I'm intrigued by surprise endings in tarot readings, which I usually achieve through face-down "hidden" cards. But here is a spread that uses the successive "facing" of the randomly-drawn cards to offer the possibility of a "twist" or emphatic bend in the flow of the narrative. This spread requires the use of reversals to populate … Continue reading The 3-Card “Twist” Advice Spread
Tarot Spreads
The “Morpheus Effect” Dream Message Spread
I sometimes encounter interest in a dream-analysis spread but never created one specifically for that purpose. However, the effect of dreams on waking life might be considered similar to the impact of past-life experiences on present-life circumstances, and I do have a couple of those. I tweaked one to make it work for dream scenarios. … Continue reading The “Morpheus Effect” Dream Message Spread
The “Good Days/Bad Days” Mixed-Media Weekly Forecast Spread
When I run out of metaphysical grist for my editorial mill I turn to spread creation. Here is another of my "mixed-media" layouts that uses dice and cards. The idea is to craft a seven-day weekly forecast out of fourteen face-down cards by using the even or odd number of face-up spots in a single … Continue reading The “Good Days/Bad Days” Mixed-Media Weekly Forecast Spread
A “Rotational Bias” Mixed-Media Decision-Making Spread
Here is another "mixed-media" spread, in this case using a coin-flip to determine the direction in which to deal and read the cards. It requires pulling "clockwise" cards from the top of the deck and "counter-clockwise" cards from the bottom. Reversals may be used with this spread.
A Case for Positional Spreads
I'm more than a little bemused by people who say that using formal tarot spreads "inhibits their intuition." Seems to me they're too easily diverted from their goal by undue sensitivity to the mechanics of the art; a spread is nothing more than a convenient template that offers a reasonable place to start, like an … Continue reading A Case for Positional Spreads
The “Motivational Extremes” Problem-Solving Menu
Consider this "the spread that is not a spread." It requires the reader to exercise judgment regarding which two of sixteen "obstacle" and "opportunity" cards present the greatest challenge for the querent and the brightest hope for successful resolution in any problem-solving scenario. The result of this deliberation is a three-card reading that describes the … Continue reading The “Motivational Extremes” Problem-Solving Menu
The “Elemental Crossing” Decision-Making Spread
Here is a decision-making spread that uses Elemental Dignities and the compatible or incompatible divinatory nature of cards in combination to identify which of four resolution modes appears to be the most favorable. The central "focus" card for the decision can either be selected intentionally in advance or pulled randomly during the deal. Reversals may … Continue reading The “Elemental Crossing” Decision-Making Spread
The “Tree of Life or Strife” Mixed-Destiny Spread
In contemplating ways to bring the Qliphoth or "shells" to bear on the standard Tree of Life spread, I came up with the following 10-card "light-and-shadow" variation. It is read in two parts, first as two sub-sets according to the Qabalistic number series, and then as an "as-drawn" 10-card line with two subdivisions ("above" and … Continue reading The “Tree of Life or Strife” Mixed-Destiny Spread
The “Perfect Storm” New Relationship Spread
I'm always looking for new ways to assess relationship potential, whether in private situations or predominantly public scenarios. This spread employs a "weather forecast" model in which converging systems vie for dominance. This may seem rather cold-blooded for romantic readings, but in truth any viable long-term personal relationship has all the earmarks of a sound … Continue reading The “Perfect Storm” New Relationship Spread
The “Carrot and Stick” Situational Development Spread
This is a type of decision-making spread that examines the odds of success or failure in any significant change scenario. It requires separating the deck into two stacks, one with only the minor cards and the other with the court and trump cards. The two sets are dealt separately into a "three-plus-three" array with the … Continue reading The “Carrot and Stick” Situational Development Spread
