09/01/2026
The Twelve Houses Tarot spread aims to shed some insight into our own personal astrological houses. This traditional style reading gives us a snap shot view of the year ahead of us as we welcome the next season of change and transformation into our lives. As always, the role of Tarot is to become our mirror. Here we create a dialog with our subconscious, a chance for a personal deep dive into the spheres of self awareness, our emotional state and the more illusive corners of our lives.
The past year has been tough, a time for resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of adversity. A time for surviving, most definitely not thriving. As we embrace spiritually significant act of shedding the dead wood, our old, uncomfortable skins and deluge of accumulated unwanted baggage, 2026 grants us the beginning of the next karmic cycles.
A blank page in our story, a fresh start as we lock in and change the trajectory of our journey, hopefully for the better. Here we discover insight and clarity, a chance for change and growth, of self discovery and personal mastery. When we weave the symbolic narratives of the Tarot into the structures of the astrological realm, it of course creates a broader picture for us to sink our teeth into, providing us with an expansive and intriguing landscape to explore. Influences and patterns shape who we are, they mould our journey and provide us with lightbulb moments along the way and our journey through the Twelve Houses is our roadmap.
The First House, Identity - Ruled by Aries (Fire), this house governs the self, our identities and our ego. Sometimes known as the house of aspirations, here we work with our personal attributes, goals and accomplishments but also our level of enthusiasm and resilience when carving out our place in the world. The Star gives us hope, plain and simple. It’s our reminder that after the darkness always comes the light, once The Tower has fallen we will always rebuild stronger. The echos of the New Year are still ringing in our ears, promises of a new and improved version of ourselves relentlessly push us to overstretch during these first few weeks of January. The Star gives us permission to take our time while we figure out where we are going, it’s our permission slip to get really vulnerable and honest with ourselves, a time to test the waters and figure out the perfect formula as we discover our hopes and goals for the coming year. There isn’t the sense of urgency here that society insisted that we jump to, the dog whistle of consumerism and commodification has no place in the realm of The Star. There is no deadline to meet, no rush to transform, no urgency to engage, just time for gentle contemplations and reflection, for experimentation within the confines of our own safe container as the winter months still dance around us.
The Second House, Value - Ruled by Ta**us (Earth), the second house in the Twelve House sequence rules our security and value. Here we look at our personal resources and finances, our abundance, both materially and emotionally. How are our attitudes towards gaining and growing shaped and how can we learn to create sustainable wealth and security as we manage our resources. The Knight of Wands is a wild card, bringing the message to strike while the iron is hot, this card doesn’t waste an opportunity when it’s presented with it. Here this card asks us to break away from the norm and familiar routine, to step outside of our comfort zones and through caution to the wind as we chase our hopes and desires. It’s a fire energy residing under the earth sigh of Ta**us, the idea of expansion, growth, personal development, courage and taking risks but at the same time keeping one foot firmly on the ground. An air of sensibility is needed here, while it’s always encouraged to expand our circles and enrich our lives where possible, sometimes we can let our heart rule our heads before we’ve set out some ground rules, ultimately leaving us chasing our tails.
The Third House, Communication - Ruled by Gemini (Air), this house rules over our communication and mindsets. Often referred to as our house of thought, the duality of this air sign helps us to understand perspectives, vocalise our needs, desires, dreams and goals. Here we explore our attitudes towards creativity, to learning and study and when the Ace of Pentacles approaches we know there is going to be an opportunity that we simply can’t pass up. Here there is huge potential for growth, abundance and a wealth of experience and influence if we choose to embrace all the possibilities that this ace brings with it. The suit of Pentacles governs our wise and steadfast Earth signs, rooting us in our ways and direction when we navigate all that falls under the house of communication. Ruled by the methodical and intelligent Gemini, this chapter grants us the ability to reconnect, to understand and to grow especially when we are strategic with our efforts.
The Forth House, Home - Ruled by Cancer (Water), in the Forth House we take a closer look at our home lives, our family and the roots that keep us connected. This house is filled with emotions, memories and feelings and highlights the areas of our lives that need some attention and nurturing. It grants us a better understanding of where our energy is best focused and how we can mange our resources more effectively. The Six of Cups is a wonderful card to land within the Fourth House, the home. Here we explore the themes of gratitude, nostalgia, and childhood innocence. The simple joys of our four walls that we call home and the creature comforts that soothe us, learning to find solace in whats familiar, finding joy and appreciation in uncomplicated moments and embracing simple acts of kindness and friendship, curated with compassion and careful consideration.
