What spreads do you use?

[hierophant]

I learned tarot from an older family member, and she would only teach me the one spread; the extended celtic cross. This, apparently, is the best one and so forth.

 

But sometimes, a simpler spread would be okay, perhaps?

 

So what spreads do you use? I'd very much like to learn some new ones!

 

And when you do different spreads, do you tell the deck when shuffling which spread you are using?

[Wanderer]

I started out using just the Celtic Cross or a simple Past-present-future spread, with an RW deck. I then got a new deck, and since then have felt the Celtic Cross is wrong for it. Instead, I generally make up threads to suit the question. I now believe there's nothing special about established spreads; so long as the meaning of each card is in the mind during the drawing, then it's all good. In many cases, thee big complex spreads are overkill. Sometimes you want depth, and sometimes you want simplicity and clarity.

 

Do I tell the deck when shuffling? Not exactly but I certainly make sure that I know what I'm doing first, and either focus on the meaning of each card that I draw, or tell the querent to do so. But everyone has their own way of doing things, so it's really about what works for you...

[EmpyreanKnight]

And when you do different spreads, do you tell the deck when shuffling which spread you are using?

 

Lol I do this too. After whispering my question to my cards, I would tell them for example: "I would draw 4 cards. The first tells the cause of the concern. The second. . . "

 

While I do follow the spread we agreed on, if I feel the need to draw a base card for example, or an additional card to discuss an alternative scenario, etc, I won't hesitate to do so.

[Esk]

I don't use the Celtic cross anymore. I learn to read with it in my first years of studying tarot, as it is presented in every book and seems the most common spread. But I've never figured out how it works really, this spread doesn't speak to me so I give it up.

 

For now I really like 3 cards spreads like "pas , present , future" or " what to do,  What to avoid, outcome"... things like that. You can create so many positions with a 3 cads spread to fit your question. For example I've used for a dream interpretation : " origin of the dream , What it means, What it doesn't mean". Of course you can use larger spreads if you want information. Personally I like  having few cards to have the time to concentrate on each one, and it's sometimes more direct in the answer.

When I use larger spreads I use what I find on websites, especially this great ressouce on AT where you can find tons of spreads for every subject: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=203788.

You can also create your own spread if you find no one that answers your question as you would have liked. It's really an open field for me.

 

To answer your second question. Before I pull a card I say silently the position to assign to this card. But I don't say before what spread I'm going to use except when I read for someone. If it's for me I just eay gradually things like "now I'm looking for the present card", and so on.

[hierophant]

I guess I just can't wrap my head around how the deck knows how to place the cards if I do many different spreads.

(I'm a math and programming kind of person, I think my brain needs things to be really ordered for things to feel right, lol!).

 

Maybe I just need to practice a few shorter spreads. :)

 

Thank you for your answers!

[isawhale]

I learned tarot from an older family member, and she would only teach me the one spread; the extended celtic cross. This, apparently, is the best one and so forth.

 

But sometimes, a simpler spread would be okay, perhaps?

 

So what spreads do you use? I'd very much like to learn some new ones!

 

And when you do different spreads, do you tell the deck when shuffling which spread you are using?

 

I really am not a fan of celtic cross...I tend to make up my own spreads but out of the common ones I use past present future and I like horseshoe spread. I use alot of "current situations, what to avoid, what to do, advice, potential outcome"

[hierophant]

Oh, I never even heard of the horeshoe spread isawhale[/member] :D I'll google it!

 

When you do different spreads, do you decide before you start which one you are using?

[ilweran]

I often do three card spreads, sometimes just make them up, but usually when reading for myself I do a nine card spread - three rows of three, the card in the centre represents me, then I read the surrounding cards in pairs of those opposite each other, then look at the whole thing, who's looking at who etc.

 

I usually decide in advance what I'm doing, but sometimes it changes.

[hierophant]

I often do three card spreads, sometimes just make them up, but usually when reading for myself I do a nine card spread - three rows of three, the card in the centre represents me, then I read the surrounding cards in pairs of those opposite each other, then look at the whole thing, who's looking at who etc.

