How To Interpret Tarot Cards: A Guide To Spreads And Interpretations?

Tarot spreads are specific arrangements or patterns in which tarot cards are laid out during a reading. They can be divided into four main types: Basic Tarot Spreads, Love and Relationship Tarot Spreads, Career and Life Path Tarot Spreads, and more.

The position of cards in a spread has a specific meaning that influences the card placed there. The relationships between cards can enhance understanding of their collective message. The flow of the spread can follow a chronological order or focus on different aspects of a situation. Common three-card spreads include the “body, mind, spirit” spread and the “past, present, future” spread.

To read tarot cards, start with a basic three-card spread by laying three cards out in front of you, face down in a horizontal line. Flip the card on the left to learn about your past, the middle card to learn about your future, and the fourth card to reveal personal meanings for each card. Worksheets for each card, with space to record personal keywords, Tarot card symbolism, upright and reversed meanings, and more, are available for each card.

Choosing the right spread adds the chronology, context, and depth a Tarot reader is looking for while Tarot card meanings will provide profound insights. Tarot spreads involve stringing cards together to tell a full story, and when working with several cards spread across a table, a tarot spread (also referred to as a layout) is a pre-selected pattern that the cards are placed on the surface in front of the reader.

In summary, tarot spreads are essential for effective readings, as they provide a detailed understanding of the past, present, and future.

What does the 3 card spread mean in Tarot cards?

Tarot spreads can be categorized into one-, two-, or three-card spreads. Three-card spreads include the “body, mind, spirit” and “past, present, future” spreads, with the first card representing the body or past, the second representing the mind or present, and the third representing the spirit or future. Interpretation of these timelines depends on the reading and the question being asked. The less common “situation, challenge, advice” spread is preferred for its practicality and ease of interpretation.

For two-card spreads, Louis recommends starting with a “conscious, unconscious” spread, which focuses on what the reader is conscious of in themselves right now and what they need to see with clarity to help them move forward. Knight is also a proponent of the two-card spread, recommending “something to change, something to preserve” as it gives the reader autonomy over the cards and their life. An affirmation spread is also recommended.

A daily card reading is another common use of tarot, where a single card is pulled from the top of the deck as a reminder or guideline for the day ahead. This method is great for both novice and seasoned readers, as it provides a grounding and easy connection with the cards.

How does the 3 card trick work?

On the third attempt, the six or Queen should be tossed with the same hand motion to create a convincing appearance.

What is the most basic tarot spread?

Three-card spreads are ideal for tarot readings, such as “past, present future”, “what you know, what you feel, what you should do”, and “problem, solution, outcome”. For beginners, start with simple daily one-card draws and gradually increase to three-card spreads. Three-card readings can include questions like “Figuring out a relationship”, “What their true feelings for me?”, “What we need to talk about”, and “Possible of this relationship in the future”.

How do you find out what your tarot card is?

To find your birth card, add the digits of your full birthdate together to find your first card number. For example, if you were born on June 26, 1996, you would have 39 digits. Then, add the digits of your first birth card together to reveal your second card number. Compare your card numbers with a list of major arcana tarot cards to find your birth cards. Tarot birth cards are a combo of 2 or 3 major arcana tarot cards that reveal special insights and truths about your personality and life journey.

There are 12 sets of 2-3 card sets in total, similar to 12 different star signs in astrology. Each set highlights unchanging elements of your personality and how you journey through life. Tarot birth cards are calculated using numerology rather than a range of dates.

Which is the strongest tarot card?

The Fool is a card in tarot games, not part of the Major Arcana. In most games, the Fool is independent of both plain suit cards and trump cards, and does not belong to either category. Tarot decks originally made for game playing do not assign a number to the Fool indicating its rank in the suit of trumps. The Fool is one of the most valuable cards in almost all tarot games.

In tarot games originating from Italy and France, the Fool has a unique role, sometimes called “the Excuse”. In these games, the player excuses the player from following suit or playing a trump. At the end of the trick, the player takes back the Fool and adds it to their trick pile, giving the trick’s winner the least valuable card from that same pile. If there are no cards to give in exchange, the Fool is worth one point less and an extra point is given to the trick-taker.

