A spread is a pattern of tarot cards that you make as you lay down cards to do a Tarot Card reading. Each card in the pattern has a label. It gives you a structure to work with in answering the question you are asking. You do not need a spread when you read tarot cards, but many people –including me–like to use one.
There are lots of spreads. I saw a book once called One thousand and one Tarot Spreads. My tarot mentor used to make up a spread as she laid out the cards. She would ask each card where it wanted to go and create the spread she needed on the spot. I like to use a few simple spreads I will show you here.
First spread is easiest. One card. This is good for pulling a card every morning. You ask, what can I expect today? And pull a card. Or you could ask a yes/no question. I have been told this is done, by seeing if the card is upside up (for yes) or upside down (for no.) But I cannot relate to that, what is the yes answer is negative? 8 of swords for example, or 5 of cups? I would rather see what that card is about and get information beyond yes or no. But just pulling one card can be a valid spread.
More complicated spreads may be 3-5 cards. I like to pull three cards about the present and talk about what is there in reality now. 5 cards may be a past, present, and future spread.
3 cards
1 2 3
All about the present. This is the spread I use when I want to answer a specific question.
5 cards
1 2 3 4 5
Past Present Potential Future
I dislike predicting the future because we can change it by putting our will to work on it. So, remember this is POTENTIAL Future, not for certain.
Next is the most common spread, that almost all readers know, the Celtic Cross spread.
5
10
3 1/2 (crossed) 4 9
8
6 7
1—Present
2—Obstacles
3—Past
4—What you hope will happen in the future
5—What you aspire to (Ideal)
6—What is holding you back (subconsciously)
7—Best course of action
8—Other people’s opinions
9—Your hopes and fears
10—Final outcome—what could happen if the situation continues as it is, without changes.
Again, remember you can change the future if you want to.
Finally, my spread of choice when I am doing a reading:
Horoscope Spread
10 9
11 8
12 7
1 6
2 5
3 4
1—Projected image of the querent. How others see him/her.
2—Financial Security
3—Family and people in your immediate vicinity. Siblings, friends, neighbors
4—House and home. Home life
5—Personal self-expression. The way the querent enters romantic relationships.
6—Service, health, co-workers and work. (The Job, not the Career.)
7—Relationships—this is usually love but also business relationships and even open enemies.
8—Debts, legacies, other people money. Money owed to you or that you owe, scholarships, loans. Also: transformation or changes in one’s life.
9—Higher education, higher mind, personal growth
10—Career or vocation (as opposed to “job”)
11—Hope, wishes and desires. What makes us happy.
12—Subconscious and unconscious motives. What we feel deep inside.
This spread covers all of a person’s life. If I am in a hurry, I may not read all these houses, only the ones that are relevant to a question being asked. I do not like Astrology, so I do not always understand why certain house cover all they do. (6th house: job AND health? 8th house: Money owed to you or money you owe AND transformation?) But it is a very good spread to cover all the aspects of a person’s life and to quickly spot the problem issues.
You can make up a spread on the spot as my mentor used to do or find spreads in books that may be useful to you. But like everything about Tarot, it really does not matter. Just working with the cards will allow you to see into the Akashic record and find information. Just have fun and see what YOU see in the cards.
Looking for a fun idea for your next party or event? Consider Psychic Entertainment by Barbara G Meyer. If you are looking for a new idea for a ladies’ night out? Consider a Tarot class for you and your friends. Either in person or on Zoom.