Beginner Tarot Deck Guide Winter Solstice

Tarot Spreads for Letting Go of the Past Year

Before we get into the magical world of Tarot spreads and letting go of stagnant energies, let’s discuss our world. Would we agree that the universe basically runs on chaos? It is scientifically proven that the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy, or disorder, always increases over time within an isolated system.

So if your life feels like an absolute dumpster fire right now, you can technically blame physics. Or, you can blame the planetary movements. Whether it is Mercury Retrograde messing with your communication skills or Saturn returning to slap you with a harsh reality check, the cosmic deck is often stacked against our sanity. But holding onto that old baggage? That part is entirely on you. It is time to clear the board.

The Overview: Why You Need to Delete Your Save Files

Before we start slinging cards and pretending we have it all together, letโ€™s get one thing straight: you can’t install a new game on a full hard drive. You have to delete the corrupted files first. We all have that emotional hoarding problem where we keep old resentments, cringey memories, and toxic relationships “just in case” we need to obsess over them at 3 AM.

Using Tarot spreads for letting go isn’t just about woo-woo magic or buying expensive crystals; it is psychological debugging. We are going to look at specific spreads designed to identify that stagnant energy, thank it for the “character development,” and then yeet it into the void so you can actually enjoy the New Year. We need to clear the static so you can actually hear what the universe is trying to scream at you.

Tarot Explained for the Skeptic

If you think Tarot is just for fortune-telling or predicting lottery numbers, you are playing the wrong game. Think of Tarot as a procedurally generated map of your subconscious. The cards are archetypes, symbols that hack into your brain and force you to look at the loot you have been hoarding and the quests you have been ignoring. When we talk about letting go, we are using the cards to bypass your ego’s firewall. Your ego wants to keep you safe and stagnant. The cards want you to level up.

Using Tarot for Letting Go of Negative Energies

We love holding onto negative energy because it is familiar. It is like grinding in a low-level area because you are scared of the boss fight. But negative energy is heavy. It lowers your stats and drains your mana. Using Tarot for letting go allows you to pinpoint exactly where you are stuck. Is it an ex who lives rent-free in your head? A dead-end job that drains your soul? Imposter syndrome that tells you you aren’t good enough? The cards will call you out with zero hesitation.

Tarot Spreads Used for Letting Go of the Past Year

Here are two layouts to help you purge the system.

1. The “System Purge” Release Spread (5 Cards)
This is for when you know something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it.

  • Card 1: The Glitch. What specifically needs to be released right now?
  • Card 2: The Origin Story. Why are you still holding onto this junk? (hint: it’s usually fear).
  • Card 3: The Debuff. How is holding onto this actually hurting you?
  • Card 4: The Patch. What action can you take to release this?
  • Card 5: The Upgrade. What enters your life once the space is cleared?

2. The End-of-Year Boss Battle Spread (7 Cards)
Use this during the transition between years to review your performance stats.

  • Card 1: The Tutorial. What was the biggest lesson of the year?
  • Card 2: Survival Mode. What difficult challenge did you actually survive?
  • Card 3: Achievement Unlocked. What did you create or achieve?
  • Card 4: Inventory Drop. What are you ready to release and leave in the past?
  • Card 5: The Gratitude. What deserves a final salute before you move on?
  • Card 6: Carried Items. What wisdom are you taking into the New Year?
  • Card 7: Next Level. What is the main energy or theme for the upcoming year?

How to Best Interpret Your Reading

Don’t force a happy ending if the cards show disaster. If you pull the Three of Swords, don’t try to spin it as a happy accident. It hurts. Accept it. If the Tower shows up, your structure is faulty. Stop ignoring the red flags. Your intuition is the cheat code here. If a card makes you uncomfortable, that is exactly where you need to look. Read the imagery, look for patterns, and don’t be afraid to roast yourself a little bit.

Let the Healing Begin for the New Year

The New Year isn’t going to magically fix you just because the calendar changed. Only you can do that. But by using these Tarot spreads, you stop playing on autopilot. You take the controller back. Clear the energy, shuffle the deck, and get ready for the next level. The cosmos is waiting for your next move.

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