The Best Spread

[Snobchickenleg]

Any suggestions on what is the best spread for questions about life path, life purpose and career?

[Saturn Celeste]

Celtic Cross. ;)

[HermitWriter]

CC is a solid one, esp. with RWS decks. Different books might have slightly different positional variations to what you might find in "Pictorial Key." I also like using a horseshoe spread, usually 5 or 7 cards, when I'm working with a TdM or other non-scenic pip deck. Depending on the question, I may or may not assign positional correspondences.

 

 

[Guest Night Shade]

Barbastelle[/member]  posted a Life-Goals Spread that looks really good:

 

https://www.thetarotforum.com/tarot-spreads/life-goals-spread/msg40429/#msg40429

[Grandma]

Well I immodestly like the one I designed myself the best.

 

It's called the Axis of Time and the Axis of Place and the only question I ask is that the cards tell me something important and true. 

 

The meaning of the the first card is fixed.  It is always here and now. The other positions have various nuanced meanings.  For example, "something behind you" could be something that's been overcome, or a lesson learned which can be applied now, or something to retrieve from the past, or something to leave behind, etc.  This becomes clear as I read. 

 

This is it: 

[Guest Night Shade]

Well I immodestly like the one I designed myself the best.

 

It's called the Axis of Time and the Axis of Place and the only question I ask is that the cards tell me something important and true. 

 

The meaning of the the first card is fixed.  It is always here and now. The other positions have various nuanced meanings.  For example, "something behind you" could be something that's been overcome, or a lesson learned which can be applied now, or something to retrieve from the past, or something to leave behind, etc.  This becomes clear as I read. 

 

This is a great spread, Grandma[/member] !  :) <3

[Grandma]

This is a great spread, Grandma[/member] !  :) <3

 

Thank you, Night Shade.  It never fails me, and although I usually read just for myself, the few readings I've done with it here at TT&M and in real life have been well received.  The only time it met with a lukewarm response was when I had failed to make its purpose clear.  My querent wanted to know about romance.  I could only tell her what she knew and needed to know about it, how she felt about it, how to prepare for the possibility, and so forth; but she had hoped to learn whether and when it would happen.

 

So that was my fault.  The cards can only tell us what we ask to know, and I never ask to know the future, only how best to meet it.

[Raggydoll]

I love your spread Grandma[/member] !!

[Grandma]

I love your spread Grandma[/member] !!

 

Aw thanks!

[sandrang123]

Not sure if you read runes, but I have a great one for them, regarding "life purpose". You can only do it once, though. What you get, you get. ;)

 

I have a lot of old tarot books that have awesome spreads that people don't often see. I'll check to see if there are any special ones in there.

 

Best Wishes,

Sandy

[Snobchickenleg]

Thanks for a lot of suggestions! These are helpful.

 

I am still trying to get a hang on CC. I'd love to practice doing this to myself before I try on other people (to avoid mistakes), but I was adviced that this should only be used at extreme issues. Or once in a blue moon.

 

Is it bad of I try all of these spreads for just one question? The cards might get annoyed with me I'm afraid.

[Saturn Celeste]

Thanks for a lot of suggestions! These are helpful.

 

I am still trying to get a hang on CC. I'd love to practice doing this to myself before I try on other people (to avoid mistakes), but I was adviced that this should only be used at extreme issues. Or once in a blue moon.

 

Is it bad of I try all of these spreads for just one question? The cards might get annoyed with me I'm afraid.

You can read your cards all you want!  When you ask your deck the question, just say you're putting it out to the Universe or tell it you're asking a Universal question.  Then shuffle and deal away!  :))

[Grandma]

Is it bad of I try all of these spreads for just one question? The cards might get annoyed with me I'm afraid.

 

Well I guess that this is a matter of personal philosophy, but I don't think that cards get annoyed, or have any other human characteristics for that matter.  The cards are a window, a guide, an inkblot test, a source of information and knowledge which we interpret.  They are the instruments on which we play our music, the tools with which we build our works.  The more we use them, the better we express our gifts.

 

A metaphor I have used a few times is that musical ability is not in the violin, it is in the violinist who draws the music out of the instrument.  A gifted violinist can make a child's toy instrument sing, while a hacker will only get screeches from a Stradivarius. 

 

And as the old joke goes, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?  Practice, practice, practice.

 

ETA I know that many people believe that the cards do in fact have feelings and motivations.  I respect this and believe that it is true for them, but it is not true for me and my cards. 