The Fifth House, Creativity - Ruled by Leo (Fire), the house of creativity and personality talks to us about bold and authentic self expression. It demonstrates to us how we choose to show up in the world, how we express our confidence and pleasure and engage with the beauty of the world around us. This house rules our inner child, fun and romance, our scope for fun, artistic expression and creative pursuits. The Nine of Pentacles is a moment to stop and smell the roses, our garden is rich and it is plentiful, our surroundings are lush and the air is fertile. In this version of our story we have learned self sufficiency, independence and careful refinement. The suit of Pentacles teaches us how to work with our merit of abundance and in this Nine we show gratitude and appreciation for all that we have brought to fruition, our hard work and dedication has paid off here. We relish in our own sense of autonomy and accomplishment and the Nine of Pentacles asks us how can we incorporate these skills and attributes into who we are at our core, our artistic endeavours and character traits.
The Sixth House, Health - Ruled by Virgo (Earth), the sixth house rules over our health and routines. Sometimes known as the house of detail, here under Virgo we explore our daily lives, work environment and general day to day health. The Queen of Cups (Cancer) asks us to explore the themes of compassion, kindness, and tenderness, not just towards others but to also ourselves. Sitting in the sixth house, the domain that rules our health and routines she asks us to put ourselves under the microscope for a closer inspection as we prepare to move into the next season of our life. The themes of emotional stability and maturity are heavy here, the Queens of the Tarot are our mothers, our lovers, our counsel and our grace. She is solid, she is wise and yet she teaches us tenderness and healing, she shows us how to nurture and how to be soft as she leads by example. A time for emotional balance and a nervous system reset, this water ruled Queen grants us forgiveness for being human as we continuously show up and try and navigate our way through the daily grind.
The Seventh House, Relationships - Ruled by Libra (Air), the Seventh House watches over our relationships. This includes our romantic connections and partnerships, marriages, friendships and business relations. Considered the house of balance, here we explore the dynamics and distribution of our energy and the security of the foundations that we are building these connections on. The Tower is always an unwelcome visitor in this house, especially so early into the new year. This card brings with it upheaval, sudden change and disruption, all of the things we try to avoid within our relationships. However, The Tower is our reminder that when things are constructed on unstable foundation, without careful attention to detail, they were never really ment to last. The Tower reminds us that we simply cannot build structure of safety and security when there is nothing substantial underpinning and supporting the foundations. While it might feel like a heavy and unwanted loss and disruption, we are urged to embrace the change and welcome the chance to start a fresh, this is only temporary, after The Tower always comes The Star.
The Eighth House, Transformation - Ruled by Scorpio (Water), the Eighth House governs transformation and rebirth. Here we take a closer look at intimacy, intensity, sensuality and the need for deep rooted change. Scorpio is notorious for bringing passion and drama, the no nonsense attitude of this water sign always brings a sting in the tail, especially when in parallel with their curious and loyal nature. The King of Swords (Gemini) is the definition of solid power and authority. This intelligent and dynamic King rules with integrity, clarity and clear vision. Here we are taught to use his sword of wisdom and experience to cut away all of the dead wood and the baggage that is holding us back. A chance to refine our skills of self mastery, dynamic leadership and authenticity. The King of Swords encouraged us to cut through ambiguity to find solutions and the truth, to rule from a place of logic and understanding reason over emotion.
The Ninth House, Philosophy - Ruled by Sagittarius (Fire), the Twelfth House rules Philosophy, our individual beliefs systems and personal values. Under this house we explore the ideals of what is significant and how it is shaping us into the person we are becoming. Our morals and ethics hold emotional and spiritual meaning and influence the way that we interact with the world around us. The Ace of Wands presents us with another exciting opportunity within the house which nurtures our beliefs and values. This ace shows us that new perspectives and experiences are just around the corner when we choose to embrace them, let them fully enrich our lives, filling it with passion, excitement and optimism. Sometimes shifting our perception can reap enormous rewards and when The Ace of Wands falls at our doorstep it isn’t taking no for an answer. Just do it, embrace a new adventures, a different experiences, a creative opportunity for expansion and awareness.
The Tenth House, Ambition, - Ruled by Capricorn, the house of career and ambition reside here. In the Tenth House we take a closer look at our goals and plans for the future, how we can bring them into reality, what is the cost, both financially and mentally but also emotionally and whether or not these grand plans are actually feasible and realistic. Often referred to as the house of pragmatism, this Earth sign wants us to explore where we need to get more methodical and innovative in our lives but it also shows us where we need to keep our feet on the ground to continue moving forward with a air of stubbornness and determination. The Seven of Wands is here to challenge us, to push us that extra mile, to show us exactly what we are capable of when we put our minds to it. Taking a stand for what we believe in, this card is weaved with themes of persistence, focus and defending what is important to us. It teaches us to stand our ground and be assertive, this isn’t passive success, it must be maintained. Here we learn to advocate for ourselves but to choose our battles wisely, dont waste our resources on opportunities that are not beneficial to us in some capacity.
