10 Tarot Spreads for all occasions – for both Beginners and Advanced readers

In tarot readings, the arrangement of cards is referred to as the tarot spread. This term denotes the layout of cards drawn from a deck during a reading session.

Tarot spreads function as a valuable tool for revealing insights and messages by arranging the cards in specific patterns. These layouts act as a connection between your intuition and universal energy, helping you gain clarity and guidance in your life. Ranging from straightforward one-card spreads to more complex, multi-card layouts, tarot spreads offer a wide array of possibilities to enhance your tarot reading experience. 

So in this article delve into the Tarot Spreads Universe. Find out why Tarot spreads are the shimmering constellations that light up your tarot readings. Explore the vast cosmos of spreads, from the legendary Celtic Cross to the insightful Past-Present-Future spread, and discover the dazzling formations that align with your unique style.

Why are tarot spreads important?

Tarot spreads are important because they provide a structured framework for interpreting the messages conveyed by the cards during a tarot reading. Each position in a spread holds specific significance, enabling the reader to gain deeper insights into the querent’s situation, emotions, and potential outcomes.

Spreads help in the following ways:

1. Contextualization: Tarot spreads assign context to individual cards, allowing the reader to understand how each card relates to the querent’s life and circumstances. The same card can have different meanings based on its position within a spread, ensuring a more accurate and personalized reading.
2. Focus and clarity: Tarot spreads guide the reader’s focus and offer a clearer understanding of the querent’s concerns, questions, or intentions. By using a spread tailored to a specific topic or issue, the reader can better address the querent’s needs and provide relevant guidance.
3. Organization: Tarot spreads organize the information received during a reading into a coherent narrative. This organization facilitates a more comprehensive interpretation and helps the reader communicate the message effectively to the querent.
4. Versatility: There are numerous tarot spreads available, each designed to explore different aspects of life, such as relationships, career, decision-making, and personal growth. This versatility ensures that tarot readings can cater to a wide range of concerns and situations.

Tarot Spreads for Beginners

As you start your journey into tarot reading, a solid foundation can boost your confidence. The classic three-card tarot spreads provide a great basis for beginners to build upon. Once you’re comfortable with these foundational spreads, consider exploring the more intricate five-card tarot spreads to add depth to your readings.

One Card Tarot Spread

The one-card tarot spread is a simple and efficient method for gaining insights into a specific question or aspect of your life. It is an ideal spread for beginners or for those who want a quick, focused reading.

In a one-card tarot spread, the reader shuffles the deck and draws a single card, which serves as the basis for the entire reading. This card represents the essence of the situation, the core energy, or the primary guidance on the issue at hand. The card can also be used as a daily draw to provide insights or advice for the day ahead.

How To Do a Tarot Spread With One Card

To perform a one-card tarot spread, follow these steps:

1. Clear your mind and focus on your question or intention. It can be specific or general, depending on your needs. Here are some example questions:

• What energy should I focus on today?
• What lesson can I learn from my current situation?
• How can I improve my relationship with [person’s name]?
• What should I consider when making this decision?
• How can I better handle the challenges I’m facing?

2. Shuffle the tarot deck, concentrating on your query while doing so.
3. Draw one card from the deck and lay it face up.
4. Examine the card, taking note of the imagery, symbols, and any initial feelings or thoughts that come to mind.
5. Refer to the card’s meaning from a tarot guidebook or other trusted source, considering both the upright and reversed interpretations.
6. Apply the card’s message to your situation, reflecting on how it relates to your question or intention.

Remember that the one-card tarot spread offers a snapshot of the energy or guidance surrounding the issue. While it may not provide as much detail as multi-card spreads, it can still deliver valuable insights and clarity when used thoughtfully.

Three Card Tarot Spread

The three-card tarot spread is a versatile and relatively simple method for gaining insights into various aspects of life. This makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced readers due to its simplicity and adaptability. 

In a three-card tarot spread, three cards are drawn from the deck and placed in a row, each representing a specific aspect of the situation or the querent’s life.

The most common interpretation of the three-card spread is based on time, with each card representing the past, present, and future:

1. Card 1 (Left) – Past: This card represents the past influences or events that have shaped the current situation. It provides context and helps the reader understand the background or origins of the issue.
2. Card 2 (Center) – Present: This card represents the present circumstances or the querent’s current mindset. It reflects the existing energies or challenges and offers guidance on how to navigate the situation.
3. Card 3 (Right) – Future: This card represents the potential outcome or future direction based on the querent’s current path. It offers foresight and helps the querent understand the consequences of their actions or choices.