[sandrang123]

Here is one for Runes, which might be modified for tarot. You might just opt to work with Trumps if you modify for tarot, but that's just a suggestion. :)

 

(1) What is my Nature?

 

In the Rune book, Blum (author) says this represents the "material cause of your being", and the inherent possibilities you were born with. He writes, "For while your Nature is a constellation of possibilities, it is also surrounded and circumscribed by numerous impossibilities." In light of that, look at your limitations first. Examples: Your social/economic background that you were born into, or maybe you have an inherent medical issue, or maybe you can't have kids. As the limitations come into focus, you can meditate on what notions you have about yourself that cannot be supported by the reality that is your life. He writes, "And yet, just as your Nature is limited by what you cannot do or be, it is also specified by what you can." He advises that the process of both limiting and specifying the view of yourself allows the self to become clear and simple. You can reduce the energy here to work with your nature, that substance/fundamental essence out of which "destiny is to be realized."

 

(2) Why was I born?

 

There's a write up on this, but the short story is, "What is Heaven's mandate for me?" He seems to focus a lot on "lack". He says that by addressing this question, you are trying to discover what is MISSING from your makeup that you need to learn in this life. If you can acquire the thing missing (examples, patience, courage, willpower) then you can navigate your "ideal passage through this life."

 

(3) What is my vocation?

 

Blum does not define vocation here as what you do for a living, but rather "how you are called to go through this life and what principles you must embody in your passage." If you are on your correct path, then you can satisfy the lack described in 2 and grow in Spirit. Blum writes, "The principal goal of Vocation is to come to one's Self."

 

(4) What is my destiny?

 

There is no such thing as "bad destiny". Blum writes, "Destiny is the Divine's desire for your Highest Good. An energy exists that ceaselessly moves us to change for good rather than ill, and that energy is the outworking of Divine Will in our lives." In that regard this addresses your spiritual destination, ideal possibilities and passage through life. Again Blum focuses on limitation here. Not all possibilities are appropriate or  open, but when that is realized what IS open to you can be achieved.

 

(5) What is my cross?

 

He seems to view this as a spiritual condition that you are born with and is with you from birth to death. You know, I'd almost see this as akin to Chiron's placement in a natal chart, if you know astrology. It seems to me like it's that spiritual baggage or "knot" that, for whatever reason, sets off hurt or anger or "whatever" every time the issue comes up. Blum writes, "The answer to this question reveals the pattern of adversity you must undergo in order to increase self-awareness. Take up your Cross voluntarily." By growing in self-awareness you can better recognize the "features of adversity." Opportunities come from meeting the challenges represented by the Cross, as well as wisdom.

 

(6) What is my unified self?

 

Ask for the qualities that will emerge in your life when you work in harmony with your physical being and your heart.

 

Again, he advises only doing this reading once. I did it years ago, using runes. Damned if I know where I put the reading now, but I remember it was pretty insightful.

 

 

 

 

[Snobchickenleg]

Here is one for Runes, which might be modified for tarot. You might just opt to work with Trumps if you modify for tarot, but that's just a suggestion. :)

 

(1) What is my Nature?

 

In the Rune book, Blum (author) says this represents the "material cause of your being", and the inherent possibilities you were born with. He writes, "For while your Nature is a constellation of possibilities, it is also surrounded and circumscribed by numerous impossibilities." In light of that, look at your limitations first. Examples: Your social/economic background that you were born into, or maybe you have an inherent medical issue, or maybe you can't have kids. As the limitations come into focus, you can meditate on what notions you have about yourself that cannot be supported by the reality that is your life. He writes, "And yet, just as your Nature is limited by what you cannot do or be, it is also specified by what you can." He advises that the process of both limiting and specifying the view of yourself allows the self to become clear and simple. You can reduce the energy here to work with your nature, that substance/fundamental essence out of which "destiny is to be realized."

 

(2) Why was I born?

 

There's a write up on this, but the short story is, "What is Heaven's mandate for me?" He seems to focus a lot on "lack". He says that by addressing this question, you are trying to discover what is MISSING from your makeup that you need to learn in this life. If you can acquire the thing missing (examples, patience, courage, willpower) then you can navigate your "ideal passage through this life."

 

(3) What is my vocation?

 

Blum does not define vocation here as what you do for a living, but rather "how you are called to go through this life and what principles you must embody in your passage." If you are on your correct path, then you can satisfy the lack described in 2 and grow in Spirit. Blum writes, "The principal goal of Vocation is to come to one's Self."

