Tarot Into the New Year

I’m writing from the living room this evening, while under the cover and comfort of an electric throw.  The temperature in Charlotte didn’t break thirty degrees today and the forecast low overnight is fifteen. 

I realize there are places far colder than what we’re experiencing here.  However, in the six and a half years I have been here, this is the longest stretch of cold weather I have seen.  As a writer of Christmas mysteries, I'm enjoying every minute!

I did manage to get out for a quick run today.  It was only two and a half miles, but I needed a holiday detox and the run fit the bill.  Speaking of detox, at work tomorrow, the kitchen will be overflowing with junk food of every sort imaginable.  The arrival of the new year brings resolutions of healthy eating.  People will be unloading boxes of chocolates, bags of candy, containers of cookies…in short, any sort of high caloric temptation that isn’t nailed down at home will land in the kitchen.  It will look like offerings to the God of Junk Food.  The only thing missing will be druids waving curved knifes and bits of mistletoe as they prepare the sacrificial virgin.

The freezer will be an impenetrable wall of Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice boxes.  Here’s a shot from last year…

Meanwhile, here at the house, we’re in that awkward in-between stage.  Christmas is over, the decorations are coming down, and boxes & storage containers form an obstacle course worthy of American Ninja Warrior.

I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks.  As the last vestiges of 2017 are packed away and schedules return to normal.  For now, I’ll be snuggled under the throw doing some quiet reflection on the year that has passed and the one we have entered.  From my vantage point on the sofa, I can see one of the Christmas trees we had in the dining room.  In place of ornaments, tarot cards hang from the branches.

I invited a bit of history in “The Stockings Were Hung.”  The characters would gather round the tree and select seven cards.  The meaning of the cards were meant to foretell the events of the upcoming year for them.  I wrote that it was a tradition dating back to the 1700’s.  In reality, nothing like that was ever done, but I thought the creepy images of the cards against the wholesome backdrop of a Christmas tree was marvelous contrast.  I used the Sherlock Holmes deck of tarot cards on my tree, because...well...mysteries.

Still…could there really be something to it?  Perhaps I’ll select seven cards for myself this evening…