The cards pictured are from the Aquarian Tarot deck.
Five of Rods and The Fool
As we step into the first full week of 2026, we’re greeted by two cards that inspire us to trust ourselves and follow our intuition. And while the energy of this January may feel a bit heavy, it’s still a good time to consider the possibilities ahead. We can take this opportunity to plant the seeds for renewal and growth that will flourish in Spring.
Our first card is the Five of Rods, which helps us understand how to create change in our lives. It encourages us to listen to our inner voice, including our feelings of negativity or resentment. We are called to explore what irritates, discomforts, or angers us.
This card asks us to focus on what tests our patience or makes us uncomfortable, particularly in our relationships. It encourages us to question these issues and consider alternative approaches.
Can we choose to spend more time with people who uplift us and less with people who bring us down? Can we prioritize tasks that are meaningful to us? Is it possible to make some changes?
Through the Five of Rods, we slow down and investigate our world. We examine the things we do throughout our day and the feelings they evoke. We step out of autopilot and explore opportunities.
Through this awareness, we find we have the agency to create a better experience for ourselves. We are not just stuck with the way things are. We can shape our lives and create the future we desire.
Maybe we need to establish some boundaries regarding what we share with others. Maybe we should spend more time listening and less time debating. Or perhaps we should delegate more and say no to things we don’t want to do.
Embracing the energy of the Five of Rods, we approach each day with kindness and implement even the smallest changes to nurture our joy. We will experience an intentional shift as we navigate the days ahead.
Our next card is the Fool, a card connected to the youthful energy in all of us. The Fool highlights a child’s fantastical imagination, the creative mind, and our adventurous spirit.
It’s the first card in the Major Arcana, and it brings the energy of a new soul that is not familiar with the ups and downs of life. It is all about taking risks and lightening our emotional baggage. If the Fool had a mantra, it would be: Leap and the net will appear.
Each of us can tap into this place when we give it the room it needs to be explored. We can invite the Fool in when we push ourselves to move through our fears and step into the present. The Fool calls us to focus on areas of our lives where we want to take chances.
Starting new relationships, business ventures, or projects is all connected to The Fool. This card is most activated when fresh paths are being taken. It’s asking us to look into 2026 and see what we want for ourselves.
What adventure do you want to embark on? Is there a project you want to start? Do you want to open your heart to new people? Do you want to open your heart to yourself?
This Fool can bring up fear. Many of us have become too familiar with pain, heartbreak, and failure, and these experiences make us afraid to leap. But the Fool has faith in the goodness of our being and lovingly asks us to take down our walls.
Mantra for the week: I choose to embrace compassion for myself as I bravely step forward.
Visit nikkifo.com to book your personal tarot reading or purchase a reading as a gift for a loved one. Looking forward to connecting with you!
