Tarot Cards: The Spreads of the Tarot

The process of selecting a small number of Tarot cards and laying them out to be interpreted is called laying out a spread. How many are selected is dependent upon the spread used. Generally, between three and twelve cards are used. However, some spreads require a great many more, and the 1-Card Spread requires only one.

Why Are Tarot Spreads Used?

The idea behind using spreads when reading Tarot cards is the deck, both Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, contain pictorial representations of the entirety of life’s journey. The Tarot addresses all aspects of life – the emotional, intellectual, passionate, spiritual, and material.

By selecting a set number of cards, the individual is symbolically reflecting a certain part of that journey, the part that is most applicable to the present moment. The immediate situation, its origins, and its most probably outcome will be shown in just a few cards. The entire deck laid out in a complex spread would simply confuse the issue.

The Different Spreads of Tarot Cards

Over the centuries, many different Tarot spreads have emerged. Some are a complex use of twenty cards, others use less than five. There is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to determining which spread should be used during a Tarot card reading.

Many Tarot card readers have a favorite spread. This is the spread that they will use most often, as long as it’s appropriate to the question that has been asked. However, most readers also use alternate spreads, and these are used whenever their favorite spread is not appropriate. It can be said that, for the most part, a reader will determine which spread should be used by examining the information that is being sought.

For example, if one were to ask “What will today be like?” a complex spread is hardly necessary. The individual is seeking information regarding a single day, with no particular situation in mind, so the 1-Card Spread is likely all that is required.

On the other hand, if one were to seek advice regarding a complicated and emotional divorce, then a spread such as the Celtic Cross Spread, or perhaps even the Astrological Spread, would be more appropriate. Both of these spreads have many cards involved, and can give a more comprehensive overview of the situation, in addition to offering some potential advice.

Some of the spreads used in interpreting the Tarot are:

• Celtic Cross Spread
• Magic Cross Spread
• Astrological Spread
• Star Spread
• One-Card Spread
• Three-Card Spread
• Horseshoe Spread
• Mirror Spread
• Tetractys Spread
• Healing Spread

The capabilities of the Tarot hinge greatly on the particular spread being used and the relationship the individual has developed with the cards. The spread selection is said to be the result of both personal preference and the nature of the answers that are sought.