From Winter Solstice to New Years, I reflect on what has been and plan for what is to be.  Also, I’m data geek.  I keep excel sheets on the tarotcast’s cards each sign gets throughout the year.  So, this tarotcast is dedicated to our rearview mirror view of the 2018.

I look at the data in two ways:  how many times each card was pulled (for anomalies), and what the actual cards were for each sign (trends).  For fun I want to see if the data shows  statistical difference and or trends, and so far, it has.  This means that certain cards get pulled outside the average, (which this year was 8 times) in a 12-month period.  Now, to be truly scientific I would have to do this for many years. I am only on year three, but let’s see how this works with the data I have so far. (You can see year in review for  2016 and 2017 ).  Also, some of you had asked why I put in the specific cards that is for my readers that want to learn more about tarot, so for you that just want the trends just skip over the card names.

First, I look at general trends.  (Hint: Look at these trends not only for yourself but also at society in general.) This year was the year of Kings.  Kings were pulled more than any other card and nines the least.  Specifically, the highest was King of Swords decision making and strategy.  Then the King of Wands with the need to gain control of our life, and The King of Cups coming in third with gaining control over our emotions. The challenge with Kings is we either get control like the #MeToo movement, or we don’t like some of the events in government which felt like we are going backwards.

Of course, this makes sense when you look at the cards that were pulled the least. I see these as areas where we did not have enough support. The lowest cards pulled where the Nines representing how we feel satisfied.     Specifically, the Ace of Cups and Wands, Nine of Pentacles and Cups, Hierophant and Wheel where the lowest pulled. Overall, we were lacking in new experiences and gains of love and spirituality.  And we just never felt satisfied that we had enough alone time and felt like something emotional was missing in our lives.

I think this also had to do with the Hierophant, structure and institutions, just wasn’t supported in 2018.  Examples are the trouble with Brexit, Trump ever rotating cabinet, journalist getting killed, just to name a few.  Then also the Wheel change of fortune also being low- this is a feeling of things not really changing- which is also mirrored in the Aces, new beginnings with emotion and spirit, being also pulled the least.

Overall this was a big year of information and what do we represent what are our truths.  The two cards pulled the most King of Swords and page of Swords.  This is a year when trying to figure out the truth, personally and in the bigger social schema, became apparent. A year where what is the truth was challenged and either we succeeded or failed finding it.  Some examples of where finding or hiding the truth is highlighted were the #metoo movement, Billy Cosby trial, the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s, Trump investigation, Russian tampering of the election and the Kavanaugh hearing.

Then for your individual signs I look at the card trends just within your sign’s tarotcast below.

P.S.  The photo above was taken by Charles Pinion, and the photos below are from my favorite tarotcast pics of the year

PSS. Need a last minute socking stuffer get the Quick Draw reading for only $5.  For any gift reading I can email you a printable gift certificate.

Aries

This year compared to other signs you had a calm year except you all decided to deal with most of it at the beginning of 2018 and are now ending with a big bang.   Starting in late August, Aces of swords, new ways of though and communication showed up too and you have been in your head ever since then.  If you haven’t done a major shift in your life you have two weeks left. The theme for 2018 for you was learning.  You were one of the signs that had the most pages and they were all swords.  Which means this year most of your learning had to do with information or things unseen that you had to cajole out of hiding.

Taurus

Even though this was an average year of intensity and on the lower side for beginning and endings.  People have played a pretty important role throughout 2018   Of all the court cards the Kings (getting a handle on/controlling) visited you more than any other sign in 2018.  This year basically has been a year of finally wrangling in some weaker spots in how you do things or finally getting things off your to do list that have been there for a long time.  It was your year to take control of a variety of aspects that deal with how you conduct not only your daily life but your destiny.

Gemini

This year was less intense than 2017 you had within the average amount of high energy cards.  But you had to deal with something big and different every month, so 2018 was “no rest for the weary.”  But here’s the thing, you all managed it well. You had the Kings visit you constantly throughout the year, which means all this year – you came, you ruled, and you left the place a bit better than what was there.

Cancer

For you the year was average with its up and downs, though around your birthday you had a respite.  You all had the most aces and 10s, compared to other signs, which are beginning and ends.  The beginnings were predominately in the physical plane (Ace of Pentacles) so lots of project starts and endings were in the area of the heart (10 of Cups). This was also a year where you hid from the world (lowest court cards than other signs) but when you did poke out of your burrow it was only to help others in their hour of need (more Queens than other court cards).

