you can create a holistic process of reflection, empowerment, and alignment. Whether you’re seeking closure for the past year or preparing for new beginnings, these spreads provide a meaningful roadmap for the journey.

Conclusion

December is a powerful month for self-discovery and renewal, and these Tarot Spreads for December—the Cold Truth, Empowerment Expedition, and Mirror Moment—offer unique ways to navigate this transitional time. Together, they help you reflect on the past, reclaim your personal power, and establish a self-care plan to step into the new year with confidence and clarity.

Book Your Tarot Reading

If you’d like personalised support with these spreads, consider booking a tarot reading with me. I offer:

Each tarot reading includes:

  • A photo of your cards.
  • A detailed card-by-card breakdown.
  • Guided journaling prompts to help you integrate the insights.

These spreads are also featured in my book, Simply Spreads, which is packed with ideas for using tarot to reflect, grow, and align with your purpose.

Closing Thought

These tarot spreads for December provide an empowering way to end the year with intention. Whether you’re reflecting on the past, envisioning your future, or realigning with self-care, the Cold Truth, Empowerment Expedition, and Mirror Moment spreads are here to guide you. Step into the new year with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.