Predicting 2026 - The Year ahead reading

Hello there you magickal beings and welcome to another year from the Mystical Cabaret. I know I said I would keep up with this blog a little more frequently and trust me … 2026 I’ll be doing just that. But life has a way of … lifing. I realized as I took a rare Friday off a few weeks ago that I have not stopped moving since January. From many big things in my personal life (ie I got married in June) and all the planning that took place for it to happen, to going on a honeymoon, finally seeing the release of my book Read Like a Queen: Real-Life Insights to SLAY Your Tarot Practice, a new role at the day job and learning the ins and outs with that (with a TON of mistakes). 2025 has been quite the year of learning and seeing what I am capable of handling and doing. Very much on brand for the Hermit focus of the year.

Chinese astrology & numerology for 2026

Let’s jump into the predictions for 2026 shall we? In Chinese astrology, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. People born under the sign of the Horse are often go getters and rarely hesitate once their minds are made up. 2026 is all about building momentum because it’ll be easy; as you can see in the card from the Chinese Five Elements Oracle by Vicki Iskandar, the prompt for Fire Horse is effortless vitality. The Horse is at home in the element of Fire and so this upcoming year would be similar to a planet being exalted in it’s companion Zodiac sign. Remember the you set the pace for the momentum. You don’t want to burn out before you get to the end of the year so be sure the rest is built in to recharge yourself (and if you’re solar-powered like me get some time in the sun).

Numerologically, 2026 is a year of Ten (2+0+2+6 = 10), which corresponds to the Wheel of Fortune in Tarot. Big changes are happening and you are going to be a manifesting DIVA/DIVO/DIVX in the coming year. Here’s the tricky part about Manifesting: You are always doing it. So give yourself the gift of clarity on what you want to manifest and pay attention to those thoughts you project out into the world (I am guilty of this myself. I cuss out bad drivers and tend to run into more of them while I’m on the road). So we’ve go two potent cards for movement and momentum happening.

The Fire Horse from the Chinese Five Element Oracle and Wheel of Fortune from the Radiant Waite

But now, let’s peek at the month-by-month cards. 2026 promises movement in every direction—up, down, sideways… maybe even a loop-the-loop! (I do love a good rollercoaster, so I’m ready.) This year, I tried a few fresh twists as I pulled my predictions. First, I switched decks from the Radiant Waite you saw above—so each pull comes with its own energy signature. And instead of one card per month, I pulled two. Normally, I don’t pile on extra cards, but this year, it just felt right—like the universe wanted a little more detail in its roadmap. And with momentum picking up, we want to make sure we know where we’re going! Let’s jump on to the Wheel…

The Wheel of the Year Spread with the Fire Horse and Wheel of Fortune in the middle. The remaining cards are from Tarot of a Moon Garden deck.

First Quarter of 2026

First Quarter of 2026 with Tarot of a Moon Garden

Next year we start of January with a little lingering contemplation from 2025, with the pesky Hermit still wanting us to hold on and reflect. This may lead to a lot of questioning yourself, your relationships and your ideas. Questions like am I too ambitious? Too much? Do I deserve this? I’ve noticed that when the Hermit asks us to reflect on what we are capable of doing, the Impostor Syndrome likes to perk up and that insistent voice of insecurity likes to say “Hi I’m here!” Let this month set the tone for the rest of the year and how you wish to handle these intrusive thoughts that like to pop up throughout the year.

In February, this self-reflection will become deeply encoded into your body, heart and mind. This might be a good time to show your body love and self-care, just like the Queen of Pentacles would do. When the body is cared for and feeling in alignment with the rest of you, this gives way for you to explore other interests just like the Page of Swords you are. So take care of the home and body so you can see other parts of the world around you.

