As much as I absolutely love the holiday season, winter is without a doubt the busiest time of year. I always have visions of holiday movie marathons, romantic walks in the snow, and steaming cups of hot cocoa—but the reality is often realizing on Christmas Eve that I haven’t really done anything to get into the holiday spirit. Sure, we get some time off work, but usually the lead-up means you’re twice as busy, not to mention your evenings are filled with holiday parties, searching for gifts for everyone on your list, and attempting to stay on track for that winter arc you swore to yourself you were going to complete. To get a little more clarity on what the winter season will bring—and actually prepare this year—I reached out to an expert for a tarot reading on exactly what The Everygirls will be faced with. Here’s what you need to know, according to Hillary Coke, astrologer and tarot expert.
Hillary Coke, Astrologer and Tarot Expert
Hillary helps users find clarity and insight through the ancient wisdom of the stars and the cards. With deep knowledge of astrology and Tarot cards, she offers a unique opportunity to gain clarity and insight into various aspects of people’s lives. These personal readings can guide you in making decisions, resolving conflicts, and understanding the spiritual lessons in your life.
What is tarot?
Tarot refers to any set of cards used for fortune-telling, but the most popular tarot decks today originated in Italy in the 1400s. The deck has 22 Major Arcana cards, which reveal significant insights about your higher self, and 56 Minor Arcana cards, which offer smaller predictions about your future self. If the details overwhelm you, just know that tarot aims to guide you and offer insight into your future.
How does tarot work?
When a tarot card reader pulls cards for you, they can do several different variations of tarot readings. For this reading, Coke pulled four cards for our readers to predict what their winter might look like from beginning to end. If you want more information on tarot and tarot readings, you can check out Nebula’s spiritual guidance platform.
Your winter tarot reading
First card: Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles represents new potential emerging in the winter. It’s planting the seeds that, once spring arrives, will blossom. “This card indicates that something material or tangible is forming for you—a specific project, an opportunity, a new path,” Coke said. “There’s something that definitely needs your attention!” But she warns that winter is not the time to start building anything. Instead, spend these colder months quietly envisioning and nurturing your ideas. Tapping into intention and intuition instead of rushing a project before it’s ready will serve you in the long run.
Second card: Four of Cups
The Four of Cups being present for a winter reading just makes sense—it’s a card all about retreat, withdrawal, and contemplation. In this reading, it can suggest you feel someone in your life is being cold to you. If so, now is the time to reach out and show them some warmth. It can also indicate a disinterest in socializing. If you’ve been feeling bored or shut down, it’s a sign that you’re craving deeper and more meaningful connections in your life. “The card reminds you that while winter may feel cold and still, it is not stagnant,” Coke added. “Use your dissatisfaction as a starting point; you might need the universe to offer something new—a fresh perspective or a new journey.” To find what exactly you need, slow down and look inward.
Third card: The Moon
The Moon represents not only the long winter nights ahead but also old fears or memories coming to the surface. When these arise, The Moon card asks you to trust your instincts, even in the face of uncertainty. According to Coke, winter is not always a season that brings forward clarity, but rather a time to keep dreaming and spend the colder months deep in thought. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but you should use this season to really consider what you want in your life.
Fourth card: Eight of Wands
The Eight of Wands represents what happens when winter comes to a close. And good news! Spring will bring forth breakthroughs and lots of momentum. When the cold weather starts to break, all the seeds you have buried will start to grow. It’s the reassurance you need that even if you don’t see things come to fruition during winter, with patience, it will all pay off. “There’s no need to worry; the intuition you’ve listened to will help you accelerate,” Coke said. Let this card help you relax and enjoy the slow winter days the season brings.
What this tarot reading means for your winter
This spread is letting us know that winter will primarily be a quiet season for The Everygirls, but that doesn’t mean nothing new is forming. We’re quietly setting intentions, nursing new ideas, recalibrating our hearts, and sharpening our intuition for when spring brings lots of new opportunities. We’re pausing and looking inward until the cold passes and our goals are ready to thaw.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
Feature graphic images credited to: Diana Vyshniakova | Adobe Stock. Tarot card photographs taken by Garri Chaverst for The Everygirl.
