Over the years I’ve seen and learned quite a few spreads, there is even a book on my shelf that boasts over a 100 spreads, but I always come back to the same handful of spreads. Don’t worry tarotphiles, I’ll post more spreads in another article. These are just my favorites.
Most of these spreads are simply laid out in a straight line, if I lay them out in a certain pattern I will provide a picture. OK, to level with you, I’ve never noticed a difference in the reading between fancy patterns and a straight line. Sometimes the seeker needs to see a pretty pattern, to feel the mystery and reverence that comes with carefully laying out the cards and we are here for them.
3 Cards
This can be past/present/future, question/focus/answer or really any three reasonable concepts. When I read 3 cards I just read from left to right, no positions.
This is what I do that’s a little bit different, if the reading is just terrible, doom and gloom around every corner I draw a 4th card. The 4th card is what can be done to avoid the terrible outcome. It should be noted that not all terrible outcomes can be avoided.
Yes/No Spread
Some people just want a yes or no answer. This spread *requires* reversals. I lay out 3 cards in a row and count the reversals.
3 upright cards = yes
2 upright cards = yes with a but
1 upright card = no with an if
3 reversed cards = no
Now, most of the time when someone asks a yes/no question they actually want more info than yes or no, so now that you’ve got your three cards laid out, you’ve got it! Read it just like a three card reading to see where the yes or no comes from.
Illuminating Star
This is my current favorite for answering questions, it covers questions beautifully while being much simpler than the celtic cross spread. (The celtic cross was the first spread I learned, but you don’t have to learn the hard way.)
1. The Question
2. Motive for asking the question. I like to use the first two cards to make sure I’m on the right track. These are also useful for when a seeker wants to confirm the connection.
3. Outside influences. This is anything going on in the seeker’s environment that influences the question, or the outcome of the question.
4. Advice. What the seeker should do or know.
5. Outcome. What is most likely to happen on the given path.
6. Final Comment. Anything else the seeker needs to know, or do. I like to view it as the director’s commentary track.
I can’t remember where I learned this spread, if you know contact me and I’ll update the article.
I hope you enjoyed reading about a few of my favorite spreads.
