Tarot Spreads

I prefer in general to use freestyle spreads when doing Tarot readings. Formal layouts however can be useful, as they can focus on particular areas for the reading. The following are ones that I use most often:

Twenty One Card

This gives a good general overview of what's going on in the querent's life.

1 = Personality. 2 = Home life, nearest & dearest. 3 = Hopes & fears. 4 = Expectations. 5 = The unexpected. 6 = Near Future. 7 = Far Future.

It makes sense to have several different alternative spreads. The idea is to compare two or more alternatives to see possible outcomes.

Alternative 1

1 = Querent's Personality. 2 & 3 = Additional info about the querent. 4, 8 & 12 = One alternative. 5, 9 & 13 = Another alternative. 6, 10 & 14 = Help in making decision. 7, 11 & 15 = Things you can't change.

Alternative 2

1 = Problem, present situation, or outcome.

2, 4 & 6 = Chosen course. 3, 5 & 7 = Alternative possibilities. 1 & 2 = Perceived opposites. 3 & 4 = Perceived opposites. 5 & 6 = Perceived opposites.

Alternative 3

1 = Current situation. 2 = If no change is made. 3 = If change is made. 4 = Past Influences. 5 = Karma, lessons to be learned.

Motherpeace

The Motherpeace spread is taken from the deck of the same name. I used to own a set but because the cards were circular, they made me dizzy. I like the spread however, and find this layout preferable to the Celtic Cross, to which in function it is almost identical.

1 = Who or where you are at the moment. 2 = Atmosphere -- what's behind the question. 3 = Cross Current -- The lesson you need to learn. 4 = Root -- unconscious influences in the body. 5 = Sky -- Personality, spirit, how you behave.

6 = Passing Away -- events up to last week. 7 = Near future -- Tomorrow to next week.

8 = Self Concept -- How you see yourself. 9 = Hopes and fears -- if M.Arcana, a reality. 10 = House -- Group/persons you are connected to. 11 = Outcome -- Should be Major Arcana. If not, draw up to three cards until Major Arcana appears. If none, outcome is mixed.

Relationships

This one is taken from a book on fortune telling which included it as one of the tarot spreads. I find this very handy for relationship questions. A point to remember however is that the basis of the "them" side comes from the perceptions of the client. It does not necessarily agree with reality.

1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11 & 13 = You 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 = Them

1 & 4 = What is brought into the relationship. 2 & 5 = Where the person is currently at. 3 & 6 = What is hoped to get out of the relationship.

7 & 8 = How the other person is currently seen. 9 & 10 = How the other person was first seen. 11 & 12 = Fears about the relationship. 13 & 14 = Environmental factors.

15 = Future prospects.

Transactional Analysis

1 = Basis of the question.

2 = Solution for the inner Parent. 3 = Consequences for the inner Parent.

4 = Solution for the inner Adult. 5 = Consequences for the inner Adult.

6 = Solution for the inner Child. 7 = Consequences for the inner Child.

Wheel of Life

This one is based on the Wiccan Sabbats and comes from the wonderful book "Tarot Games".

1 = Yule: Renewal. Your hopes, areas of blockage you need to free up to return to life.
2 = Imbolc: Planting ideas. Information and be- ginnings. What ideas come to mind?
3 = Ostara: Patterns of growth. Are there weeds in your life? What will you nurture?
4 = Beltane: Fertility and sexuality. How do you relate to your sexuality?
5 = Litha: Brightness. How do you share yourself and your gifts with others?
6 = Lughnasad: Reaping what you sew. What you need to concentrate on for success.
7 = Mabon: What are you grateful for? What do you need to shed to embrace thankfulness?
8 = Samhain: Introspection. Stilling the self to listen to an inner voice.
9 = You: Where you're at right now. The influence causing the reading.

Tree of Life

Each card represents a part of the Tree of Life, as taken from the Kaballa. There are also equivalents to each of the chakras. I find this an unusual alternative to the Celtic Cross.

10       = Hopes for the result of healing.
(Crown)    What can assist in the process?

8 & 9    = What are you perceiving things?
(Third     8 = Right Brain / Intuition & Dreams.
 eye)      9 = Left Brain / Possibilities that
               you would like to manifest.

6 & 7    = How are you expressing yourself?
(Throat)   6 = Inner self / subconscious.
           7 = Outer self / How you appear.

5        = Your ability to heal yourself and
(Heart)    others. The key to your healing
           process.

3 & 4    = Who or what are you connected to?
(Naval)    3 = Your will and ego.
           4 = Your emotional connections.

2        = Sexual energy. How you process
(Spleen)   emotions and problems.

1        = Basis of the problem. Vitality
(Sacral)   and energy. Physical condition.