Tarot 101: How to pull spreads
This article is part of an extensive Tarot 101 guide.
The term “spread” describes whenever you pull a set of cards from a tarot deck (e.g., if you pull three cards, it can be called a “three-card spread”). Some tarot readers prefer to pull spreads with specific card positions (with prescribed meanings), while others prefer to pull organic spreads based on intuition.
There is no right or wrong way to pull spreads, though I like to encourage beginners to start out with basic organic pulls of 1-5 cards. That way, you are not trying to memorize both the card position meanings and the symbolism behind each card.
Here are two basic spreads that you can use to get started:
Rose, Bud, Thorn
Shuffle and pull three cards that represent the Rose, Bud and Thorn of a specific situation:
Rose: The circumstances you find yourself in
Bud: The opportunity or note of potential
Thorn: The obstacle that may make it challenging for you to realize your full potential in this circumstance
5-Card Chronological Spread
Shuffle and pull five cards from the top of your deck.
Lay the cards in a chronological timeline.
Use your intuition to see if the first card represents past or present energy. The middle (third) card should represent the middle of the journey, and the last card should represent the end of the journey.
Consider what this timeline may be telling you about your situation. What are the problematic wrenches in your system? What lesson are you meant to walk away with?
Interpreting the story
No matter which spread you use, think about your tarot cards like a comic strip or graphic novel. Each card represents one panel or image. How do the separate panels add up to tell a larger, more complex story? Are there multiple characters and/or storylines to consider? Can you sense a specific kind of emotion or spiritual lesson that needs to be acknowledged? Is it obvious that something is going to happen in the future?—or that something from the past has informed what is going on today?
If you feel confused by what you see, ask your client how they may be interpreting the symbols and iconography in the cards. Often, they will be able to give you information you wouldn’t be able to discern on your own. You may also be able to describe the formal definition of a card and ask them who or what that card may represent for them, and they may be able to offer more context for you to consider. Encourage interactive dialogue so that the two of you can go deeper.
The cards are always listening, which means it may even help to pull more cards once you have started speaking with your client. Trust the process.
1:1 Tarot Coaching or Group Coaching
You can always book a 1:1 tarot coaching call or reading with me.
You can also write to me if you’d like to have me host a group tarot coaching session. I have taught workshops both virtually and in person.
Source: My work has been informed by Artis Moon and Daniela Fant