 

(4) What is my destiny?

 

There is no such thing as "bad destiny". Blum writes, "Destiny is the Divine's desire for your Highest Good. An energy exists that ceaselessly moves us to change for good rather than ill, and that energy is the outworking of Divine Will in our lives." In that regard this addresses your spiritual destination, ideal possibilities and passage through life. Again Blum focuses on limitation here. Not all possibilities are appropriate or  open, but when that is realized what IS open to you can be achieved.

 

(5) What is my cross?

 

He seems to view this as a spiritual condition that you are born with and is with you from birth to death. You know, I'd almost see this as akin to Chiron's placement in a natal chart, if you know astrology. It seems to me like it's that spiritual baggage or "knot" that, for whatever reason, sets off hurt or anger or "whatever" every time the issue comes up. Blum writes, "The answer to this question reveals the pattern of adversity you must undergo in order to increase self-awareness. Take up your Cross voluntarily." By growing in self-awareness you can better recognize the "features of adversity." Opportunities come from meeting the challenges represented by the Cross, as well as wisdom.

 

(6) What is my unified self?

 

Ask for the qualities that will emerge in your life when you work in harmony with your physical being and your heart.

 

Again, he advises only doing this reading once. I did it years ago, using runes. Damned if I know where I put the reading now, but I remember it was pretty insightful.

 

Sadly, I don't have runes, yet. Unlike tarot cards, I'd like to buy my first rune personally. I would like to feel them and see what type of rune I'll instantly have a connection with. By golly, I'm having a hard time finding a good store selling divination stuffs. I'd rrally love to try this.

[Bookworm]

Well I immodestly like the one I designed myself the best.

 

It's called the Axis of Time and the Axis of Place...

Grandma[/member] - This is a great spread. I used it on myself last night, and it opened my eyes. Thank you!

[Grandma]

Grandma[/member] - This is a great spread. I used it on myself last night, and it opened my eyes. Than you!

 

Thank you, Bookworm, for letting me know.  I'm glad my spread helped you - it always does me.

[Eric13]

Grandma[/member] Thats a very good spread, thank you.

[Grandma]

Grandma[/member] Thats a very good spread, thank you.

 

Thank you, Joe.  I use it all the time and it never lets me down.

 

It also works well visually - it's easy to see patterns in the pictures such as figures from the past and the present both facing towards the future, or colors such as cards that are predominantly blue deepening in intensity from the inner experience of the within me position through the here and now into the relationship with the world around me, to give examples. 

 

Here's another visual message that comes up often.  Sometimes the cards for the behind and within position are closely related, and it's easy to imagine a curved line connecting them, almost forming a cradle which shows that what I have been through and what I have learned have created a safe place from which to move into the future along the axis of time, and into the world along the axis of place.  Or the around and before positions will similarly team up to provide a vanguard for moving up and ahead.

 

I've done some very long and detailed readings here at TT&M using this spread, and also a short one that you might find interesting.  The link isn't working right.  Instead of taking you to the thread, it goes to an index of threads.  If you go to the third page of the index and scroll down a little you can read it.

 

https://www.thetarotforum.com/tarot-exchanges/a-*short*-reading-by-grandma/msg51752/#msg51752

 

I know I'm asking for a dedicated effort and I guess I'm showing off, but several people in this thread have commented on this spread so some of you might like to see it in action!  Being a Grandma means that I can be kind of bossy but I'm very wise, so it's best to do what Grandma says.  Just ask my grandchildren and great grandchildren!

 

Love, Grandma

[Anouk]

Is it bad of I try all of these spreads for just one question? The cards might get annoyed with me I'm afraid.

 

Well I guess that this is a matter of personal philosophy, but I don't think that cards get annoyed, or have any other human characteristics for that matter.  The cards are a window, a guide, an inkblot test, a source of information and knowledge which we interpret.  They are the instruments on which we play our music, the tools with which we build our works.  The more we use them, the better we express our gifts.

 

A metaphor I have used a few times is that musical ability is not in the violin, it is in the violinist who draws the music out of the instrument.  A gifted violinist can make a child's toy instrument sing, while a hacker will only get screeches from a Stradivarius. 

 

And as the old joke goes, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?  Practice, practice, practice.

 

ETA I know that many people believe that the cards do in fact have feelings and motivations.  I respect this and believe that it is true for them, but it is not true for me and my cards.

Oh I love that analogy.

 

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