Happy New Year!
As the clock struck midnight, I sat at my kitchen table and breathed in the new energy of this new year. I also rapped on my tarot deck, shuffled in this new energy, and did my first tarot spread of the year. A spread for you guys.
This wasn’t my plan, but in sitting at the table to comfort my two 6-month-old kittens from fireworks, I thought that this was a wonderful idea. So, I pulled my binder of spreads over, flipped it open, and skimmed the spreads until I found one I liked.
Next, I pulled my handy-dandy Rider-Waite-Smith deck out, my rumpled reference book, and pulled my hair-tie off of my deck. With all my tools prepared, I sat with my deck and shuffled in that new energy.
With a notebook and pen on hand, I settled into my seat and composed my question:
Calling on my spirit guides, the Universe, and all those who support the community we share, to share their wisdom about this new year (2021).
Then I shuffled in my question, cut the cards, and laid out my spread. A Journey Spread:
The reading began with my shadow card: Death
As the number four reminds us, Death is a card all about change. When representing where we are right now (general environment), change is the word. With the power of this card, we are reminded that this change has been building for some time now, and that it has not only set things in motion, but is here to teach us the best way to handle this shift in energy.
Death brings natural change, teaching us how to get out of our own way, and live a life in the present. Since change is afoot, it would be best if we avoid getting attached to the past, future, or an outcome. In this case, the Wheel of Fortune spins, and we will thrive when we flow with the rhythm of life.
With a general sense of where we are, it’s time to take a look at this spread and see what wisdom it has to share with us…
We begin our reading with position one: You when you begin the journey
The Page of Wands, brings a multi-layering of information to our spread. The fire energy of the Wands, as well as the Pages representing inexperience. So, this card suggests that we are starting this New Year from a place of yearning. We are yearning for the messages that will answer our questions.
Not only that, but the messages that will unite us as a community. Like any phone call, text message, or letter these forms of communication or messaging create a link between us and others.
When you take a moment to sit with this card, I also discovered that we are starting something new. The Page of Wands is the first court card, first Page, and a part of the first suit of the Minor Arcana. All of which, tell me, that the Page of Wands is referencing new beginnings that we aren’t accustomed to. This is one of those cases where a little research, experience, and faith will guide us on this new journey we are on.
Position two: Encounters along the way
The 4 of Wands, was at first a surprising card to see. While this card continues the energy of fire (Wands), the number was informative in a way I wasn’t anticipating. The number four sheds light on where we are in an informative and hopeful way.
As you can see with this image, the card depicts a celebration in progress. With this card, we learn that life is going to bring about chances for celebration and happiness in the coming New Year.
When we then consider the impact of the number four, we learn that we are farther along in this global journey than we knew. Yes, we are just getting started, as seen with the first Minor Arcana suit (Wands). But we have already built a rudimentary start. With four walls, the energy of the number four brings about a culmination in action.
Having taken the potential (Ace), planned, and acted, the four suggests that we have manifested much in our life. The power of the number four offers stability and even a pause to celebrate. But this number also hints at more to come. For as we know, the tarot follows the numerology cycle of nine. Only half-way through, we will not only achieve those four walls, but are entering into a period where we get to embellish and create a thriving life.
Position three: What you need to leave behind
Carrying our Wand and fire energy, we encounter the 2 of Wands. Not only is this card insightful but it is made poignant given the position that it holds. The 2 of Wands is repeating the information that we are farther along in our journey on a personal and global than we might think.
In keeping with this position, the 2 of Wands is teaching us that it is time to let go of out-dated information. The information being, that we are still in the planning stages of our journey.
With the 4 of Wands, we see that we are actually farther along in our journey than the 2 of Wands suggests. For this reason, we must release the idea that we are planning and embrace the position of action, refinement, and dreaming. With the 4 of Wands, we achieve a foundation, now it is time to shake things up and strive for more.
This 2 of Wands also reminds us that now is not a time to seek perfection in a plan. Action taken now, even imperfect, is healthier and more productive than waiting until we have it all figured out.
Position four: Where you presently stand
With this new information in mind, we get to see the power we hold with this next card, the Magician. Not only does he hold importance as a Major Arcana card, but he is the teacher of manifestation.
When the Fool encounters the Magician, he learns of the power he has over his internal world, and the power he has to take imagination and manifest it into the physical world. With one hand in the air (imagination/dreams/hopes/divine) and one pointed down, the Magician creates a new world.
I chose this spread, because it was a wonderful reminder for me, that life is a journey. While we can experience things similarly to other moments, our journey will always carry us forward. We can end up getting caught up in trying to re-create what we had, but in truth what we are seeking is the feeling of safety, love, and home.
