How to lay out the cards
Tarot spreads
Six ways to lay out the cards, from a quick answer to the Celtic Cross. In each one, the position of a card changes what it means.
One card
1 cardFor a quick answer, guidance for the day or a simple question. A single card makes you go straight to what matters.
Three cards
3 cardsThe most versatile: it works for almost any question. The three cards are read together, like a short story of your situation.
Two paths
5 cardsWhen you are torn between two options: two jobs, staying or leaving, moving forward or waiting. It shows what each path brings, without deciding for you. Name the two paths in your question.
- 1Where you are now
- 2The first path
- 3Where the first path leads
- 4The second path
- 5Where the second path leads
Relationship
5 cardsTo understand a relationship, whether love, family, friendship or work: your side, the other person’s, what brings you together and what pulls you apart.
- 1You
- 2The other person
- 3What brings you together
- 4What pulls you apart
- 5Where it is heading
Cross
5 cardsFor a situation with obstacles: it shows what holds you back, what helps and where things tend to go.
- 1The situation
- 2What holds you back
- 3What helps
- 4What comes next
- 5The likely outcome
Celtic Cross
10 cards · with an accountThe most complete classic spread, for an important question. Ten cards cover the present, the roots, what surrounds you, your fears and the likely outcome.
- 1The present
- 2The challenge
- 3The root
- 4The recent past
- 5What could be
- 6The near future
- 7You in this situation
- 8What surrounds you
- 9Hopes and fears
- 10The outcome
Choose a guide and draw the cards
You choose the spread in the form, after writing your question.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tarot spread for beginners?
The three-card spread. It is simple to read, works for almost any question and gives a complete picture without being too long. For a quick answer, the one-card spread.
What is the Celtic Cross?
It is the best-known tarot spread, with ten cards: six form a cross (the present, the challenge, the root, the recent past, what could be and the near future) and four stand in a column beside it (you, what surrounds you, hopes and fears, and the outcome).
Can I ask the same question several times?
You can, but tarot tradition advises against it: repeating the question until you get the answer you want takes the meaning out of the reading. It is better to rephrase the question or to wait for the situation to change.
How do I ask the tarot a good question?
Ask about yourself and what you can do, instead of asking for closed predictions. “What do I need to know about this job change?” gives a more useful reading than “Am I going to be fired?”.