Tarot is a powerful tool for self-exploration. If you feel pulled in different directions or uncertain about where to focus your time and energy, a targeted card spread can provide clarity and help you notice what truly matters to you.
Passion is a weighty word, often tied to our deepest sense of self.
When people speak of finding their passion, they often describe it as a calling or vocation—something essential to who they are. That expectation can make it painful if you don’t know your passion yet, or if interests that once felt vital no longer spark joy.
If you aren’t sure what lights you up, or if past passions no longer resonate, it’s common to feel out of sync. This spread is meant to ease that pressure and invite curiosity rather than demand an instant answer.
We live in a culture that frequently equates hobbies with potential income, which can muddy the difference between what’s profitable and what’s genuinely fulfilling. Capitalist pressures don’t leave much space for pursuits that exist purely for pleasure, making it more important than ever to intentionally prioritize creativity, joy, and activities that center you.
Use this reading not to hunt for a single, definitive passion but to open a gentle conversation with yourself—one that explores new possibilities and uncovers longings, curiosities, and creative impulses.
If you try this Tarot spread, consider asking:
- What does my life naturally revolve around?
- Which themes or interests keep appearing, regardless of circumstance?
We are complex beings with multiple interests; pressing yourself to name one ultimate passion can make discovery harder. Instead, let the cards invite reflection and experimentation.
Think of this reading as a starting point—an invitation to begin asking questions and making space for exploration rather than a final verdict.
How to Pull the Cards
As you shuffle your deck, consider tuning into the energy of the Suit of Wands and the element of Fire. Invite the cards to show you what lights you up, what fuels your curiosity, and what makes you excited to act. Visualize the spark of an Ace of Wands, the recognition of a Six of Wands, or the dynamic energy of the wand court cards.
Ask yourself: When do you feel most yourself—dialed into something larger than everyday life? When are you eager to keep going, try new things, or embody a particular energy?
The following sample reading illustrates how this spread can unfold. It’s offered as inspiration rather than a personalized session.
A Spread for Discovering Your Passion
Card One: Something You Are Curious About
King of Coins
Kings represent authority and stewardship, often acting as builders for themselves and their communities. In the suit of Coins (Pentacles), the King suggests competence in gathering, managing, and expanding resources—whether financial, material, or practical skills.
Rather than simply seeking comfort, this card can point to a desire to oversee something enduring—work that creates a lasting structure or legacy. Consider: What would it look like to build a solid foundation that supports other creative or practical endeavors?
Card Two: Something You Keep Finding Your Way Back To
Page of Wands
Pages are beginning figures: curious, open, and eager to learn. The Page of Wands brings excitement, experimentation, and a hunger for discovery. This card signals someone who loves starting projects, playing with ideas, and taking bold risks just to see what unfolds.
Ask yourself: How often do you feel drawn to beginnings and new experiments? What would happen if you followed that impulse more consistently?
Card Three: An Aspect of You to Take Pride In
Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands embodies charisma, courage, and a readiness for adventure. This card points to a part of you that’s willing to set out on a quest, test boundaries, and learn through action. While knights encourage boldness and initiative, they also remind us to balance confidence with humility and a willingness to learn.
Reflect: How does your fiery enthusiasm fuel creativity and motivate others? In what ways can you let that energy show up while staying open to feedback and growth?
Card Four: A Way to Explore Further
The Emperor
The Emperor, a Major Arcana card, brings structure, discipline, and clear boundaries. Paired with the youthful energy of the court cards, the Emperor suggests channeling curiosity and adventure into intentional practice—setting goals, creating plans, and defining the limits that make sustainable exploration possible.
It’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of new pursuits; adding a bit of organization can produce deeper satisfaction than aimless chasing alone. Consider: How can you create space for play and experimentation within a framework that protects your time and energy?
This sample reading—heavy on court energy with the stabilizing presence of a Major Arcana—urges you to take risks, acknowledge your strengths, and also bring focus and practicality to your ambitions.
Passion doesn’t exclude purpose. You can pursue adventurous, playful projects while also building structure and intention around them, allowing joy and meaning to coexist.
Now, Time to Explore Your Joy
As you work with the cards to discover your passions, give yourself room to wander, question, and listen. Readings like this rarely hand you exact instructions—rather, they illuminate possibilities so you can draw your own conclusions.
What themes did your cards bring up? What keeps floating to the surface? How might you shape that natural enthusiasm into projects or practices that have form and room to grow?
This piece features cards from the True North Tarot. All photographs by Meg Jones Wall.
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