Why Not to Use Tarot Spreads and What to Do Instead
Most tarot beginners seem obsessed with using tarot spreads to answer the simplest of questions.
I've come to believe this is because they feel that it's not a “real” tarot reading if you're not using some crazy complex spread.
Guess what? Tarot spreads are not historically the way to read tarot. And are the most discouraging way for beginners to feel comfortable doing tarot readings.
(Scroll down for a 6-minute video that explains my point of view and offers some alternatives to working with spreads right away.)
If you really feel drawn toward spreads as a tarot beginner, here are a couple of suggestions.
Option 1 (two cards)
Card 1: Your yes or no question (you can use the method in my yes/no tutorial)
Card 2: If the answer is no, this card can answer the follow-up question "Is there any way I can change this outcome?"
Option 2 (two cards)
Card 1: Ask a "how" question
Card 2: Follow up the answer given in Card 1 with "Is there anything I need to do right now?"
Option 3 (four cards)
Card 1: Ask a "why" question
Card 2: What is my part in what's happening
Card 3: Do I have any control over how this unfolds?
Card 4: What do I have no control over? What do I need to let go of? After watching this tutorial, do you want more?
Here’s a quick, 6-minute video where I explain why I think that using spreads is counterproductive to learning how to read tarot, and some ideas about what to do instead.
Give it a watch, and come back for links to other “how to read tarot” videos (links are below).
Check Out These Tarot Decks as Excellent Options for Beginner Readers Plus My Free How to Read Tarot for Beginners Ebook
Grab my ebook How to Read Tarot for Yourself the Easy Way now (while it’s still free). And check out these decks in case you think that the wrong deck might be giving you trouble in your readings. Oh, and I did a little video about choosing the right deck here.
Here’s a video about getting clear tarot answers to yes/no questions.
And, yes, I do teach tarot in 1:1 sessions, if you’re in the US, UK, or Canada. Here’s where to learn more about that.
Below are some Rider-Waite-Smith-based decks that I recommend for beginners. All are fully illustrated, and I hope at least one of these decks will speak to you and be your first tarot companion:
