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Tarot.Layouts.REF - complete version
Reference Guide about Tarot Layouts
Version 4.0.0 - 07/01/1996
Compiled by David C. Jones (djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu)
Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones. Please see the table of
contents for the location of the full listing of the copyright
notice.
"When we lay out the Tarot in the Spirit of Wisdom, we objectify
the subjective, make the invisible visible and provide form for the
formless. The Tarot exteriorizes the interior life, it reveals the
inner life like disclosing fluid."
-- Naomi Ozaneic, _The Element Tarot Handbook_
Table of Contents
=================
1) The Layouts
1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2)
*1.2) Eliphas Levi Wheel Spread (#5, C3, X)
1.3) The Line Spread (#5, C1, L)
1.4) Spread of the Elements (#5, C2)
*1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X)
1.6) Magic Seven Spread (#7, C4)
1.7) Soul Dreamers Spread (#7, C4, SX)
1.8) Spirits of the Circle Spread (#7, C4)
1.9) Split Hexagram Spread (#7, C4)
1.10) Four Seasons Spread (#8, C5, S)
1.11) Hearth Spread (#8, C2)
1.12) Planetary Spread (#8, C3, A)
1.13) Amanda's Fan (#9, C3)
1.14) Arianrhod Spread (#9, C4, 1year)
1.15) Awen Spread (#9, C2, L)
*1.16) Mandala/Alchemical Spread (#9/13, C3/4)
1.17) Spiral Layout (#10, C1)
1.18) Tree of Life Spread
1.18.1) Davis' Tree of Life (#10, C5, X)
1.18.2) Doane's Tree of Life (#10, C6, X)
1.18.3) Peach's Tree of Life (#78, C7, X)
1.18.4) Comments and Variations
*1.19) Trinity Spread (#10, C3, L)
1.20) Yes or No Spread (#10, C2, Y)
1.21) The Celtic Cross
1.21.1) Waite's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.2) Danburg's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.3) Peach's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.4) Lines within the Reading (C7)
1.21.5) Variations and Comments.
*1.22) Cup of Relationships Spread (#11, C4, S)
1.23) Key Spread (#11, C4)
1.24) Four Trines Spread (#12, C5, A)
+1.25) Twelve Houses Spread (#12, C5, A)
+1.26) Astrological Spread (#13V, C4, A)
1.27) Magic Cross Spread (#13, C3)
aka Christian Cross Spread
1.28) Planetary Spread (#14, C4, A)
1.29) Qabalistic Cross (#14, C3)
1.30) Daily Spread (#15, C4, 1day)
1.31) Fortune Teller's Spread (#15, C3)
1.32) Thoth Spread
1.32.1) Original Thoth Spread (#15, C4)
1.32.2) Peach's Thoth Spread (#16, C4)
1.33) Wish Spread (#16, C4, S)
1.34) Grand Source Spread (#21, C6)
1.35) Playing Deck Spread (#21, C3, L)
1.36) Pyramid Spread (#21, C4)
1.37) Romany Spread (#21, C2, L)
1.38) Twenty-One Card Spread (21, C6)
1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A)
*1.40) Triangular Spread (#28, C8)
1.41) Magic Mirror Spread (#29, C5, S)
1.42) Spread of Thirty-Six (#36, C4, L)
*1.43) Story Spread (#45, C7)
1.44) Solar Spread (#49, C5, LA)
1.45) Life Spread (#50, C9)
1.46) Three Fans (#54/78, C9)
1.47) Ladder Spread (#78, C9)
1.48) The Waite Spreads (#43/78, C9, L)
1.48.1) The Forty-Three Card Layout (#43, C9, L)
1.48.2) The Thirty-Five Card Layout (#35, C5, L)
*1.49) Geomancy Spread. (#V, C9, AX)
1.50) Name Layout (#V, C3, L)
1.51) Tetragrammaton Spread (#V, C7, LX)
1.52) Timing Spread (#V, C2, Y)
2) Layout Modifiers
2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
2.2) Extending the Path
2.3) Rotating the Layout
2.4) Yes/No Answer
2.5) Querent Cards
2.5.1) Personality Traits
2.5.2) Astrology
2.5.3) Physical Traits
2.5.4) Open Deck
2.5.5) Random Selection
2.5.6) No Querent
*2.6) Ateration of the Elements
*2.7) Multi-line Associations
3) Useful Information
3.1) Astrological Houses
3.2) Planetary Symbols
3.3) Astrological Symbols
3.4) Divination w/ normal deck of playing cards
3.5) Timing Information
*3.6) Astrological House Numbering
*3.7) The Four Elements and the Tarot
A Lesson in Relationships between Cards
3.7.1) Stage One: Traditional Method
3.7.2) Stage Two: Elemental Rules
3.7.3) Stage Three: Positions
4) Rituals of Meditation
4.1) Mandalas
4.1.1) Daily Focus Point
4.1.2) Contemplation Ritual
4.1.3) Opening the Door
4.2) Qabalistic Cross of the Tarot Ritual (4)
4.3) Suit and Function Meditation (14)
4.4) Figure of Eight (22)
4.5) Square-Triangle Layout (78)
5) Useless Information
5.1) Copyright Notice
5.2) Where to find this document
5.3) Administrativia
5.4) Who am I and how this list got started
5.5) Really Useless Information
*5.6) How to Use this Document.
5.6.1) If you are new to tarot....
5.6.2) If you are new to this document....
5.6.3) Supplements and version numbers
5.6.4) Paradigm Spread
5.6.5) Maps and Legends
6) References and Thanks
7) History of this document
A - Astrological Spreads.
L - Line Spreads.
S - Specific Question Spreads.
X - Cross Subjects.
Y - Yes/No Spreads.
+ indicates new information was added to this section since v3.0.1
* indicates a totally new section in this FAQ since v3.0.1
- indicates that part or all of this section was removed and/or
incorporated elsewhere
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1) The Layouts
1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2) (Morison)
Layout:
1 5
2 4
3
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: The question itself, important aspects of the question.
Card 2: Past Events.
Card 3: How the querent has reacted to the matter or character
strength which are more relevant to the matter.
Card 4: Environment
Card 5: Solution to problem.
1.2) Eliphas Levi Wheel Spread (#5, C3, X) (Guiley)
Layout: 1
|
4--5--2
|
3
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1 - Present situation
Card 2 - Waning influences. Obstacles already overcome. Changes
which have occured in the past.
Card 3 - Hidden or unconscious influences
Card 4 - Emerging influences.
Card 5 - Synthesis. Draws together the other four influences.
Comments: The layout is so named because it is based upon the
Eliphas Levi Wheel, a version of which is seen on Trump 10 in the
Rider-Waite deck; Levi did not invent this layout. Levi's Wheel
assigned letters of the Tetragramaton (Yod, He, Vau, He,
respectively) to each of the four positions shown above. Levi's
wheel also offers some additional interpretations of the four tarot
suits, the four ranks of court cards, and the meaning of the
letters T, O, R, and A. For further information, consult some of
his works on the subject.
1.3) The Line Spread (#5, C1, L)
Layout:
5 4 3 2 1
Deal: Right to Left
Reading:
Cards 4 and 5 represent the future
Card 3 represents the prenysent
Cards 1 and 2 represent the past
Variation: A simple, and very commonly used, variation of the Five
Card Spread works as follows: instead of placing two cards on each
side of the present card, place three our four, yielding a seven or
nine card spread (or go higher if you wish). The further you get
from the center card, the further into the past/future you are
looking.
1.4) Spread of the Elements (#5, C2) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout: N
W Q E
S
Deal: Querent, East, South, West, North
Reading: Use to gain insight into aspects of the self which need
balancing or development.
Card Q: Querent
East: Intellectual or Mental Life
South: Sensual and/or Instinctual Life
West: Emotional Life
North: Intuitive and/or Spiritual Life
1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X) (Guiley)
Layout/Deal: Using only the major arcana, deal seven cards upward
forming a single vertical line.
Reading: Each card corresponds to one of the seven chakras of the
body. Proper study of the subject would be advised when using this
layout and the list below is intended only as a reference guide
extracted from Guiley's book. Interpretations of each position may
vary depending upon your learnings.
Card 1 - Root Chakra. Self-preservation and instincts.
Card 2 - Sacral Chakra. Sexuality.
Card 3 - Solar Plexus. Emotions.
Card 4 - Heart Chakra. Higher consciousness, unconditional love.
Card 5 - Throat Chakra. Creativity and self expression
Card 6 - Brow Chakra. Psychic abilities, spiritual enlightenment.
Card 7 - Crown Chakra. Individual level of conscious evoluion.
1.6) Magic Seven Spread (#7, C4) (Doane)
Layout:
1
/ \
5---/-----\---6
\ / \ /
X 7 X
/ \ / \
3---\-----/---2
\ /
4
Deal: Numerically as shown above.
Reading:
Card 1: Past event leading up to the present state
Card 2: The present state
Card 3: Immediate future
Card 4: Suggested Solution, what the querent should do to obtain
more control over the current situation
Card 5: The current environment and/or its affect on the matter
Card 6: Opposition
Card 7: Result
Variation 1: Change the following cards (Davis)
Card 4: Issue to be dealt with
Card 5 and 6: Opportunity and limitation (these positions flip,
use your intuition as to which is which in a given reading)
1.7) Soul Dreamers Spread (#7, C4, SX) (Silbury)
Layout: X X X X X X X X X X
X 5 X
X 2 X
X 1 6 X
X 4 X
X 3 X
X X
X 7 X
X X X X X X X X X X
X's are used merely to show relative position of the cards. The
cards should be placed such that they create an outward clockwise
spiral and should be more circular that the above diagram appears.
Deal: Select card 1 as you would a querent card. Shuffle the deck
and deal numerically as shown
Reading: This reading is intended to help one understand a dream's
message or meaning.
