01 March 2026, 10hr33
Waxing Gibbous Moon in Leo ♌︎ 96.2%
Over the last few years I have learned to read the Tarot and use it as a tool for helping me better frame and understand my emotions and thoughts. I shuffle the deck, ask a question, select a card, and reflect on its meaning as it pertains to my situation. The Rider-Waite Smith Tarot is a popular deck because rich symbolism is infused into its artwork, making it easy to familiarize oneself with the language of the deck and the individual meaning of the cards.
A standard tarot deck typically contains 78 cards divided into the Major and Minor Arcana. There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana, numbered 0 to 21, which represent broader life cycles, major events, and universal archetypes. The Minor Arcana are further divided into four suits – Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles – each of which are numbered Ace (1) through 10, as well as the four court cards, Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Sahar Huneidi-Palmer’s “The Book of Tarot” taught me the significance of the astrological and elemental correspondences of each card as well their history and numerology. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is particularly useful for beginners because the art of the cards paints a vivid picture for the reader to interpret.
At the beginning of the year, I drew a 12-card spread to highlight the general theme of each month. For March 2026, I drew The Lovers reversed. The upright meaning differs from its reversal, which often denotes its complement or shadow, but they are two parts of the same whole. For example, The Lovers in its upright position represents decisions and partnerships, while its reversal indicates indecision and dysfunction. The number 6 in the Major Arcana additionally represents balance and harmony, as well as learning to grow through shared values. This Major Arcana is also associated with elemental air which, like the Suit of Swords, is indicative of thoughts and decisions.
Knowing all of that is helpful, but simply looking at the artwork of each card in its upright position provides enough metaphorical information to discern some meaning. I first ask myself what I see:
Two naked figures stand in a garden with a winged creature between them and a red mountain the background. Considering the card’s name and this imagery, the story of the Garden of Eden is evoked, from which Adam and Eve were banished. To move forward into the unknown, the pair needed to work together to find and restore balance. Since its upright position indicates harmony and love, its reversal suggests either an imbalance or self-love. Depending on the question asked during the reading, it could indicate being out of sync with those around you, tough choices which force you to question your values, inner conflicts, or being mindful of and accepting your own value rather than focusing exclusively on those of others.
The question I asked during my annual reading was, “What will 2026 have to offer me?” Sequentially, the first three months revealed the following themes:
The upright 9 of Pentacles represented the theme for January, and shared the message to acknowledge my achievements so far before preparing myself for the next phase.
February’s theme was represented by the upright 6 of Swords, which reminded me of the importance of letting go of the past to make space for the future.
March brings the first Major Arcana into my story for the year, featuring The Lovers reversed. I’ve been experiencing major life changes, most notably my decision to earn my second bachelor’s degree in nursing, and this year I’ve been learning to make adjustments to the expectations I have for myself, my future career, and how to find balance between my academic, personal, and professional lives. As I approach my mid-thirties, I sometimes find myself comparing my achievements to those of others. Why are they at that point in their life, while I am at this point? What kind of life do I want to create for myself and my family?
The greatest lesson the Tarot consistently reminds me is that I only have control over my own actions, behaviors, and thoughts. Rather than dwelling on the past and mistakes I’ve made, I am instead encouraged to ground in the present moment and focus on how I can affect my future. The Lovers reversed indicates broad themes I’ll likely explore in March 2026, so I will remain open to opportunities to acknowledge and honor my self-worth and value. And in my interpersonal interactions I will try to better understand the other person’s perspective while staying true to my values. These monthly and daily readings have enabled me to be more intentional about how I navigate various experiences, and has provided me with another lens through which I can understand myself and others.