2025 Tarot Archetype 12-Month Forecast Spread
What Major Energies Will Manifest and How do I Organize my Tarot Work?
2025 is upon us! I think most can agree that 2024 was a dumpster fire on many fronts. Still, some really great things also happened. This is usually the time of year we think about new year’s resolutions. What have we learned from last year? What can we do this coming year that will be better, new, and amazing?
Using a Planner to Organize My Tarot Work
I use a 12-month tarot archetype spread to give me a preview of what kind of energies may manifest. After I look at the spread and write down some thoughts on each card in my notes, I transfer these cards and thoughts to my planner pages ahead of time.
Last year, I started to use this planner from Writual:
I have no affiliation link for you. I just genuinely love this planner. I used to use the Passion Planner, which is amazing as well. Last year, I tried both, and the Writual easily won out early on. I abandoned the passion planner. I prefer the 1-card Writual Tarot Planner, which means there is a daily pull of 1 tarot card each day, and an additional 3 card pull for the entire week. There is also a 3-card daily version. I am busy, so I tend to pull the entire week at a time. It also integrates all new/full moon spreads, astrology/tarot quick references, astrology natal chart pages, monthly spreads with goal setting, and a version of the 12-month spread I will show you at the end of this post. I do adapt it slightly.
I really love the Bullet Journal method. I truly hate long-form traditional journaling - pouring every detail of my brain chaos in a “dear diary” way is not what I ever want to do. The Writual planner embraces the short-form journaling method of making lists, writing short paragraphs, and the occasional long entries for good measure.
I have been doing all of these spreads on my own for years, however this amazing planner brings together everything I ever wanted. The only thing I don’t see is something I used in the Biddy Tarot Planner - spreads for each Sabbat. I found the Biddy Tarot Planner’s new/full moon spreads a little too specific in regards to the unique questions it asks. I couldn’t always relate to them if the energies I was experiencing at the moment was vastly different. However, the questions were deep and introspective.
The First Order of Business - Pulling the 12-Month Forecast for 2025
Over the years, I have used some version of this spread, and this year is no different. The first thing I do is to figure out what card is designated the card of 2025. Its easy enough to google this, however, you can also figure this out using numerology and then corresponding this number to its major arcana counterpart. 2025 is a “9” (2+0+2+5=9). The 9th card in the major arcana is The Hermit. If you are interested in digging into this card, this is an amazing explanation of what this means for us as a collective.
A really quick pictorial of what this means, from this same page:
Preparing The Tarot Deck
Whichever deck you choose needs to be sorted. You will need to pull out only major arcana cards:
0 – Fool – 0
1 Magician – I
2 High Priestess – II
3 Empress – III
4 Emperor – IV
5 Hierophant – V
6 Lovers – VI
7 Chariot – VII
8 Strength – VIII
9 Hermit – IX
10 Wheel of Fortune – X
11 Justice – XI
12 The Hanged Man – XII
13 Death – XIII
14 Temperance – XIV
15 Devil – XV
16 The Tower – XVI
17 The Star – XVII
18 The Moon – XVIII
19 The Sun – XIX
20 Judgement – XX
21 The World – XXI
After you pull these cards out (22 in all), put the rest of the deck aside.
The only pile you will work out of from this point is the small stack of major arcana.
We will also NOT use any reversals. If any are drawn upside-down, flip them right-side up.
Next, pull out The Hermit to represent the energy for 2025. Put this one aside.
Shuffle the small stack of cards the best you can. Make sure they are thoroughly mixed. Then cut the stack into 3 smaller stacks and recombine these stacks as you see fit, as long as the top card before the cut is not on the top again after the cut.
Pull out the new top card as your personal archetypal energy of the year, put it aside, next to The Hermit card.
Next, you will pull out the top 12 cards, each representing a month of the year, January through December. Depending on how much table space you have, you can do this in a clockwise circle, or in rows. It really is your choice. As you pull them, note the order in which they are pulled - the first card will represent January, and the last card will represent December.
Write a single column on paper, one line for each, January through December. You should have 12 lines. Put a few blank lines in between each month line for personal notes.
Next, match each of the 12 drawn monthly tarot cards and write them next to the month lines on your paper. This is your '“key”. Underneath these 12 correspondences, near the bottom of your page, write down “The Hermit” and your personal archetype card on their own lines with some space for notes for each.
Special Note:
These are not predictions for specific events, rather the archetypal energy you may experience during that time.
Use general impressions, and pay attention to the energy in the previous and next month for each card. It tells a story of what led to the energy of the month, and what it may resolve to in the next month.
If you feel you drew a “bad” card, please don’t think that way. Just because you draw “death”, for example, it doesn’t mean actual death! This cards usually represents change and transition in your life. And not all change is bad! Look at what card precedes it, and what follows it for further guidance.
Here’s the same list of major arcana cards, with a few very general archetypes of the energy this card holds:
0 – Fool – 0 - representing new beginnings and potential
1 Magician – I - manifestation and personal power
2 High Priestess – II – inner wisdom and divine feminine energy
3 Empress – III- nurturing and creativity
4 Emperor – IV - structure and authority
5 Hierophant – V - tradition and established beliefs
6 Lovers – VI - choice and duality, sometimes love
7 Chariot – VII - willpower and control
8 Strength – VIII – inner power and overcoming obstacles
9 Hermit – IX - inner wisdom and introspection
10 Wheel of Fortune – X - change and destiny
11 Justice – XI - sacrifice and surrender
12 The Hanged Man – XII - sacrifice and surrender, inner focus
13 Death – XIII - transformation and endings
14 Temperance – XIV - harmony and balance
15 Devil – XV - temptation and desires, shadow work
16 The Tower – XVI - sudden change and disruption
17 The Star – XVII - hope and renewal
18 The Moon – XVIII - illusion and subconscious
19 The Sun – XIX - joy and happiness
20 Judgement – XX - awakening and rebirth
21 The World – XXI - completion and achievement
Now What?
If you have a planner or calendar, transfer these monthly archetypal energies and keywords to each monthly page. If you have a notes page in your planner, I would recommend copying your notes in the back for future reference.
I highly recommend using your intuition when interpreting the card energies, but don’t go so far off the traditional meaning that it no longer represents the spirit of the card. Use a good reference book or google reliable tarot websites for further guidance. And for the love of all that is sacred - PLEASE stay off of TikTok or YouTube for your definitions of the cards. Go right to the source, not a random person’s wild interpretation for collective readings.
Going Further into the Year
At the start of each month, you can pull out the card you pulled in this 12-month spread that corresponds to the month you are in. Why not pull out a few cards on this energy to glean more details? Pull, 1, 3, 6 cards . . . do whatever feels right with a full deck (major and minor arcana). A standard 3-card spread is nice because you can assign simple things to each position, such as (1) energy passing, (2) current influences/energies, and (3) gifts or lessons to be learned. Put this in your planner as well!
Periodically throughout the year, look back and see how these archetypes manifested in your life. You may be amazed at what emerges for you.
I hope this was helpful and assists your planning out the year. I do this every year, and it helps me mentally prepare. Trust that the universe has your back, and that your Guides are always with you for support.
I wish all of you a great 2025! Let me know how the spread works for you in the comments. I’d love to hear what you learned.
I am offering short zoom readings for this forecast for $15. Readings are 15 minutes. I am PST in California, and have evenings and weekend availability. Please DM if you are interested.