The Eleventh House, Community - Ruled by Aquarius (Air), this is the house of community and our place within the collective space. Here we explore our friendships, shared goals, our hopes and how we navigate the social structures that define our daily lives. The Seven of Swords speaks to us of strategies, of careful planning and tactic but also shows us how resourceful we can be when the odds are stacked against us. When we work within our collective spheres, we learn what are skills are and how we can add value to situations, partnerships. Focused on shared ideas and finding our place. When the Seven of Swords shows up here, it can bring up feelings of uncertainty, that people see our value and appreciate our skills but also asks us to examine the idea of imposter syndrome. Do we feel secure in the role that we play in the wider social network, do we feel valued for our contribution? If not, why not? What do we need to change, the air element of this card focuses on communication, speaking our minds finding our voice in a sometimes busy community space but also to be careful how we hold our swords, sometime the narrtives we paint for ourselves are far from the truth.
The Twelfth House, Inner Life - Ruled by Pisces (Water), the Twelfth House reigns over our inner world and our subconscious. Here we start to unpick our hopes, dreams and spiritual landscape, the house of intuition reveals our deep secrets and our inner voice, spending more here time actually listening to what we need is absolutely necessary. The Five of Swords shows us conflict, struggles and self sabotage, this difficult card is the version of the story where nobody wins and we begin to question was all of the conflict ever worth it. We can have feeling surrounding guilt and struggle with our internal beliefs and spiritual landscapes which can sometimes foster a deep sense of disconnection from the identity that we fabricate to fit into society’s tightly conditioned and narrow minded boxes. Here we are reminded to work with our peace, not against it and strive to protect it at all cost. Often there is no real value in trying to always prove that we are right, it is more beneficial to gives others the space and compassion to release resentment, shame and comparison and giving ourselves space to breath without consequences or judgement.
My Tarot content is always free but if you like my writing and want to support my work you can buy me a coffee here!
The Twelve Houses Tarot spread aims to shed some insight into our own personal astrological houses. This traditional style reading gives us a snap shot view of the year ahead of us as we welcome the next season of change and transformation into our lives. As always, the role of Tarot is to become our mirror. Here we create a dialog with our subconscious, a chance for a personal deep dive into the spheres of self awareness, our emotional state and the more illusive corners of our lives.
The past year has been tough, a time for resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of adversity. A time for surviving, most definitely not thriving. As we embrace spiritually significant act of shedding the dead wood, our old, uncomfortable skins and deluge of accumulated unwanted baggage, 2026 grants us the beginning of the next karmic cycles.
A blank page in our story, a fresh start as we lock in and change the trajectory of our journey, hopefully for the better. Here we discover insight and clarity, a chance for change and growth, of self discovery and personal mastery. When we weave the symbolic narratives of the Tarot into the structures of the astrological realm, it of course creates a broader picture for us to sink our teeth into, providing us with an expansive and intriguing landscape to explore. Influences and patterns shape who we are, they mould our journey and provide us with lightbulb moments along the way and our journey through the Twelve Houses is our roadmap.
The First House, Identity - Ruled by Aries (Fire), this house governs the self, our identities and our ego. Sometimes known as the house of aspirations, here we work with our personal attributes, goals and accomplishments but also our level of enthusiasm and resilience when carving out our place in the world. The Star gives us hope, plain and simple. It’s our reminder that after the darkness always comes the light, once The Tower has fallen we will always rebuild stronger. The echos of the New Year are still ringing in our ears, promises of a new and improved version of ourselves relentlessly push us to overstretch during these first few weeks of January. The Star gives us permission to take our time while we figure out where we are going, it’s our permission slip to get really vulnerable and honest with ourselves, a time to test the waters and figure out the perfect formula as we discover our hopes and goals for the coming year. There isn’t the sense of urgency here that society insisted that we jump to, the dog whistle of consumerism and commodification has no place in the realm of The Star. There is no deadline to meet, no rush to transform, no urgency to engage, just time for gentle contemplations and reflection, for experimentation within the confines of our own safe container as the winter months still dance around us.
