Thirteen-card Year Ahead
A theme card for the year plus twelve monthly cards, read as one storyline across the year.
6 min read
By the end you'll
- Read the Theme of the year card as a lens for every month
- Group the months into quarters
- Point out the good months and the months to be careful in
The 12-months-ahead spread uses 13 cards. The first is the theme of the whole year, and the other 12 are Month 1 to Month 12, counted from the month you ask.
- Read the theme card first, then use it as a lens for every month
- Group the months into quarters (months 1–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12) and find the suit that stands out in each
- Point out the best month to start something new and the months to be careful in
- Close with the story of the whole year in one paragraph
Reading the theme card with one quarter
Question: What will my next year be like?
Cards: The Magician, position Theme of the year; Ace of Wands, position Month 1; Two of Pentacles, position Month 2; Three of Pentacles, position Month 3
Sample answer: The theme card, The Magician, says this is a year for action: you already have everything you need. The first quarter opens with the Ace of Wands, a new idea. Month 2, the Two of Pentacles, means juggling several things at once. Month 3, the Three of Pentacles, is when the results of working with others start to show. So the first quarter is a good time to launch a new project with a team.
Every month is read through the lens of the theme card, which turns the 12 months into one story.
Tip: Don't read the 12 months as 12 separate stories. The querent wants an overview they can plan with.
Summary
- Theme card = the lens for the whole year
- Read by quarter
- Name the good months and the months to be careful in