Four New Years...
... in three months! // Feb 16 2026
Monday Mettā
Mettā: Loving friendliness, goodwill, and kindness directed both inward and outward.
Today’s mettā is for the breath, for the air, for the trees, for the world.
✨
So glad you’re here.
Intuitive Tarot Card Reading
Use your intuition to guide you to a specific card below. Choose the card with the crystal on it that calls to you. At the end of this newsletter, you’ll see the cards flipped over, with a reading for each one. The card that you choose here will have your reading for the week.
Choose your card, then scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter for the reveal!
Card 1: Botswana Agate Choose this card for a comforting message.
Card 2: Labradorite Choose this card for a message on intuition.
Card 3: Jade Choose this card for a harmonious message.
Four New Years in Three Months
From January to March, we celebrate newness.
Of course, we can do this daily. Every day is a new year. I often light a candle in the mornings, saying a blessing for the light (inspired by David Whyte’s poem The Blessing of the Morning Light) or wishing goodness on the day, using the Hebrew “yom tov.”
But we do have some official new years to pay attention to in this winter season.
Of course, we started 2026 on January 1. This is a new year that the whole world essentially follows, in one way or another. Originally celebrated in March, the Romans chose the January date to m ark the first month after the winter solstice. (They also gave us paved roads, lots of walls, and some really cute hair accessories.)
The second new year is one of my favorites, the Jewish new year of Tu B’Shvat, the “New Year for Trees.” (I wrote about how trees have special status last year, shared pictures of some of my favorite trees, and recommended books about trees.) In the ancient Hebrew calendar, there are actually four new years sprinkled throughout the cycle of one whole “year.” One of these, Tu B’Shvat, celebrates trees. Historically, this day was meant to mark tree growth—in ancient times, only fruit from an older tree could be eaten. This meant a tree’s “birthday” was important! It is believed that this day was put on the Hebrew calendar to calculate the age of trees.
This year, Tu B’Shvat began the evening of February 1 and went through the day of February 2, a date that marks the exact middle of winter and spring. Also on this date? Imbolc, the Celtic holy day. As I wrote a few years ago, Imbolc signifies the coming of spring. Though still firmly winter here in my neck of the woods, Imbolc reminds us that it’s time to get ready for the newness of March. (Imbolc is thought to be the precursor to Groundhog’s Day, as it was a time when people watched closely to see if burrowed animals would come out of their dens, signifying the beginning of warmer weather.)
There are a lot of customs around Imbolc, including weaving and hanging beautiful crosses to bring luck to the home, doing a bit of spring cleaning, feasting, and my favorite: visiting holy wells. To combine the new year for trees and the celebrations of Imbolc, I visited the various wells and also my favorite trees that dot my regular hiking paths, leaving tiny prayers and pine cones as gifts. I invite you to do the same!
The third new year is lunar. The Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice. This year’s Lunar New Year is tomorrow, February 17, as is the new moon. Like so many traditional holy-days that fall on a new moon, this is a time to create light. The darkness of the moon asks us to balance it with the light we create in celebration of newness. The Chinese Zodiac tells us that this is the year of the fire horse. Swift, direct, light energy is coming our way, and my advice is to ride with the horse. Don’t let the energy of the new year overtake you.
The fourth new year is in March. Originally, March was the month of the New Year we now celebrate in January. So, March carries with it the echos of ancient celebrations of new days to come. Of course, March is our celebration of spring, of newness everywhere you look. And though it feels far away, we’ve already passed the halfway point between winter and spring.
As you celebrate the new moon and/or the Lunar New Year tomorrow, light a candle with the intention spark the creative. Celebrate with candles, lanterns, strings of dried oranges and lemons, or lightness in the body through dance and breath. Start a new hobby, or one you enjoyed as a kid. Activate your imagination by reading and writing and wandering around in nature and being present.
🌻Workshops, Classes, and Ways to Connect
Coming Soon: See me live and in person in April!
(Driving distance from CT, NJ, and NYC- details to come.)
Read more about my group workshops here:
Online: Imaginal Intuition
March 22 and 29, 2026
I believe that every single person has access to deep intuition. It is not a special gift for a select few—it is an inner sense that we can all remember, practice, and strengthen. This workshop is an invitation to do exactly that.
Imaginal Intuition: Metamorphosis through Clarity and Connection is a two-day, 5‑hour workshop devoted to listening to, understanding, and practicing your intuition.
In this empowering and practical live workshop, you will learn how to:
Understand what your intuition is—and what it isn’t
Work with the “clairs” (clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, etc.) to listen more clearly
Use tools and strategies to become skilled at intuitive connection
Ask empowering, precise questions of your intuition
Apply intuition in your work, creativity, and decision-making
Harness the power of your imagination as a doorway to insight
Practice meditation and visualization techniques that bring stillness and clarity
Use intuition to cultivate deeper faith and trust in yourself
We will work with specific sense practices, including partner exercises, tarot cards, intuitive readings, and guided imaginal explorations. You’ll have time to practice, receive, share, and refine your intuitive skills in a supportive space.
Along the way, you can expect to:
Build confidence in your inner knowing
Experience greater connection with yourself and others
Receive insight into questions around life, work, relationships, and Self
This workshop is designed for all levels—from absolute beginners who are simply curious, to seasoned intuitive readers who want to deepen, clarify, or refresh their practice. All that’s required is your willingness to show up, participate, and explore.
In Person:
Miraval Berkshires
You can find me in real life at Miraval Berkshires. I teach weekly in-person workshops and hold private sessions on tarot, the energy of money, learning intuition, and a Thursday evening class on the soul. I’d love to see you there! Respond to learn more.
📖Currently Reading…
The Planets Within by Thomas Moore
The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
The Craft of Research
Sacred Nature by Karen Armstrong
With Gratitude,
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🌱Make a micro-donation or become a paying member of this Substack. Subscribe to pay for this newsletter for $5/month or $50/year. Paying subscribers have access to my entire archive.
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Thank you thank you!
Much love and gratitude,
Rachel xo
PS! I make a great gift! Interested in gifting a private yoga, a tarot or an intuitive soul reading to a friend? Simply respond to this newsletter!
Your Tarot Reading, Revealed!
Card 1: Botswana Agate // The Empress
There really isn’t a more nurturing and comfortable card. In fact, this is the only card where the main figure is leaning back, in repose, with soft pillows to prop her up (all other tarot figures are either standing, moving, or sitting upright in their seats). So: prop yourself up this week. Call upon your supports. Lounge on the couch. Sit against a tree in the snow. Nurture yourself with objects, people, and the natural world.
Card 2: Labradorite // Two of Cups
Intuition isn’t fun when it’s just you—intuition is a partnership. Start an intuition practice with a friend. Practice using your senses to help out others, in ways large and small. Play intuitive games with a buddy. Tell your family that you’re working on this and see how they can help! Unsure of how to do this? I didn’t mean for this to be a plug (the cards come at random!), but taking an intuition class will totally jump-start this process.
Card 3: Jade // Seven of Cups
This card often comes up with we are out of harmony, when we have so many choices we can’t find the most harmonious one. But I offer another way to look at the Seven of Cups. Let those cups be objects of your imagination. Not fantasy, not fancy, but the skill of imagination that we can use to our benefit. This week, be in harmony with your imagination, your creativity, your process.
Rachel Barker’s role as writer and intuitive is to facilitate the reader’s introspection, awareness, and reflection. Whether to make a particular choice or take a particular action is entirely the responsibility of the reader.
Needed that. Thank you!