Sample Spreads

Time to start shuffling and reading the cards:

OK, we left off getting your cards ready to read. For the benefit of the beginners I'm going to try and walk you through a few sample spreads, so you can start practicing! I'll try and touch on various topics, but if I leave something out, let me know.

You've gotten your cards ready and let's for the next two readings say you are going to read for yourself. Let me start by saying that however you shuffle, read, etcetera, ends up being a personal choice. I'm going to give you what some folks do, and you take what you like and leave the rest.

**THREE CARD SPREAD

First we will do a three card spread:

1 2 3

You think of what issue you want to explore or question you want to find out about. It can be something as simple as: what is my day going to be like to something far more complex. You shuffle and think until you feel like you are ready to begin. With your left hand (this is said to represents the subconscious part of the mind) you cut the deck to the left in three stacks. With your right hand you take the far right pile and place it on the middle, and then that on top of the far left pile. Some people cut again, up to you.

Then you take the cards and take the first one and put in in position 1 above, the second in 2, and the third in 3. You take the card and turn it over from left to right, then place it down, face up.

Here is what we are looking at in this spread (note: there are hundreds of spreads you can use...start with this and then find others)

1= Past
2= Present
3= Future

For your question, how is my day going to be, 1 would represent what's been going (emotionally, etc.) on til then, 2 is where you are in that moment and even in that day, and 3 is where that will take you.

This is a good spread to use this next week, since you've done the one card draw. If you want, after a couple of days of using only Major Arcana cards, you can start using the whole deck (I know it gets boring, and while I'd prefer you use only the majors to get used to them, I'd rather you also have some fun).

**FIVE CARD SPREAD

OK, the next is the five card spread:

1 2 3 4 5
past present hidden influences advice likely outcome


1 is that which has brought you to the present situation.
2 refelcts where you are, what you are thinking right now
3 this is what might be operating outside your conscious, influencing the situation, working kind of "behind the scenes"
4 this is a help on how to proceed
5 this is the outcome if you follow the advice

Now, before we move on let's talk about the spreads. When I ask a question of the cards, I want to get something CONCRETE...how do I get where I want to go, avoid such and such problem. One thing many readers are good at is getting the past and present and future down vis a vis the cards. What many are NOT good at is using the cards to help the querant/seeker/asker of ?s to get there. I want you all to think about this, because when we get to the next spread, there is more of this to work with. So practice with this five card spread...I chose it for that very reason.

Remember in the lecture on divination I talked about how the person seeking an answer (Querant) at some point "knows" what's going on because they have in them the sum total of all the facts to that point in time...so while they don't know what else may happen, they have certain facts and figures in their subconscious already.

For example. If I decide tomorrow not to go to work, and not to call in, and basically forget I've got a job and then read the cards to see what's going to happen, well its likely I'll get a first card security/structure-emperor/hierophant, present-oh, probably the tower and chaos, the hidden influence the devil, advice...I'd kind of like justice here, getting me level and outcome would be the sun. Now if I don't take that advice, get back on the work track, I might end up with the death card and termination!

What is important is that advice...so you pull the chariot card instead of justice...hmm, maybe it means I'd better hit the road and get in there quick!

ok?


**REVERSALS

OK this has come up in the class so let me touch on it here. Some decks and their creators use reversals, some do not. Let me list some of the ways to interpret a card that shows up inverted/upside down:

-- you can see this as simply "less" of the original meaning of the card
-- you can see it as a draining of those ideals and virtues from the original (upright) card
-- you can see it as the total OPPOSITE of the original meaning (not one of my personal favorites btw) (I just realized why I like teaching, I get to give my opinion first <G>)
-- you can simply ignore it
-- you can see how it fits with the other cards, the questions, etcetera and decide if its pertinent or not, and how

SO, in other words, you can do what you want with it. I pay attention to the inversion of cards. It works in my readings, but I don't always count that inversion...it really depends on what the reading is about. I would suggest that as you go through the cards in this class you note the various meanings of a card reversed. Then as you use the cards, you will see where your reading skills take you and what works for you. Practice!

***How to face the cards:

OK, in the last two examples I had you as the querant. But what if you are reading for others? Which way do you read? I learned to read with the cards facing the querant--so that's what I do. I have had folks read for me with the cards facing them. I don't care, but I since I do what's a fairly interactive reading I like pointing at certain symbols and things while talking and getting their input and questions. As you've seen, we all have different ways of reading...this is the beauty of divination. I also learned doing it one card at a time. In other words I would put the cards face down and then turn one up at a time. It was not the easiest way to do it, but for me it was great. I still do readings that way if time permits, the focus required makes the reading all the better. Sometimes though there isn't time, or I'm simply not in that frame of mind.