Card 1 - Key. Choose a card the represents the dream situation or
your feelings about the dream.
Card 2 - Dream Situation. Tells something about the dream's
events, such as when where, how, and why.
Card 3 - Energy Within. Primary energy of the dream.
Card 4 - Conscious Meaning. What the dream means to you in
'walking life.'
Card 5 - Subconscious Meaning. What the dream means to you on an
inner psychic level.
Card 6 - Serpent Energy. When energy is needed to cause the dream
to manifest physically, if you desire, or to solve the
dream's dilemma.
Card 7 - Outcome. How the dream will manifest and its effects.
1.8) Spirits of the Circle Spread (#7, C4) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout: 2 7 4
1
5 6 3
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: Querent
Card 2: Spirit of the Ancestors - influence of family elders
Card 3: Spirit of the Tribe - influence of culture
Card 4: Spirit of Time
Card 5: Spirit of Place - influence of birthplace and residence
Card 6: Spirit of the Journey - influence of previous lives
card 7: Awen - gifts/blessings/graces of the gods or nature
1.9) Split Hexagram Spread (#7, C4) (Kraig)
Layout: 1---2
\ /
3
7
6
/ \
4---5
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Cards 1 & 2: Unknown spiritual influences. Card 1 will have a
stronger affect than Card 2
Card 3: Spiritual advice for the matter
Card 4: Unconscious desires
Card 5: Conscious desires
Card 6: Practical advice
Card 7: Final outcome if you proceed with matter at this time.
1.10) Four Seasons Spread (#8, C5, S) (Cortese/Reed)
Layout:
3
4 6
1 5
2 8
7
Deal: Numerically as shown.
Reading:
Card 1: Dominant for Spring, symbolizing the conception or
initiation of an action or ambition, the planting of the seed,
so to speak. The modifier for spring is card 8.
Card 2: Modifier for Card 3.
Card 3: Dominant for Summer, symbolizing the progression of a
plan, the way in which an idea will flower. The modifier for
summer is card 2.
Card 4: Modifier for Card 5.
Card 5: Dominant for Autumn, symbolizing the resolution of the
plan, how events will "wind themselves up." The modifier for
autumn is card 4.
Card 6: Modifier for Card 7.
Card 7: Dominant for Winter, symbolizing the period of reflection
after an action or plan has been completed, or what the
querent may wish to learn from the progression of events. The
modifier for winter is card 6.
Card 8: Modifier for Card 1.
Comment 1: "This spread is used to examine motivations for plans or
ambitions. The cards are arranged so as to call to mind the
progression of the seasons and also the progression of any action
or plan through the four stages of conception, progression,
resolution, and reflection." - Cortese
Comment 2: Cortese obtained this spread from Ellen Cannon Reed's
_The Witches Tarot_.
1.11) Hearth Spread (#8, C2) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout: 8
7 1 2
6 5 3
4
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Cards 1 & 2: East - Perceived - way querent perceives the issue
Cards 3 & 4: South - Observed - way others perceive the issue
Cards 5 & 6: West - Desired - way querent wishes issue to be
Cards 7 & 8: North - Potential - way issue could be
Variation: Meanings may vary with individual interpretations of the
four directions.
1.12) Planetary Spread (#8, C3, A) (Peach)
Layout:
04
03 05
02 Q 06
01 07
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: Moon Card 2: Mercury
Card 3: Venus Card 4: Sun
Card 5: Mars - Also may represent the solution or answer to the
matter which is why it is called the reconciler.
Card 6: Jupiter Card 7: Saturn
Comment: "Cards of this spread can and ought to be paired and read
in juxtaposition, i.e., the card in the position of the Moon
should be paired with that in the position of the Sun; the
card in the position of Venus with that in the position of
Mars, and so on." - Peach
1.13) Amanda's Fan (#9, C3) (Davis)
Layout:
4 3 5
6 7
8 1 9
Card 2 is laid across Card 1 as in a Celtic Cross
Cards 3-7 are an arch above the line of cards shown; it should
look like a fan
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
1. Questioner
2. Crossing
3. Foundation
4. Past
5. Present
6. Future
7. Outcome
8. Inner Influences
9. Outer Influences
Comment 1: Named after the person Davis was talking to when
developed.
Comment 2: "This is obviously based on the Celtic Cross and Sword;
it was developed because we were both dissatisfied with the Celtic
Cross--it just didn't *flow* logically. So I reworked it." (Davis)
1.14) Arianrhod Spread (#9, C4, 1year) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout: 3
2 4
9 1 5
8 6
7
Cards 2 - 9 should be arranged in a circular pattern with card 1 in
the center. Card 2 represents the NW, Card 3 N, etc.
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading: Position two represents the beginning of the Druid New
Year, also known as Samhuinn, a traditional time when this spread
is used. The sequence of eight cards is generally viewed as a one-
year cycle, but may be used for other time cycles as well. Lines
between cards are seen as if a web connects each card to the center
and a circle connects the outside ring. Thus card 3 is related to
cards 2 and 4 while cards 3, 1, and 7 will form a line.
1.15) Awen Spread (#9, C2, L) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout: 1 4 7 - Row 1
2 5 8 - Row 2
3 6 9 - Row 3
C1 C2 C3
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
The three columns (C1 - C3) represent the past, present, and
future, respectively. In each row, cards are interpreted as
follows:
Row 1: Cause, dynamic, impulse, guiding idea, or motive being a
situation or event.
Row 2: Effect of first card at the emotional, social, or
relationship level.
Row 3: Effect of first card at the physical level of manifestation.
1.16) Mandala/Alchemical Spread (#9/13, C3/4) (Guiley)
Layout:
10 11
09
08 02
07 01 03
06 04
05
13 12
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1 - The Self.
Card 2 - Desires.
Card 3 - Dreams. What we want to achieve.
Card 4 - Pursuits. What we actively try to achieve.
Card 5 - Attachements. Pursuits which hold us back from achieving
our dreams. For example, many people dream of happiness but
pursuit money thinking it will make them happy. However, it
is the worry about money, not the lack of it, which actually
prevents happiness.
Card 6 - Qualities. Good aspects about the querent.
Card 7 - Sorrows. Faults of the querent which need improving.
Card 8 - Self-Image. How the querent views him/herself.
Card 9 - Soul's Urge. One's true purpose and desitiny.
Card 10 - Earth. Darkness, mystery, and the unknown.
Card 11 - Air. Spiritual illumination and enlightenment.
Card 12 - Fire. Intellect, rational thought, will.
Card 13 - Water. Creativity and emotions.
Variations: Doing the reading with only the first nine cards is
called the Mandala Spread. Adding the four elemental cards is the
Alchemical spread.
1.17) Spiral Layout (#10, C1) (Biggs)
Layout:
7
6 8
1 Q5 9
2 4
3
5 overlaps Q in the center
Deal: Lay out the cards with Q first and then numerically.
Reading:
Q: The Querent
1: Foundation: What the querent's current situation is built on.
2: Past Actions: Actions that the querent has taken in the past
that have contributed to the current situation.
3: Past Emotions: The querent's emotional status in the past
4: Past Outside Influences: Other peoples actions/emotions that
have affected the querent's situation.
5: Current Position: Where the querent stands now in relationship
to the situation.
6: Future Outside Influences: Others actions/emotions that will
affect the querent.
7: Future Emotions: Emotions the querent should watch out for in
the future.
8: Future Actions: Actions that the querent may take in the
future.
9: Outcome: The foreseen outcome of the situation.
1.18) Tree of Life Spread
Layout:
/ 1 \
/ | \
3----+----2
| \ | / |
5--\-+-/--4
|\ \|/ /|
| \ 6 / |
| / | \ |
7----+----8
\ | /
\ 9 /
|
10
Deal: Numerically as shown
Readings:
1.18.1) Davis' Tree of Life (#10, C5, X)
10) Present
9) Inner guidance, intuition
8) Masculine -- intellectual inspiration
7) Feminine -- beauty of self, inspiration, passion
6) Soul as it should be--mutation & learning experience
5) Building the corner-stone of cosmocity within the self
4) Testing ground -- things to let go of
3) Unmanifest knowledge (fancy talk which means 'secrets')
2) Bridge to higher cosmos
1) Where your next stage of development will lead you.
1.18.2) Doane's Tree of Life (#10, C6, X)
Cards 3, 5, and 7 make up the Tree of Evil or the unfavorable tree
Cards 2, 4, and 8 make up the Tree of Good or the favorable tree
Remaining cards are outcome cards.
Card 1: Spiritual outcome
Card 2: Influence of Wisdom
Card 3: Influence of Intelligence
Card 4: Influence of Justice (and the quest of it)
Card 5: Influence of Mercy
Card 6: Love of Beauty, Love, and Life
Card 7: Desire for Victory
Card 8: Influence of Splendor
Card 9: Environment
Card 10: Physical Power or Material Outcome
1.18.3) Peach's Tree of Life (#78, C7, X)
After dealing, repeat the deal again and continue to do so until
all 78 cards are used. Select a Querent card for the querent.
Whichever pile the Querent card lies in will tell the main subject
of the reading.
Pile 1: Inner Spiritual Quest
Pile 2: Personal Initiative
Pile 3: Sorrows and Burdens
Pile 4: Financial Gains
Pile 5: Enemies and Discords
Pile 6: Glory and Fame
Pile 7: Love
Pile 8: Business and Communications
Pile 9: Mental and Physical Health
Pile 10: Home
1.18.4) Comments and Variations
Comment 1: It is interesting to note that in all three tarot
layouts I have seen that the numbers 4 and 5 are swapped although
the meanings for those positions do not change. Conversely, in
most books I have seen about the Tree of Life the tree is numbered
as above. I chose the numbering above because it is more
consistent with mt studies of the Tree of Life and also because the
sequence 2, 4, 8, that it forms on the right hand side of the tree
makes more sense from a numerological perspective. Choose
whichever ordering suits you best. I have had reports that this
can change either the dealing order or the meaning order or both.
