New Year Tarot Spread

It's that time of the year again when many of us go into a mad panic thinking, “Where on earth did the year go? And what's up ahead in the new year?”

I can't help but wonder if people allow the year to disappear without really living it or being truly present in every moment.

So, don't let another year just pass you by. We're only here for a limited time, so make the most of every day, every week, and every month of the new year and the rest of your life.

This is where working with the Tarot can help. Using a New Years Tarot spread, you can get insight into what to expect for the year ahead, and where you need to focus your attention to get the most out of this fresh new year.

The New Year Tarot Spread

My twelve-card New Year Tarot spread is perfect for acknowledging the energies that are passing out of your life and the energies that are coming into your life. It looks at what you can expect and prepare for in the key areas of your life (love, career, health and spirituality or personal development) and provides you a point of focus for the year ahead.

Here's the spread:

Let's break it down…

Cards 1 & 2 look at the energies that are passing out of your life and what you can carry forward with you into the new year. Even with a seemingly negative card in the first position or a challenging past year, you can always take away an important life lesson with you, which will appear at Card 2.

Keep in mind that often when a reversed card appears as a life lesson, the lesson is yet to be understood or revealed and often you will need to return to the energy of the previous card to move forward. You may spend the first part of the new year working on understanding this lesson on a deeper level. What's more, a Major Arcana card in the life lesson position will be an indication of a very powerful, life-changing lesson that will carry through with you into the next year.

Card 3 looks at your aspirations for the year ahead and what it is you truly want to achieve. A Major Arcana card will indicate a desire for a major life change or mindset shift. A Court Card will indicate the type of person you want to be. A Minor Arcana card may indicate what actual endeavours you want to accomplish. A reversal or a ‘negative' card in this position may actually highlight what it is you want to avoid or change in your life. For example, the reversed Three of Cups may signify the desire to let go of an excessive party lifestyle or unfulfilling friendships.

Card 4 & 5 look at what will empower you and challenge you as you work towards your aspiration. What energy can you harness to make the most of the year ahead? What energy may potentially stand in your way? By understanding the challenges, you can plan ahead and deal with potential issues as they arise, rather than having them take you by surprise.

Cards 6 to 9 focus on the key areas in your life and what you can expect in each. You don't have to stick to these areas. Think about what your main priorities are for the year ahead and draw a card for each. I recommend limiting it to 6 priorities, to keep your reading focused. Look out for Major Arcana cards that show where the bulk of the energy will be.

Card 10 provides a focus point for the year ahead. So often, we get caught up with day-to-day dramas that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Use this focus card to keep you on track and pinpoint what energy you most need to tap into throughout the next twelve months.

Card 11 shows you the lesson you will learn over the coming year. Just like the previous year's lesson, a Major Arcana shows a life-changing lesson, a reversed card shows a lesson that you're not quite ‘getting' and a Minor Arcana card shows a challenge or an actual endeavour that you're working on.

And finally, Card 12 highlights what to expect for the whole year. This is like the Outcome card in a Celtic Cross reading. Look back at the aspiration for the year (Card 3) and compare this with the outcome – will you achieve your aspiration? Will you overcome the challenges along the way (Card 5)? Will you harness the energy that will help you to get where you need to be (Card 4)?

Overall, look for the opportunities for the year ahead to see how you can make the most of the year. What needs your attention? What needs to be ‘tweaked' in order to have your best year yet?

For more Tarot spreads and journaling prompts, check out the Biddy Tarot Planner and manifest an amazing year ahead!