Happy 2026!
Here’s what I’ve come to accept: No matter how much I romanticize the upcoming year, some things are going to suck. The last two years have been filled with “Shiz That Happened To Me,” that I could only passively accept and decide how to hold it. It made me a little bit cynical for a while (“next year is going to suck, too.”) But here’s the thing. A lot of WONDERFUL, awesome, amazing things have also happened in the last two years, and I’m not in the business of letting my life be defined by the Shiz That Happens To Me.
I’m in the business of defining life for myself–DOING things. Initiating things. Being confident in my decisions and my values. (This includes confidently saying that I can be incredibly indecisive sometimes, and for a while, I couldn’t choose a word for 2026.)
So my friend Avon pulled a tarot card for herself, and I thought that was an awesome way to guide my intentions and steer me to a word.
What should show up at first but the Five of Cups, a message of loss, disappointment, and grief. Naturally, I was a little bit afraid for a minute. “MORE GRIEF IN 2026?” And yes, I know that some of this is coming. This has come up in therapy quite a bit–There really isn’t a path without grief right now. I think a lot of us in America are feeling this right now. (*Sends virtual hug.*) And so I asked my Tattooed Tarot deck, “Um, can you be more specific please? What do I need in the face of all of this?”
Bam: The King of Wands appears.
I should tell you that I pulled him about a week before I left for Mexico City, which was undoubtedly THE defining experience of 2025 for me. I carry the stories in my heart every day. In the King of Wands, there’s vision, courage, momentum… leadership of your own narrative. And this is what I built up in Mexico, on the waters of Xochimilco and in the skies of Teotihuacan, and on all the ground that met my feet. I actually wrote a WHOLE essay about my time there, which I may share here one day, but for now what I’ll say is that I divided it into four elements, Avatar-style. Tierra, Agua, Aire, and Fuego.
I think that the last two years have been about finding my ground again, freedom, peace, healing… obviously, that’s an ongoing journey. What I think I’m ready for more of now is FUEGO. In my essay about Mexico City, I unpacked FUEGO as creative joy, pride, passion, warmth, and boldness. It is food cooked with love, it’s art created without apology, and it’s community.
It’s even more fitting that Wands are a fire sign!
So what does the king have to do with this, and with the Five of Cups? Well, I don’t think the Cups were telling me, “Prepare for a world of more grief ahead!” I think they were acknowledging that I’m still standing in the ruins of Things That Mattered, and the King is telling me that this doesn’t have to define the year ahead. The King is telling me to be guided by fuego this year. Create. Pursue those passions. Trust my values to guide me in my leadership roles, which are rapidly changing in ways I didn’t ask for. Embrace warmth and community. That’s how we get through the grief.
As my friend then told me: “Oh, yeah, the King of Wands is strong as hell.” đŸ˜€
With this in mind, I wish you ALL happiness and strength as you pursue whatever it is YOU need this year! And of course, may you find lots of great books to read and stories to carry you through.
Jacob. đŸ™‚