Sabbats, Seasons, and Tarot Spreads

We’re all familiar, I think, with Ebeneezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, and for some reason, his well-known words, “Bah, humbug!” popped into my head when I turned over today’s card. Here it is:

I’m showing it upright here so that you can appreciate the beauty of this card — it’s from Hattie Thorn’s Vintage Christmas deck. I drew it reversed, however, and yes, I took one look at it and uttered those infamous words. Bah, humbug!

Why did I have such an immediate and visceral reaction to this card? The “visceral” aspect is part of the card. It’s very much a card of “feeling” — not with emotions, but with our body. It’s sometimes called a card of “lust”, or, as I prefer to think of it, “a lust for life”. Strength is about getting out, going places, doing things, and truly making the most of each moment.

Reversed, however, it’s like someone just threw a cold, wet blanket on all that fire and energy. Somebody is tamping down the fun. It’s like Scrooge showing up at the office Christmas party.

“Bah, humbug!”

Today is the final day for our Weekly Reading, a day on which I try to sum up what we’ve looked at, what we’ve learned, what we want to carry forward. So, what’s this “Bah, humbug!” all about?

We’ve focused on family throughout the week. We’ve asked “Who is our family?” Hopefully we’ve broadened our point of view a bit. We’ve talked about “reciprocity” — the principle that what we give to others comes back to us. And we’ve celebrated the official Christmas holiday.

And now? “Bah, humbug!”

What’s going on here? Maybe it’s a bit of the usual Christmas “let-down”. The parties are over; the presents are opened; school and work vacation time is coming to an end. “Bah, humbug, for sure.”

Were the holidays all you’d hoped? Did you get everything you wished for? Did you actually go out of you way to do something for others? Or did you just go along in your usual routine, paying lip service to the words of good cheer?

If you did, well, bah, humbug on you!

Christmas day has come and gone, but the need for love and compassion goes on every day of the year. I think this reversed Strength card today serves as a good reminder that it’s all too easy to lose the “holiday spirit”. Please, don’t throw out “helping others” as you discard the old wrapping paper and bows. Don’t pack away “community service” in that big box with your Christmas tree. Don’t turn off the feelings of good will when you shut off the colorful, twinklight lights.

We can put away the trappings and trimmings of Christmas and save them for the coming year, but please, let’s not put away our willingness to reach out to others, to share what we have with those in need, and our acceptance of our neighbors as brothers and sisters.

Christmas is over and life goes on. Make the most of it today and every day.