Leo

This year was the year of people for Leos.  You had the highest number of court cards (20) than any other sign.  And most of those were King cards in the suit of Wands.  This year your challenge and hopefully accomplishment was to stand up for your passions and find time to create.  It was a year where you were challenged to take control of your life, for the Chariot card visited often reminding you that truly only you should and can control the reins.

Virgo

Compared to the rest of your signs 2018 was a year of choosing the middle path and actively learning to balance your life.  The Magician, Judgment and the number 3 seem to be your theme this year.   You and the Magician were experimenting this year, the threes were helping with being reflective and contemplative.  And by the end Judgement challenged you to start integrating with what you had learned.  By the end of 2018 even though overall it was low-key you are using your time well to evolve to a new level.

Libra

Unlike 2017 you had the average amount of people in your life compared to other signs, but when you were dealing with people there was more give than take.  This got a bit out of hand until November when you drew the line in the sand, and if you didn’t you had another chance to do that last week.  You also had below the average of karmic or intense cards this year.  You would think it was a slow year; however, you smashed them all in the beginning part of the year. So, since summer you have been challenged with a plethora of sixes asking you to give yourself some compassion.  If you haven’t rested take the next two weeks to do just that.

Scorpio

You were right on the average for beginnings, ends and people.  And you were on the higher side of average with the big energies, though almost all of the big stuff you dealt happened from January to August (15 out of the 16 karmic cards).  Your main theme was the Death, Emperor and Empress having you slowly grow with burst of creation and then building onto to that.  So even though it was an average year you did a lot with the energy around you.  I suggest you so a little reflecting on all that you have accomplished, because  you will be surprised with all you did.  Or if you bizarrely find you didn’t get anything accomplished the Lovers card at the end of this year should help you get rid of what has been tempting you away from your path.

Sagittarius

You all had the highest number of karmic cards-big themes (17 the average was 13) this year.  You started off the year dealing with people but by April you lower your interactions  to come in last place with pulling court cards .  Of course, this makes sense because you upped your ante with karmic cards from April to June.  You only had nine weeks in the summer when something wasn’t banging on your karmic door.  Then the Fates started calling on you again in September thru the end of the year.  But here is the interesting thing after each karmic push you had a 10 card show up to help you finish the cycle.  The three main focuses were on emotions, passion/drive and work.  So if you worked it right you have gotten some karma debt lifted off your shoulders or at least know how to work better with it.

Capricorn

You had an average year compared to other signs with big themes, people, beginnings and endings.   Your big themes this year were healing (Star twice), shining/growth (Sun 3 times) and opening new doors (World twice).  You were one of the few signs that went back to and dig deeper in to your themes.  Even though the year started feeling a bit chaotic by March you were up to the challenge of getting things back to creating the new “normal.”

Aquarius 

In 2017 you had the highest amount of higher arcane cards (karmic) and this year you have the lowest.  So overall even though 2018 seems breezier than 2017, it wasn’t.  This year you have the most Aces (new beginnings) than any other sign. All but one of those Aces were in the realm of the physical plane.  So, you were dealing with new projects at home and/or work which kept your life challenging and possibly changing.  However, you were visited by the Hanged Man (twice) so a feeling of things not changing with all the change made it a confusing year of starts and stops.  Also, you had a lot of King cards.  This challenged you to take on new tasks, find ways to get a better handle on your boundaries, so you would build and rule your life more the way you want.  By the end of the year you are working hard and succeeding at getting things stable in your life with a mini bombardment of 4s (stability) and 6s (balance).                                                                                             

Pisces

In 2016 and 2017 your sign had the highest in new beginnings, but this year, you have fallen within the average range with big themes, people, beginnings and endings.  However, every month had a major karmic card or two except for August.  So it has felt bigger and more karmic than in the years past.  Also, each of those themes were different except for the World (new opportunities).  That could have left you with a sense of not going deep enough with any one theme; however, half of your court cards are pages . This means this has been a year where you, if you played your cards right (teehee), have learned exponentially.  I recommend taking the next week and looking on all that you have learned.

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina