Tarot for the Seasons: December - Rest & Renewal
- Julie Embleton
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in November’s Tarot Challenge. It was truly inspiring to see so many of you engage, and I’m so grateful to everyone who participated! November invited us to Retreat & Rest, and as the days darken even more in December, this theme continues, but with the added energy of renewal as 2026 approaches. Welcome to Tarot for the Seasons: December - Rest & Renewal!
As we enter December, we’re invited to embrace the season’s natural rhythm and engage in deep rest and gentle self-care. December brings with it a quieter, more reflective energy, encouraging us to slow down, honour our needs, and restore ourselves after a busy year. Traditionally, this month is also when we start planning ahead. During this period, tarot is a wonderful companion, offering lots of insight, comfort, and clarity as we release the old and plant seeds for the new.
Tarot & the Energy of December
December’s energy is all about turning inward. As the days grow shorter and Mother Earth sinks deeper into sleep, we’re called to listen to our own needs and nurture our inner world. Tarot can be a gentle and supportive guide through this process. The cards help us to tune in to what’s really happening beneath the surface, giving us permission to rest and reflect.
Using tarot during this time can help you:
Identify areas where you need more care or compassion.
Recognise old patterns or worries that are ready to be released.
Set intentions for the coming year with greater clarity and purpose.
Honour your boundaries and protect your energy as the year draws to a close.
Whether you’re new to tarot or a seasoned reader, working with the cards in December can bring a sense of peace, reassurance, and gentle encouragement as you prepare for what’s next.
Weekly Challenge Overview
Each week in December focuses on a core theme designed to support your rest and renewal. You’ll find a prompt, expanded guidance, and a unique 3-card spread for each week. Take your time with each exercise—there’s no need to rush!
Week 1: Self Care; How can I nurture myself?
Prompt: Where do I need more rest or nourishment right now?
Expanded Guidance: This week, give yourself full permission to prioritise your own well-being. The hustle and bustle of the year can leave us feeling depleted, so check in with yourself honestly. What is your body telling you? Where is your mind feeling overwhelmed? What does your spirit crave? Use your tarot cards to uncover the areas of your life that most need your care and attention. Remember, self-care is not selfish—it’s essential.
The Self-Nurture Trio
What needs my care most?
What will support my rest?
How can I honour my needs?
Pull these cards and spend time journaling or meditating on the messages that come through. Notice any resistance to self-care, and gently explore where it might be coming from.
Week 2: Boundaries; How and when to say no
Prompt: Where do I need firmer boundaries?
Expanded Guidance: As we move into the heart of December, demands on our time and energy often increase. It’s easy to say yes to everything, but this can lead to burnout. This week is about recognising where your boundaries need strengthening. Use your tarot cards to identify situations or relationships where you’re giving too much, or where your ‘no’ needs to be more firmly expressed. Healthy boundaries are an act of self-respect and a way to preserve your energy for what truly matters.
The Boundary Builder
Where am I overextending?
What boundary needs strengthening?
What’s the benefit of saying no?
Reflect on the guidance from your cards. Consider how you might communicate your boundaries with kindness and clarity, both to yourself and others.
Week 3: Dreaming Forward: Setting New Year intentions
Prompt: What dreams are calling me into the new year?
Expanded Guidance: With the new year on the horizon, this is the perfect time to dream forward. What would you love to experience or create in the coming months? Use your tarot cards to help you clarify your intentions and desires. Allow yourself to imagine without limits, and trust that the seeds you plant now will grow in their own time. This is a week for visioning, planning, and allowing hope to blossom.
The Dream Seed Spread
What dream is ready to grow?
What support do I need?
What first step can I take?
Let the insights from your cards inspire your next steps. Write down your intentions and keep them somewhere visible as a gentle reminder of your vision.
Week 4: Renewal Ritual; Practice for closing the year
Prompt: How can I close this year with gratitude and clarity?
Expanded Guidance: The final week of December is your opportunity to honour all that you’ve experienced and achieved this year. It’s a time to let go of what you no longer need, celebrate your growth, and create space for renewal. Your tarot cards can guide you in creating a personal ritual. This might include writing a letter of gratitude, lighting a candle for release, or simply spending quiet time in reflection.
The Year-End Renewal
What am I releasing?
What am I welcoming?
How can I honour this transition?
Use the cards to support your ritual, and trust that however you choose to mark this transition, it will be exactly right for you.
Downloadable Tracker
To help you stay engaged and reflective throughout the challenge, I invite you to download the free tracker sheet I’ve created for the challenge. It’s available in both print or PDF fillable format. Use it to jot down your card pulls, insights, and any shifts you notice over the month. The tracker is a lovely way to see your journey unfold, and as the months pass, gain even deeper insight into themes personal to you!
Further Journaling
Journaling is a powerful companion to your tarot work, helping you to process, integrate, and deepen your insights. Here are eight journal prompts—two for each week—to support your exploration. Take your time with them, and let your responses flow naturally.
Week 1: Self-Care
Where do I feel most depleted, and what might help restore me?
What does self-care look like for me this month, and how can I make it a priority?
Week 2: Boundaries
Where have I struggled to say no, and what were the consequences?
How do I feel when I honour my boundaries, and how can I do this more often?
Week 3: Dreaming Forward
What intention feels most exciting for the new year, and why?
What fears or doubts do I need to release so I can move forward?
Week 4: Renewal
What am I most grateful for as the year ends?
What does renewal mean to me right now, and how can I invite it in?
Journaling alongside your tarot practice can help you gain clarity, spot patterns, and celebrate your growth. Some weeks you may not feel drawn to pull cards, and that’s okay! Spending even a few minutes jotting down your thoughts on the prompts is just as helpful.
I’d love for you to join this month’s Tarot for the Seasons and share your journey! If you feel inspired by December - Rest & Renewal, tag me @CelticSoulSanctuary on Instagram so we can connect and support one another. You’re also welcome to email me at julie@creativesoultarot.com with your reflections or insights. Our community thrives on shared experiences and collective encouragement, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
December is a precious opportunity to rest, reflect, and renew. With tarot as your guide, you can move through this season with a sense of peace and purpose, honouring both what has passed and what is yet to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I’m honoured to walk alongside you as we close the year and prepare for a bright new beginning in 2026. I look forward to meeting you here again in January for Vision & Intention!
Brightest Blessings to you and yours!
If you’d like to go deeper on your path, you might enjoy the Creative Soul Tarot Journal, designed to help you explore your readings and insights in more depth. The free 7 Days to Inner Clarity mini-course offers a week of focused reflection, while the Lunar Wisdom course supports you in working with the moon’s cycles for ongoing growth. And if you’re seeking a comprehensive look into the year ahead and would like to have a reading, the Your Date With Destiny 12-card tarot spread provides in-depth guidance for your personal journey.