Building intuitive Tarot spreads
When readers first get their deck and begin learning, their search history is usually crowded with tabs looking up different spreads. First of Spring Tarot Spread, New Moon Tarot Spread, Tarot Spread for stronger intuition, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot spread and so on and so forth. Books like 1001 Tarot Spreads by Cassandra Eason are great resources to build your tarot practice and find the styles that suit you best.
But at some point, someone had to create those Tarot spreads. Someone had to set the cards just right, read the flow of messages, build the spread themselves. And, eventually, a reader will come across a reading that they just can’t quite find the right spread for. Then they will become the someone to create a spread.
Building a spread is not something that needs to be done in underground caves with bloodmoons shining through the skylight. While that would be incredibly cool and badass to do, there’s unfortunately just not enough skylight-caves to go around during a lunar eclipse. Instead, Tarot spreads can be built, well, anywhere. At the altar, in a coffee shop, even on the bus. Some places may be easier than others, but all will serve the purpose needed.
To begin, the only thing a reader really needs is the general idea of what the spread will achieve. Is this for insight and guidance? Will this be a progressional reading, to give some predictions on the future? Or is this spread themed around something or environmentally charged? These can help guide the meaning of the card positions. For example, if I’m creating a spread focused on insight and reflection, I probably won’t need a card that tells me the probable outcome of a situation. And if I’m creating a themed spread for a friend’s birthday, concious/unconcious feelings may not be helpful.
Next, the spread will probably lean internal or external. Internal will deal with mostly feelings, philosophies, and elements within the read-ee’s control. External will focus on things outside of that internal domain, such as opportunities/obstacles, outside influences, and possibly even other’s feelings. Both of these align better to certain set-ups. While everything needs to be done with intention and follow personal intuition, these predilections can help guide spreads.
Internal readings sometimes prefer a sunburst design, where there is a focal point with the cards building around that. Think of the left half of the Celtic Cross with that wheel-and-spoke look to it. External readings, however, prefer linear designs that can show a passage or pecking-order of influences. Three card spreads, such as Past-Present-Future, display this well. The right half of the Celtic Cross also leans externally, with the stacking of cards showing elements in play.
I’ve mentioned the Celtic Cross for both internal and external spreads, because these influences are not black and white. A spread can have internal elements in an external fashion, and vice-versa. Mixing these styles can help make a spread more full and communicative.
Now, the placement of cards can begin. A starting or focal point will need to be established. For more internal-leaning spread, this may be in the center. External readings may prefer the left-hand or “starting” position of a spread. The positioning of cards matters as well. Things placed higher may indicate more positive energy, such as placing opportunities above obstacles, or overarching themes, like a “theme of the year” above a 12-month spread. Lower placed cards may signal more negative energy, like a chain dragging a reading down, or foundational aspect of matters, like in a pyramid spread.
Placement on the y-axis is not the only thing that matters either. In linear spreads, thing on the left hand side may have already occurred and the right side may be predicting the future. The left is also more closely linked to emotions and wisdom, while the right is associated with intellect and power. Distance can also affect things, such as a card being placed on top of another, or one card being separate from the rest of the reading. The paired cards could directly affect each other, or be parts of a whole. In the opposite direction, cards distanced from the others may indicate a separation of energies or something needed to be left behind.
Once the spread is created, reading the flow of messages is vital. There may be positions that fit well on paper, but not in practice. Utilizing your friends and others can also be helpful to get less-biased result. Always record your creations for later, either in a journal or a grimoire, so it can be accessed later.
A strong step from beginner to more advanced reader is the ability to let intuition guide the results. Creating your own spreads will hone that skill and build the energetic muscle for you.
