Ready to discover the most common tarot spreads? Photo: Marilyn Roxie
Tarot cards are a powerful tool which provide guidance for practically all areas of life.
The tarot can help you improve your love life, finances, health and more.
But using the tarot can be confusing, especially at first.
How you organize the tarot cards will have an important influence over the messages you receive.
Let’s take a look at the six most common tarot spreads and how they can be used.
– Updated 10/11/2019
Table of Contents
The 6 Most Prevalent Spreads in Tarot and How to Use Them
1) The Success Tarot Spread
This spread is used to help make better decisions.
If you’re faced with a choice or challenge in your life, this spread helps you make the best use of your available resources.
Use this spread when you’re faced with a major life decision such as a change in careers or a move.
This spread consists of a column and a row.
Starting from the top of the column, the cards are #4, #2 and #5.
Then the #1 and #3 cards extend in a row from the #2.
The first card symbolizes the event in your life you need advice for.
The second card talks about the challenges or questions you have.
The third card reveals previously unknown information.
The fourth card shows you how to grow with the help of new people, ideas or action.
Finally, the fifth card symbolizes the path you should take to find success and avoid failure.
2) The Three Card Spread
The three-card spread is perhaps the simplest spread of all. Cards #1, #2 and #3 are laid out in a row.
Although simple, this spread is perhaps the most versatile.
The three-card spread can be used to analyze the past, present and future.
It can also represent your mind, body and spirit.
An accomplished tarot-card reader can use this spread in a variety of ways.
This video gives more helpful info on the 3-card spread:
3) Tarot Spread for True Love
This spread helps you identify and solve any problems in your current relationship.
Also helpful if you’re searching for love.
The top row contains cards #1 and #2.
The next row contains cards #3, #4 and #5.
The last row holds just card #6.
The first card is you and the second is your partner.
The third card reflects your current relationship, with the strength of that relationship signified by card #4.
Card #5 displays weakness in the relationships.
Finally, the last card is the True Love card.
Is your relationship going to be successful?
What do you need to do to address any problems?
4) The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread
This is a complex spread which deals with intricate situations.
Only advanced Tarot card readers are able to use this spread successfully.
There is more than one way to read this 10 card spread.
A Celtic Cross spread is best used for complicated situations which are due to many different choices an individual has made in their past.
5) The Tarot Spread for Careers
When you understand the various spreads, a whole new world opens to you. Photo: taylorhatmaker
A career is about more than simply finances.
Your profession helps define your very place in the world.
This spread has two main purposes.
You can use it to identify and conquer any obstacles holding you back in your current job.
You can also use this spread to help search for a new career path.
The top row contains cards #2 and #1.
The next row consists of just card #3.
The final, bottom row contains cards #7, #6, #5 and #4.
The first card tells if your current job is the best fit for your personality.
Card #2 reveals which actions need to taken.
The third card shows you which aspects of your career are unable to change.
The fourth card shows you how well you’re performing in your current job, while the fifth card reflects any specifics you need to improve.
Card #6 shows you any past events which might be influencing your current job.
Finally, card #7 reveals the changes you can expect.
6) The Tarot Spread for Spiritual Guidance
This is similar to the success spread only with an emphasis on spiritual issues.
Use this spread if you’re undergoing a crisis related to spiritual development.
This spread helps you gain perspective on how to pursue the best spiritual path.
Cards two through eight are laid out in a row.
Then, under card #5, place card #1.
The first card represents the question or concern you’re having.
The second card shows you why you’re asking for guidance.
The third card relates to the life issues you’re struggling with.
Events related to your spiritual life which you’re unaware of are revealed by the fourth card.
Advice to follow is shown in the fifth card.
The sixth card shows you the path to take to follow this advice.
The seventh card represents the positive attitude you should take while on the path.
Finally, the eight card signifies the results you’ll achieve.
Parting Words
Tarot card layouts hold a lot of power.
Each of the tarot card spreads above serves a different, but useful purpose.
Use the tools above to get the most of your tarot layout and deck.
Allow tarot cards to guide you to a successful future.
