the numerology of 2026

hello, friends, and welcome again to 2026. on the heels of 2025, an intensive and often disruptive year of emergence, connection, separation, and endings, we now find ourselves at the beginning of a new year, and a new nine-year cycle (more on that below). if you're already feeling the shift as we approach the middle of this first month of the year, that's fantastic — and if you're not, that's very much okay too. like major planetary transits or long-term adjustments, sometimes things take time to fully click into place.

everyone has a different relationship with beginnings, so let yourself move into this new year with whatever intentions, visions, dreams, curiosities, or resolutions feel right for you. and if you're not sure yet what 2026 may hold — well, read on.

our collective archetype for 2026 is the wheel of fortune, which we find by using the pythagorean technique of adding all four digits of the year together (2+0+2+6 = 10). while technically this gives us the number ten for our yearly number, we can also continue to consolidate those digits and reduce it down to one. both numbers are technically correct, so while i'll be primarily talking a lot about 2026 as a ten / wheel year, if you'd prefer to think of it as a one / magician year that is also completely valid and i'll have some insights for you here as well.

in this piece, i'll talk about how both of these digits fit into the broader context of the tarot, and i'm going to share the simple method for calculating your own personal yearly number, which you can keep in mind as you move through 2026 too. i've also got a few new spreads for you to play with as part of this work.

let's get into it.

if you're new here, or are generally unfamiliar with pythagorean numerology, a quick intro: numerology is the idea that each numerical digit possesses a unique and potent energy, essentially a fingerprint that can be traced throughout cycles and stories. we can look at the numbers one through nine as beats in a story, important moments in the narrative that define where we are and where we might go next. and in utilizing numerology as part of our tarot practice, we can find additional, deeply useful and powerfully practical insights for interpretation, delineation, and connection. in other words, we can anchor every card in the deck to its place in the story, and also find useful overlaps between cards to make deeper meaning in readings and beyond.

(if you're really into this and wanna learn more, check out my free lecture diving more deeply into tarot numerology, and consider joining my signature conservatory membership program to access my deep dive numerology class devils & digits!)

the number ten, our main number of the year, is a special one. pythagorus considered ten a perfect number, representing completion and fulfillment, wholeness, strength, basically the pinnacle of success. ten is a culmination, the ending that sets up the next beginning, an integration of awareness and experience. within the tarot, ten is also special, as it represents the final card of each minor arcana suit, while simultaneously existing outside of the core cycle of one through nine. ten gives us a lot to chew on.

the number ten itself is made up of two digits: one and zero. my dear friend and numerologist bee scolnick calls ten "one with a backpack," which in addition to be completely adorable is also a really useful way to think about ten as distinct from one: ten has the benefit of having gone through an entire numerological cycle, and the experience that goes with that journey. both ten and one sit at the beginning of a story, open up a narrative. but while one can feel free and new, ten has the benefit of knowledge, movement, and earned wisdom.

ten is the next cycle, while one is the first cycle.

you can think of ten as both the liminal space between cycles and the initiation of the next journey. ten can do both. for some, this duality might feel juicy and exciting — but for others, this particular contradiction could be confusing or distracting.

with that in mind, if you find it more useful to look at 2026 as a one year, i get it. one as a number can feel more approachable, and more invigorating, and a little more clear in terms of where it fits into the overall cycle. one is the spark, the initiation, the activation. it's big ideas and bigger energy; an anticipation and readiness to set out on a new adventure. one is resourced and resourceful, believes in their skills and talents fully, and is ready to make an impression and make a difference. one also gives us permission to be a beginner, even as we may know more than we realize.

one starts things off, and also sets the pace.

one has a boldness, a courage, that can be really compelling and intoxicating. there's so much magic here, crackling and alive, just waiting to be fully embraced and activated. and if you are really eager to step into the beginning energy without as much of the integration energy, you might prefer to work with 2026 as a one year.

either way, the tarot can support your work. when we look to the cards, when we bring the energies of one and ten into the major arcana, it can help us translate these numerological energies into tarot archetypes that might be easier for us to understand. the tarot can show us the stories and narratives within these broader cycles, and give us context for what we're experiencing this year on both a collective level and a more personal level.

the tenth card of the major arcana is the wheel of fortune, our collective archetype for 2026 and an energy that we will all be exploring together in one way or another. the wheel is a card of timings, both divine and human. it speaks to control and surrender, to luck and karma, to change and shifts and transitions. just like in ten's numerology, the wheel represents both endings and beginnings, the shift from one cycle to the next and a kind of leveling up (or leveling out) that feels both within our scope and completely outside of our capacity.

with the wheel of fortune and ten we grapple with the larger forces of the universe: gravity and cycles, long-term patterns, and other energies that we cannot shift alone.

there can be a feeling of helplessness or frustration to this sensation, absolutely — we may want to be in complete control, and/or may struggle against the things that we cannot change. but there can be real magic in allowing ourselves to acknowledge the things that are simply beyond us: not in a way that encourages us to ignore realities or disengage from struggles, but in a way instead that reminds us that we are one small piece in a much larger machine, and some changes simply must happen at a collective level rather than an individual one.

our card of individual magic, beautifully, is our core one archetype and the other major arcana card that i would encourage you to consider for 2026: the magician. this archetype can represent both our own personal magic and missions, but also speaks to the collective, to us all as one whole.

with the magician i think about innovation and independence, about making our mark and leaving an impression, about fresh starts and big chances and not being afraid to try something different. the magician doesn't factor failure into their choices, instead seeing everything as brimming with opportunity. this is an archetype of potential and possibility, of imagination and breakthroughs, of freedom and trailblazing.