Comment 2: Those with a background in Qabalism and/or the Tree of
Life may find better meanings and/or other relationships between
the cards and will probably be able to use this layout better.
Since each position in the tree of life may encompass several
meanings, it probably wouldn't hurt to consider all the meanings
given above for each position in the tree, for they are all valid
interpretations. For those who do not have a great deal of
knowledge about the subject, I offer the following meanings for
each position on the tree that may help you further, but by no
means does this supplement proper study of the subject (Ozaniec):
1) Kether - The Crown 6) Tiphareth - Beauty
2) Chokmah - Wisdom 7) Hod - Splendor
3) Binah - Understanding 8) Netzach - Victory
4) Geburah - Severity 9) Yesod - The Foundation
5) Chesed - Mercy 10) Malkuth - The Kingdom
Comment 3: Davis attributes this layout to Ly Warren-Clark.
1.19) Trinity Spread (#10, C3, L) (Guiley)
Layout: 10
7 8 9 - Future
1 2 3 - Present
4 5 6 - Past
Deal: Using only Major Arcana and Court cards only, shuffle and
deal numerically as shown.
Reading: Just as each row represents a different time period, each
column represents a different force which shapes our life.
Left: Emotions, impluses, inspiration, intuition.
Center: Thoughts. Rational and logical processes.
Right: Actions. Tangible manifestations of thoughts and emotions.
Card 10: Integration - forces which may affect the picture revealed
by the other nine cards
Variations: Guiley states that only court and major arcana should
be used. A full pack could be used at the readers discretion.
1.20) Yes or No Spread (#10, C2, Y) (Peach)
Layout: +-----+
5 9 |Q |
4 8 | +-----+
Q | | |
1 +--| 1 |
7 3 | |
6 2 +-----+
Card 1 partially overlaps, but does not cross, the Querent as shown
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1 - Called the 'answering card'. If upright, the answer to
the question was yes; if reversed, no. Also the outcome
card for the reading.
Cards 2 & 3 - 'Helpful' Influences. Reasons the outcome will
occur.
Cards 4 & 5 - Querent's thoughts regarding the matter
Cards 6 & 7 - 'Adverse' Influence. Things that are working against
the outcome
Card 8 & 9 - Querent's feelings regarding the matter
Comment 1: Peach suggests the cards be read in the following order:
1, 2&3, 6&7, 4&5, 8&9
Comment 2: Note that 'helpful' and 'adverse' influences are always
with respect to the outcome shown in card 1. Thus if the answer
comes up no, cards 2 & 3 will be aiding that outcome and not
necessarily aiding the querent.
1.21) The Celtic Cross
Layout: +-----+ - Q
10 |+-----+ - 1
03 09 +----------+ - 2
06 1Q2 05 | |
04 08 +----------+
07 +-----+
Note that card 1 is placed directly on top of, and therefore
concealing, the Querent card. Also note that card 2 is placed
across (or perpendicular) and on top of card 1, as the diagram on
the right not-so-vividly demonstrates.
All comments in the 'Reading' sections will refer to this diagram.
Ignore alterations in the dealing pattern when cross referencing
with this diagram.
1.21.1) Waite's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal: Numerically as shown.
Reading:
Card 1 - Influences, atmosphere.
Card 2 - Obstacles
Card 3 - Often called the crowning card. May have one or more of
several meanings:
3a - Highest state the querent can achieve in the matter
3b - Highest perception the querent has in the matter
3c - What the querent wishes to achieve
Card 4 - Often called the base card. It represents foundations or
possessions of the querent. Events that have already passed.
Card 5 - Past
Card 6 - Future Influences
Card 7 - Attitude or position in the matter
Card 8 - House, Environment
Card 9 - Hopes or Fears
Card 10 - Future Events
1.21.2) Danburg's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal: Reverse Cards 3 and 4. Reverse Cards 5 and 6.
Reading:
(These are all lifted from the alt.tarot FAQ)
1. Where the querent is at the time of the reading.
2. What holds the querent where they are.
3. How the querent has been thinking about the question.
4. Base of the question - why it is being asked.
5. Near future
6. Recent past
7. What the querent has to bring to the situation.
8. What the situation has to offer the querent.
9. Querent's innermost hopes and/or fears.
10. Final outcome of the situation, unless deliberately changed.
1.21.3) Peach's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal: Card 3 is in the top position. Card 4, left. Card 5, down.
Card 6, right.
Reading:
Card 1 - What is on the Querent's mind.
Card 2 - Obstacles
Card 3 - Past
Card 4 - Immediate future
Card 5 - Far future
Card 6 - Present
Cards 7-10 - Same as Waite.
1.21.4) Lines within the Reading (C7)
This section is taken from memory, out of a book. Unfortunately,
I can't remember where I originally saw it (sorry). If you use the
Waite method, there are four lines, or associations of cards, that
exist in this layout. Similar lines may be constructed from the
other Celtic Cross layouts shown here.
Cards 5, 1, 2, 6; Time: This sequence follows an obvious pattern
from past to present to future
Cards 10, 3, 6; Future: These three cards all essentially project
into the future. Sharing information between
these cards can yield more specific details
Cards 7, 8, 4, 6; Influences: Cards 7, 8, and 4 all represent
things which influence the querent with
respect to the question. It is through the
combination of these influences that the
outcome shown in card 6 may be achieved or
avoided.
Cards 4, Q, 2, 3: I have not seen a good qualifier to describe the
relationship between these cards, but it
generally goes like this: The querent would
like to achieve (or can achieve) what is
depicted in card 3, but certain influences
(card 2) prevent him/her from doing so.
However, the querent does have the proper
resources (card 4) to overcome the obstacle.
This line can vary depending upon which
interpretation you use for card 4.
1.21.5) Variations and Comments.
Variation 1: Sometimes cards 7 thru 10 are placed on the other end
(the left side) of the cross. Again, this could alter the
interpretations of the groupings stated in 1.21.4.
Variation 2: I have seen the Celtic Cross done locally (& it seems
to be a local variant) with 3 cards allotted to each position in
the "pillar" to the side of the central cross (i.e. positions 7 -
10). This means that there are 12 cards to work with, as opposed
to the usual 4; it can be quite useful. (Smith)
Comment: I have seen a few different (and occasionally
contradicting) methods of determining whether the obstacle card
(card 2) is upright or reversed. Use your own discretion.
1.22) Cup of Relationships Spread (#11, C4, S) (Sagie)
Layout:
09
07 08
05 06
03 (04)
02
Q1 01 Q2
Card 4 cross card three as in a celtic cross
Deal: S1, S2, then numerically.
Reading: Read cards in order, as above.
Q1 Significator 1
Q2 Significator 2
1. The Foundation of the Relationship
2. Recent Past
3. Current State of the Relationship
4. Obstacles they both face
5. Views of #1 regarding the relationship
6. Views of #2 regarding the relationship
7. Expectations of #1 regarding the rel.
8. Expectations of #2 regarding the rel.
9. Best Outcome
Variations: Sagie reccomends using additional modifiers on card 9
if the outcome is unclear. (See section 2.1).
1.23) Key Spread (#11, C4) (Efran)
Layout:
2 4 6
1 8 9 10
3 5 7 11
Row 2-4-6 and Row 3-5-7 should touch creating a stagger.
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: Querent & position in relation to your question/situation.
Cards 2 - 7: These cards are arranged into 3 pairs (2 & 3, 4 & 5,
6 & 7). Each pair represents a conflict between two opposing
influences, factors, people, opinions, etc. The
interpretation will depend on the question, but the conflicts
tend to be problems or obstacles the querent faces. You may
want to choose one option in a pair over the other, or attempt
to reconcile the two, or simply recognize that a conflict
exists.
Card 8: Past
Card 9: Present
Card 10: Future -- where things are headed. This could be the
future if no action is taken, or the desired future, or the
future if some specific action is taken. You could try adding
a card between 9 and 10 to represent the action or decision
that will lead to card 10's future, or have several 'future'
cards for various possible outcomes (two would be reasonable).
If you are comfortable with a single card 'prediction' of the
future, the layout is probably ok as is.
Card 11 (Optional): A summary of the reading, or a final comment on
the situation, or advice, or a clarification of cards 8-10 if
they are unclear. I don't always use this card -- I have
found that it generally doesn't clarify things much. (See
card 10 for other things to put here instead.) I feel that
there should be a card here, because then the layout is shaped
roughly like a key (hence the name), which in my opinion looks
cool. I suspect the layout would look unbalanced without a
card here. [ed. note: 'I' refers to Efran who made the layout]
Comment 1: "Here's the Tarot layout I use, one I invented (as far
as I know). I developed the basics of the layout very soon
after I became interested in the Tarot (I didn't think much of
the standard ones), but I'm still working on it. It's not
meant to be primarily predictive. Instead, it's intended to
help the querent examine their question in a new light. (For
this reason, it's a reasonable layout for self-readings, if
you do them.) There are predictive elements, but I tend to
use them rather broadly." - Efran
Comment 2: Since this is an ad hoc layout made by a beginner (at
least a beginner at the time) there is obviously a lot of
flexibility and room to play with. With a good interpretation
for card 11 and maybe by extending the line (section 2.2) this
could become interesting.
1.24) Four Trines Spread (#12, C5, A) (Doane)
Layout: Twelve cards are displayed in a CIRCLE. In clockwise
order, starting at the left (nine o'clock) this is the numbering of
the cards: 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 10, 3, 7, 11, 4, 8, 12.
09 02 06
05 10
01 03
12 07
08 04 11
Deal: Numerically as shown.
Reading: As the name suggests, there are four sets of three cards
(trines) that work in conjunction with another.