In a minor variant option of French tarot, a player dealt trump 1 but with no other trumps or the Fool can make trump 1 behave the same as the Fool. In official tournament rules, a player in this situation must declare their hand and force a redeal.

What is the No 1 tarot card?

The Magician, also known as The Magus or The Juggler, is the first trump or Major Arcana card in traditional tarot decks, used for game playing and divination. In the occult context, the trump cards are recontextualized as the Major Arcana and given complex esoteric meaning. In this context, the Magician is interpreted as the first numbered and second total card of the Major Arcana, succeeding the Fool. In French, Le Bateleur, also known as “the mountebank” or “sleight of hand artist”, is a practitioner of stage magic.

In Italian tradition, he is called Il Bagatto or Il Bagatello. The Mantegna Tarocchi image of the Magician is labeled Artixano, the Artisan, and is the second lowest in the series. 18th-century woodcuts of the Magician reflect earlier iconic representations and can be compared to free artistic renditions in 15th-century hand-painted tarots.

Can I read my own tarot cards?

Tarot readings can be done by beginners, providing insight into current situations, honoring intuition, and forecasting potential outcomes. To begin, clean the energy of your space by burning herbs, ringing bells or chimes, taking a bath, or using crystals. A Selenite wand is a popular energy refresher that aids clarity.

Sit comfortably and close your eyes, focusing on the protective energy surrounding you. Take deep breaths, think about your question or needing guidance, and keep your mind and heart open to the answers that may come through the cards. Shuffle the deck, focusing on your desired query, and shuffle the cards in front of you. The pattern laid out is called a “spread”, and the meaning of each card in combinations builds up to the overall answer to your query.

Before beginning to shuffle, know which spread you will be working with. As answers come through, it’s important to draw additional cards for further clarity or start with a new question from a different perspective. Tarot readings can be a powerful tool for personal growth and understanding.

How do I pull my tarot cards?

Tarot card pulls are a popular practice among those who enjoy the energy and power of the cards. Some prefer to spread the cards out after shuffling, while others feel drawn to them. Once a card radiates with energy, it can be pulled one or three at a time. All products are independently selected by editors, and if purchased, the company may earn an affiliate commission. Lisa Stardust, in her Practical Magic column, explains how to conduct daily tarot card pulls for oneself, focusing on getting in touch with oneself, whether magically or not. With the increasing popularity of collective daily tarot pulls on Instagram and TikTok, this guide aims to help users get the most out of their pulls.

What are the different types of tarot cards?

Tarot cards, similar to common playing cards, have four suits that vary by region: French in western, central, and eastern Europe, and Latin in southern Europe. Each suit has 14 cards, including ten pip cards and four face cards. The tarot also has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. The Fool may act as the top trump or be played to avoid following suit.

The use of tarot playing cards was once widespread across Europe except the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula. However, they experienced a renaissance in some countries and regions, such as French Tarot, which gained popularity in the 1950s and became the second most popular card game in France. Tarock games like Königrufen have experienced significant growth in Austria, with international tournaments held with other nations, including Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Denmark remains the only Scandinavian country that still plays tarot games, with Danish Tarok being a derivative of historical German Grosstarock. The game of Cego has grown in popularity in the south German region of Baden. Italy continues to play regionally popular games with distinctive Tarot packs, such as Ottocento in Bologna and Sicilian Tarocchi in parts of Sicily. Troccas and Troggu are still played locally in parts of Switzerland.

Is there a right way to read tarot cards?

To effectively use tarot cards, ask open-ended questions and keep an open mind. The goal is to gain a new perspective and see yourself or a situation more clearly. To do this, relax and trust your own wisdom. Tarot is a tool to facilitate talking about things, so use language and knowledge that you already have to see it as a tool to facilitate talking about things. The four elements (earth, water, fire, and air) and numerology play a large role in the tarot, as most people already have some ideas about the meanings that can be drawn on. By doing so, the interpretations can be more personal and freer, as it allows for a more personal perspective.

In conclusion, tarot readings are a powerful tool for gaining insights and understanding one’s own perspective. By asking open-ended questions and trusting one’s own wisdom, readers can gain a new perspective and better understand themselves and situations.