Tarot Spreads Explained

Here are Tarot Spreads that I use a lot and are really good for Tarot Readings. There are more than just these five, but I mention these in my video announcing a future Tarot Reading for Dragon Age 4. This however can be applied for ANYTHING. Therefore I shall share the details of these spreads here with you all.

The deck you use affects a Tarot Reading. The Rider-Waite deck is excellent for beginners and is often used by more experienced Readers as well. The Thothe deck has a switch for cards 8 and 11, thus changing the astrological order. It is a very powerful deck, but also differently balanced. It is important to keep that in mind. The Rider-Waite has a more original astrological balance. The Green Witch Tarot deck that I own, is more nature based and has a connection to the divine feminine. It is one to which I feel very connected. Everyone has “their” deck. The Dragon Age Inquisition Tarot deck is based on the Rider-Waite order of cards (same for the Green Witch deck), and since it is from that game, it has a direct connection to the game itself. Whichever deck you use will influence the reading, your state of mind also influences a reading, so it is important to clear our mind and to know where the balance shifts a bit more with the deck you are using in order to get the full benefits of a more accurate reading. It truly is about the self, so my goal to create a reading to attempt to predict things regarding Dragon Age 4 is more for fun, as it it is more difficult to predict and understand the future of the game than it is to understanding the present and future and past of one’s own life.

To do a reading, you must center yourself, shuffle your deck while thinking about your reading that you are about to do, and then place each card you pick from the top of the deck in the order depicted in the various spreads.

Below are 5 excellent spreads.

Celtic Cross Spread

Tarot Spread Celtic Cross

As shown in the image, place all cards Face Up, in the order and shape that is depicted. Use this spread:

  • To shed light on various aspects of your life;
  • To look at a situation, environment, and all the influences.

Once all cards are placed in the depicted order, read them in that same order.

The cards reveal:

  1. Current situation;
  2. Current influences;
  3. The foundation of the situation;
  4. Passing influences;
  5. Upcoming influences, within the next three months approximately;
  6. Future influences, within the next three to six months approximately;
  7. The environment surrounding the situation at hand;
  8. Strengths and advantages;
  9. Thoughts and concerns, things to keep in mind;
  10. The outcome.

Elemental Cross Spread

Tarot Spread Elemental Cross

As shown above, place cards 1 to 5 Face Down, and 6 to 10 Face Up, in the order and shape that is depicted. Use this spread:

  • To ask about a matter or choice, and explore the matter and its influences in order to get to the heart of the matter.

Once cards have been placed, Read cards 6 to 10 first, then Reveal and Read one at a time each of the other cards.

The cards reveal:

  • 5) The matter in the physical realm;
  • 6) The matter on the energetic plane;
  • 7) The matter on an emotional level;
  • 8) The very heart of the matter;
  1. The hidden influences for the matter in the physical realm;
  2. The hidden influences for the matter in the mental realm;
  3. The hidden influences for the matter on the energetic plane;
  4. The hidden influences for the matter on an emotional level;
  5. The hidden heart of the matter.

Mysitc Pyramid Spread

Tarot Spread Mystic Pyramid

Place all cards Face Up, in the order and shape that is depicted. Use this spread:

  • To shed light when uncertain about choices or decisions;
  • To look at a various possibilities that may await you.

Once all cards are placed, Read through them all one by one.

The cards reveal:

  1. The past;
  2. The present;
  3. The near future;
  4. Your mindset (part of which you may not yet be consciously aware of);
  5. Other people’s attitudes;
  6. Obstacles;
  7. The anticipated outcome.

Cross and Triangle Spread

Tarot Spread Cross & Triangle

Place all cards Face Up, in the order and shape that is depicted. Use this spread:

  • To explore questions regarding the general direction of your life.

Once all cards are placed, Read through them all one by one.

The cards reveal:

  1. Your Life Force;
  2. Influences on your thoughts;
  3. Influences on your emotions;
  4. Influences on your spirit;
  5. Influences on your physical self;
  6. Opposing forces;
  7. Energies that are necessary to call upon;
  8. The outcome.

Tree of Life Spread

Tarot Spread Tree of Life

Place all cards Face Up, in the order and shape that is depicted. Use this spread:

  • To seek out clarity of thought, and understanding of your current place within the natural energy of life.

Once all cards are placed, Read through them all one by one, 1 through 7 first, then down the stem of the Tree, and the the roots of the Tree. 1 to 7 can be read as pairs, from outer to inner, thus pairing up 1 and 7, 2 and 6, 3 and 5, with 4 being the crown of the tree.

The cards reveal:

  • 1 1 to 7 reveal how others see the querent;
  • 4 How others see the querent;
  • 4, 8 and 9 reveal what supports the querent;
  • 10 and 14 show upcoming energies;
  • 12 as the taproot, 12 reveals what drawn the strongest energy;
  • 10, 11, 13 and 14 reveal secondary energies;
  • 15 The heart of the matter as it is the heart of the tree, and it shows what’s most important or vital.

Two Options Spread

Tarot Spread Two Options

When you are contemplating two options or oscillating between them or unsure what to do, this is an ideal spread.

While shuffling the cards, think about the decision you must make and the two options before you. Decide which option is to be Option 1, and which is to be Option 2.

Place all cards face down. Turn face-up cards 1 to 3, then 4 and 5, then 6 and 7, as you go through the results.

The cards reveal:

  1. What keeps you grounded.
  2. What motivates you in this situation for this decision.
  3. Your ideal outcome.
  4. What to keep in mind regarding Option 1.
  5. The likely outcome of Option 1.
  6. What you need to keep in mind for option 2.
  7. The likely outcome of Option 2.

Here’s the video where I talk about it in regards to Dragon Age 4, however, this video does not mention how to read each spread, which is why I explain it all above.