Come March, you will find new opportunities for wealth and abundance coming your way (Ace of Pentacles). Pursue this with your whole heart because this will perk you up and help you fall back in love with everything all over again. Knight of Cups are wonderfully hopeless romantics, falling in love with everything little thing they do. This total emersion is truly a blessing because they are so in the moment

Second Quarter of 2026

The Second Quarter of 2026 with Tarot of a Moon Garden

If the first quarter started off rocky, the second quarter of 2026 is going to be downright mountainy. April as you can see is going to bring some disappointments with it (enter the Three of Swords). But I want you to remember that often disappointment signals two things: 1. that you care about what you are creating and 2. there is a lesson in the disappointment. You see we have the Devil rearing his head that wants you to stay small as you go for your big goals. The Devil (ie our internal Ego) likes to use disappointments as a way to say “See?! It’ll never happen.”

In May, you may feel tempted to play a “woe is me” card, Five of Pentacles, and hyper focus on all that is going wrong and not manifesting and coming around. This is a perfect time to reach out to a trusted friend and maybe share a cup of tea or coffee or even wine. Give yourself a chance to reset your expectations for your goals and yourself and reach out during this time where it would be very easy to isolate.

June 2026 you’ll see why. Your goals were right on track, there were just a few hurdles to clear. The King of Staffs (Wands) is showing a maturation and deep integration of your passions and fire. Your creative spark was the start at the beginning of the year and quickly you’ll find how you grow when you stay with your passions. The World… Well need I say more? It’s going to come into full fruition and we’re only halfway through the year!

Third Quarter of 2026

The Third Quarter of 2026 with Tarot of a Moon Garden

Come July, you’ll be making the transition into something bigger than yourself. But that will require you to rise up from your own ashes. Six of Swords is asking you to get out of your own way and give yourself a moment to retreat. Getting away from the noise will give you a chance to pause and reflect on what you are wanting to create this year… And what you set out to do. But the Ten of Swords is saying pick yourself up. You’ll be feeling the weight pulling you down, so pick up and carry on.

August will have you wondering “What on earth did I get myself into?” and the answer: GREATNESS! The Nine of Swords will show you are working your way through all the stuff and muck and yes there are headaches because you’re pushing further than your comfort zone is used to being pushed. But this is where the exploration of your new opportunities will come forth as we welcome the Page of Pentacles energy into the end of summer time.

Moving to September, you’ll be back on the horse again… literally with Knight of Staff’s energy kicking us into the very beginning to fall. The transition into harvest will have you excited to see what you’ve been growing in your garden this year. The land is fertile and pouring out your love into it will show up in spades. The Lovers is asking you to keep tending to it as you would a partner.

Fourth Quarter of 2026

Fourth Quarter reading of 2026 with Tarot of a Moon Garden

As we being to wrap up the 2026, you’ll find in October people beginning to notice your success and the change you’ve adopted in yourself. Seven of Staffs (Wands) may have you feeling like you need to defend yourself to friends or family you’ve always known. But trust your gut and trust those that perk up love and support in your heart, not defense (Ace of Cups). You’ll be building up new relationships, personal, professional, friendly and maybe even romantic.

November will have you celebrating all your successes, just in time for Thanksgiving and turkey. And I mean who wouldn’t want to give thanks for success and abundance right? Six of Staffs (Wands) energy has you reveling in showing up to dinner and proudly owning what you’ve been creating all year. Add into the the Two of Pentacles and you’ll have your fair share of items added to your plate.

Bringing us to December. Nothing thrills me more than when I see the Card of the Year appear in a Wheel of the Year reading. And to have the Wheel of Fortune appear in December gives me a clear sign that all the sweat and tears you will experience will be worth it in the end. The Eight of Cups may feel like a loss but in this position I see it as leaving the old you behind and letting a shiny, newer version out to play.

Final thoughts on 2026…

This coming year will be transformative in many ways. You’ll have the momentum to bring about amazing results. There will be some hardships this coming year. But as we move out of Hermit territory of the internal, it’s time to bring about those ideas, projects, things you’ve been holding close to your chest for awhile now. Let 2026 be your year of manifestation with the Fire Horse’s momentum and the Wheel of Fortunes luck!

May your 2026 be the most incredible year! Make it a Magickal Day friends! - Stella B