Okay,
Welcome.
Today's card is Father Christmas.
Introspection,
Guidance,
Solitude In traditional decks,
This card is usually called the Hermit,
Which implies solitude and inner searching.
The figure of Father Christmas fits this function rather beautifully,
And whilst seemingly straightforward in appearance,
This figure hides a complexity of history and tradition that is millennia in the making.
This figure is not to be confused with the earlier Sinterklaas,
Which has a different evolutionary trajectory through the pages of history.
Father Christmas is an energetic figure that captures an ancient spirit that was loved and vilified in equal measure.
He is the first personification of Christmas spirit that emerged from the Middle Ages and into the modern era.
This same spirit can be seen in numerous European legends under innumerable names,
But Father Christmas arose as a reactionary figure in the 16th century England.
Christmas and its celebrations were under attack.
The Puritans wanted to rid of its papal facade and heathen-like figures associated with it.
He has little to do with children,
Being an altogether adult character.
Much to the dismay of the Church,
He crossed borders and challenged the norm.
Held within this energetic figure swims all the ancient spirits of the season,
Many whose names have been lost.
For nearly 300 years,
This figure appeared in plays and on stages under various names,
Lord Christmas,
Sir Christmas,
Father Christmas.
He contains the same energy as the child.
It is simultaneously ancient and innocent.
He is a bridge between the deep past and the present.
After hundreds of years,
An amalgamation of Sinterklaas and Father Christmas was born in the United States as Santa Claus,
Who then found his way back into Europe and evolved to be indistinguishable from Father Christmas.
All the wisdom of all the spirits of Yuletide are held within this figure.
The divination meaning here?
In his hand,
He carries a bundle of sticks from the birch,
The pioneer tree that signifies birth,
New beginnings,
And growth.
But there is another side to this,
For birch sticks were also used to punish,
And they can be seen in the hands of the Krampus,
The shadow of Father Christmas.
In his backpack,
He carries toys that symbolize the innocence of childhood and the awe that children feel toward the season.
These act as reminders that even as adults,
We should maintain our connection to the magic held in the Yuletide.
Father Christmas carries the traditional lantern of the hermit,
The leader of ways,
And his path moves towards a destination that we cannot see.
He walks alone,
And yet he is not lonely,
For he contains the essence of all that was and all that will be.
You are facing such a time right now.
You have an inner light,
An inner guide,
That will help you.
Your life in this world is short.
Follow your gut and go for your dreams.
Trust your wisdom.
Mmm,
I love that message today.
A good reminder that we all need once in a while,
Right?
Listen to your intuition,
Follow your dreams,
Trust that you deserve them.
I hope this message was helpful today.
Namaste.