Trine of Life (1, 6, 11):
Card 1: Personal life: health
Card 6: Mental life: travel
Card 11: Life of Posterity: children, love affairs, pleasure,
speculation
Trine of Power (2, 7, 12):
Card 2: Honor and authority: business, reputation
Card 7: Environment: illness, work
Card 12: Wealth
Social Trine (3, 8, 9):
Card 3: Partners: marital, enemies
Card 8: Kin and thought: siblings, intellectual matters
Card 9: Associates: friends
Trine of Secrets:
Card 4: Things concealed in the environment
Card 10: Money: debts, taxes, inheritance
Card 5: Afflictions: enemies, failures, obstacles
Variation 1: I have seen a variation with a querent card placed in
the center of the layout. (Jones)
Comment 1: Doane indicated that this layout was influenced by
astrology, although its relation to astrology is not immediately
apparent.
Comment 2: For card numbering information, see section 3.6.
1.25) Twelve Houses Spread (#12, C4, A) (Doane)
Layout: Numbering is the same as the Four Trines Spread but uses
a diamond formation instead of a circle
02 06
09 10
05 03
01 07
12 11
08 04
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading: Even though the deal uses the awkward scheme shown above,
the cards are read by what house they are in astrologically. House
one is in the same position as card 1, but house numbers increment
by one going in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, House two is
in position 12, house three in position 8, and so on.
Variation: I have seen a varation with a querent card placed in the
center of the layout. (Jones)
Comment: For card numbering information, see section 3.6.
1.26) Astrological Spread (#13V, C4, A) (Peach)
Layout:
Cards are arranged in a circle and point outward from the Querent
11 09
12 10 08
01 Q 07
02 04 06
03 05
Deal: Numerically as shown. The reader may, before the reading,
continue to redeal the deck in the same order (minus the
Querent position) and thus putting two cards into each slot
and providing more information regarding that aspect of the
persons life. Peach suggests dealing up to four or more into
each slot. Also, cards may be dealt in blocks of four (or
five or whatever) into each position instead of repeating the
deal four times.
Reading:
Card 1: Aries Card 2: Taurus
Card 3: Gemini Card 4: Cancer
Card 5: Leo Card 6: Virgo
Card 7: Libra Card 8: Scorpio
Card 9: Sagittarius Card 10: Capricorn
Card 11: Aquarius Card 12: Pisces
1.27) Magic Cross Spread (#13, C3) (Doane)
aka Christian Cross Spread
Layout:
06
07
01 02 03 04 05
08
09
10
11
12
13
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Left Branch: The past
Card 3: The present
Lower Branch: The future
Right Branch: Obstacles
Upper Branch: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.
1.28) Planetary Spread (#14, C4, A) (Davis)
14
12 13
10 09 11
08 07
05 04 06
02 03
01
Each row shown has the height of half a card length, thus the cards
look staggered.
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
1. Earth 2. Moon
3. Sun 4. Mercury
5. Venus 6. Mars
7. Jupiter 8. Saturn
9. Uranus 10. Neptune
11. Pluto 12 & 13. Environment
14. Divine Light...advice from Higher Power
1.29) Qabalistic Cross (#14, C3) (Peach)
Layout:
08
09
10
01 02 03 Q4 05 06 07
11
12
13
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
It is suggested that the cards in this spread be read in the order
shown below
Card 4 - Querent's state of mind
Cards 13, 12, 11 - Past, with 13 being the farthest back in time
Cards 1, 2, 3 - Present
Cards 10, 9, 8 - Future, with 8 being farthest in time
Cards 5, 6, 7 - Feelings of others involved in the matter
1.30) Daily Spread (#15, C4, 1day) (Peach)
Layout
M 8 D
9
10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
11
12
13
M - Month Card D - Day Card
Deal: First, remove the month and day card indicated in the table
below and place them in the positions shown above. Shuffle
and cut as normal, then deal numerically as shown.
Month Card Day Card
Aries Emperor Sunday Sun
Taurus Hierophant Monday High Priestess
Gemini Lovers Tuesday Tower
Cancer Chariot Wednesday Magician
Leo Strength Thursday Wheel
Virgo Hermit Friday Empress
Scorpio Death Saturday World
Sagittarius Temperance
Capricorn Devil
Aquarius Star
Pisces Moon
Reading:
It is suggested that cards be read in the order presented below.
Cards 11-13: Events leading up to the day in question. Start with
card 13 and work toward 11.
Cards 1 - 3: Morning Events, start with card 1
Cards 5 - 7: Afternoon Events, start with 7
Cards 8 -10: Evening Events, start with 8
Card 4: Outcome of any special projects of the day and/or how the
day will go overall.
Comment: "This spread is particularly useful for answering specific
questions about settled future events -- like parties, for
instance, or job interviews. It is _not_ particularly useful
as a daily device to be used everyday before leaving the
house, and it should _not_ be used in that way" - Peach
1.31) Fortune Teller's Spread (#15, C3) (Morison)
Layout:
05 04 06
14 13 15 02 01 03 11 10 12
08 07 09
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Cards 1- 3) To You: Outcome
Cards 4- 6) At head: Querent's Thoughts
Cards 7- 9) At feet: Things you control, possible choices
Cards 10-12) By side: Things which give you strength
Cards 13-15) Surprise: Things not known to querent or overlooked
1.32) Thoth Spread
Layout:
13 09 05 04 08 12
02 01 03
14 10 06 07 11 15
Deal: Numerically as shown
1.32.1) Original Thoth Spread (#15, C4)
Reading:
Cards 2,1,3: Nature of querent and question
Cards 13,9,5: First Possible outcome
Cards 4,8,12: Second Possible outcome
Cards 14,10,6: "Psychological commentary" on the whole spread
Cards 7,11,15: Factors beyond the control of the querent.
Comment: This is called the Thoth Spread as it is the spread that
comes with the Thoth deck.
1.32.2) Peach's Thoth Spread (#16, C4)
Deal: Use the same deal, but add a Querent card underneath card 1.
Reading:
It is suggested that the cards be read order described below
Card 1: Querent's primary concern
Cards 2, 3: Further depth into problem and/or Querent's character
Cards 14,10,6: Background, how the querent came into the situation
Cards 7,11,15: Activities of other people in the situation
Cards 4,8,12: How the problem will progress, harmonize w. 7,11,15.
Cards 13,9,5: Possible alternative actions
If two cards in set 7,11,15 are Major Arcana then the progression
given in set 4,8,12 cannot be changed, otherwise the querent has
the power to alter the situation via events in set 13,9,5. If two
Major Arcana appear, set 13,9,5 indicate either how a bad outcome
can be lessened or how a good outcome may be assisted.
1.33) Wish Spread (#16, C4, S) (Doane)
Layout:
6 5 4
3 2 1 Q 9 8 7
15 14 13
12 11 10
Q - Querent card
Deal: Select a card to represent the querent.
Shuffle and cut deck. Deal numerically as shown.
Reading:
It is suggested that this reading be used if the querent has a
specific wish that s/he would like to happen, hence the name.
Each group of three cards has its own significance
Group 1: Environment
Group 4: Description of querent's wish
Group 7: Opposition
Group 10: Factors that will enter into this matter
Group 13: Realizations of the querent (usually in the future)
The nine of cups is often called the wish card. If this card
should turn up anywhere in the reading, except in group 7, this
would be a strong indication that some part or all of the querent's
wish will come true. The closer it appears in the above numeric
sequence, the sooner the wish will be realized. If the nine of
cups appears in group 7, this is an indication that the wish will
probably not come true; the other two cards in the group will yield
the cause. If the nine of cups does not appear, this should not be
taken as an indication of either fate, although other cards in the
reading may confirm or deny the wish.
Alternate Reading (Morison):
The following alternate reading was sent to me, but this
interpretation does not necessarily need to be associated with a
wish as above.
Group 1: Present, General Situation
Group 4: Resent Past
Group 7: Actions that can be taken by Querent. Personality traits
which my be used to querent's advantage.
Group 10: Uncontrollable aspects of the situation. May be
aspects/opinions of others. May describe a new situation.
Group 13: Final Outcome
Card 16 (Querent in original): Optional Card, add it if the reading
is confusing.
1.34) Grand Source Spread (#21, C6) (Cortese)
Layout:
01 02 03 08 10 12 15 16 17
Q 07 14
04 05 06 09 11 13 18 19 20
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card Q: Querent
Cards 1, 2, 3: Inner influences at work, the motivations of the
querent, or what the querent wishes to learn.
Cards 4, 5, 6: Outer influences, or the influences from people or
things outside of the querent that may have caused the querent
to ask their question.
Card 7: Initiation of the action, the seed that will grow, or the
question that will be answered.
Cards 8, 10, 12: Three stages of the action or answering of the
question under examination, and they are modified respectively
by cards 9, 11, and 13.
Card 8: beginnings. The initial stages of the actions.
Card 9: modifies card 8. It may give a hazy picture of the
outcome that the querent has in mind, or it may simply be
a further examination of the beginnings of the action
under consideration.
Card 10: Progress. The way that the outcome is achieved.
Card 11: modifies 10 in the same way card 9 does card 8.
Card 12: possible changes in plan, or resolution. This card
may serve to examine any ways that the querent will have
to change course in midstream.
Card 13: modifies 12 like card 9 does card 8.
Card 14: Outcome of the process outlined in cards 8 - 13.
Cards 15, 16, 17: Possible effects of the resolution on the querent
Cards 18, 19, 20: Possible effects of the resolution on things
other than the querent or on the querent's relationship to the
world around him/her.
Comment: "This is a good general-use spread for giving an overall
picture of the resolution to a problem in the past or future. It
affords an opportunity to examine inner and outer influences before
an action is taken, the inception or motivation of the action, the
progression of the action, the resolution, and what inner and outer
effects this will have. It may also act to highlight the process
by which a question uppermost in the querent's mind may be
answered, though it may not give the answer." - Cortese
1.35) Playing Deck Spread (#21, C3, L) (Vienneau)
Layout:
01 02 03
04 05 06
07 08 09
10 11 12
13 14 15
16 17 18
19 20 21
Deal: Shuffle the pack choose a Querent card. Cut the pack into
three decks, one each to signify the past (left), present (middle),
and future (right). Have the Querent pick one pack. Indicate which
deck is which please!
