Connecting with Spirit- January 6, 2026
Word for the Year, Animal Person, Year Number, Tarot Keys and more!
FIRST: THANK YOU! Thank you for joining me as we embark on this new year together. I’m honored that you read my newsletter and I hope there are nuggets here that will help you navigate the days ahead. This year, the topics I’ll write about will be more focused on the connections among us all, the world around us, and our place in the cosmos. Our relationships with each other, and with Mother Earth, are the primary reasons for my work, and I want to offer more of what is helpful to you in increasing those bonds.
I invite you to let this newsletter be a place of reprieve from the busyness of your day, a place where you can take a deep breath and just be. So, make a cup of tea and let’s spend some time together. YOU are the reason I write this newsletter.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” asks poet Mary Oliver.
Right now, I’m just trying to figure out what I plan to do with today, with this moment. Maybe by the time we get to end of this newsletter you and I both will have a better idea of our answer to Mary’s question.
I’m so happy to connect with you, and I’m grateful that you subscribe to this newsletter! If you missed my last newsletter, you can read it here.
Celebrating the Light- December 19, 2025
Connecting with Spirit: Your Word, Animal Person, Year Number, Tarot Key
You probably know that I love ritual and traditions. At the beginning of a new calendar year, I choose a word that will be a guidepost for me for the year. I connect deeply with an animal person found in writings by Ted Andrews, and by Carson and Sams. I pull a Tarot key for the year, and I study the numerology of the year.
In 2025, my word was Grace, my animal person was Wolf the teacher, and my Tarot key was The Hermit, my guide over treacherous terrain. 2025 was a Nine year, a year of completion of cycles. I can’t begin to tell you how accurate all of those concepts turned out to be!
Empty: 2026’s Word
This year, just before midnight on New Years Eve, as I have so many times in the past, I stepped onto the beautiful labyrinth at a local church. As I took my first step on the path, a word floated into my thoughts: Empty. Wait. What? Empty?
Surrounded by gentle candlelight and soft music, I walked inward toward the center of the labyrinth with “Empty” in my heart. When I reached the center, I sat, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and waited. Yes, Empty, I heard again. I spent considerable time in the labyrinth’s center, meditating about this word. As I wound my way back out, I trusted that the lessons will come, the meaning will become clear. I continue to trust.
Here’s what I mean by trusting that clarity comes:
On March 7, 2023, on the eve of International Women’s Day and under a full moon, I gathered all my courage and wrote my deepest heart’s desire around the inside edge of a precious pottery bowl. The idea of creating an “incantation bowl” comes from Sue Monk Kidd’s brilliant novel, The Book of Longings. In the newsletter I sent out after doing this, I told you about writing in this empty bowl, but I didn’t tell you what I wrote. I didn’t share then what I’d written because, no matter how deep my longing, the fear of failing was greater.
Here’s a portion of what I wrote in the bowl: “May my words be guided… may my words honor all life… may my words be read by those who need them and heeded by all who are called by them. When I am gone, may you say that I, and my words, mattered. Blessed be and so it is.”
Finally, nearly three years later, I don’t believe I’ve failed. My work (including a book!) has been published, and more is in review. I’m writing about subjects that matter, I hope, to us all – home, family, community, our desperate need to protect Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.
I think about Buddhist monks, who go out into the streets every day with their empty bowls, trusting that what they need for the day’s sustenance will come, that their bowls will be filled. The bowls are always filled. So is/will be my bowl. And so is/will be yours.
Antelope: 2026’s Animal Person
Antelope teaches us many lessons about giving and sharing and nurturing. However, Antelope also is the messenger of a higher calling, a higher purpose. Antelope teaches us that the time is now to act on behalf of Mother Earth and all Her children. Antelope reminds us we already have courage within us, and the time is always right to act.
One: The Number for 2026
This year, 2026, is a One year, according to Numerology. This year starts a new cycle in our lives, both personally and universally. It is time to assess, to make new plans, and to go forward with clarity. It also is a time to give yourself permission to take care of YOU! Now is the time to let go the past and start anew. It’s time to put yourself first and to honor the creative spirit within you. A caveat here: your personal birth number also influences the numerology of the year for you personally, so pay attention to both numbers.
Tarot Key(s) for 2026: There are Seven!
