Tarot spreads
A tarot spread is a layout where each place on the table has a meaning before the card lands on it. Choose by your question: three cards for something quick, five for a relationship, a job or a choice, and ten for something big that has been going on for a while. Each spread below has a free draw.
Which spread for which question
| Spread | Cards | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Three-card spread | 3 | Any quick question |
| Love spread | 5 | A relationship, or someone you are seeing |
| Career spread | 5 | A job, a change or a stuck project |
| Decision spread | 5 | Choosing between two options |
| Celtic cross | 10 | A big or long-running question |
| New Moon spread | 4 | Starting something |
| Full Moon spread | 4 | Taking stock of something under way |
How to choose a spread
Start from the question and not the layout. The narrower the question, the fewer cards you need: a yes or no needs one, a why needs three and a question with two people in it needs five. More cards give you more to read and more room to talk yourself into anything.
Decide what each place means before you turn a card over, and don't change it afterwards. That is the one rule every spread has in common, and it's what keeps a reading honest.
Questions about tarot spreads
What is the easiest tarot spread for beginners?
The three card spread. Each card has one clear job and you can read it in five minutes. One card a day is also a good way to learn the deck.
Do I have to use a particular spread?
No. Spreads are conventions, and readers change them all the time. You can make your own by writing down what each place means before you draw.
How many cards should a tarot spread have?
As few as your question needs. Most useful readings are between one and five cards, and ten is for when you have half an hour and a question with a long history.