Reading:
Row 1: Situation, State of mind
Row 2: Family, Relationships
Row 3: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams
Row 4: Long-term expectations
Row 5: Unexpected events
Row 6: Immediate Developments
Row 7: Long-term results
Comment 1: Although it suggested to choose a Querent card, there is
no mention of its location in the layout. Also, no directions are
given if the chosen deck is cut too short. Use your own discretion.
Comment 2: This is called the 'Playing Deck' spread because this is
the layout which Vienneau included in his post about fortune
telling with a regular deck of playing cards. (See Section 7.1)
1.36) Pyramid Spread (#21, C4) (Doane)
Layout:
21
20 19
18 17 16 15
14 13 12 11 10 09
08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
Deal: Face Down, Right to Left, Bottom upward
Reading:
Cards 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 are referred to as key cards
Cards are divided into five sequences as follows:
Sequence 1 - cards 1 - 5
Sequence 2 - cards 5 - 9
Sequence 3 - cards 9 - 13
Sequence 4 - cards 13 - 17
Sequence 5 - cards 17 - 21
It is important to note that each key card is not only the final
card in a sequence of five, but also the first card in the next
series of five. Thus 9 ends the second sequences and also starts
the third. The four cards to the right of a key card represent the
events previous to the time or event that the key card signifies.
Key cards always represent significant events; if a card of the
Major Arcana appears in a key location, it may mean that event is
of great significance. This is a list of the suggested time
intervals each key card represents.
Key 1 - Present
Key 2 - Immediate Future
Key 3 - Intermediate Turn of Events
Key 4 - Distant Future
Key 5 - End of the Matter
Comment 1: The design of the layout lends itself to being read
from the apex down the sides, i.e. 21, 19, 15, 9 and 1. Ditto on
the left. It may sometimes be split down the middle IF the two
halves conveniently fall into 2 distinct "stories" or messages -
this happens surprisingly often. I think this spread is quite
sophisticated, and can be used for in-depth readings. (Smith)
Comment 2: Note that the time intervals given here are a
guideline. First, in the example reading given to me for this
layout and due to the nature of the question, key 4 was more
appropriately labeled the present and keys 1, 2, and 3 were in the
past. Secondly, if the matter is to be resolved in a short period
of time, the term 'Distant Future' would only be distant with
respect to the matter, but not necessarily distant with respect to
this persons life or our time frame.
1.37) Romany Spread (#21, C2, L) (Doane/Peach)
Layout:
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 - Future
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 - Present
07 06 05 04 03 02 01 - Past
Deal: Right to Left, Bottom upwards as numbered above. Another
deal proceeds left to right, top down, opposite as above and also
changing the order of past/present/future.
Reading: Each row represents events or influences for the time
period indicated. Adjacent card in the same row modify one
another. Ordering of cards in a row are not necessarily
significant.
Variation: One variation of this reading is that the middle card
of each row (18, 11, and 04) should represent the most significant
event of the time period shown. This makes cards farther out on
the edges of the row (21, 15, 14, etc.) less significant. (Doane)
1.38) Twenty-One Card Spread (21, C6) (Morison)
Layout:
19
18 11 12 20
4
10 3 5 13
1
9 2 6 14
7
17 8 15 21
16
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: The Significator
Card 2: The immediate past
Card 3: An important factor in the present. Inobvious.
Card 4: Seeker state of mind
Card 5: Most likely immediate future
Card 6: An important factor in the present. Very obvious
Card 7: Seeker gut feelings.
Card 8 & 9: Influences in the past that affected #2
Card 10 & 11: Current influences affecting #3. Inobvious.
Card 12 & 13: Possible future influences, affecting #5
Card 14 & 15: Obvious current influences, affecting #6
Card 16: Seeker physical situation. Possible health or life status
Card 17: The root of the matter in the past
Card 18: A current matter. It may be hidden or unknown and
overlooked, or it may represent assumptions, possibly
incorrect.
Card 19: Seeker spiritual will. This may conflict with or
illuminate the Seeker's conscious desires.
Card 20: A likely future event.
Card 21: What the Seeker must think about
1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A) (Doane)
To do this spread, remove all 22 major arcana and the Ace of each
suit. These are the only 26 cards used in the reading.
Layout:
Row 1: 03 18 04 17
Row 2: M C
Row 3: 02 19 | 05 16
Row 4: 20 | 06
Row 5: ASC --+-- DES 22 21
Row 6: 01 | 15
Row 7: 11 10 | 14 07
Row 8: N C
Row 9: 12 09 13 08
Row 2 begins at the same height where row 1 ends.
Row 3 begins at the midpoint of Row 2
Row 5 begins where Row 3 ends
Row 7 begins where Row 5 ends
Rows 4 and 6 lie at the midpoints of Rows 3, 5, and 7
Rows 8 and 9 are symmetrical to rows 1 and 2
Cards are paired if their sum equals 21 (i.e. 3 and 18 are paired)
Paired cards should be adjacent to each other.
Pair 3/18 should meet at the same vertical line which divides the
card ASC in half. Follow symmetry. Each pair is called a
'throne'. The throne number is the same as the lowest number
of the pair. (i.e. 3/18 make up the third throne)
Pair 22/21 is called the Staff
Note that ASC, DES, NC, and MC each denote only one card.
Deal:
The four Aces must go in the ASC, DES, NC, and MC position.
Shuffle the four aces. Place the first Ace in the position marked
ASC and continue in a clockwise direction. (Humorous note: the
Doane/Keyes book says to shuffle and three-cut these cards as you
would the regular deck. Is there actually anybody out there who
has ever bothered three-cutting a four card deck?)
The Major Arcana go in the remaining 22 locations. Shuffle the
Arcana and deal as shown numerically in the above diagram.
Reading:
The four aces represent the Astral Kingdoms and relate to the four
angles of the horoscope. Astrologically ASC represents ascendence
or first house and pertains to life. MC stand for Midheaven or
tenth house and pertains to honor or business. DES stands for
descendence or seventh house and pertains to love or war. NC
stands for Nadir or fourth house and relates to secrets or
outcomes. You should start your reading based on which kingdom
most closely relates to the question your querent has asked. (ie
if the querent asks about marriage, start the reading in the
descending house)
The following is a suggested list of how to interpret each Ace in
each location:
Ace | Ascendence | Midheaven | Descendence | Nadir
==============================================================
Pent | Strength | Favorable | Great | unfortunate
acle | Vigor | but req. | Strength | outcome
| Vitality | effort | |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wands | Favorable | Great | Difficulty | struggle
| Work or | Power | caused by | or small
| Responsibility | | Difference | return
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cups | Pleasures may | Pleasure | Joy and | pleasant
| deplete | may ruin | Happiness | result
| vitality | honor | |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Swords | sickness/death | failure | disputes | favorable
| | | | outcome
--------------------------------------------------------------
Note that Asc and Des have three thrones while Mid and Nadir have
only two. When reading the Asc or Des thrones, the center throne
(1 or 6) will indicate the most important factor of that throne.
Determine which kingdom is most appropriate to the Question. Cards
in the thrones of this kingdom indicate what conditions caused the
outcome suggested by whichever Ace appearing in that kingdom. The
kingdom opposite the Question is the opposition. It thrones detail
what opposes the querent. The kingdom immediately clockwise the
Question represent the events which will lead to the conclusion.
The kingdom counterclockwise to the Question yields the outcome of
the matter. Its thrones give more specific detail of that end.
If the whole reading or any part of it seem contradicting, the
staff will reveal why the answer was unclear.
1.40) Triangular Spread (#28, C8) (Blackburn)
Layout: 01
02 03
04 05 06
07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Cards are dealt in pyriamd shape touching each other.
Deal: No dealing order is specified. Some type of top down scheme
would be consistent with the interpretation given below.
Reading: The layout shows the possible progresses into the future
from the present situation (card 01) to the final out come (row 7).
It is most often used to plot a genreal fortune form derived from
one element of the present specified by card 01 to the end of life.
Each level goes a little farther down the path of life, and splits
into greater complexity and/or diversity of possibilities.
1.41) Magic Mirror Spread (#29, C5, S) (Davis)
Layout:
09 04 14
23 19 27 Earth 20 16 24
Transformation Inspiration
08 03 13 10 05 15 06 01 11
Water Essence Air
22 18 26 21 17 25
Sacrifice Integration
07 02 12
Fire
28 and 29 are Magic Cards
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
In each group of three cards, the middle card is the key card. The
other two cards are used for additional insight. Suggested order
of reading is Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Essence, and then "the four
gates which are linked to the four Wiccan Sabbats".
Comment 1: "This reading's only purpose is to examine oneself. I
only do this at Samhain because of the intensity. One could do
this reading with another person, but the process would have to be
one of giving the person ideas as to what the cards might mean and
letting her figure out how this fits into his/her life. This would
probably take even longer than usual. :-)" (Davis)
1.42) Spread of Thirty-Six (#36, C4, L) (Doane)
Layout: six rows of six
36 35 34 33 32 31
30 29 28 27 26 25
24 23 22 21 20 19
18 17 16 15 14 13 - Future
12 11 10 09 08 07 - Present
06 05 04 03 02 01 - Past
Deal: Left to Right, Bottom up
Reading:
The first three rows should be read from right to left, bottom up.
Each of these rows are associated with their own time interval as
shown above. Cards whose sum total 37 are related. Card 36 should
be used to either modify, clarify, or gain more information about
the details of card 1. Similarly, card 35 modifies card 2, etc..