Numerologically, there are seven Tarot keys that can be reduced to, and resonate with, the number One:
The Magician
The Wheel of Fortune
The Sun
The Ten of Cups, Ten of Wands, Ten of Swords, Ten of Pentacles
For someone whose name and birth number both resonate to Seven, I find it fascinating that seven Tarot keys resonate to the number One! Which one of the keys below speaks to you as you begin your journey into 2026?
Do the three Major Arcana keys resonate for you? Does the Magician, who connects earth and sky energy, speak to you, reminding you that you already have everything you need within you? Does the Wheel of Fortune, which reminds you that the Wheel of our years spins ever onward, speak to you, reminding you that your connection to universal energy never ends? Does The Sun, with the joyful child on horseback, speak to you, reminding you that happiness and light can always be yours?
Do the four tens of the Minor Arcana suits speak to you? The Ten of Cups and the Ten of Pentacles offer the notion of loving connection with family, and a sense of security of home and safety. The Ten of Wands teaches us that, even in our struggles to grow and learn and change, there is always hope. The Ten of Swords, while it appears to carry a terrible message, actually offers hope as well. The figure holds some of the same symbolism as the Hierophant, and the piercing of the body is symbolic, rather than literal.
I’m still working with these seven keys, because there are aspects of each of them that are meaningful to me at various moments. I’ll let you know how my connection goes.
What Are You Writing in 2026? What I’m Writing:
Do you start a new journal each year in January? I do, and I’ve started a new writing journal with this ritual: I’m writing a poem a day and a scene a day that I believe will coalesce into a solid piece of work. I know it’s early in the year, but so far, so good. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. There is something energetically different when I write with pen on paper.
I’m also working on several new writing projects that explore the intersections among social justice, gentrification, and environmental issues.
Your response to our new book, Crafting the Wheel of the Year, is humbling! I’m so grateful for your kind comments about it. A reminder that the book is available on my website, at your local bookstores, and from online retailers. https://debbowen.com/crafting-the-wheel-of-the-year/
As I wrote my “Year in Review” entries in my journal in late December, I realized how much I write every week (in addition to work I am hoping to publish in traditional publications). Here’s what I mean:
- I write an edition of this newsletter every couple of weeks.
- I write handouts and other documents for courses and workshops I teach.
- I write notes for talks I give at spiritual organizations.
- I write (or co-write) scripts and notes for our weekly podcast episodes.
- I write posts for my Facebook pages.
- Even my to-do lists and grocery lists are poetry that may never be published!
What Are You Reading? What I’m Reading:
Do you make notes in books? Here’s a confession: I desecrate books. I dog-ear corners. I underline in both ink and highlighter. I make notes and date in the margins what I’ve underlined. If I love a book, reading it becomes a written conversation (though one-sided). As I learn from her newest book, Writing Creativity and Soul, I have spoken to Sue Monk Kidd repeatedly in my notes.
Since it was released last October, I’ve read this book cover-to-cover four times. If you’re writing and need inspiration, Sue Monk Kidd will both kick your butt and prod you gently to write words that matter.
As I’ve been in a fallow time during the holidays, I’m grateful for this from her: “I’ve found I may need these fallow times not just in the beginning but throughout my writing in order to let my mind rest and reshape the material.”
Each of Sue’s books has, in some way, changed my life. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter and The Book of Longings have particularly impacted the way I see myself in the world and the responsibility I carry in the work I do. When Sue wrote about Ana’s incantation bowl in The Book of Longings, she gave me permission to write my deepest longings in my own incantation bowl. In all her work, Sue honors the creativity that lives within us. In this new book she writes, ‘We seem to need our rituals. They are small acts of mystery, and writing thrives on mystery.”
