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Wishing you a Happy New Year and looking ahead…
THE METHOD
As I briefly mentioned in intro to my 2025 Tarot Review, this favored New Year’s Eve tradition of mine involves drawing an annual 12-card spread with a thematic key card to help guide the year ahead. Before I started this year, I cleansed the deck with an herbal smoke blessing and made my regular call to kind and loving ancestors, benevolent spirits and kin, the elements and the corners, and all forces of good to help provide clarity and insight. Next, I shuffled while listening to folk music that feels magical to me, and drew a card for each month — face down — and the final theme. Boy howdy, I’m excited (and a little nervous) about what came up. More details after the ad! 👇🏼
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THE SPREAD
Whereas last year was a little light on the Major Arcana, this year had several pop in — and the Fool returns for the third time in five years. Oddly, there were several repeat appearances, albeit in different locations from 2025 spread, despite multiple shuffles and different draws between then and now. Wonder if that means anything. 😂
Clockwise through the year we go, with the Four of Wands setting the theme.
MONTHS AND THEME
Talk about a mixed bag! Thrilled to see the overall theme for the year is essentially: Completion + Celebration — labors have been steady and strong, and the harvest will be bountiful. This card recommends enjoying yourself and those you love. Good advice at any time, and indicating potential for an exciting and prosperous time! Love it for us.
I definitely feel like I’ve been staying steady on my grind to find a new gig and create opportunities to do meaningful legacy labors. Being results-oriented as I am, I would absolutely love to be celebrating the fruits of those labors next year. 🤞🏼
A fortuitous draw
As for the months, here’s what I drew for 2026:
January | The Lovers: Union, Desire, Joy — Gratefully nourish a strong relationship on a lifelong foundation of respect
February | The Devil: Addiction, Negativity — Be wary of ugly relations and materialism; free yourself from dependencies
March | Eight of Wands: Sudden Movement, Change — Clarity arrives like lightning, bringing news that shifts course; travel
April | Son of Wands: Charming, Adventurous — The “White Knight” of the tarot, remember that perfection is an illusion; trust your instincts
May | Daughter of Cups: Creative, Emotional — Get inspired by surroundings; Stay grounded to deal with harsh realities and conflict
June | Seven of Swords: Secrecy, Self Interest — Deceit and avoidance present; identify and face the cause of secret-keeping
July | Ace of Wands: Expansion, Inspiration — High energy and new growth abound in outlook and ideas, but don’t rush the fertile creativity
August | Five of Swords: Self Destruction — A warning to avoid being lured into arguments and situations; selfish power leads to pain
September | Six of Cups: Memories, Childhood Joy — Roots of the past are vibrant; enjoy happy reunions, simple pleasures, and wonder
October | The Chariot: Strong Will, Triumph — Discover confidence and bliss in achievement; focus the mind and aim for dreams
November | Father of Swords: Fair, Analytical — Gifted perception; detach and view from all angles to do what is responsible and just
December | The Fool: Spontaneity, Innocence — Ready to fly and leave the comfort of the nest, to risk falling and being called a fool
TO BEGIN
A motley crew to start off the year…
January: I always love seeing this card, and I’m very blessed to know exactly which strong relationship I’m most grateful for and happy to nourish. I’m enormously proud of the loving partnership my spouse and I have built together, and it’s precious to me.
February: This bastard again — and once again, I’m pretty sure I know who and what it’s warning me about. The timing syncs up for troublesome relatives to try roping me back into unhealthy patterns, and I’ll be mindful during this period and resist falling back in.
March: Last time I saw this card, I got a job that changed my career and my goals for life, so I’m hopeful that a similar course-changing development will arrive in early spring. If a chance to travel presents itself, I’ll take it!
April: For my birthday month, it’s nice to see a card that usually represents sharp intellect, honorable actions, and a calm demeanor. I will do my best to channel those aspects into my Aries self, resist perfectionism, and trust my intuition along the way.
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MID
Oscillating between creation and destruction, as always.
May: This card describing a romantic, artistic dreamer reads a little bit like a call out from a gentle big sister who knows your weaknesses. Despite being an Aries, I do often find conflict disturbing and it’s certainly difficult to stay grounded in reality sometimes.
June: Another warning. Six swords hang in plain view, but a sly fox is hiding one. Why? That’s anyone’s guess, but it’s best to find out before getting shanked by someone who is hiding something — especially if you’re the one keeping a secret that should be faced.
July: A card of endless creativity, but one that requires good judgement more than ever. Can’t rush the growth of new seeds, after all. This card sometimes carries literal interpretations of fertility, but there will be no pregnancy or birth for me, tyvm.
August: Warnings abound that desire for power will only lead to defeat, and discord will result. Personally, I tend to be more interested in collective power, but will be wary of selfish empowerment and situations that I sense it’d be better to avoid.
#ICYMI
For an overview of my history and practice with this deck, and to learn more about why I love it so much, check out the first, witchy edition of The Nerdery.
EOY
September: The Six of Cups encourages looking back on past years to focus on the magic and innocence of childhood. Admittedly, I find this a little challenging given my unhappy youth, but I would welcome reunions with old friends and remembering good moments.
October: Riding the chariot toward everything I dream of is the goal; building a relationship with the inner warrior and focusing the mind will make it easier to connect with confidence and willpower, to find the chariot inside and stay on firm footing.
November: This card represents a responsible person with deep ties to family who is respected by others. Currently, I’m not sure I have “deep” ties to family, but I would like to develop them and embody the fair and analytical perspective this card is known for.
December: Once again, we meet my frequent friend, the Fool. Adorably representing the beginning of the journey through the Major Arcana once more, I’m interested to see what new beginning awaits and excited to connect with the parts of myself that are naïve and inexperienced. I’ll do my best to take off while staying prepared to fall. Onward!
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