1.43) Story Spread (#45, C7) (Aldridge)
Layout:
01 04
02 03 05 06
07 10
08 09 11 12
13
14 15
Deal: No dealing order is specified.
Reading:
Cards are grouped together in triples as indicated above. The
middle card of each group, called the prime card, is the most
significant and should be read first. The other two cards are
story cards and should elaborate further upon the prime card. Each
triple deals with a different subject as follows:
01 - 03: Home and Family Life
04 - 06: Job and Purpose in Life
07 - 09: Finances and Physical Security
10 - 12: Health
13 - 15: Relationships and Emotions.
The layout should be done three times, once each for past, present,
and future. Shuffle and redeal for each time period.
Comments/Variations: Aldridge reccomends that in the past spread,
the first number card should indicate how many years distant the
reading will go. The future spread should be interpreted as being
two years forward in time. The reader can change this to their
personal preference.
1.44) Solar Spread (#49, C5, LA) (Doane)
Layout: Seven rows of seven
49 48 47 46 45 44 43 -- Saturn
42 41 40 39 38 37 36 -- Jupiter
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 -- Mars
28 27 26 25 24 23 22 -- Sun
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 -- Venus
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 -- Mercury
07 06 05 04 03 02 01 -- Moon
Deal: Right to Left, Bottom up.
Reading:
In each row, the middle card (4, 11, 18, 25, etc) represents
present conditions or influences. The three cards to the right
represent the past; the three to the left, the future. Each row
will relate to either a certain aspect of life or certain people
(or perhaps both)
1.45) Life Spread (#50, C9) (Doane)
Layout:
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
14 37 23
13 36 38 24
12 /----\ 25
11 35 | 50 | 39 26
10 34 \-41-/ 40 27
09 33 32 31 30 29 28
08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
The book which I am getting this out of shows one diagram for the
layout but then shows an actual layout with cards in a different
order. I will attempt to describe both.
Diagram: Cards 34 - 40 form a pyramid starting at the at the
places shown by cards 34 and 40 and peak at card 37. Cards 41-49
are placed in a circle surrounding card 50. Card 41 is in the
correct position; others follow clockwise.
Layout: Cards 34, 43, 42, 41, 49, 48, and 40 are all placed in a
row. Card 41 is the lowest and the cards to the side are raised
very slightly, each card going up the further out you proceed
forming a very broad V shape. Cards 35, 44, 50, 47, and 39 follow
a similar pattern but are not packed in as closely together and
raise up making a steeper V. Cards 45 and 46 lie above cards 44,
50, and 47 and about halfway up cards 35 and 39; they are centered
in their row. Cards 36 and 38 lie to the sides of cards 35 and 39
but are one row up. Essentially it looks more like a series of
cascading arches more than it does a pyramid and a circle.
Experiment with both of these for awhile and try to find something
that works. It would be difficult to show this with only text
graphics.
Suggested Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
As the name suggests, this should be used for a general life
reading; a specific question is not required or suggested but may
be used to focus on one area of the querent's life.
Cards 1 - 28, the material square: These cards represent
activities on the physical plane. These cards reflect only
physical events and conditions; spiritual interpretations should
rarely be considered. Interpretations should be directed toward
the physical body, possessions, people, and the like.
Cards 29 - 40, the mental trine: These cards represent events in
the mental plane. Consider those interpretations dealing with
intellectual pursuits and attainment of knowledge.
Cards 41 - 49, the spiritual circle: These cards represent
activities on a spiritual level. Consider interpretations that
relate to spiritual changes and goals.
Card 50, dominant life factor: This card represents the most
important event that occurs and affects all three planes. This
card will show the most dominant influence shaping the life of the
querent.
1.46) Three Fans (#54/78, C9) (Peach)
Layout:
15 14 13 12
17 16 11 10
19 18 09 08
20 07
21 11 10 09 08 07 06
22 12 06 05
23 13 05 04
24 14 07 06 05 04 03
25 15 08 04 03 02
26 16 09 03 02 01
17 10 02 01 A
11 01 B
C
This should look more like 3 fans than it does the above layout.
Also, cards should all point outward from a central point.
Deal: Shuffle the deck and deal into three piles. Take the middle
pile and set it aside as Pile A. Take the remaining two piles and
shuffle them. Again, deal into three piles. You should have one
extra card, set it aside. Take out the middle pile and set it
aside as Pile B. Take the remaining two piles and extra card,
shuffle and deal into three piles again. You should have two extra
cards, set them aside. Pull out the middle pile as Pile C. Take
the extra cards and extra piles and set them aside as Pile D. Deal
Piles A, B, and C into the three arches shown above.
Reading:
Pile A - Querent psychological condition in present & near future.
Pile B - Querent's work or occupation and his/her thoughts of it.
Pile C - Q's material condition regarding home, health, & finance.
If the Querent's significator card is not in the above three fans,
take Pile D and deal it out in a similar fan as the other three.
This fan may answer a specific question not answered by the fans.
Comment: Peach recommends this as a six month reading to use when
the querent has no specific question to ask.
1.47) Ladder Spread (#78, C9) (Peach)
Layout:
77
75 76
74 73 72
68 69 70 71
67 66 65 64 63
57 58 59 60 61 62
56 55 54 53 52 51 50 *
42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49
41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12
Q 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
* - see variation below
Deal: Choosing a Querent card; note which direction s/he faces.
If the card faces to the right, place it in the lower left corner
and deal as shown. If the card faces left, place it in the lower
right corner and deal each row in the opposite direction shown.
Reading: Five timing cards should appear somewhere in the spread.
These will be the only method by which the reader can judge past,
present, and future. Clear your mind and try not focus on a 'story
line', the main idea with this spread is to look at the overall
picture. Ask the Querent not to interrupt you during the reading;
provide him/her with a pencil and paper to write down questions if
any come to mind, and ask them after the reading is over. Because
you are trying to grasp a large picture by means of a spontaneous
approach, you don't want to interrupt the flow of the reading.
Begin the reading; no order of reading the cards is specified.
Once the reading is over, the querent may ask any question, but do
not refer back to the layout for the answers; since you have seen
the overall picture (even if it lies only in your subconscious)
your answers should come out naturally. Peach puts a strong
emphasis on not thinking while analyzing the layout or while
answering questions; again the idea is to let the pattern work into
your subconscious and allow thoughts to form there.
Variation: In the layout shown in the book, the layout stops at
card 50 and an arrow is drawn to indicate to continue the deal.
There is no indication as to whether this means to finish only that
row or whether to lay out the whole deck as shown above.
Comment: Having not finished reading this book, I am uncertain as
to what it meant by the 'five timing cards'. Each of the four aces
is assigned a season of the year as follows: Wands - Spring, Cups
- Summer, Swords - Fall, Pentacles - Winter. You can also refer to
section 7.2 for further assistance. Other than that, use your own
discretion.
1.48) The Waite Spreads (#43/78, C9, L)
The following two layouts come from the Waite book and are meant to
be used in conjunction with one another. The forty-three card
spread is offered as a regular method of divination while the
thirty-five card spread is meant to be used only if part of the
first spread is unclear or left in doubt. In keeping with the
flexibility of this document, I see no reason why the thirty-five
card spread could not be used on its own nor why it could not be
used in conjunction with other layouts to resolve similar
ambiguities, but these are merely my assertions and not those of
Waite himself.
1.48.1) The Forty-Three Card Layout (#43, C9, L)
Layout:
07 06 05 04 03 02 01 Q - 1st line
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 - 2nd line
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 - 3rd line
28 27 26 25 24 23 22 - 4th line
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 - 5th line
42 41 40 39 38 37 36 - 6th line
Deal: I include this method of dealing only for those who are
interested in ritual. I, personally, see no point in it. This
passage is lifted directly from the Waite book:
Shuffle the entire pack and turn some of the cards round, so as to
invert their tops. Let them be cut by the Querent with his left
hand. Deal out the first forty-two cards in six packets of seven
cards each, face upwards, so that the first seven cards form the
first packet, the following seven the second, and so on-as in the
following diagram: --
[6th packet] [5th packet] [4th packet] [3rd pack] [2nd] [1st]
Take up the first packet; lay out the cards on the table in a row,
from right to left; place the cards of the second packet upon them
and then the packets which remain. You will thus have seven new
packets of six cards each, arranged as follows --
[7th packet] [6th pack] [5th] [4th] [3rd] [2nd] [1st]
Take the top card of each packet, shuffle them and lay out from
right to left, making a line of seven cards. Then, take up the two
next cards from each packet, shuffle and lay them out in tow lines
under the first. Take up the remaining twenty-one cards of the
packets, shuffle and lay them out in three lines below the others.
You will thus have six horizontal lines of seven cards each,
arranged after the following manner.
[Same as above layout w/out card Q]
Reading: The Querent card (Q in the diagram) is always the
Magician (Trump 1) if male or the High Priestess (Trump 2) if
female. This card is to be pulled out of the layout and placed in
position Q; Then, pull a random card out of the remainder deck to
replace the card. If this card in not in the layout, pull it from
the remainder deck. Cards are read numerically as shown
Comment 1: No explanation is given as to how to interpret any of
the cards other than all the cards should be harmonized (really, as
should be done for any reading). In short, use your own intuition.
Comment 2: Waite suggest that this method be used when "no definite
question is asked". In other words, this is a spread that is good
for just a general reading but, Waite goes on to note that the
reading can be used even the querent specifies a time span for the
reading.
Comment 3: This layout does not have a known name. Waite merely
titled the section "An Alternative Method of Reading the Tarot
Cards."
1.48.2) The Thirty-Five Card Layout (#35, C5, L))
Layout:
07 06 05 04 03 02 01 - line 1
13 12 11 10 09 08 - line 2
18 17 16 15 14 - line 3
22 21 20 19 - line 4
24 23 - line 5
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 - line 6
Waite does not specify any pattern in which the layout must be
setup, other than each packet (see below) be dealt in a line.
