There is a lot of misinformation about tarot in the world. I know people who think it can tell the future, and I know others who think the cards are influenced by Satan. But tarot, like so many things in life, only has as much power as people put into it.

Shortly before Covid, I attended a four week class on tarot reading. During that time, we learned a lot of techniques, practiced with different decks, and discussed interpretations in a group. Two very important principles stood out to me from that time:

#1 Interpreting tarot is about telling a story.
#2 Tarot can only tell you things that you already know.

In other words, tarot is a creative tool to help analyze difficult questions and emotions in life rather than some mystical power. I am using the “Pagan Otherworlds” deck, and in the author’s note, they state: “Though we do not subscribe to fortune telling, we truly believe that a tarot deck is an impressive, meditative tool for unlocking the truths and creative narratives within you.”

That said, I start off my year with a common 3-card draw [Start, Stop, Continue] and a simple question for the cards: “Where should I focus my energy for this new year?”

The Reading:

To unpack this reading, I break it into 3 steps: literal interpretation, card placement, and the personal connection.

Literally:

8 of Wands (left): Wands are known for their movement and creative energy. The Eight is about the “Duality of Purpose” and the contrast of rushing towards an exciting event with reasonable restraint so that “all is not spent in one furious moment.”

The Tower, a Major Arcana (center): “This is the card where chaos lives” says the author. It is about uncertainty, chaos, great sudden change, and “adversity”.

8 of Pentacles (right): Pentacles/Coins are known for their interaction with money, labor, and investments. The Eight focuses on the work itself, the craftsmanship, and about finding “that invisible likeness that connects us to what we create.”

Placement:

Start: The 8 of Wands appears in the first slot, which answers the question “Where do I need to start placing my energy?” The card is about balancing forward movement with restraint, and I imagine it is like preparing for a marathon rather than a sprint. So I need to start training myself for this next stage of life.

Stop: The Tower appears in the second slot, which answers the question “Where do I need to stop placing my energy?” The card is about the destruction of my current way of life and an abrupt transition. Since it is in the stop slot, I translate this as a need to worry less about it.

Continue: The 8 of Pentacles appears in the third slot to answer the question “Where do I need to continue placing my energy?” The card is about finding the meaning of and taking joy in the things we create. For me this means focusing on the hobbies/interactions I enjoy and that give my life meaning.

The Personal Connection:

Until this step, the translation of the cards is vague enough to apply to many different people and situations. But this last step is what makes it a personal story: I have a baby due in 20 weeks (May), and that is all I can think about when I look at these cards.

Part 1: I am moving forward quickly, preparing for the birth of my son. It is extremely exciting and requires a lot of work and energy, but if I spend that energy before the birth, I am going to be in a lot of trouble. Preparing myself for the long haul is going to be key.

Part 2: A new baby is going to radically change my priorities, hobbies, and more. There may be times when I feel like throwing myself from a tower (joking). But worrying about that part of it will not change anything, and focusing on the disaster will likely take away from the miracle itself.

Part 3: Finding solace in an activity like writing, computer coding, scrapbooking, or chainmail weaving seems even more important in the coming days than it has before. It seems like making time for these activities — even in 15 minutes increments — is essential to keeping myself sane and successful.

…

Thus a story is born.
Did I know all this information already? Yes, technically.
Had I looked at it from this perspective? No, so this helps me reconsider priorities for before the big event.

Tarot is about reflection and taking a moment to analyze yourself. New Years is the perfect time to pause and ponder the past and future. It is an excellent way to make time for yourself.

What other techniques do you use to reflect on your life?