 

I usually decide in advance what I'm doing, but sometimes it changes.

Oh, I do like the idea of a nice card spread, 3x3. I am a sucker for symmetry, so this sounds perfect!

 

<3

[Flaxen]

Most of the time I use a 3-card spread with no positional meanings.

 

I also like the Tirage en Croix and a ‘horary’ type spread based on astrological houses.

[ilweran]

Oh, I do like the idea of a nice card spread, 3x3. I am a sucker for symmetry, so this sounds perfect!

 

I've attached a screenshot of a reading using the spread on the Shadowscapes phone app.

 

So to start off the two of swords represents me. Then I tend to start in the top left corner, so 8 wands paired with The Moon in this case and them work round clockwise. Then who is looking at who. You could also look at colours, how many of the same suit show up etc. Or other details - I did a reading last week where most of the cards had feathers, birds or butterflies.

 

Sometimes I get a feeling from looking at the whole thing, the message can be clear from that.

 

I tend to lay them out:

 

2--4--6

9--1--8

7--5--3

 

Hope that's helpful  :)

[Aldor44]

Before my Long break from Tarot I was actually a fan of big spreads with a lot of information.

 

I loved the celtic cross, the year spread and other 9+ cards spreads.

 

After returning to Tarot a while back, the Cross became a bit confusing to me- especially assigning the definitions for some of the cards- Like I still don't get  what positions 1 and 2.. and 8 mean exactly for example.

 

Now I am trying to use smaller spreads- even though I still feel I need more information .. but it's a work in progress.

 

As for talking to the deck- I never tried to be honest.. when I shuffle i concentrate on the question but I never tried expressing to the deck how I intend to "use" her..

 

Maybe I should try it...

[Grandma]

I guess I just can't wrap my head around how the deck knows how to place the cards if I do many different spreads.

 

I don't believe the deck does know, nor does the guitar play the music.  The music comes from within the musician.  The guitar is the instrument she uses to bring the music to others.

 

I believe the knowledge of the Tarot comes from within the reader.  Our decks are the precious instruments with which we share our wisdom.

[Saturn Celeste]

Lol I do this too. After whispering my question to my cards, I would tell them for example: "I would draw 4 cards. The first tells the cause of the concern. The second. . . "

I do this too.  I had a reading last night that each card represented a question from the querent.  As I shuffle I'll say the questions in the order that I'll pull the cards.

 

In answer to your questions about spreads hierophant[/member], I don't use spreads.  I let the cards tell the story.  If I'm not using the Celtic Cross I use 3 tarot cards and an oracle.  I ask my question as I shuffle and lay the cards out from left to right.  I look at the cards and at that time look for the card that stands out as the beginning and then base my reading around that.  I never know what card it will be could for the beginning, could be the last card, it could even be the oracle.  But from that base card, the rest of the reading flows.

Our decks are the precious instruments with which we share our wisdom.

Grandma[/member] that is so lovely!  I too feel my cards are my tools and I am the messenger.

 

[Petalene]

I’ve recently started playing with a “no spread spread” where you ask a question and draw a card. What question does that bring up? Ask and draw another card. Or suing it in conjunction with spreads. Kind of like pulling a clairifyer, but asking a specific question instead of just pulling a card.

 

The spread I did today started as a Y/N/M spread and I pulled two additional cards one for more on how to turn it into a yes and what’s blocking me and leading to a no. I also have a couple of oracle cards for the theme of the reading and final thoughts.

 

Hopefully the picture works.

[Guest swedishfish]

usually i don't use spreads but there is one i love. it's six cards in the shape of an X and it's a timeline spread.

 

1            4

      2 6

         

5            3

 

1: root of the problem/issue/question

2: where the situation is now

3: where the situation is at specified timeframe (querent sets the timeframe eg. in a week, on "x" date, etc.)

4: hopes/fears

5: what influences the outcome

6: outcome

 

really love this one. found it in a book.

 

also, i don't tell the deck the spread, but when i pull the cards i do specify their position. and i include the specified timeframe in the question to the deck.