Are you wondering how to select a meaningful word of the year? Discover how to use tarot cards for personal growth and intentional goal-setting. As a tarot deck creator and artist, I'm excited to share my personal journey of using nature-inspired tarot cards to choose my guiding word for 2025.
Finding My Word of the Year Through Tarot Reading
My search for 2025's word came from, of course, The Plant Companion Tarot deck. While many people choose their yearly word through meditation or journaling, tarot cards offer a unique and intuitive approach to personal development and self-discovery.
Initially, the word "curiosity" emerged during my fall tarot readings. As I continued drawing cards and interpreting their meanings, "explore" appeared, bringing me closer to my ideal word. However, the perfect word revealed itself when I looked at my own deck, The Plant Companion Tarot, a nature-inspired tarot deck coming soon in 2025. It was the word pathfinder.
The Magic of the Pathfinder Plant in Tarot
As soon as I pulled the Page of Branches card, I knew I'd found my word of the year. This card features my watercolor illustration of the pathfinder plant (Adenocaulon bicolor). This Pacific Northwest native plant tells a story of leadership and exploration: when its leaves are disturbed, they reveal white undersides, creating natural trails through the forest. This symbolism perfectly captured my intention for 2025 – using my curiosity to forge new paths in both personal and professional growth. I can serve as my own pathfinder, charting my course and leading the way forward.
Your Guide to Choosing a Word of the Year with Tarot
Ready to use tarot cards to find your word of the year? Here's a comprehensive guide to using your own tarot reading for choosing a meaningful word:
1. Three-Card Tarot Spread for Word of the Year
Start with a three card draw using any or all of the following questions:
- "How do I want to feel in the new year?"
- "What energy do I want to bring to the new year?"
- "What would offer me support throughout the new year?"
2. Interpreting Your Tarot Cards
One the cards are revealed, notice what keywords jump out at you based on the imagery alone:
- Study the imagery and notice immediate word associations. What words come to mind from the artwork?
- Are there any keywords on the card itself? Is the card name particularly evocative to you?
- Journal about what you intuitively notice about the imagery in this card
- Consult the tarot guidebook for deeper meanings
Read through your lists and journaling, and circle or highlight any words that jump out at you. Perhaps the words evoke a sense of comfort, scare you a little bit in an expansive way, or prompt a visceral reaction. Is there any one word that’s pulling you toward it?
3. Refining Your Word Choice
If your initial reading doesn't reveal the perfect word:
- Draw additional clarifying cards
- Ask follow-up questions like "What else do I need to know?" or "What am I missing?"
- Research the etymology and history of potential words
- Trust your intuition when a word resonates deeply
Applying Your Word of the Year to Goal Setting
Once you've chosen your word through tarot guidance, integrate it into your yearly planning:
- Use it to guide personal or business decisions
- Apply it to work and long-term strategies
- Let it inspire your approach to creativity and hobbies
- Let it guide how you want to feel in your decision making
Real-Life Example: Pathfinder as a Business Guide
As I prepare to launch new products in 2025 like The Plant Companion Tarot, I can use the word Pathfinder to encourage myself to take an approach of exploration to the launch. I can consider how I can:
- Experiment with strategies that I haven’t before tried
- Be intentional about how I guide my customers along the trail I’m forging to bring them along with me on the journey
- Share my process behind the scenes in creating the product
- Teach how I use the product, or create instructions content to introduce it in a way that feels comfortable to beginners
- Forge an authentic connection with my customers
Start Your Tarot Journey Today
Whether you're new to tarot or an experienced reader, using cards to choose your word of the year adds depth and intention to your goal-setting practice. It can help you to combine the intuitive method of tarot with more structured personal development techniques.
What is your word of the year? How will you use tarot to help guide you on your journey?
Interested in starting your tarot journey? The Plant Companion Tarot deck launches in 2025, featuring native plants, watercolor botanical illustrations and traditional tarot symbolism. Join the waitlist for early access and limited-edition pre-launch surprises.