**CELTIC CROSS SPREAD

Now, we're gonna look at the celtic cross. This is probably the most popular tarot spread and certainly a great one to use. I now use my own version of it, and would imagine that we all have developed our own permutations over time. But what I'm totally enchanted with is this pattern that has been around forever, being done over and over and over... For me its as if there is indeed some charge or pattern in the universe that the cards fit into with this spread. So while there are many other wonderful and great spreads (and who knows, that might be another class's subject after we've gotten through the majors) this is one you should take some time and learn. I'm not saying you must use it, but do learn it ok? Trust me!



OK, first let's talk about the SIGNIFICATOR card. Many authors suggest that you let the querant pick the card that represents them the best. You can use the whole deck or just the court cards. You can also pull this card blindly...maybe by doing a second cut once and taking the card from that cut. The pros of this include getting both you and the querant focused on the question and issues at hand. It also gives the reader clues as to how the querant sees themselves... for example, say someone comes in who is as meek as can be, but pulls on of the knights charging ahead for her significator... well you might have not thought she was that aggressive but perhaps she is, or perhaps she sees herself that way, or perhaps that is what she wants to be for this particular question.. It makes ya think.

There has been some suggestions and discussions lately about this on the list..how certain personalities go with certain court cards, and so on. Mary Greer has some discussions and links for this on her web site that will provide you great info on this if you would like to look into it further.

I pull a focus card. I don't look at it until after I've done the first round of reading (I usually read with two decks, one I shuffle, the other the Q shuffles. The focus card helps me clarify what I was seeing, or get me going in another direction. I find too that after reading once over, I can get a bit "lost" in what I'm doing and this card reminds me of what I'm doing and why. But that is my own preference. You should try all of these and see what helps you the most, or that you feel the most comfortable with.


Now I'm going to quote from Jess Karlin's FAQ for alt.tarot (with permission and thanks) on the Keltic Cross that he based mostly on A.E. Waite's "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot". If you remember, I have a spot for Waite's card interpretations that I'm going to give you as we go through each card- so I want to make sure that the spread correlates with the book information I'll be giving you.. You have the little book (lb) that came with the deck, and assuming you can read the darn thing without a microscope, have some information. But I truly think one should always look at what the creator had to say, then do some thinking of our own, and use that as a basis to understand the cards. The faq material is in quotes. My side bars are in italics. I've used the card numbering shown in most of the tarot texts, but I like Waite's way of doing it, so I'm putting both. Follow my card numbers and meanings for this lesson, but try Waites method of placing the cards and see if that feels right. (disclaimer, this isn't how I do it, but I'll try it for this exercise if you will!)

Card 1:
"Covering card-(the card representing "general" influences or the "atmosphere" affecting this question--note lots of tarot-speak is vague."

The Covering Card: This is what covers you/querant. This can give you often the basics of what the question is about, the problem, present influences and what's the general gig.

Card 2:
"Crossing card of the Cross---(the card representing obstacles of problems affecting this question---if the card is positive than the problem may not be that great or perhaps the "problem' will work to the querent's benefit OR, maybe the 'good' stuff won't be so good in this situation.)"

This crosses you for good or for ill. This can show what is the hold up, the problem, whether known or unknown. (sw:This is often a clue for you as the reader as to what is really going on inside the Q's head about this, so do pay attention for yourself as you start to think it through)

Card 3: (in FAQ this is card 5)
"That which is below--)the card indicating the 'foundation' or 'nadir'--similar to the IC in astrology, note that the relationship between the "Above" and "Below" is the birth point of the question and so represents aspects or events that have come into definite being and which, Waite says, the querent has made 'his own'. In practice, the card often represents the TRUE point of the question , and the querant may not be consciously 'owned up' to it yet. Compare this then to the 'Above" card, which represents a point in the he circle of fulfillment, and so, according to Waite, is not something that has been made 'actual'. However, the querent may be very aware of what this card represents since he supposedly will be trying to 'actualize' it)."

This is beneath you/Q. These are the past influences, experiences, behaviors that over time has brought the Q to this point. This is that part of the past which is a part of the Q, not just the recent current events in Q's life.


Card 4 (JK provides info on how to deal if using a court significator card by the way on his web page)


"That which is behind---(the card showing events affecting the question that the querent will know, i.e. the past)"

swnote: This is behind you. These are those incidences and occurrences that are just passing out of the life of the Q, the feelings, dreams, hopes, actions most recent. Generally this reflects what prompted the question itself.