The three-card spread can also be adapted to address different themes or concerns, such as:

1. Situation – Action – Outcome
2. Mind – Body – Spirit
3. Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities
4. You – Your Partner – The Relationship
5. Obstacle – Advice – Outcome

How To Do a Tarot Spread With Three Cards

To perform a three-card tarot spread, follow these steps:

1. Clear your mind and focus on your question or intention.
2. Shuffle the tarot deck, concentrating on your query while doing so.
3. Draw three cards from the deck and lay them face up in a row from left to right.
4. Examine each card, taking note of the imagery, symbols, and any initial feelings or thoughts that come to mind.
5. Refer to the card’s meaning from a tarot guidebook or other trusted source, considering both the upright and reversed interpretations.
6. Apply the cards’ messages to your situation, reflecting on how they relate to your question or intention and the assigned positions (Past, Present, Future, or other variations).

Try it out, and you’ll find out for yourself why the three-card tarot spread offers a quick and insightful way to explore almost any situation or issue, while providing valuable guidance and understanding.

Five Card Tarot Spreads

Now we are getting even more versatile. The five-card tarot spread is a more in-depth and comprehensive layout that offers a broader perspective on a situation or question. Any variation of the five card spread delves into various aspects of the issue, providing a detailed understanding of the underlying influences, potential outcomes, and advice for navigating the situation. 

The five cards are placed in a specific pattern, with each card representing a distinct aspect or theme.

Five card tarot spread – Five card Cross

An often used layout for the five-card tarot spread looks like a cross:

1. Card 1 (Center) – Present Situation: This card represents the current circumstances or the querent’s immediate concerns. It highlights the main focus or issue and sets the stage for the rest of the reading.
2. Card 2 (Left) – Past Influences: This card represents the past events or experiences that have led to the present situation. It offers context and helps the reader understand the background or origins of the issue.
3. Card 3 (Top) – Future Possibilities: This card represents the potential outcome or future direction based on the querent’s current path. It shows the opportunities or challenges that may lie ahead.
4. Card 4 (Right) – Advice or Guidance: This card offers practical advice or recommendations to help the querent navigate the situation or address their concerns. It can also indicate the mindset or approach needed to overcome obstacles.
5. Card 5 (Bottom) – Underlying Influences or Hidden Factors: This card reveals the subconscious or hidden influences that may be impacting the situation. It can also represent the querent’s inner thoughts, emotions, or beliefs that may be affecting their perspective or decision-making.

Five card tarot spread – Five card Theme Spread

Another popular option with five cards is the rectangular shaped “Theme Spread”. 

In this layout, the five cards are placed in the shape of a rectangle, with four cards forming the corners and one card in the center, which acts as the main guidance of the reading or the theme.

1. Card 1 (Top Left) – Past Influences: This card represents past events or experiences that have contributed to the present situation. It offers context and helps the reader understand the background or origins of the issue.
2. Card 2 (Top Right) – Present Situation: This card represents the current circumstances or the querent’s immediate concerns. It highlights the main focus or issue and sets the stage for the rest of the reading.
3. Card 3 (Center) – Advice or Guidance: This card offers practical advice or recommendations to help the querent navigate the situation or address their concerns. It can also indicate the mindset or approach needed to overcome obstacles.
4. Card 4 (Bottom Left) – External Influences: This card represents the external factors or influences that may be impacting the situation. It can include the influence of other people, events, or circumstances that the querent may not have direct control over.
5. Card 5 (Bottom Right) – Future Possibilities: This card represents the potential outcome or future direction based on the querent’s current path. It shows the opportunities or challenges that may lie ahead.

How to do a five card tarot spread?

To perform a five-card tarot spread, follow these steps:

1. Clear your mind and focus on your question or intention.
2. Shuffle the tarot deck, concentrating on your query while doing so.
3. Draw five cards from the deck and lay them face up according to the chosen pattern.
4. Examine each card, taking note of the imagery, symbols, and any initial feelings or thoughts that come to mind.
5. Refer to the card’s meaning from a tarot guidebook or other trusted source, considering both the upright and reversed interpretations.
6. Apply the cards’ messages to your situation, reflecting on how they relate to your question or intention and the assigned positions.

Yes or No tarot spreads

Yes or No tarot spreads are designed to provide straightforward and quick answers to specific yes-or-no questions. These spreads are ideal for simple inquiries that require a clear and direct response. 

