Card Spreads
There are numerous different tarot spreads that you can learn when you are discovering the art of reading the cards. Not only that, but most skilled readers eventually come up with their own variations on tarot spreads and develop new spreads altogether. Tarot readings can be incredibly complex – but they can also be very simple. In fact, one of the simplest and most effective methods of performing a tarot reading is with a one-card draw.
One-Card Draw
A one-card tarot reading may not seem like a lot of information to go on, but remember the way that tarot cards are designed. Each card contains a whole story that is told through symbolizm and through the individual art of the card.
There are a few things to remember if you plan to use a one-card draw to perform a tarot reading, however. First, keep in mind that you may need a deeper understanding of the individual cards in order to get the most out of your reading. Also keep in mind that you may need to tailor your questions to be simpler and a bit more specific in order to get the answers that you seek, as you will not have multiple cards to draw on when performing the reading.
Three-Card Spread
Card 1: The Past
The concept of the past sounds like an obvious one, but often there are subtleties involved. While this can include the person seeking guidance' past, it can also include events or the feelings of others that have had an impact or influence on the current situation. Does it necessarily mean things that took place long ago? Maybe... or it could be a conversation that took place last week.
Card 2: The Present
The center card symbolizes the present–the things that are happening right now around you. Because this spread contains only three cards, many things can be read into this card that might normally be seen in several cards in other spreads. For instance, it can relate to how others view the situation, external influences, hidden obstacles, and that sort of thing.
Card 3: The Future
Our last card represents the final outcome. It could be a long-term goal or an immediate resolution, depending on the question and the situation that the questioner is facing. Although the card in the future doesn't necessarily have to be something that's etched in stone, generally, if you see a card signifying something you don't like, change what you're doing right now, and you can change your long-term outcome.
Beyond these two spreads here are three very simple spreads which are perfect for beginners that you can try, and will help you look at different aspects of a question. If we look at Tarot cards as a tool of guidance, rather than just "fortune telling," we can use them to evaluate a situation and decide on the right course of action.
The Pentagram Spread
The pentagram is a five-pointed star sacred to many Pagans and Wiccans, and within this magical symbol, you'll find a number of different meanings. Within the pentagram, each of the five points has a meaning. They symbolize the four classical elements -- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water -- as well as Spirit, which is sometimes referred to as the fifth element. Each of these aspects is incorporated into this Tarot card layout.
Center: The Significator
In many Tarot card readings, the reader selects what's called a Significator card to represent the Querent — the person for whom the reading is being done. In some traditions, the Significator is selected based on personal appearance. However, for this reading, you should choose a card out of the Major Arcana based on the issues in the Querent's life. For example, someone who is trying to kick addictions or bad habits could be represented by card 15 - The Devil, while a Querent with questions about their spiritual journey could be symbolized by card 9 - The Hermit. Choose the card that best represents the Querent's current situation, and place it in the 1 position, at the center of the layout.
Upper Right — Earth: Keeping Grounded
The second card in this spread, located at the upper right, is the Earth card. The element of Earth is associated with stability and security, and so this card indicates the overall issues surrounding the Querent's question. What is keeping them in place, or even holding them back? Are there forces at play here that are preventing them from moving forward? In other words, what is it that has made the situation stagnant?
Lower Right — Air: The Winds of Influence
The third position, on the lower right, is the aspect of Air. Traditionally, Air is related to inspiration and communication. In this layout, this position signifies what other people are telling the Querent. Are there people providing a positive influence, or are they dragging the Querent down with negative messages? What sort of external forces are influencing the Querent's life right now?
Lower Left — Fire: The Ultimate Destroyer
The fourth card in this reading, moving over to the bottom left, is the element of Fire, which embodies strong will and energy. Fire can both create and destroy — is the Querent subconsciously sabotaging their own goals? What sort of internal conflicts are at play here? This is the card which shows the Querent's self-doubts and misapprehensions.
Upper Left — Water: The Tides of Intuition
Moving back up on the left, in a clockwise direction, position five is the Water card, and Water is typically associated with the powers of the Goddess. This is the element of wisdom and intuition, and ultimately, this is where the Querent will find what their intuition is telling them. What can they learn from this situation? How can they adapt their current circumstances to meet their future needs and goals?