What I’m Doing, Where I’m Going
Friday, Jan. 9, 5 pm Eastern is the registration deadline! Unlocking the Mysteries of Tarot introductory course begins Tuesday, Jan. 13. Only a few seats left in both sections. Details here:
https://debbowen.com/product-category/new-category/
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2-4 pm Eastern: Dancing Moon Books & Gifts, Raleigh, NC. In this workshop, I’ll discuss the gifts the turning of the wheel with you as we explore our book, Crafting the Wheel of the Year. If you can make it to central North Carolina, I’d love for you to join me!
https://www.dancingmoonraleigh.com/event/wheel-of-the-year-workshop-with-deb-bowen/
Saturday, Feb. 7, 3 pm Eastern US/8 pm UK: Crafting the Wheel of the Year at Imbolc with Deb and Claire on Zoom. In this interactive workshop, I’ll dive deeply into the history, culture, legends, and lore of the Imbolc holiday, and Claire will teach you how to work with accompanying crafts. Invite your friends! Registration closes Thursday, Feb. 5.
https://debbowen.com/product/crafting-the-wheel-of-the-year-at-imbolc-workshop/
New Course! Watch for info soon.
If you’re interested in joining an on-going Zoom group that discusses all things metaphysical, know I’m working on this idea now! Details coming soon!
Recommended Substacks:
Janisse Ray – Spiral Bound
Janisse Ray – Trackless Wild
Amy Grisak - https://substack.com/@amygrisak
Mary Porter Kerns - The Flowers Are Speaking
Becki Clifton – Mystic Southern Naturalist
Maggie Thompson - https://margaretbthompson.substack.com/
Heather Cox Richardson – Letters from an American
My Published Works
Click on the link below to read one of my works in Salvation South:
“Where I’m From: Seven Decades in Seven Scenes”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/where-im-from-seven-decades-in-seven-scenes-deb-bowen-poem/
Podcast
Psychic Teachers
Deb’s Facebook Pages
Another way you and I can connect is through my Facebook pages. I’d be honored if you’d follow my pages. They are a great way to see up-to-the-minute news! I so hope you’ll LIKE and FOLLOW and feel free to comment and share posts!
Deb Bowen, Author
PsychicTeachers
Please note: Recently we’ve had several copycat pages pretending to be me or Samantha but we will never send friend requests or offer services through Facebook comments on any of my Facebook pages. If you have any questions regarding our communications, please contact me via my email. deb.bowen.crone@gmail.com
Just One More Thing Before You Go
“Being empty is a beginning.” - Sue Bender, Everyday Sacred
Thank you!
Happy New Year! I love the word "empty." It has so many possibilities as both a verb and an adjective. I'm looking forward to your future reflections on that word.
Here are the answers to your questions:
Word for 2026: Focus
Animal person: Owl
Number: VII (Same as my birth number)
Tarot keys: Going with the number 7 my primary key is the Chariot. The Tower adds up to VII and so I'll keep an eye on that one. In looking at the VII of Pentacles, Swords, Cups and Wands, I think it's going to be an interesting year.
Writing: I agree that there is a certain energy involved with handwritten words. In fact, I do much of it with a fountain pen. Filling them and caring for them is a ritual in itself. My writing goal for this year is to keep up with monthly Substack publications.
Reading: Like you, I'm a very interactive reader and think and read best with a pencil in hand (mechanical pencil with #9 lead and stickie notes. Ha!). I like to have a good piece of literature on hand, a book of poetry within reach and a book about writing to keep my creativity and craft alive. I'm currently wading through "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker and just finished reading "I Cheerfully Refuse" by Lief Enger.
My best to your new writing projects! I'm excited for you and for us-your readership!
Blessings to you Deb!
Thank you, Deb, for sharing your words from your incantation bowl!!! Absolutely love this! And love this idea and the correlation that you drew to the Monks! My friend, Sandra, and my friend, Katie, got to see the Monks and they both described the feeling as “unable to put words to”. They said it was overwhelming, in a good way, moving them both to tears. they both said they felt such peace.
My word for the year is “choose.” Because I feel we often forget we have free will here, Creator, gave that gift to us, and I GET TO “choose” my actions, my feelings, everything! So “Choose” is my word to bring into the light of my awareness to and through 2026. And I’ve already used it multiple times, lol, when I found myself getting aggravated and frustrated, I said, “wait, is this what you want to “choose?” So this is what I am going to do with this one precious life, this day, choose! I often think of that phrase too…what am I going to do with this one precious life?
I have yet to pull my Tarot card for the year. But I so resonate with 10 the Wheel and 1 the Magician and 19 The Sun already. I will spend some time with the 10s. I am also feeling the New Moon will be for making some intentions for the year, as I do not do resolutions. Thanks so much for sharing you and your gifts with us!