Therefore, you need not follow the above diagram; an aesthetically
pleasing variant might be center each row about a vertical axis
causing lines one thru five to form an upside-down pyramid and line
six to be a very broad base. No method of line ordering is given
either, so these may be swapped around so long as each line retains
its meaning once moved, although the above line ordering would
probably be best to use to maintain consistency with the previous
layout.
Deal: Take up the 42 cards from the previous spread an put them in
one pile to the side. Place the querent card on top and upright.
Take the 35 cards constituting the remainder pile. Shuffle and cut
as before. Divide into six packets as follows: Packet 1
containing the first seven cards, Packet 2 containing the next six
cards, Packet 3 containing the next five cards, Packet 4 having
four cards, Packet 5 having two cards, and Packet 6 having the last
eleven cards. As before, packet one should be on the right and
continuing numerically leftward. Take each packet in turn and deal
each one into its own line.
Reading:
Line 1 - House, Environment
Line 2 - Querent, Subject of the divination
Line 3 - Events and Persons passing on the outside
Line 4 - Surprises, the unexpected
Line 5 - Consolidation. May also moderate the unfavorable cards of
previous lines.
Line 6 - "...that which must be consulted to elucidate the
enigmatic oracles of the others; apart from them it has
no importance." - Waite (gobbledeegook at its finest)
Each line should be read from right to left.
Comment: Waite does not specifically state that cards from each
packet should be dealt from right to left. I have assumed that he
meant as such since this would be consistent with everything else
in the previous layout.
1.49) Geomantic Spread (#V, C9, AX) (Blackburn)
[ Editors note: This is a layout/system designed by Mr. Blackburn.
The explination listed below was taken from a newsgroup posting.
Minor omissions not important to explanation have been made for
spatial purposes; other alterations include a few minor spelling
and grammatical corrections. However, in all fundamental respects,
this is his discription of the layout. There are few places which,
to me, seem either ambiguous or confusing. I may try to contact
the author to help clear these up, but otherwise just fill in any
gaps you find as you see fit. Also, due to the complexity of the
explination, the standard format for layout entries has been
removed for this layout. -- DJ ]
The first thing you must realize is that this is not a simple
"spread" of tarot cards, but a multi-disiplinary approach to
divination. It should also be understood that this can be a rather
involved system to work with.
GEOMANCY
Geomancy (earth magic) is a type of divination which the diviner
strikes the ground repeatedly with a stick (thus making holes)
while channeling the "spirits of the earth." The number of holes
is countered and recorded as even or odd. This is done sixteen
times to get the full reading. I have studied, but not actually
practice this technique. The even and odd numbers are then used as
the basis of of a pseudo-astrological reading. What I did was come
up with a system of making the reading using tarot cards (any type
that can be numbered will do).
MY USE OF "GEOMANCY"
Instead of using a stick to poke holes in the ground, I developed
a system of using cards. The diviner shuffles and cuts the deck,
and then begins to deal out the cards FACE DOWN, in to sixteen
piles. The diviner focuses meditatively and place as many cards in
each pile as feels right, and then move on to the next pile. (This
eliminate the problem of seeing the holes being made.) The cards
are then fliped and counted to get sixteen numbers as so (see
example below). These are then read into eight columns of dots,
into sets of one for odd or two for even:
(read from RIGHT TO LEFT or BOTTOM TO TOP)
3 7 13 12 <-IV
4 23 2 17 <-III
1 15 7 18 <-II
5 10 3 9 <-I
^ ^ ^ ^
VIII VII VI V
To get dots such as:
I
___
*
*
* *
*
which is the figure for Puer ("boy").
All eight sets should be on one row. Each two sets (first+second,
third+fourth, fifth+sixth, and seventh+eighth) are combined to get
to four more signs, numbered IX through XII. They are combined by
adding the dots in each row to determine even and odd dot fo the
new figure, as so:
II I IX
___ + ___ = ___
* * * *
* * * *
* * * *
* * * * * *
After this, the four new figures are combined (IX+X and XI+XII) to
get two more figures, which are then combined to get the final
figure which sums up the whole reading.
WHAT YOU DO WITH THE FIGURES
Each figure has it's own name and meaning. There are books on
geomancy if you are interested in an indepth discussion of each
signs interpretation. Here is a table of there meanings, given
with the number of dots from the top down being listed (from left
to right) as ones and twos:
1111 Via: way, journey; water, LUNA, leo
2222 Populous: People, Congregation; water, LUNA, capricorn
2112 Conjuctio: conjuction, assembling; air, MERCURY, virgo
1221 Carcer: bound, prison; earth, SATURN, pices
2211 Fortuna Major: greater good fortune; earth, SOL, aquarius
1122 Fortuna Minor: lesser good fortune; fire, SOL, taurus
2121 Aquistio: aquistion, obtaining; air, JUPITER, taurus
1212 Amissio: Loss; fire, VENUS, libra
1222 Laetitia: joy, laughing; air, JUPITER, taurus
2221 Tristitia: sorrow, damned; earth, SATURN, scorpio
1211 Puella: girl, beautiful; water, VENUS, libra
1121 Puer: boy, yellow, beardless; fire, MARS, aries
2212 Albus: white, pure, fair; water, MERCURY, cancer
2122 Rubeus: red, reddish; fire, MARS, gimini
2111 Caput Draconis:dragon head, beginning;earth, NORTH NODE, virgo
1112 Cauda Draconis:dragon tail, end; fire, SOUTH NODE, Sagitarius
In traditional geomancy, the first twelve figures are placed in the
twelve astrological houses (some ignore duplicates of the same
planet, others do not). Varius methods are used to determine which
astrological sign is in the first house with the other signs
following in their natural order. I, however, use a different
method. I apply the geomantic figures in the context of an
astrological tarot reading.
TAROT GEOMANCY
Now that you now how to do the geomantic portion of the reading, I
will go back over my method. First I deal out twelve cards in a
circle (I usually angle them so that the bottom is toward the
center of the circle, most do not and it doesn't mater as long as
you can read them and tell if they are reversed or not). This is
the astrological spread. I then take the rest of the deck and deal
them into sixteen piles, as expained above. These cards are taken
for their numerical value only (page=11, knight=12, queen=13,
king=14, numbered cards and major arcana = number written on them).
The the geomantic figures are read in the context of the tarot
cards, and both are read in the context of the houses. (For
explinations of astrological houses, see section 3.1)
I have found this technique very useful for long term questions
that deal with the final outcome of event or issues over mounths or
years. It is not worth it for short term divination and of limited
usefulness in terms of hows and why question or for determining
courses of event leading up to the conclusion. It is very
involved, but for issues appropriate to it, very accurate and
detailed - well worth the effort.
1.50) Name Layout (#V, C3, L) (Cabezas)
Layout:
Layout consists of three rows, one row for each for the querent's
first, middle, and last name. In each row, deal the same number of
cards as there are in that part of the person's name. In the
example below, I use Robin Edwin Southworth.
R O B E R T
1 2 3 4 5 6 - Past
| Remote | Transition | Recent |
E D W I N
7 8 9 10 11 - Present
| Influence | Key | Influence |
| on others | | of others |
S O U T H W O R T H
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 - Future
| feelings | goals | future | influences | outcome |
Deal: Deal as described above. If the querent doesn't not have
middle name, repeat the first name on the second row. The first
and second rows must have at least three cards. If the person's
name does not have at least three letters, deal three cards anyway.
Similarly, the last name must contain five cards. For example: If
you did a reading on Harry S Truman, you would have 5, 3, & 6 in
each of the three rows. If you did a reading on William Howard
Taft, you would have 7, 6, & 5.
Reading:
Each row is divided into sections. The first two rows have
three sections while the last has five. The middle card(s) in each
row is the key card(s).
The first row represents the influences and past experiences
of the Querent. To the left of the key card there are the remote
past influences cards, which represent the substrate of the
Querent's life. To the right of the key card there are the recent
influences cards, which represent influences from last months,
weeks or even days ago. The key card represents very near
influences that may not have ended their action yet.
The middle row refers to the actual influences. To the left
of the key card there are the influences the Querent exercises on
the people near him. The cards may also show impressions or
opinion of others on the Querent. To the right of the key card
there are the influences or pressures that others exercise on the
Querent. The key card shows the structure and environment in which
the Querent lives and works right now.
The last row refers to the future and the final answer. To
the left there are the inner emotions and specific goals of the
Querent. To the right, the future influences or the spheres of
influence that may appear in a near future. To the rightmost part
there's the final result of the influences shown on the rest of the
cards. The key card shows the future the Querent is just entering
in. This card may show obstacles to pass or the moments, good luck
or the progress towards a goal the Querent is trying to reach.
This layout also contains a very interesting aspect: the Age
card. This card is obtained with the Querent's age and it's very
important. For example, if our Querent is 18 year-old, you will
count from card number 1 until you reach the 18th card (in this
example, the 2nd "O" in Southworth). If the Querent is 29, the Age
card would be the "D" in Edwin. This Age card is very strong and
of great influence. Its meaning is a very important key for the
understanding of the past, present and future of the Querent.
Comment 1: Although the reading stated that each line is divided
into sections, no specific method is given, although from the
example it can be implied that each section should be as equal in
length as possible.
Comment 2: No mention is made about what to do for people with
multiple middle names. As always, use your own discretion.
Comment 3: Cabezas obtained this layout from a Stuart Kaplan book.
1.51) Tetragrammaton Spread (#V, C7, LX) (Peach)
Layout:
Heh Vau Heh Yod
etc. 15 14 13
12 11 10 09 08 07
06 05 04 03 02 01
Deal and Reading:
Shuffle. Have the Querent cut the deck once to the left. Have the
querent take the deck on his left and cut it again, once to the
left. Have the querent take the deck on his right and cut it
again, once to the right. Turn over the top card of each deck.
