Aligning with the New Moon: A Tarot Ritual for Intention Setting for a Year of Purpose
The New Moon is a sacred pause—a moment to clear the slate, plant seeds of intention, and align ourselves with the cycles of renewal. When this lunar reset coincides with the turning of the year, it amplifies the energy of possibility. It’s not just a moment to plan for the weeks ahead but to set the tone for an entire year of growth and purpose.
For me, tarot has always been more than a tool; it’s a mirror, a compass, and a trusted guide. Over this past New Moon, I turned to my cards to set intentions for 2025. The insights I gained were profound, and today, I want to share a simple ritual for using tarot to align with your highest self during these lunar phases. This is not advice—this is an offering. A mechanism that you can adapt and make your own.
A Simple New Moon Tarot Ritual
This practice is designed to help you anchor your dreams and set clear intentions, using the wisdom of tarot to guide your focus:
Prepare Your Space:
Create a calm, sacred atmosphere. Light a candle, burn incense, or play soft music. Let your environment reflect the stillness and potential of the New Moon.Set Your Question:
I find it helpful to ask: “What energies should I embody to align with my highest self this year?” or “What guidance does the New Moon offer me right now?”Draw Two Cards:
The first card represents the energy you are currently working with.
The second card reveals the energy you need to embrace or embody to move forward.
Reflect and Journal:
Spend time with your cards. Note your impressions, the emotions they stir, and how they relate to your goals. This step is not about “right” or “wrong” interpretations—it’s about connection and clarity.
My New Moon Pull: The Emperor and the Seven of Cups
This New Moon, I pulled The Emperor and the Seven of Cups, a pairing that felt both deeply affirming and instructive.
The Seven of Cups speaks to imagination, dreams, and the overwhelming array of possibilities that often come with intention-setting. It reflected the expansive brainstorming I had done—vision boards, lists, even a “mind movie” to crystallize my desires for 2025. This card was a reminder to embrace the dreaming stage fully but not to linger there too long.
Then came The Emperor, the embodiment of structure, discipline, and responsibility. Where the Seven of Cups scattered my imagination across limitless possibilities, The Emperor called me back to the ground. His message was clear: “Choose. Build. Lead.” It was a call to take the dreams from my vision board and anchor them in routines, systems, and actions that will make them real.
This pairing illuminated a truth I often revisit in my practice: dreams are sacred, but they require a container to thrive. The Seven of Cups gave me permission to dream boldly, and The Emperor handed me the tools to build those dreams into something lasting.
An Invitation to Reflect
If you’re inspired to explore this ritual, remember: tarot is not about answers—it’s about questions. It’s a dialogue between you and your inner wisdom, a way to find clarity amid the noise.
Adapt this practice to your life, your goals, and your unique rhythm. What are you dreaming of under this New Moon? And how can you ground those dreams in actions that will carry you forward?
Perhaps your cards will guide you to focus, or perhaps they’ll remind you to let go. Either way, let them reflect back the wisdom you already hold within.
Closing Thoughts
This New Moon ritual has been a powerful guide for me, and I hope it sparks something meaningful for you too. As I step into 2025 with the lessons of The Emperor and the Seven of Cups, I feel both anchored and inspired. I invite you to try this practice for yourself, to shape it, and to share your experience.
When we align with the cycles of the moon, we align with our own cycles of renewal. And in those moments, transformation begins. Happy New Year!