together, the wheel and the magician mark 2026 as a year of change, of different, of growth, and of potential. both collectively and as individuals, we will see things moving forward and moving on, a simultaneous release of the past and embracing of the future. luck may shift, tides may turn, risks may pay off, and new ideas may bloom.

what are you beginning? what are you releasing? what are you inviting in, and where are you closing doors? what are you ready to imagine, and which fantasies are you walking away from? how did last year's hermit year give you permission to retreat or contemplate or wrap up, and where is there new space, new energy, new resources that have been freed up for your use?

which cycles are you stepping into, and which patterns are you ready to break? what are you controlling, and what are you surrendering?

so far, we've just been talking about our collective yearly cycle of ten / one. but i want to also make sure you know that you have your own personal cycle number too, which may mean that while we're in a universal one energy, you could be in a very different part of the story in your individual life.

both of these energies are important to consider moving into this new year. both of these numbers can help bring some clarity and purpose to your 2026. both of these sets of tarot archetypes can serve as companions and guides all year long. but before we can look at how your personal cycle number intersects with the collective number, you're going to have to figure out what your personal cycle number is.

once you know your personal cycle number for 2026, i highly recommend looking to the tarot for your corresponding major arcana companion (a.k.a. the archetype that has the same number as your personal cycle number). especially if you're new to numerology, having an archetype to look to and consider and work with all year long can be incredibly helpful in a grounded, practical, tangible way.

what does your personal cycle number and personal year archetype tell you about the part of the story you're in within your own life? are you near the beginning of the cycle, aligning with the collective in an potent way and activating something new, something different, something important? are you dwelling in the middle of the cycle, embracing change and pivots and getting clear about what you want to devote yourself to? or are you sitting at the end of a cycle, honoring your experiences and grappling with all that is ending, while simultaneously clearing space for something new?

take some time to journal and reflect and meditate on these questions, with the knowledge that some things will be clearer in hindsight. find your yearly archetype within your tarot deck and consider what you might learn from working with this figure all year long, or the ways that embodying this archetype could support you in challenging or confusing moments. pick a theme song for the year inspired by this archetype. make a mood board, or integrate ideas around this card into an existing one. or try something else, something that makes sense for you and your approach to new years and new beginnings.

your card of the year might mean a lot to you — or, it might feel like an archetype you struggle with. this card might feel like a relief, or you might be super annoyed to see it. all of this is okay! whatever your relationship with tarot, however long you've been studying the cards, i guarantee that there is always more to learn. and even if the card you have for 2026 feels like one you don't particularly like or aren't particularly comfortable with, it's going to have lessons for you, magic for you, support for you. if you work this card all year, if you listen to what it offers, if you lean on it for support, it's going to teach you something.

and if you'd like to kick off your 2026 with a tarot reading exploring these energies and the ways that they might intersect, i've got a pair of spreads for you to try out.

year of the wheel: a tarot spread for movement, transition, and change. use this if you're wanting a high-level set of insights on what the year might hold collectively, personally, or all of the above. (optional: pull the wheel card out of your deck and keep it at the top of your reading surface before pulling cards!)

card one / something kicking off: what's new? what's initiating? what's on the docket? what's kicking into gear?
card two / something coming into focus: what's clarifying? what's taking shape? what's revealing itself? what's finding its form?
card three / something happening with or without you: what is going on around you? what is happening for you? what is something to get on board with, or at least to be aware of?

this is your year: a tarot spread for listening to your 2026 archetype. use this to dig more deeply into your personal card of the year and to start considering the lessons, challenges, and wisdom that they may have to offer. (not optional, in my opinion: pull your personal archetype for 2026 out of your tarot deck and put it at the top of your reading surface, then shuffle your deck well and pull one card for each position!)

card one / a lesson to hear: what is this archetype trying to teach, trying to offer, trying to suggest? what might you learn this year?
card two / a challenge to accept: what is this archetype trying to push against, trying to change, trying to adjust? what friction might you feel this year?
card three / a piece of wisdom to remember: what is this archetype trying to share, trying to inspire, trying to solidify? what is something to carry this year?

you might like using both spreads, or prefer to only use one. you might find these helpful to return to throughout the year. you might like using them at the top of each month. do what you will, but above all, pay attention — these archetypes have so much to give, if we're willing to receive.

if what i've shared here resonates, if you're interested in using tarot and numerology to support your year, i highly recommend starring this email in your inbox or bookmarking this post on my newsletter website to revisit all year long. yearly themes and lessons sometimes take time to reveal themselves, so if you aren't sure what to do with all of this just yet, don't worry. keep paying attention, keep working with your archetype, and see what happens. (and if you want to dig into this more with me, i'm still open for year-ahead readings!)

i'm wishing you so much love and growth and opportunity this year, friends. remember your skills, keep showing up, get clear about what matters to you, and stay courageously invested in both personal and collective change. some things are too big for us to tackle as individuals — but together, we can and will move mountains.

and remember that if you'd like to expand your tarot studies this year, my signature conservatory membership as well as my customizable one-on-one mentorships are open for you anytime. i'll also be announcing more details on my upcoming grief container as well as the next round of our grove creativity container. wherever you are, whatever your year holds, i'd love to work with you, to help you design a study curriculum or recommend specific resources or empower you to build a transformative tarot practice.

be safe out there, protect your neighbors, and keep fighting.