Welcome to the final 2025 issue of The Austin Arcana: a lunar-timed guide to Austin’s most magical happenings, where ritual meets real life for the city’s conscious and curious souls.

As we close out the year, I’m grateful for this budding community and so excited for the magic we’ll create in 2026 ✨

If you’re looking to get in the holiday spirit (and by that I mean tear up watching commercials), I highly suggest scrolling through the John Lewis Holiday Adverts. IMO the late 2010s were some of the best, but follow your heart. I’ve been watching for a decade now, and whether they’re using a man on the moon, a hibernating bear, a lonely penguin, or Elton John, they never fail to tug at my heartstrings 🥹

And of course, I cannot send this issue out without another cozy cabin.
YouTube has really stepped up their yule log scenery game this year and I’m here for it.

My last holiday gift to you is my Christmas 2025 playlist on Spotify 😂
I’m festive, what can I say 🤶🏼

If this moon mail appeared in your inbox by fate (or a friend’s forward),
you can join the coven here.

Wishing you and yours a very magical holiday 🕯️

🙏 Mallory

P.S. If you are pet-free, please consider fostering a dog for 3 weeks. Austin Animal Services desperately needs fosters after an outbreak of pneumovirus.

More details below in The Altar. All dogs who don’t get placed with a foster will need to stay crated for 3 weeks with only quick bathroom breaks 😭

Please fwd this message to anyone who may be able to foster.

There’s an irony to this season.

We talk about peace and joy as if they’re guaranteed this time of year, yet the pace, pressure, and expectations can at times feel as though they’re designed to steal both.

The truth is, peace isn’t something we arrive at once everything settles.
Peace happens when we accept where we are.

Anxiety lives in the future.
Depression lives in the past.
Peace lives here, in the present moment.

You can’t access peace while rehearsing what hasn’t happened yet, or replaying what already has. Peace only exists in the now. Even in the middle of chaos, we get to choose where we place our attention.

So as you reflect on what you’re ready to leave behind in 2025, notice where you’re gripping too tightly. Where you’re trying to control outcomes instead of trusting the timing of the Universe.

Some things don’t need fixing, they need releasing.
And sometimes, choosing peace is the bravest thing we can do.

At its heart, Yule is about the return of light.

It marks the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, and the moment the sun begins its slow return. For ancient cultures, this wasn’t symbolic. It was survival, hope, and reassurance that winter would not last forever.

The word Yule comes from the Old Norse Jól, meaning wheel, a reference to the turning of the year and the natural cycles we move through, whether we plan for them or not.

Yule was also considered a liminal time, an in-between space. A pause where the veil between worlds thinned, ancestors were honored, and reflection mattered more than action. It was a time to release what no longer served, tend the hearth, and quietly set intentions for the next cycle.

Many traditions we still recognize today come from Yule:

Over time, Yule traditions were folded into Christmas as Christianity spread through Europe. The themes remained the same: light in the darkness, rebirth, and hope, just told through a different story.

At its core, Yule reminds us you don’t need to rush the dark.
The light knows when to return.

New Moons are your monthly reset.
A time to plant seeds and begin again. Cosmic blank pages.

New Moon energy is soft, inward, intuitive, and perfect for setting aligned intentions that unfold over the next lunar cycle.

Theme: Sacred threshold and cosmic leap. Look forward not with pressure, but with truth.

This is no ordinary new moon. It's the final lunation of 2025, occurring just one day after the Sun aligns with the Galactic Center (the supermassive black hole at the heart of our Milky Way).

You're standing in a cosmic portal between who you've been and who you're becoming. The archer's arrow is aimed at your most inspired dreams, but this isn't blind optimism. Venus joins the moon to magnetize what you truly love, while squares to Saturn and Neptune ensure your visions are both grounded and transcendent.

This new moon asks, What would you create if you knew you were worthy of receiving it? The Universe is handing you the permission slip to dream bigger while keeping one foot on solid ground.

Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of growth, possibility, higher meaning, and optimism. This New Moon supports big-picture thinking and conscious visioning for the year ahead.

Sagittarius energy asks:

Mindful Watchouts:

✨ Reality check shiny objects: Neptune's fog may make new opportunities look more sparkly than they are. Trust your gut if something feels too good to be true.

❤️‍🩹 Saturn's boundaries are protective, not punitive: You might feel stuck or limited, especially in relationships, but these boundaries are teaching you self-preservation and respect.

🎢 Unexpected plot twists: Sudden changes may challenge your sense of stability. Stay flexible and trust that detours can be fortuitous.