They also serve as an excellent opportunity to hone your card interpretation skills and understand the energy surrounding a particular scenario.

Yes or No spreads don’t demand extensive familiarity with the cards; you simply need to pre-determine which cards signify “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe.”  If you want to learn more about Yes or No tarot readings, please take a look at my article on how to conduct yes or no readings.

How to do a Yes or No tarot spread

Here are two common approaches to performing a Yes or No tarot spread:

One-Card Yes or No Spread:

1. In this method, you shuffle the deck and focus on your yes-or-no question. Draw a single card and interpret it based on its inherent meaning and symbolism. Typically, upright cards indicate a “yes” answer, while reversed cards suggest a “no” response. However, some cards may carry more nuanced meanings that don’t fit neatly into a yes-or-no framework, in which case, use your intuition and knowledge of the card’s symbolism to determine the most appropriate answer.

Three-Card Yes or No Spread:

2. This spread offers a more balanced perspective on your question. Shuffle the deck while concentrating on your yes-or-no inquiry, then draw three cards. In this approach, you can assign a point value to each card: upright cards receive +1 point, and reversed cards receive -1 point. Add the points together to determine the final answer. A positive total suggests a “yes” response, a negative total indicates a “no” answer, and a total of zero implies that the outcome is uncertain or that more information is needed.

Yes or No tarot spreads have limitations, as they may not capture the intricacies of certain situations. It’s always a good idea to consider the context and use your intuition when interpreting the cards. For more complex questions or a deeper understanding of a situation, opt for a more detailed tarot spread that explores various aspects of your inquiry.

The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

This wouldn’t be a complete tarot spread article if we wouldn’t cover the Celtic Cross spread. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of it, and never have I really used it as I’ve found other spreads pleasing my intuition more. 

However, the Celtic Cross tarot spread is one of the best known and often thought tarot spreads, offering a comprehensive and in-depth view of various aspects of a situation or question. Its origins are rooted in the Celtic tradition, and it has become a popular choice for tarot readers due to its ability to provide a detailed analysis of the querent’s circumstances, influences, and potential outcomes.

The Celtic Cross tarot spread consists of ten cards laid out in a cross and staff formation. Each card position holds a specific meaning, as follows:

1. Card 1 (Center) – The Present Situation: This card represents the current circumstances or the main focus of the querent’s inquiry.
2. Card 2 (Crossing Card) – The Immediate Challenge: This card, placed horizontally across Card 1, represents the obstacles or challenges that the querent is currently facing.
3. Card 3 (Top of the Cross) – The Goal or Ideal Outcome: This card represents the querent’s aspirations, hopes, or the best possible outcome for the situation.
4. Card 4 (Bottom of the Cross) – The Foundation or Past Influences: This card represents past events or experiences that have shaped the present situation, offering context and background.
5. Card 5 (Left of the Cross) – Recent Past: This card represents events or influences from the recent past that still have an impact on the current situation.
6. Card 6 (Right of the Cross) – Near Future: This card represents upcoming events or influences that may affect the situation in the near future.
7. Card 7 (Bottom of the Staff) – The Querent’s Attitude or Position: This card represents the querent’s mindset, beliefs, or feelings about the situation.
8. Card 8 (Middle of the Staff) – External Influences: This card represents the external factors, such as other people or circumstances, that may be impacting the situation.
9. Card 9 (Top of the Staff) – Hopes and Fears: This card represents the querent’s hopes, fears, or concerns related to the situation.
10. Card 10 (Above the Staff) – The Final Outcome: This card represents the potential outcome or future direction based on the querent’s current path.

How To Do the Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

To perform a Celtic Cross tarot spread, follow these steps:

1. Clear your mind and focus on your question or intention.
2. Shuffle the tarot deck, concentrating on your query while doing so.
3. Draw ten cards from the deck and lay them face up according to the Celtic Cross pattern.
4. Examine each card, taking note of the imagery, symbols, and any initial feelings or thoughts that come to mind.
5. Refer to the card’s meaning from a tarot guidebook or other trusted source, considering both the upright and reversed interpretations.
6. Apply the cards’ messages to your situation, reflecting on how they relate to your question or intention and the assigned positions.

The Celtic Cross tarot spread offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of a situation or issue, making it a valuable tool for those seeking deep insights and understanding. It can be adapted to various themes or concerns, providing a rich exploration of the querent’s circumstances, influences, and potential outcomes.

