Tarot Spreads For Beginners

The spark for this article came from Llewellyn’s Barbara Moore, who posed the question “What Tarot spreads are good for beginners?” This is not something that I would normally be thinking about, as by choice I do not teach the Tarot. The first thoughts that I had actually concerned issues that are “prequils” to laying out a spread.

Tarot “Prequils”

What things do we normally consider before laying out a Tarot spread?

1. What question/issue does the Seeker wish to address?
2. How can this question be best worded?
3. Would this be better addressed in one larger spread, or several smaller spreads?
4. What style (geometric shape) would be best to use?

The Seeker needs to form in their mind a clear picture of the issue they are asking about is, and what they want/need to know about it. The question needs to be framed in as concise and direct a manner as possible. Any question of life area that is important to the Seeker may be addressed by the Tarot. Questions should be pertinent to the Seeker, and not to someone else in their life. Third party readings – i.e. reading for a party that is not physically present during a reading should be discouraged.

Broader questions can be broken down into a series of smaller questions for ease of interpretation for a beginner. For instance, “How can I be more successful in my career?” might be broken down into: “What do I bring to my career?”, “What do I need to get back from my career?”, “How do I relate to the people that I currently work with?”, “How do I relate to the company that I currently work for?”, “What are my short/long term goals?”, “How can I reach my short/long term goals with my current company?”, and “What do I need to feel successful?”. Each question would then be addressed with a separate spread.

The geometric form of the spread has a significance of its own. Each reader needs to decide for themselves which forms are easiest for them to work with. In “Learning Tarot Spreads”, Joan Bunning talks about things such as symmetry and balance. She notes that even numbered spreads tend to present a more solid feeling, while odd numbered spreads are more dynamic – the odd card providing the tension. Bunning also notes that the spacing within a spread is most often uniform, with wider spacing setting apart differing elements within a spread.

Common geometric forms used in spreads are: the circle, representing wholeness and unity; the pentacle, representing the four elements and spirit; the spiral, representing goddess energy; the square, representing foundation and the physical world; and the triangle, representing the trinity.

With beginning readers, we might also want to consider the following:

1. What is their level of understanding of the cards?
2. What is the best template (spread) for reading for them?

A beginning reader needs to take into account their level of understanding of the cards, in order to determine the number of cards that they want to include in a spread, and the geometric form that they want their spread to take. Some spread formats will be easier to interpret than others. This is where the reader may want to consider doing a series of smaller spreads, as opposed to one larger spread that may be overwhelming to them.

The best template (spread) will vary from reader to reader, and comes down to whatever is less confusing for them. For some readers it will be straight lines, or grids. For others, they may feel comfortable using a triangle or square format. As long as the energy is easy to follow, the spread can be worked with. One thing that I do when creating a spread is to trace the line of the spread in the air over the cards with my hand. I listen to my inner feelings about what flows, and what feels “stuck”, adjusting the spread accordingly.

Smaller Tarot Spreads

The smallest spread would be the single card spread. This can be used as a “card a day” spread, to give insight into the coming day (or, read at the end of the day, to help understand things that have happened). or as insight into a person or issue. If the reader retains an open mind, and allows information to flow to them, a single card can bring endless insight.

A two card spread can be read either side by side, one card directly below the other, one card diagonally below the other, or one card crossing the other. This spread can be used as Yes/No, as two different options, or as cards that address the same issue/subject in a manner of one building ont he other, or adding new information.

A three card spread can be placed in a straight line (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) or as a triangle. This is a spread that is easily defined, such as past/present/future, what I know/what I don’t know/what I need to know, person number one/person number two/the relationship between the two people.

The final spread that I would suggest for a beginner is the four card spread. This is a very important spread not necessarily from geometric form, but from the fact that the number four is a foundation number. Four cards spreads can be set out in a straight line, as two pairs, or as one card set aside in some way, with the other three cards grouped together in some manner.

The Decision Making Tarot Spread

This is a spread that I defined specifically for this article. It is a spread that I feel beginners would find it easy to work with.

1. What do I know about myself?
2. What do I need to know about myself?
3. What is being hidden from me about myself?
4. How can I best present myself?

Bonnie Cehovet

Resources

Learning Tarot Spreads by Joan Bunning

Bonnie Cehovet – has written 21 posts on Tarot Elements.

Bonnie Cehovet is a Certified Tarot Grand Master, a professional Tarot reader with over twelve years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer.