As usual I’m late out of the gate in 2024 with any kind of post for the New Year, and I’m OK with that.

I have never been one for setting resolutions and making those first weeks of a new year harder than they need to be. Goodness knows I need to be kind to myself in January in order to get through February by which time spring and more daylight are just around the corner. I feel myself leaning into rest and restoration after all the end of year activity.

And now we are well into 2024 I find myself looking forward and have put together a spread for the year ahead.

2024: A Strength Year

According to numerology, and the Rider Waite system for ordering the Major Arcana*, the Tarot card for this year is Strength, which is numbered 8 in the Major Arcana (2 + 0+ 2 + 4 = 8).

So, I have designed a spread for Strength inspired by the Tarot 8s and related cards of the Major Arcana

Of course, this spread is not just for this year or for the New Year. This could be for anyone facing a situation where they need to draw on the reserves of strength and compassion. It would also be a good spread for anyone who has Strength VIII as their Birth or Soul card.

*Those who follow a different, more traditional system (reading Tarot de Marseille or the Thoth deck) place Justice at number 8 and Strength at 11. This distinction is a big topic which is much discussed all over the internet of Tarot so I won’t expand on it here.

I personally, prefer the RWS system with Strength at number 8. It makes sense to me to see Leo (ruler of Strength) in the sequence before Virgo (ruler of The Hermit) and Libra (ruler of Justice). Justice at 11 also makes sense to me as an odd rather than even number because the modern ‘justice system’ requires the scales to tip one way or the other in order to function.

That said, when using Thoth or Thoth-based decks, I will read them as the deck creator intended and swap the Strength Justice order.