Sometimes, it is in new things or a new world that we will lead us to discover these feelings. Sometimes, it is a new normal that will truly bring us the healing and peace we seek. Even when that new normal is a foreign concoction of our dreams, with the Magician’s knowledge, we possess the power to create the world we want to live in.
Position five: Issues facing us now
This card not only brings us past the half-way mark of our reading, but it holds a central role in this reading on many levels. The Emperor brings the importance of a Major Arcana card, brings another number four energy (Death & 4 of Wands), and sheds light on what is ailing us on a personal and global level.
As we can see, the Emperor sits upon his throne and generally is a representation of an empire created and being maintained. However, given the position he holds, the Emperor represents all the turmoil and trouble that comes about when an empire has been mishandled.
In this case, the Emperor is unsuccessful when the balance between masculine (right hand) and feminine (left hand) energy falls apart. He is successful when he plays by the rules, sees the truth of situations (strengths & weaknesses), and takes care of his home.
Like any possession we own or relationship we have, the condition is directly related to our effort and knowledge. If we mistreat (knowingly or unknowingly) the things that make up our home and life, we create an end result of strength or weakness. Here, we see the Magician’s power or manifestation.
Right now, what has been manifested has been done without purity and passion (white & red of Magician’s robes), and the knowledge needed to navigate the rules. The end result, is that we possess an Emperor who makes war, is blind to truth, and who doesn’t play by the rules. Not a recipe for a wonderful and thriving manifestation.
Position six: What you need to take to the future
Much like a relationship or neglected yard, we have the opportunity to put hard work in, to transform the quality of our relationships and home. As we saw with Death, we have sought out a transformation, because we have been dissatisfied with our current life.
This message of change is carried through with this next card, Judgment. But it not only repeats this message of desired change, but adds new layers to our understanding. For when Judgment appears, it teaches us that not only will we need to make changes to enact a transformation, but there are things we will need to release and let go of.
It can be challenging to release what is familiar, even when familiar is an unhealthy habit. For that reason, we can’t just ask a healer to, “make it all better,” we must also be willing to release what ails us. This is the lesson Judgment teaches us here.
When we are dissatisfied with our life, we can oftentimes envision what we do desires, but sometimes fail to see what that will take. In order to welcome something new into our lives, we need to make room for it. Which means, we sometimes need to release the things that will oppose our new healing or thriving life. Such as unhealthy habits, ideas, or philosophies.
Position seven: What is calling you onwards
After the year we’ve shared, and the changes indicated in this spread, you might be wondering, “what’s the point?” “Where are we heading?”
As a curious person and also one who likes to look before she leaps, knowing where our journey is taking us is something we want answered. And while there are many answers, meant for various areas of our lives and the life of our country/globe, in this reading, we receive The World.
In essence, we are heading to an ending. The end of a way of life. When seen with Judgment, we learn that the changes we desire, the healing, and the improvements will require that we release things that won’t support our new desired life. To manifest with the Magician (first card of the Major Arcana) we must complete the cycle we are one (The World- the final card of the Major Arcana).
We will release the old lifestyles and understanding and embrace a new way of life. Luckily, with the power of the Magician, we get to choose what that way of life looks like. We can manifest a life we want to live in a world we want to live in.
Position eight: How to take the next step
So, how do we do that? How do we take an active role in this new World we are creating?
We spine the Wheel of Fortune. As the image of this card indicates, in making changes, we set the wheels in motion to carry us to a new transformation.
With this one energy at our disposal, the quality of our actions and words is going to determine whether this wheel lands us at the top of the world, or in trouble. Who we are and how we treat life (people, ourselves, and the Earth) will determine what we manifest. So, by simply embodying the life you desire, you will spin the wheel to a new world.
The Wheel of Fortune changes things, and at it’s heart teaches us that we have second chances. Opportunities to make a change, spin the wheel, set things in motion, and get out of our own way as we journey into a new reality.
Position nine: Journey’s end
With the power of choice, we can spend this year taking our foundation (#4) and building upon it, to new and greater heights. That being said, this is still only a year we are talking about.
As the 7 of Swords suggests, while we will make great strides (traveling from the Wands to Swords) our journey will not be at an end come 2022. Instead, this year will be about choosing which of our truths (swords) we will carry with us moving forward, and which are no-longer healthy.
In this way, our power of choice will take the big idea of a new world and condense it down into a doable goal. In thinking about who we are, who we desire to be, and what we desire the world to be like, then carrying the truths that match this image, we become Magicians (energy workers) and manifest.
Final Note:
As the fireworks thundered, I did something I wasn’t expecting. It could have been a strange thought, but in action I was able to shed some light for myself and also for you. So, with my notes in hand and my kittens settled, I sat down and typed away.
With my final message being, Happy New Year!