Each of the four cards will represent one of the letters of the
Tetragrammaton shown above. Read them accordingly.
Next search each pack until you find the Querent card. Do not take
the Querent card out of nor change its position in that deck.
Discard the remaining three decks. Begin dealing the cards of the
selected deck from right to left, bottom up, into rows of six,
until the deck is depleted. If the Querent card is not surrounded
on all four sides, have the reader choose one card randomly from
the discarded piles and place it such that it properly covers the
Querent card. Begin by reading the cards which surround the
Querent card.
Next, each card in the deck is assigned a numerical value (more
commonly called its 'rank'). The Querent card is assigned the
value of four. Proceed by reading the card four cards away from
the querent. If you run out of cards, wrap around to the first
card dealt. After reading that card, skip the number of cards away
that the value of the current card indicates (i.e. if the current
card is the seven of wands, the next card will be the one seven
spaces away). Continue to read cards and skip in this manner until
you come upon a card you have already read.
Skip values for court cards are: Page - 7, All others - 4.
Skip values for Major Arcana are:
3 - Fool, Hanged Man, Judgement
9 - Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Wheel of Fortune, Tower,
Sun, World
12 - Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit,
Justice, Death, Temperance, Devil, Star, Moon
Finally, the entire layout is read as follows. The first two
columns on the right represent past events. The middle two columns
represent events of the present. The last two columns, the future.
Comment: Peach's book does an extremely poor job of explaining what
the Tetragrammaton is and really doesn't seem to understand its
significance. Rather than use her convoluted explanation (which
would take up a couple of pages anyway), I include two excerpts
below from Naomi Ozaniec's book for the benefit of those who have
not studied the subject.
Yod - Signifies the open hand of man. It implies power, direction,
skill, and dexterity. The open hand symbolizes beneficence,
a sign of the Supreme Spirit.
Heh - Signifies a window which permits light and two way vision.
Vau - Signifies a nail which joins things together creating union.
Grammitcally it is used like _and_ to join phrases together.
It is very close in concept to the sanskrit 'yoga' which means
union.
Heh - Represents the end result of the process.
Yod Element of Fire Primal Emanation
Heh Element of Water Transmission
Vau Element of Air Stabilization
Heh Element of Earth Consolidation
1.52) Timing Spread (#V, C2, Y) (Peach)
Layout: Three Piles of cards
03 02 01
Deal: Start dealing cards into the first pile, face up, one at a
time. Stop dealing when either an ace appears or when you reach
the thirteenth card for that pile. Repeat for piles two and three.
Reading:
Pile 1 - Top card indicates reasons why the Querent may be hesitant
toward the matter.
Pile 2 - All cards in the pile reveal why the matter is stagnant.
Pile 3 - The top card will indicate a yes/no answer for the
question. All cards indicate information about the
events that will resolve the matter and when the matter
will be resolved.
Comment 1: This spread is intended to be used when the Querent has
a 'clearly formed' yes/no question and one which will have an
indication as to when the matter can be resolved.
Comment 2: Peach claims that the spread will reveal a definite time
period telling when the matter will be resolved, but fails to
explain how to derive it. (See Section 3.5)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2) Layout Modifiers
This is a list of variations which can apply to many or all of the
layouts listed above.
2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
Sometimes one card in a reading may be ambiguous in meaning. Some
tarot readers will often throw another card on top of an ambiguous
card in order to gain more insight into the matter. For example,
in one reading of mine, the querent was engaged and also a college
student. The Seven of Pentacles came up in the environment card,
an indication that money may be a problem. Since the querent had
to worry about both tuition money and trying to adjust to moving
out from under his parents support, it was unclear where the root
of this monetary concern was coming from. I turned the next card
in the deck over on top of the Seven of Pentacles; the card was the
Two of Cups, indicating that the marriage and moving out his own
would be the main cause of his monetary problems. I have
occasionally seen tarot readers put up to three modifier cards in
one position, so there is not a one card limit. Remember, however,
that putting too many modifiers on the board can also create more
haziness than it does clarity, so don't saturate the board either.
In short, this is something that, generally, is only used when it
is either absolutely necessary or when the reader has an instinct
that such a card will be helpful.
2.2) Extending the Path
This is a modification that can be used whenever there is some sort
of sequential path or line in the reading. It is, however, very
infrequently used on non-temporal lines. Sometimes the querent (or
the reader) may wish to more information about what is to happen in
the future than what is currently displayed in the layout. To gain
more information, the temporal line may be further stretched into
the future by simply adding another card onto the layout and the
end of the current line. More than one card may be added if
desired. On the opposite end, sometimes events of the present or
future may not have obvious precursors. The temporal path may also
be extended farther into the past to help gain some insight as to
the causes of the present and/or future states.
2.3) Rotating the Layout
Usually only used for unclear readings. If a particular layout is
symmetrical (like a line spread) or at least partially symmetrical
(like the Celtic Cross) you may turn the layout upside-down and
re-do the reading with the same cards. Interpretations of this
variation differ. Some readers will say that occasionally the
reader forgets to rotate the deck toward him and that reversing the
layout adjusts for this mistake. (One reader I know tends to make
a big deal about the rotation of the deck before and after the
shuffle and whether a reading is done from the perspective of the
querent or the reader since they usually sit opposite one another.)
Another account says that if you turn the layout upside-down that
you are reading the opposite outcome, so such a reading should be
negated to get the results one is actually looking for. Use your
own discretion and stick with whatever fits in with your schema.
2.4) Yes/No Answer (Doane)
This is an additional variation generally only used on the line
spread. If you allow the querent to ask a yes or no question,
count each card turned upright as a vote for yes and each card
reversed count as a vote for no. The middle (or present) card's
vote gets counted twice. Interpret tie votes as you see fit.
This variation can actually be applied to any of these layouts,
although I doubt anybody would want to do so for some of the larger
readings like the Solar Spread. Even if a yes or no question is
not asked by the querent, some readers may do such a tally to
indicate a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the querent. It
should also be noted that many books on tarot strongly discourage
the use of tarot decks for yes/no type questions.
2.5) Querent Cards
In layouts that use a Querent card, there are several ways in which
such a card may be chosen.
2.5.1) Personality Traits
One method derives from the descriptions of the court cards
themselves. All of the court cards can be used to describe a
person's personality or character. Some readers will show the
querent a list of these descriptions and allow the querent to
choose the one which s/he feels is most like him/herself. If the
reader knows the querent fairly well or personally, s/he may choose
the card for the querent.
2.5.2) Astrology
One second method is to use Astrological symbolism. There are
several different and varying methods that will map the twelve
symbols of the zodiac into the sixteen royalty cards. These
mappings, however, can vary from book to book and, therefore, from
person to person. If you wish to use this method, it would
probably be best to find a couple of such lists to use as a guide
and then compose your own correspondences from there.
Actually, this method is the same as the one described above
(2.5.1). Authors will simply take the traits of the cards and the
traits of each astrological sign and pair up the ones which match
the most. Unfortunately, these matches aren't always perfect which
is why you may find different lists.
2.5.3) Physical Traits
A third method used is eye/hair color. Some authors associate each
of the sixteen court cards with an eye color, a hair color, and a
gender. Simply choose the card whose attributes match those of the
querent.
2.5.4) Open Deck
A similar method to the one described above works in the exact same
way, only it allows the reader to choose any card in the deck, not
just from the sixteen court cards. For example, if the querent has
a question related to his/her employment, the Eight of Pentacles
would be an appropriate Querent card. However, unless the querent
is very knowledgeable about Tarot, it is strongly discouraged to
allow him/her to choose his/her own card with this method.
2.5.5) Random Selection
In the same spirit as the method described above, sometimes a
reader will simply take the top card off of the deck after the
shuffle and cut and use that as the querent card. This method may
give the reader more information about either the question that has
been put forth or the character and personality of the querent.
2.5.6) No Querent
Finally, and most boring, the Querent card can simply be taken out
of the reading. Some readers feel that this actually allows for
more clarity in the reading. For example, I know a teacher and a
student both of whom I associate with the Queen of Cups. If I do
a reading for the student and pull that card out of the deck as the
Querent, it is more difficult to tell when her teacher will have an
influence on the matter in question, since her (the teacher's) card
can't come up anywhere in the reading. Conversely, if I simply
don't use a querent card (or use Random Selection) and the Queen of
Cups comes up somewhere in the reading, it is a strong indication
that her teacher will be giving her guidance in the matter.
2.6) Ateration of the Elements
At one point on alt.magick there was a discussion about the
elements and their compass positions. Not surprisingly, many
people had different associations. In each of the layouts above
where such associations were used, I used the compass points which
the author specified. You may find that a certain mapping between
these two groups works better for you personally.
2.7) Multi-line Associations
A few layouts are composed of many lines placed above one another
forming a rectangle. One additional interpretation which may be
helpful is to look for relationships between cards in parallel
directions. In other words, if you are normally viewing each line
in a horizontal fashion, try to look at the way the card relate
vertically.
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3) Useful Information
The following entries are useful bits of information which may be
useful for specific layouts. Other entries may just be tarot
related information which I though might be useful.
3.1) Astrological Houses (Doane, Blackburn)
1st House: Physical Body, personality, interests, the self
2nd House: Personal possessions
3rd House: Siblings, private studies, acquaintances, communications
4th House: Environment, family
5th House: Pleasures, love affairs, speculation, children
6th House: Work, health, pets
7th House: Marriage, partnerships, enemies, legal matters
8th House: Death, debts, gifts, possessions of others
9th House: Teaching, philosophy, travel
10th House: Honor, business, social status
11th House: Friends, hopes, wishes, and dreams
12th House: Self-ruin, enemies, obstacles, secrets
Northern Houses: 1,2,3 - deal with private matters
Eastern Houses: 4,5,6 - deal with private activities
Southern Houses: 7,8,9 - deal with self-starting activities
Western Houses: 10,11, |
