Choosing your tarot card for 2013

By Sarah Taylor

According to numerology, 2013 is the year of The Lovers (2 + 0 + 1 + 3 = 6 — The Lovers is card VI in the tarot’s major arcana). If you hold to the principles of numerology, this means that the collective theme for life on the planet this year is governed by The Lovers archetype — one of coming together, of seeing ourselves in the mirror of another or others, and of exercising choice.

Ace of Wands from the Camoin-Jodorowsky Tarot, a restored version of the Marseille Tarot.

Another way of using numerology to determine a more personalised card for 2013 is to add the day and month of your birthday to the total of the digits in “2013”, and reducing any number greater than 22 (because there are 22 cards in the major arcana). For example, if your birthday is June 29, you would do the following calculation: 6 + 2 + 9 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 3 = 23 = 5 (that is, 2 + 3). Your theme for the year would then be that of The Hierophant.

However, given that tarot is based on the principle of synchronicity, I prefer to work with synchronicity alone to receive my card for the year. It is an act of surrender to the wisdom of tarot, and it can feel a little disquieting, because there is little tangible control that we can exercise under such circumstances. To which I say, “Bring it on!” Most control is illusory anyway; let’s consider the possibility that something far wiser than our attempts at control is able to direct our lives, and partner with that instead.

Therefore, to find your card for 2013, choose a tarot deck that you want to work with, separate out the 22 major arcana, and set the remaining 56 cards aside.

Centre yourself in the way you find most effective, shuffle the 22 cards, and ask that you be divinely guided to the card that will be of greatest assistance to you in 2013. When you have reached a point of stillness, draw a card.

Welcome to the archetype that you will be engaging with over the course of the year.

Before anything else, make a note of your intuitive response to your card. By this I don’t mean an emotion-based reaction, or an intellectual knee-jerk. No, your intuitive response will come faster than that, perhaps more quietly, but with a certain authority that is unequivocal. The feeling that accompanies it is expansive rather than limiting, governed by love rather than fear. This message from your intuition will be the base note to your experience of the card. Everything else will add tone and texture.

Second, take some time to sit with the card and — this might be challenging — with as little judgement as possible. We are very quick to attach emotions to the images that meet us in the tarot deck. Try and see what it is like to view those emotions as irrelevant — completely unnecessary to the process. Instead, look at the detail in the card; immerse yourself in it.

To complete the exercise, put the card down, close your eyes, and simply sit there — no agenda required. When you feel ready, the exercise is complete.

My experience in past years has been that at the moments when it is most needed, the archetype described by the card I’ve picked has surfaced into my awareness in ways that have been useful and affirming. It has served as a reminder; it has been a focussing tool; it has kicked me in the ass; it has been a source of comfort.

It has not always been active, but has been constant energy in the background of my consciousness, coming forward at key times, and then reverting to a low hum — a tone that has given my life a particular timbre.

Finally, if you are concerned about what are frequently judged as the more ‘negative’ major arcana cards, I would encourage you to approach them in a new spirit: one of open-minded enquiry, with the understanding that any fear is pointing you to something in yourself that wants to be acknowledged and integrated. Rarely does something turn out in quite the way we anticipated — which takes us back to the matter of control and how our need to be on top of everything, to cover all of our bases, can close us off to what may be beautiful, expansive and illuminating.

If you feel like commenting, I would love to hear from you. Alternatively, you can email me at sarah [at] integratedtarot [dot] com.

If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread.

19 thoughts on “Choosing your tarot card for 2013”

  1. Hi Sarah, I just realized I did this incorrectly and was only supposed to reduce card # if over 22 so my card is actually 20 Judgement XX.

    Interestingly to me this is the card that I have been recalling, contemplating and discussing here regarding the Holy Spirit over last several days. Is this not the same, Planet of Venus card of the Mayan Xultan deck you brought to us in a reading at the Sun’s Transit of Venus and also again in your article in Sept?

    The most amazing thing happened just this morning. First an incredible brown spotted owl was on our balcony looking in at me. i was so excited i ran down stairs to get my camera. but when i came up he turned his head and then flew off. i so regretted leaving him, i should have just stayed in the moment to appreciate. But then on my way walking across town to my car there was this bird standing up in the lagoon poised, still to the sky with wings out and head up. Immediately, I realized his pose was exactly! that of the seahorse creatures that stand on the mountaintops as illustrated on the Planet of Venus Mayan card. In honor of and to this day, I posted the picture here on my avatar.

  2. Paola

    Moonlight is reflected sunlight so information may come to you through others or obliquely or even reflected rather than just through your own effort/responsibility. Full moon – the feminine (to the sun’s masculine), more light than just starlight and enough to walk easily by, hope in dark places, another way of seeing, another language, nature…

  3. Thank you, Sarah! Using the process you describe, I separated the 22 major arcana cards from the deck. The last one I pulled out (synchronistically!) was my numerically correct card for this year: The Hanged Man (12). Then I sat for about 30 minutes to quiet myself with the 22 in front of me, shuffled the cards 3 times and pulled the one that seemed to “reach out” most apparently. It was the numerical distillation of 12 — 3, The Empress. I took a good look at her and found some subtleties in the card that speak strongly to me. I will keep looking at her for a time before I turn to any interpretations. I trust this process and am very grateful for your gifting it to this place on Planet Waves. Blessings to you and all of us during this opportunity to “reset” along the path . . .