🌀 Accidental overwhelm: The Scorpio influence (stinger!) plus holiday chaos can drain you. You don't have to say yes to everything or pursue perfection.

🗣️ Mercury squares the Nodes of Destiny on Dec 20: Communication could get heated. Choose to walk away rather than waste energy on drama.

Ritual Reflections:

Instead of a full recap or a list of resolutions, try a quiet reflection that honors the year-end season.

The Altar is a space to spotlight Austin’s makers, causes, and collaborations.
It’s a way for us to contribute to the city’s magic by sharing opportunities to give back, support, and strengthen our circle.

URGENT: Fosters Needed for Austin Animal Services
Austin Animal Services is in urgent need of fosters. All fosters must go to pet-free homes. They are experiencing an outbreak of pneumovirus, a dog-only, non-fatal respiratory virus at the Shelter.

Dogs who do not get placed with a foster will need to remain in crates for 3 weeks (outside of regular bathroom breaks). Though humans cannot get the virus, they can carry it, so volunteers are also limited.

To reduce community spread, adoptions of dogs at the shelter are limited to dog-free homes. 

Should you choose to adopt, ALL adoption fees are waived!

Tillery St. Moving Sale
Local fav Tillery St is moving!! 20% off prducts available now. Great last min holiday gift for your loved ones with green thumbs.

Support The Herbal Pantry Launch at Ace of Cups
Ace of Cups has launched a raffle to support their community herb project.

Each ticket helps them stock and sustain The Herbal Pantry, a community resource for free herbal care items. 100% of funds raised will go towards supplies used to craft and replenish herbal offerings for the community.

Animal Wishing Tree at Stay Wild Salon
Not ready to adopt a dog, but want to support those in need? You can virtually adopt a pet and donate supplies they need most by visiting Stay Wild Salon.

Many of the pets in need are senior dogs (7+ years old) who deserve comfort, care, and love, especially during the holidays. You can make a big difference by virtually adopting a pet from the tree and donating the supplies they need most.

Support Community Vegan’s Brick + Mortar Location
Community Vegan, founded in 2021 by Marlon Rison and Ericka Dotson, has become a beloved Austin staple for transforming soul food into plant-based nourishment. They need the community’s help to raise funds and keep their dream (and Austin’s vegan soul) alive.

Read more on their history and how you can support here.

Calling Local ATX Artists
We have a lot of ideas to bring to life through this community, and are looking to partner with local artists on some work.

Reply to this email with your fav folks we should connect with.

Not sure what to get your favorite witch? Look no further 🌙

I’m low-key obsessed with the range of acid wash options to show off your ATX witchy pride with Keep Austin Witchy merch.

These are brand-spankin’’ new and still a novelty.

Grab hoodies and tees, perfect for summoning your magic, your Uber, or your morning latte. Can’t wait to spot these around town like little witchy Easter eggs.

Grab yours HERE

$20 for 10 min tarot reading with Madame Clarita
Herbal Body Scrubs for the Season

Kitten Yoga Benefiting River Run Ranch Rescue
Pet Photos w/ Santa
FREE Yoga in the Park
Yoga for Grief
Tonal Body Harmony: Cello Sound Healing
Sanctuary Meditation
Austin Witches Market
Winter Solstice Journey: Yoga Nidra + Sacred Sound
Chinese Tea Tasting

Pet Photos w/ Santa
Solstice 2026: Collective Tarot Reading, Clearing, + Visioning
Winter Solstice Workshop: Embrace the Light Within
Winter Solstice Circle (Cedar Park)
Austin Witches Market
Solstice Goddess Crowns
Yuletide Gathering + Winter Solstice Meditation
Nervous System Care: Yin, Somatic Movement, Hypnagogic Guided Meditation
FREE Spirit Messages with Evidential Medium Melissa Kincaid

Manifestation Mastery

2026 Manifestation Workshop with Ravelle Laurette

Girls NYEE Vision Boarding + Bubbles

Soulful New Year’s Eve Party

Winter Solstice Celebration: 108 Sun Salutations & Sound Bath

Sunday Mystic Talks + Tea
The Ritual Cafe
Austin’s Queer Coven Social
Austin Witches Market
The Light Lab
Dharma Punks
Saturday Service
Kuya Sauna Class Series
Puppy Yoga
Sunday Reset at Punch Bowl
Community Guided Coworking
Blue Genie Art Bazaar

Have ideas of things you’d like to see from us in 2026? Send us a note!

If this little slice of magic makes your week brighter, send it to a friend who’d love it too. The more our circle grows, the more things we can spotlight, the more Austin magic we can create… you get the vibe ✨