Tarot Spreads for Love and relationships

When you start doing tarot readings for others, you’ll quickly notice that people will most of the time make inquiries into their love and relationships. Therefore it is good to have some specific tarot spreads for love and relationships in your arsenal. 

Love and relationship tarot spreads are specifically designed to explore the complexities of romantic relationships, offering insights into emotions, connections, and various aspects of one’s love life. These spreads can help guide those seeking advice on matters of the heart, providing clarity on existing relationships, potential partners, and personal growth within the context of love and romance.

Here are two examples of love and relationship tarot spreads:

Four card Love Spread – “Relationship Snapshot Spread”

This is a simple four-card spread that provides a snapshot of the current state of a romantic relationship. The cards are laid out as follows:

Card 1 (Top) – Your Feelings: This card represents your emotions and feelings towards your partner or the relationship.

Card 2 (Right) – Your Partner’s Feelings: This card represents your partner’s emotions and feelings towards you or the relationship.

Card 3 (Bottom) – Strengths of the Relationship: This card highlights the positive aspects or strengths within the relationship.

Card 4 (Left) – Challenges in the Relationship: This card reveals the obstacles or challenges that the relationship is currently facing or may face in the future.

Six Card Love Spread – The Path to Love Spread:

This six-card spread delves into the querent’s journey towards love and can be particularly useful for those seeking new relationships or wanting to understand the evolution of their love life. The cards are laid out in a vertical line as follows:

Card 1 (Top) – Past Influences: This card represents past experiences or events that have shaped the querent’s approach to love and relationships.

Card 2 – Present Situation: This card highlights the querent’s current circumstances in their love life or romantic relationships.

Card 3 – Blocks or Obstacles: This card reveals any barriers or challenges that may be preventing the querent from finding or maintaining a healthy romantic relationship.

Card 4 – What the Querent Needs to Focus On: This card offers guidance on the aspects of their life or personal growth that the querent should concentrate on to improve their love life.

Card 5 – External Influences: This card represents the external factors, such as other people or situations, that may be impacting the querent’s love life or relationships.

Card 6 (Bottom) – Future Potential: This card shows the potential future direction or outcome for the querent’s love life based on their current path.

Tarot Spreads for Advanced Readers

If you feel comfortable using some of the spreads described above, perhaps you can try to use some of the ones in this section. You may even start exploring with your own spreads and placing the cards into spreads that form different shapes on the table. These visual patterns can sometimes spark your intuition and help you notice something that would have otherwise went unnoticed. 

Tarot Spread with six cards – The Pentagram Spread

A Pentagram Tarot Spread, also known as a Five-Pointed Star Spread, is a versatile tarot spread that can be used to explore a variety of topics, from personal growth and spirituality to specific situations and questions. The spread consists of five cards laid out in the shape of a star or pentagram, with each card position representing a different aspect of the situation or question.

Here’s a breakdown of the five card positions in a Pentagram Tarot Spread:

1. Card 1 (Top) – Spirit or Higher Self: This card represents your higher self, spiritual guidance, or the overarching theme that connects to your situation or question. It can also signify the overall energy or lesson to be learned.
2. Card 2 (Upper Left) – Air or Mental Aspect: This card represents the intellectual or mental aspects of the situation or question, including thoughts, communication, and decision-making. It can provide insight into how you are thinking or perceiving the matter at hand.
3. Card 3 (Lower Left) – Earth or Physical Aspect: This card represents the tangible or material aspects of the situation or question, such as resources, financial concerns, or health. It can provide guidance on practical matters or how the situation may manifest in your day-to-day life.
4. Card 4 (Lower Right) – Water or Emotional Aspect: This card represents the emotional or intuitive aspects of the situation or question, including feelings, relationships, and intuition. It can shed light on how the matter is affecting you emotionally and reveal underlying emotional patterns or connections.
5. Card 5 (Upper Right) – Fire or Action Aspect: This card represents the action or energy needed to move forward in the situation or question, such as motivation, drive, or creativity. It can provide guidance on the steps you need to take or the changes you should make to achieve your desired outcome.

Eight Card Tarot Spread – Choose The Path

The Eight Card Tarot Spread, also known as the “Choose the Path” spread, is designed to help querents explore different options or paths in a given situation, offering insights into the potential outcomes, challenges, and opportunities associated with each choice. This spread is particularly useful when faced with a decision that involves multiple options or when seeking clarity about the best course of action.

