Looking for an efficient past life spread ( with applications to the current life)

[Aldor44]

Hey!

 

I was thinking to start doing past life readings for a while- as ways to deal/understand the events of one's current cycle- would love some ideas to spreads/ insights as to how to do this! 

[TheLoracular]

Hi @Aldor44!

Have you seen this Llewellyn article with what looks like a good past life spread? 

I ~think~ this is a picture of the spread itself. But the graphic is hard for me to read, personally.  I'm getting old.  

[Aldor44]

Hey @TheLoracular

Thank you for the spread!

 

It looks very interesting- but a bit too intense for me... 

I am looking for 3/5/6 card spread - to use with clients for rather quick but useful and applied readings!

 

[Guest]

Hi @Aldor44

 

I do past life and karmic readings. I use the Ancestral Path for all these questions. 
 

There is a fantastic spread designed by Teresa Michelsen that is a 9-card carré using the Fool. It helps pinpoint key past lives, which can be shared lives, where an issue crops up, and so on. 
 

You take the Fool out and shuffle the remaining 77-cards before dealing nine cards (unseen).  The Fool is shuffled into the nine cards before dealing the cards in the classical 3 x 3:

 

01 - 02 - 03

04 - 05 - 06

07 - 08 - 09

 

The Fool is the point that the issue or connection commenced. When it appears, the next card is dealt over it. Cards 1 — 3 represent the present life, with card 1 the end of this incarnation and 3 the beginning. Cards 4 — 9  older lifetimes with 9 being the oldest. If the Fool lands in the first row, you can be sure that there is no previous connection. 
 

The beauty of the spread is that it helps us to determine how long ago the issue or connection originated and critical lifetimes. After that I move on to examine those lifetimes with a two part spread based on the Celtic Cross pattern. 
 

 

[Aldor44]

hey @timtoldrum

VERY VERY interesting

 

Would you share how you further interpret the lifetimes? (if possible) 

[Guest]

Hi @Aldor44
 

It is easier to show rather than tell. Below is an example from my blog (it’s down for maintenance).  The reading was for a woman who had met someone, moved in together, got engaged and were thinking of starting a family — all within four months. She asked if she knew him in a past life.
 

When I do the reading I use reversals. Reversed cards indicate lifetimes that have incurred karma or unresolved issues. Aces indicate completion of cycles. 
 

The Reading

 

The Fool was the eighth card dealt indicating that the seeker and her fiancé had spent several lifetimes together. Cards to the Fool’s right can be ignored. We start with the card that covers the Fool then proceeds upwards, moving right to left.

 

The Fool/Ten of Staves: In the Ancestral Path, staves depict the continent of Africa, and we see, on this card, a mother with two children. In this lifetime, the seeker and fiancé share a parent-child bond and learned lessons connected to shared responsibility, support and the importance of family. It was not an easy life, but as it is upright, it is not one that necessarily proved difficult for the souls.

 

VI – The Lovers: Next, the souls incarnated as a couple. If we consider the card, there was a strong bond built on a foundation of mutual respect, understanding and love. As a trump, this is a life that proved significant in the souls’ development and a happy one.

 

X – The Wheel of Fortune: The Wheel of Fortune illustrates the zodiac and helical phases of the planets. Here, the souls incarnate together one more time. At this point, they have completed a specific series of lessons and move on to new a cycle.

 

Prince of Cups reversed: In a more recent lifetime, the fiancé incarnates in Europe. He sets out on his quest with idealism and vigour. However, the lifetime proves challenging, and answers allude him, with the reversal pointing towards unresolved issues.

 

Queen of Sacred Circles: In contrast, the querent finds herself in the Americas, where she lived a long, happy life taking on the role of matriarch within her family. There was a relative comfort here with the soul finding the lifetime rewarding. Interestingly, within the Ancestral Path Tarot system, this is the card associated with the seeker’s current birthdate.

 

Three of Cups reversed: We now enter the present lifetime. The card portrays Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, and Lancelot. It is clear that this is a moment of reconnection; however, the reversal shows that this was fuelled by a sense of being lost, being misunderstood and isolated or lonely.

 

Two of Cups: Looking at the cards, it is clear that this is the present moment. The seeker and her fiancé are drawn together due to their bond, with eyes only for each other. There is a mirroring between this card and the Lovers as the souls become lost in each other.

 

Ace of Cups reversed: Aces in this system are the culmination points. Traditionally, this is the home. Reversed, it shows that the souls are unlikely to realise their lessons and places when the current incarnations close. It cannot be stressed this in itself does not necessarily occur to their reconnection; however, their current preoccupation with each other may be detracting from different areas of their development.

After this reading, I did readings on the Wheel of Fortune and then the Prince and Queen. So it’s a spring board spread. If you just wanted more info quickly you can use 5 cards:

 

00 - 02 - 00

03 - 00/05 - 01

00 - 04 - 00

 

Card 0 would be the significator, e.g. the Wheel of Fortune here. Cards 1 through 3 are the three stages of life (birth to death) and card four is the karma incurred. Card 5 is the present life’s purpose based on the message of 4. 

 

[Gunr2147]

This is what initially brought me to tarot. Thanks!