The Second House, Value - Ruled by Ta**us (Earth), the second house in the Twelve House sequence rules our security and value. Here we look at our personal resources and finances, our abundance, both materially and emotionally. How are our attitudes towards gaining and growing shaped and how can we learn to create sustainable wealth and security as we manage our resources. The Knight of Wands is a wild card, bringing the message to strike while the iron is hot, this card doesn’t waste an opportunity when it’s presented with it. Here this card asks us to break away from the norm and familiar routine, to step outside of our comfort zones and through caution to the wind as we chase our hopes and desires. It’s a fire energy residing under the earth sigh of Ta**us, the idea of expansion, growth, personal development, courage and taking risks but at the same time keeping one foot firmly on the ground. An air of sensibility is needed here, while it’s always encouraged to expand our circles and enrich our lives where possible, sometimes we can let our heart rule our heads before we’ve set out some ground rules, ultimately leaving us chasing our tails.
The Third House, Communication - Ruled by Gemini (Air), this house rules over our communication and mindsets. Often referred to as our house of thought, the duality of this air sign helps us to understand perspectives, vocalise our needs, desires, dreams and goals. Here we explore our attitudes towards creativity, to learning and study and when the Ace of Pentacles approaches we know there is going to be an opportunity that we simply can’t pass up. Here there is huge potential for growth, abundance and a wealth of experience and influence if we choose to embrace all the possibilities that this ace brings with it. The suit of Pentacles governs our wise and steadfast Earth signs, rooting us in our ways and direction when we navigate all that falls under the house of communication. Ruled by the methodical and intelligent Gemini, this chapter grants us the ability to reconnect, to understand and to grow especially when we are strategic with our efforts.
The Forth House, Home - Ruled by Cancer (Water), in the Forth House we take a closer look at our home lives, our family and the roots that keep us connected. This house is filled with emotions, memories and feelings and highlights the areas of our lives that need some attention and nurturing. It grants us a better understanding of where our energy is best focused and how we can mange our resources more effectively. The Six of Cups is a wonderful card to land within the Fourth House, the home. Here we explore the themes of gratitude, nostalgia, and childhood innocence. The simple joys of our four walls that we call home and the creature comforts that soothe us, learning to find solace in whats familiar, finding joy and appreciation in uncomplicated moments and embracing simple acts of kindness and friendship, curated with compassion and careful consideration.
The Fifth House, Creativity - Ruled by Leo (Fire), the house of creativity and personality talks to us about bold and authentic self expression. It demonstrates to us how we choose to show up in the world, how we express our confidence and pleasure and engage with the beauty of the world around us. This house rules our inner child, fun and romance, our scope for fun, artistic expression and creative pursuits. The Nine of Pentacles is a moment to stop and smell the roses, our garden is rich and it is plentiful, our surroundings are lush and the air is fertile. In this version of our story we have learned self sufficiency, independence and careful refinement. The suit of Pentacles teaches us how to work with our merit of abundance and in this Nine we show gratitude and appreciation for all that we have brought to fruition, our hard work and dedication has paid off here. We relish in our own sense of autonomy and accomplishment and the Nine of Pentacles asks us how can we incorporate these skills and attributes into who we are at our core, our artistic endeavours and character traits.
The Sixth House, Health - Ruled by Virgo (Earth), the sixth house rules over our health and routines. Sometimes known as the house of detail, here under Virgo we explore our daily lives, work environment and general day to day health. The Queen of Cups (Cancer) asks us to explore the themes of compassion, kindness, and tenderness, not just towards others but to also ourselves. Sitting in the sixth house, the domain that rules our health and routines she asks us to put ourselves under the microscope for a closer inspection as we prepare to move into the next season of our life. The themes of emotional stability and maturity are heavy here, the Queens of the Tarot are our mothers, our lovers, our counsel and our grace. She is solid, she is wise and yet she teaches us tenderness and healing, she shows us how to nurture and how to be soft as she leads by example. A time for emotional balance and a nervous system reset, this water ruled Queen grants us forgiveness for being human as we continuously show up and try and navigate our way through the daily grind.
The Seventh House, Relationships - Ruled by Libra (Air), the Seventh House watches over our relationships. This includes our romantic connections and partnerships, marriages, friendships and business relations. Considered the house of balance, here we explore the dynamics and distribution of our energy and the security of the foundations that we are building these connections on. The Tower is always an unwelcome visitor in this house, especially so early into the new year. This card brings with it upheaval, sudden change and disruption, all of the things we try to avoid within our relationships. However, The Tower is our reminder that when things are constructed on unstable foundation, without careful attention to detail, they were never really ment to last. The Tower reminds us that we simply cannot build structure of safety and security when there is nothing substantial underpinning and supporting the foundations. While it might feel like a heavy and unwanted loss and disruption, we are urged to embrace the change and welcome the chance to start a fresh, this is only temporary, after The Tower always comes The Star.