Here’s a breakdown of the eight card positions in a Choose the Path Tarot Spread:

1. Card 1 (Center) – The Present Situation: This card represents the current circumstances or the main focus of the querent’s inquiry. It serves as the foundation for understanding the choices or paths available.
2. Card 2 (Top) – Path 1: The Potential: This card represents the potential outcome, opportunity, or benefit associated with the first path or option.
3. Card 3 (Top Right) – Path 1: The Challenges: This card reveals the obstacles, challenges, or difficulties that may arise along the first path or option.
4. Card 4 (Top Left) – Path 1: The Advice: This card offers guidance, advice, or recommendations for navigating the first path or option successfully.
5. Card 5 (Bottom) – Path 2: The Potential: This card represents the potential outcome, opportunity, or benefit associated with the second path or option.
6. Card 6 (Bottom Right) – Path 2: The Challenges: This card reveals the obstacles, challenges, or difficulties that may arise along the second path or option.
7. Card 7 (Bottom Left) – Path 2: The Advice: This card offers guidance, advice, or recommendations for navigating the second path or option successfully.
8. Card 8 (Center, above Card 1) – The Final Advice: This card provides overarching guidance or insight that can help the querent make their decision, taking into account both paths and their associated potentials and challenges.

Tarot Spread with 12 cards – Astrology Spread

In our last spread of today, we get to combine Tarot with Astrology. The Twelve Card Astrology Spread, also known as the Zodiac or Astrological Spread, is a comprehensive tarot spread that incorporates the twelve astrological houses, providing insights into various aspects of the querent’s life. Each card in this spread corresponds to a specific astrological house, offering guidance and clarity related to that house’s themes and areas of focus.

Here’s a breakdown of the twelve card positions in the Astrology Spread, along with the themes associated with each astrological house:

1. Card 1 (1st House) – Self, Identity, and Appearance: This card represents the querent’s self-image, personality, physical appearance, and overall sense of self.
2. Card 2 (2nd House) – Possessions, Values, and Finances: This card relates to material possessions, personal values, and financial matters, such as income, spending habits, and financial stability.
3. Card 3 (3rd House) – Communication, Siblings, and Short Trips: This card addresses communication skills, relationships with siblings or close friends, and short trips or local travel.
4. Card 4 (4th House) – Home, Family, and Roots: This card represents the querent’s home life, family dynamics, and connection to their roots or ancestry.
5. Card 5 (5th House) – Creativity, Romance, and Children: This card explores creative pursuits, romantic relationships, and matters related to children or childlike joy.
6. Card 6 (6th House) – Work, Health, and Daily Routines: This card deals with work-related issues, physical and mental health, and daily routines or habits.
7. Card 7 (7th House) – Partnerships, Marriage, and Business Relationships: This card offers insight into committed partnerships, marriage, and significant business relationships.
8. Card 8 (8th House) – Transformation, Shared Resources, and Intimacy: This card addresses transformation, shared finances, and emotional or physical intimacy.
9. Card 9 (9th House) – Philosophy, Travel, and Higher Education: This card explores personal philosophies, long-distance travel, and pursuits related to higher education or learning.
10. Card 10 (10th House) – Career, Reputation, and Public Image: This card represents the querent’s career, professional reputation, and public image or social standing.
11. Card 11 (11th House) – Friendships, Groups, and Goals: This card deals with friendships, social groups, and the pursuit of long-term goals or dreams.
12. Card 12 (12th House) – Spirituality, Hidden Matters, and Self-Undoing: This card explores spiritual growth, hidden aspects of the querent’s life, and self-sabotage or self-defeating patterns.

Your turn to try the tarot spreads

As we learned today, tarot spreads are a powerful tool for gaining insights into various aspects of your life, offering guidance, clarity, and self-discovery. 

We’ve explored a diverse range of spreads in this article, each with its unique approach and focus, from simple one-card readings to more complex layouts like the Astrology Spread. By trying different spreads, you can deepen your understanding of the tarot and enhance your intuitive abilities.

As you become more comfortable and experienced with tarot readings, don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own spreads. Personalizing your spreads can lead to even more meaningful and relevant insights, as you tailor the card positions and questions to your specific needs and intentions. Remember that there are no strict rules in tarot—let your intuition guide you and trust the wisdom of the cards.

So, embark on this fascinating journey of self-exploration and spiritual growth with an open heart and mind. Embrace the world of tarot spreads, and watch as it enriches your life with newfound clarity and understanding. Whether you’re seeking answers to specific questions or simply aiming for personal growth, there’s a tarot spread out there waiting for you to discover its secrets. Happy reading, and may the cards be your guiding light!