Card 5

"That which is above or the Crown--(the card indicating either the highest hopes of the querent for this question for the best that can be expected for him in the outcome--similar to the MC in astrology"

swnote: This crowns you/Q. These are all the possibilities and goals that the querent might have for this question, what perhaps is his hearts desire. This is also a good card to see the potential the querent has---even if he is not aware of it, or doesn't believe it himself-- to solve the issue or problem. This can be useful to you as a reader as an advice card...perhaps questioning the Q about this card..how he sees himself in that role, etcetera.

Card 6

"That which is ahead---(the card showing events affecting the question that the querent will NOT know yet, i.e., the future--but NOT the final outcome)"

sw note: This is before you/Q. These are future events that, given the influences of the past, are likely to occur. These are happenings that will require attention of the Q as they occur if Q wants the desired outcome to be a certain way.

Card 7

"Personal Position-- (the card representing the querent/different than the significator, this card shows the querent in action, for good or ill, in the question."

sw note:Perhaps the best way to look at this is that you are seeing the querant in their true self on this issue; what they believe in their soul rather than what is manifested by their words. This gives you insight into what the Q has done on their own in this mix. Keep in mind, when you read for someone, sometimes they will try and convince you of something other than what the cards tell. Not everyone is upfront and honest- and this pertains to self honesty!, so take your time and read carefully.

Card 8--

"Environment---(the "other" of the question, similar to the Personal card, but this represents the environment in which everything unfolds, so it is family, friends, work, etc.)"

swnote: This is often that card that tells you what the other folks in the Q's life are doing and thinking about Q and this problem. Sometimes you will have a Q who is feeling really tired and drained, but her family sees her as Strength big time. This also aids you as the reader to see where some of the conflict comes from and also some of the solutions for whatever issue the Q has asked your assistance on.

Card 9

"Psychological---(hopes and fears and dreams of the querant).

swnote: I like seeing what this has to say. This tells me alot of where the Q is coming from, their own emotions about the situation. Now how is this different from the Self card we saw before? This is more emotional, I think. It brings in not just that point where the Q stands on an issue, but more...what the Q hopes for the outcome, or fears. This is where logic starts losing to emotion, and you can see some of why the Q is there to see YOU. If they could work through that emotion, they might not be seeking advice. But as we all know from personal experience, when our emotions are running around, we don't always see clearly. We can let the hope of love, or anger taint our judgment, and so we ask someone else to give us a hand. This is why reading for others is important and a responsibility. You are being asked for help. That is why I'm harping on learning the basics. So that you are able to do just that, help.

Take this information and in your mind, think of how this is influencing the other cards. Is there a pattern?

Card 10

"Future---(if what is shown in the other cards remains 'true', this is how the question will resolve)."

swnote: Well this is the card an experienced Querant looks at first! They are dying to know what's going to happen, and forget the in-between. That's why sometimes turning one card over at a time is so much better...it forces the Querant to acknowledge each step, and thus they get the true value from divination with the cards.

This is what will come. This is what will happen if all remains the same from that point on. However, we all know that this is difficult in reality. The querant could do something that would drastically change the outcome. It is important to emphasize that with the querant so that if there are changes, they are not totally disappointed in what was an accurate reading for that time. Remember, divination is not the same as psychic readings...it interprets that which is already in place and gives the probably outcome. Hence, a querant can also have hopes to change an outcome that might not be best for them.

How do you do this. Well, first of all, if you've gone through each position carefully and talked it through, they will have already gotten some information on the process. Then you can draw clarification cards, or do a second spread asking that precise question. There are some authors who say that if you pull a court card for the tenth position that might mean a real person who can influence the future, but I think that would depend on the reading and the question. One last thing, remember to try and find a solution or path, the querant wants advice, what to do, what next--it's there in the cards eh?

*************

DISCLAIMER: There are plenty of other interpretations of the celtic cross spread, as well as way to lay the cards down, and so on. I like using Waites (and thank goodness for the FAQ as my Waite book has sprouted legs and walked off on me today), nothing like the horse's mouth as a resource. But then I, as you all do or will do, in time get my own permutations. Actually I think I've changed out 7 and 9 when I read-but this was the original way I was taught, and old habits are hard to change. See, it happens to us all.

Now practice with this spread slowly. Take a blank piece of paper. Think of a question, shuffle, etc. Do a celtic cross spread and then copy down the cards on the paper. Take the little book from the deck or your class book or other references and see what this all means. Make notes by the cards on the paper and then write out what you would read for that question. For those of you that this is the first time, don't worry if it takes a while. It gets easier with practice.

That's all for now. Next we will be talking about the history of tarot. I've some wonderful tales, oops, sorry, history for that lesson! <G>

shadowwolf

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