The Eighth House, Transformation - Ruled by Scorpio (Water), the Eighth House governs transformation and rebirth. Here we take a closer look at intimacy, intensity, sensuality and the need for deep rooted change. Scorpio is notorious for bringing passion and drama, the no nonsense attitude of this water sign always brings a sting in the tail, especially when in parallel with their curious and loyal nature. The King of Swords (Gemini) is the definition of solid power and authority. This intelligent and dynamic King rules with integrity, clarity and clear vision. Here we are taught to use his sword of wisdom and experience to cut away all of the dead wood and the baggage that is holding us back. A chance to refine our skills of self mastery, dynamic leadership and authenticity. The King of Swords encouraged us to cut through ambiguity to find solutions and the truth, to rule from a place of logic and understanding reason over emotion.
The Ninth House, Philosophy - Ruled by Sagittarius (Fire), the Twelfth House rules Philosophy, our individual beliefs systems and personal values. Under this house we explore the ideals of what is significant and how it is shaping us into the person we are becoming. Our morals and ethics hold emotional and spiritual meaning and influence the way that we interact with the world around us. The Ace of Wands presents us with another exciting opportunity within the house which nurtures our beliefs and values. This ace shows us that new perspectives and experiences are just around the corner when we choose to embrace them, let them fully enrich our lives, filling it with passion, excitement and optimism. Sometimes shifting our perception can reap enormous rewards and when The Ace of Wands falls at our doorstep it isn’t taking no for an answer. Just do it, embrace a new adventures, a different experiences, a creative opportunity for expansion and awareness.
The Tenth House, Ambition, - Ruled by Capricorn, the house of career and ambition reside here. In the Tenth House we take a closer look at our goals and plans for the future, how we can bring them into reality, what is the cost, both financially and mentally but also emotionally and whether or not these grand plans are actually feasible and realistic. Often referred to as the house of pragmatism, this Earth sign wants us to explore where we need to get more methodical and innovative in our lives but it also shows us where we need to keep our feet on the ground to continue moving forward with a air of stubbornness and determination. The Seven of Wands is here to challenge us, to push us that extra mile, to show us exactly what we are capable of when we put our minds to it. Taking a stand for what we believe in, this card is weaved with themes of persistence, focus and defending what is important to us. It teaches us to stand our ground and be assertive, this isn’t passive success, it must be maintained. Here we learn to advocate for ourselves but to choose our battles wisely, dont waste our resources on opportunities that are not beneficial to us in some capacity.
The Eleventh House, Community - Ruled by Aquarius (Air), this is the house of community and our place within the collective space. Here we explore our friendships, shared goals, our hopes and how we navigate the social structures that define our daily lives. The Seven of Swords speaks to us of strategies, of careful planning and tactic but also shows us how resourceful we can be when the odds are stacked against us. When we work within our collective spheres, we learn what are skills are and how we can add value to situations, partnerships. Focused on shared ideas and finding our place. When the Seven of Swords shows up here, it can bring up feelings of uncertainty, that people see our value and appreciate our skills but also asks us to examine the idea of imposter syndrome. Do we feel secure in the role that we play in the wider social network, do we feel valued for our contribution? If not, why not? What do we need to change, the air element of this card focuses on communication, speaking our minds finding our voice in a sometimes busy community space but also to be careful how we hold our swords, sometime the narrtives we paint for ourselves are far from the truth.
The Twelfth House, Inner Life - Ruled by Pisces (Water), the Twelfth House reigns over our inner world and our subconscious. Here we start to unpick our hopes, dreams and spiritual landscape, the house of intuition reveals our deep secrets and our inner voice, spending more here time actually listening to what we need is absolutely necessary. The Five of Swords shows us conflict, struggles and self sabotage, this difficult card is the version of the story where nobody wins and we begin to question was all of the conflict ever worth it. We can have feeling surrounding guilt and struggle with our internal beliefs and spiritual landscapes which can sometimes foster a deep sense of disconnection from the identity that we fabricate to fit into society’s tightly conditioned and narrow minded boxes. Here we are reminded to work with our peace, not against it and strive to protect it at all cost. Often there is no real value in trying to always prove that we are right, it is more beneficial to gives others the space and compassion to release resentment, shame and comparison and giving ourselves space to breath without consequences or judgement.
My Tarot content is always free but if you like my writing and want to support my work you can buy me a coffee here!
https://buymeacoffee.com/thecrossedkeys