  4. Hi Sarah,

    This is so interesting thank you for bringing to us. I am July 16, so my 2013 numerology tarot is #2, the High Priestess.

    “This card symbolizes the unconscious, a concern with our internal worlds, spiritual forces, and the understanding of higher truths through dreams and intuition. Signifies guidance and wisdom of a spiritual and moral nature, which comes from unconscious sources – intuition, dreams and fantasies.

    Which goes along well with the other card #9, the Hermit, that came to me intuitively in a dream I had Monday morning the 31st. Regarding numerology, mentioned in another post here an interesting note I found online that day too:

    “Looking at the shape of the symbol is, as always, quite telling.

    The 9 is like the 6 (our number 2013 year) upside down.”

    It is as well the ‘card of Cancer’, (which is my sun sign), as it relates to the number 2 – the number of the zodiac sign Cancer.

    Paolo re: your Moon card thought this might be more help for you too.

    The High Priestess is ruled by the Moon, which is associated with emotions and water. Because of this, The High Priestess indicates a great need to bring emotions into balance. The Moon brings the understanding that everything is inter-connected and inter-related. It indicates psychic abilities and power, the mystery of the unfathomable and all things mysterious that hold fascination.

  5. I drew The Lovers! And numerology gave me The Star! I am surprised about both of them, particularly The Lovers, has anyone seen how 2013 backwards can (with a little tweaking) look like it spells EROS–3102? Just have to flip the numbers to the right. It was encouraging (what with 2013 looking like it could possibly be pretty bumpy) to see these cards since I feel like I am being called to operate from my heart in connection and with support from all benevolent powers of the universe this year. Take care, Sarah, and all PW peeps and may we all be blessed this year.

  6. Absolutely! You said it perfectly.

    And your description reminds me of Kali… another ‘black’ one that receives a similar treatment… and which is very dear to me.

  7. I might spend some time with why it is that The Moon tends to attract this kind of interpretation, and how your initial reaction ties in with it. In other words, focusing on what The Moon means for you, rather than any objective meaning. What you seem to be describing is the very landscape the Moon creates — one that is cast in a lot of shadow, where fear tends to take hold because things can’t be seen clearly. See that landscape in the light of day, however, and how much of that is illusory … Although there is room for a certain wild edge to the Moon, and it is worth bearing that in mind too.

  8. Thank you Sarah, it resonates a lot.
    The fact is that I read about The Moon for the first time in a numerology book many years ago, and it was quite an interesting a good book. And it gave *only* negative interpretations for this card…

  9. paola – I would say first and foremost stay with your interpretations of it, and see if you can come up with what feels positive for you. However, some words that I associate with The Moon are: intuition, instinct, feminine, mother. Use your discernment to decide what resonates, if anything.

  10. Can anyone provide a little explanation on how The Moon (18) can be a positive card? That is what comes with my dates. I have a strong thought that it’s a’negative’ card, but I’m sure there must be another way to look at it.
    Thank you.

  11. Interesting as always Sarah. Using a shuffle I got Judgement. Using my birthday numbers I got the Chariot. They feel connected in a way I need to meditate on a bit more.

  12. Using my birthday (4/12), the # is 22, master builder #. Drawing from the 22 cards, I chose Magician #1.

    The description for that card says. “If your willpower is consciously and aggressively directed, you can now accomplish all that you visualize. You are challenged to go forward into the world and use your skill and intelligence, to produce change for the better. Make magic!”

    None of this a surprise, instead, confirmation.

  13. From my birthday, the tarot card would be #2 The High Priestess. The card I drew from an electronic deck was #12 The Hanged Man… The second I saw this card, I felt at peace. This card resonates with me, particularly because it was the first card I ever drew when I started using the tarot. It has always been my favorite card in the deck… I love it because it reminds me to be patient and submit myself to a higher power, even though it may not be the most comfortable position to be in. I love the influence of neptune and all things connected to it – inspiration, dreams, spirituality.

    Combined with the psychic flair of the HP, I think they are showing the great potential for attainment of higher knowledge. To me, both HP and HM represent spiritual life. The calm and stillness of these individuals inspire me to be that way too.

    Can’t wait to see how this year unfolds…Thank you for this article! 🙂

  14. I drew the Justice card, which at first felt alienating because I’ve never found a resonance with that card. But with persistence, it feels to me like developing a clear & true vision. When you can see things for what they are, you have a greater ability to make sound judgments.

  15. I don’t have a deck so I used numerology. Numerology chose the Tower, and it’s so perfect, I expect synchronicity would choose the same card. I expected Death, thought the Tower has more Saturn energy, and Saturn is my Lover for the next couple of years — hellooo 2013!

  16. I don’t have a deck here, so I did it with the ‘electronic’ deck provided here. Couldn’t separate the 22 cards, but I was lucky because I drew X: The Wheel of Fortune.
    My first reaction was ‘Whew! That’s good’ and then I thought of fortune as chance.
    It is meaningful: a reminder of trust. Just trusting and not trying to control. (Quite pertinent – and not the easiest…).
    Thank you Sarah!

  17. luckydriver – I hear you loud and clear. My archetypal theme last year was The Hermit. An incredibly productive and, yes, inward-looking year (even relationship-based experiences were more to do with interpersonal evolution rather than coupledom). Not easy, but I wouldn’t choose anything different. It was what I needed.

  18. Funny – when I draw a card, I received The Lovers. When I used numerology, I got The Hermit! I’m sticking with the drawn card, because I’ve had enough of The Hermit over the last few years!!

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