How to Use Tarot to Choose Your Word of the Year

Let’s be real for a second before we dive into Tarot talk: New Year’s resolutions are mostly garbage. They’re these shiny, pressure-filled promises we make to ourselves at 11:59 PM on December 31st, only to abandon them by the second week of January when reality smacks us in the face. Instead of setting yourself up for the annual “I failed my resolution” guilt trip, why not try something that actually works? Enter the “Word of the Year.”

It’s less about rigorous checklists and more about setting a vibe. And if you want to get really nerdy with it (which, of course, you do), you can use Tarot to find the perfect word.

The cosmos has been messy lately, hasn’t it? Between the retrogrades making communication a nightmare and the shifting planetary transits forcing us to level up, we need an anchor. According to astrologers, 2025 was a year of intense karmic clearing (thanks, Pluto), and moving forward requires intention, not just blind hope. A “Word of the Year” acts as a psychological and spiritual anchor. It’s a magic spell you cast on yourself, a cheat code for your brain to filter decisions through a specific lens.

If you’re ready to ditch the resolutions and actually manifest something cool, here is how you can use your deck to find your focus.

Tarot Explained (Briefly, for the Skeptics)

Tarot isn’t just for people who own twelve cats and smell exclusively like patchouli (though, no shade if that’s you). At its core, Tarot is a tool for intuition and reflection. It’s a deck of 78 cards that represent the full spectrum of human experience—from the highest highs of The Sun to the “everything is burning” energy of The Tower.

When you use Tarot to pick a Word of the Year, you aren’t asking a piece of cardboard to predict the future. You’re using the imagery and symbolism to unlock what your subconscious already knows you need. It’s like Rorschach tests, but with better art and more dragons.

Wrapping Up the Old Year

Before you go sprinting into the new year like a chaotic Knight of Swords, you need to look back. You can’t build a new house on a shaky foundation.

Grab your deck and pull a card to represent the year you just finished. Look at it. Does it scream “utter disaster?” Or maybe “unexpected growth?” Acknowledge it. If it was a dumpster fire, honor the warmth it gave you, and then let it burn out. If it was a victory lap, give yourself a high five. This step is about closing the tab so you can open a new browser window without your mental RAM crashing.

Choosing Your Word of the Year with Tarot

Okay, here is the fun part. You don’t need a PhD in metaphysics to do this. Just grab your favorite deck (yes, even the one you bought because it looked cool but haven’t touched in six months).

Step 1: Set the Mood (Don’t Skip This)

You can’t just slap a deck of cards on a sticky kitchen table and expect enlightenment. You need ambiance. I’m talking about lighting a candle, maybe burning some incense that smells like a metaphysical shop, and putting on a playlist that makes you feel like a swamp witch living in a bog.

Once you’re in the zone, grab your deck. It doesn’t matter if it’s the classic Rider-Waite-Smith or some indie deck featuring cats in space suits. Shuffle those bad boys until you feel a tingle in your fingers or until a card goes flying across the room (we call that a “jumper,” and you should probably pay attention to it).

Step 2: The “Word of the Year” Spread

We aren’t doing a Celtic Cross here; nobody has time for ten cards of confusion right now. We are keeping it simple. Pull three cards and lay them out left to right.

1. The Vibe Check (Card 1): This represents the energy you are leaving behind. Look at it. Acknowledge it. Then, metaphorically kick it out the door.
2. The Challenge (Card 2): This is the stuff that’s going to try to trip you up this year. Is it the Tower? Buckle up. Is it the Two of Pentacles? Get ready to juggle.
3. The Anchor (Card 3): This is your money card. This is the archetype that offers the solution or the energy you need to embody.

Step 3: Decoding the Message (a.k.a. The Fun Part)

Now, look at that third card. Don’t just read the little white book that came with the deck (seriously, throw that thing away). Look at the picture. What is happening?

Let’s say you pulled The Chariot.

• Traditional meaning: Willpower, victory, movement.
• Your Word: “Drive,” “Focus,” or “Momentum.”
• The Sassy Interpretation: Stop procrastinating and get in the car, loser. We’re going winning.

Maybe you pulled the Nine of Pentacles.

• Traditional meaning: Luxury, self-sufficiency, financial independence.
• Your Word: “Treat,” “Indulgence,” or “Solo.”
• The Sassy Interpretation: You are the sugar daddy you have been waiting for. Buy the expensive cheese.

Or perhaps the Universe decided to roast you with the Eight of Swords.

• Traditional meaning: Self-imposed restriction, victimization.
• Your Word: “Unbind,” “Freedom,” or “Perspective.”
• The Sassy Interpretation: You are the only one holding the keys to your cage. Stop whining and take the blindfold off.

Step 4: Making it Stick

Once you have your word, don’t just write it in a journal you’ll lose in three weeks. You need to commit. Put it on a sticky note on your mirror. Change your phone background. If you’re feeling particularly bold (and impulsive), maybe don’t get it tattooed immediately—give it a month.

The point is, this word is your North Star. When 2026 starts throwing hands, you look at your word, remember the Tarot card that birthed it, and you get back on track. Don’t overthink it. If the traditional meaning doesn’t vibe with you, look at the picture. Is the figure standing tall? Confidence. Are they juggling coins? Balance. Trust your gut, not just the little white book that came with the box.

The Significance of Your Word

Why does this matter? Because your brain loves patterns. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a bundle of nerves at our brainstem that filters out unnecessary information so the important stuff gets through. When you pick a word—let’s say, Abundance—your RAS starts looking for abundance everywhere. You stop noticing the lack and start noticing the opportunities.

By tying this word to a Tarot card, you give yourself a visual trigger. Put the card on your altar, your desk, or make it your phone background. Every time you see it, you hack your brain into remembering your intention. It’s psychological warfare, but against your own bad habits.

How to Set Your Intention for Success

Once you have your word, don’t just write it in a journal and forget it. You have to embody it.

• Gamify it. If your word is Health, give yourself XP every time you drink water or go for a walk.
• Witch it up. Carve the word into a candle and burn it on the new moon.
• Fake it ’til you make it. If your word is “bold,” ask yourself, “What would a bold person do?” and then do that, even if you’re terrified.

The point is to make the word a living, breathing part of your daily routine. Resolutions are restrictive; words are expansive. They give you room to breathe and grow without the shame of failure. So go ahead, shuffle the deck, and find the word that’s going to define your year. And if you pull The Tower… well, buckle up. It’s going to be an interesting ride.