Top Center — Spirit: The Whole Self
Finally, the sixth card, at the very stop center above the Significator, is the card of Spirit. This is the whole self, the culmination of the journey, and what all the other cards are leading up to. Look at the previous four cards, representing the four elements, and see what they tell you. They are chapters in a book, but this card is the last page — how will things be resolved if the Querent remains on his present path? What, ultimately, will be the end result of all the internal and external influences on the Querent's issue?
The Seven Card Horseshoe
One of the most popular spreads in use today is the Seven Card Horseshoe spread. Although it utilizes seven different cards, it’s actually a fairly basic spread. Each card is positioned in a way that connects to different aspects of the problem or situation at hand.
Card 1: The Past
This card, the first one in the layout, symbolizes past events that are impacting the current situation or question at hand. In this particular spread, the card that turned up was the Justice card. This is a card that shows us that we do indeed have the ability—and the responsibility—of knowing right from wrong, so that fairness and balance will rule the day. The Justice card can also represent a desire for a well-balanced mind and soul.
Card 2: The Present
The second card in the Horseshoe spread represents the present. What are current events circling the Querent, and influencing the issue about which they are concerned? The card in this position, in our spread above, is the Queen of Swords. This card often indicates that there’s someone in the picture who is loyal but very stubborn. It could be the Querent themselves, or perhaps an individual who has a lot of influence upon them—a friend, a spouse, or a sister.
Card 3: Hidden Influences
This card is a little bit tricky—it’s the card that represents the unseen, the problems and conflicts that you don’t yet know about. Here, we have the Ten of Pentacles, which could indicate that there’s a financial boon on its way—but only if the Querent knows to look for the right opportunities. Could she be overlooking something important that’s right under her nose? Of note, some readers use this card to represent the immediate future, rather than unseen influences.
Card 4: The Querent Him/Herself
This card, the fourth one in the spread, is at the center of everything. Some readers like to turn this card over first because it represents the Querent himself, as well as his or her attitudes about the situation at hand. Is it a negative card, indicating that the individual is concerned or fearful? Or is it a positive, hopeful one? In this layout, we’ve turned over the Nine of Wands, which often indicates someone who can handle adversity well, if they can get past their own sense of skepticism.
Card 5: The Influence of Others
What sorts of external influences are holding sway over the situation? Does the Querent accept help and support from other people in her life, or does she let other peoples’ negativity drag her down? This card is important because it influences how other people close to the Querent feel about the situation. Here, the card in this spot is the Sun card, which indicates good things to come. This shows that other people who are watching or involved in the situation have a positive feeling about it.
Card 6: What Should the Querent Do?
The sixth card indicates what course of action the Querent should take. Keep in mind that sometimes what the person should do is nothing at all. Here, we have a reversed Three of Swords. This tells us that if the Querent is willing to open up the lines of communication, his or her petty squabbles and conflicts can be resolved.
Card 7: The Final Outcome
This last card is important because it factors in all of the previous six cards into its answer. Here, we have an indicator of what the final resolution to the problem will be. In this spread, we’ve drawn a reversed Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups is often associated with spiritual insight and good fortune, but when reversed, that happy insight is twisted to show disappointment or sadness. However, this may not be disappointment or sadness on the part of the Querent; sometimes it indicates that we need to be cautious of the feelings of others.
Keep in mind that this is just one of several ways you can use this seven card spread.
The Romany Spread
The Romany Tarot spread is a simple one, and yet it reveals a surprising amount of information. This is a good spread to use if you are just looking for a general overview of a situation, or if you have several different interconnected issues that you're trying to resolve. This is a fairly free-form spread, which leaves a lot of room for flexibility in your interpretations.
Some people interpret the Romany spread as simply past, present, and future, using the cards together in each of the three rows. The more distant past is indicated in Row A; the second row of seven, Row B, indicates issues that are presently going on with the Querent. The bottom row, Row C, uses seven more cards to indicate what is likely to take place in the person's life, if all continues along the present path. It's easy to read the Romany spread by looking simply at the past, present and future. However, you can go into more depth and get a more complex understanding of the situation if you break it down into its different aspects.