spreads

Tarot Talks: Spreads for Navigating Your Life

I have spoke through a couple posts now about spreads. I feel like I’ve been avoiding this. I have no idea why, they are just tarot spreads!

As stated in last week‘s post, I listed some of my favourite questions to ask to get an open-ended reading (the intent is to be as objective as possible). This week I will talk on how I do my layouts. I use the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. I have used intricate layouts such as this name spread described here, it was very time consuming and convoluted.

Starting out with a small spread and working from there is always the most helpful. Three or four cards, plus one or two clarifiers – only if needed. Take note of any “jumpers” from the deck when shuffling. For me, if a card jumps/falls out of the deck when shuffling I don’t always include it in the reading. If it lands face down I put it back in deck. If it lands face up I feel it was trying to be seen. Also, knowing the difference between whether you are a good shuffler is not, e.g. cards always fall because the deck is huge and your hands are small. Sometimes fallen cards are just fallen cards and not meant as a message for the querent.

Spreads:

Past-Present-Future – this is a classic spread that most people use. You can add a fourth card, which I sometimes do, as the “Overall Message” card. What is the overall message that these three cards is trying to tell you.

Should Do-Shouldn’t Do – this can be done as a 3-card spread as well, lay the middle card first, this represents you in the now-moment. Lay one card on one side to represent what you should do, another card on the other side for what you shouldn’t do. It may be useful to also look at reversed meanings for the “shouldn’t do” card, as it may give further insights.

Advice spread – this is intended as a daily spread that I found by Tarotphelia on Tarot Forum. I do not use it daily. I find this is a good birthday spread, or I use it for guidance as for month ahead. 5-card spread, draw a card for each question: What should you do? What shouldn’t you do? What is the unexpected? What will make you happy? What spiritual advice do you need?

Winging It – this is where I flip one card at a time, up to six cards. Read the first one individually, then tie the second one to the first, as so on. This is lass structured and can be more difficult to do, as humans tend to only see what we want and this method of reading can have us falling into self-fulfilling prophecies (a whole blog onto itself)!

Moon Spreads – there are many full and new moon based spreads you can find online or in books. The following are my two go-to spreads. Draw a card for each question.
New Moon, 5-card spread: What energies are abundant for me during this New Moon cycle? What can I do to aid or ease it? What goals or challenges should I set for this New Moon cycle? What do I need to let go of from the last New Moon cycle? What advice do my Spirit Guides have for me?
Full Moon, 5-card spread:What is my most important insight for my life at this time? What message does spirit want to give me at this time? What do I hope for in my life? How can I live inside that hope? Outcome.

Brightest blessings,
Phoenix Rose

Further Resources for Spreads:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=203788
https://www.jeannemayell.com/41-tarot-spreads-for-tuning-into-yourself/
365 Tarot Spreads by Sasha Graham
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Tarot Talk: Importance of Interviewing Your Decks

Have you ever been really excited about a new tarot or oracle deck that you just received, but then you start working with it and you just don’t seem to mesh well with it even though you really want to?  This has happened to me on a couple occasions until I learned what a deck interview was.

It’s important to learn how to best work with your decks.

A deck interview is a spread that can help you determine the “personality” of your cards.  Instead of answering typical questions about you and your situation, you are asking the tarot cards questions about themselves.

The point of doing this is to help you to work with the deck in a more meaningful way.  I learned the importance of this when I first started using Healing with the Angels oracle cards by Doreen Virtue.  I was new to working with angel decks and I thought I would use this to study the archangels.  For some reason all my readings and spreads were way off in left field, and I ended up feeling progressively disconnected from this deck the more I used it.  I came across the below “New Deck Interview,” laid the spread and in the “what are your limits as a deck?” position the “Study” card came up.  Once I stopped trying to use it for study purposes I was able to better open and receive its messages.

“Never just remember how to do something, understand how it works”
-Adam Dachis (read more here)

Here is a break down on my latest deck interview. The Seekers Oracle by Barbara Ford and Alysa Bartha.  I usually note the first thought/feeling that comes to mind when I see the cards, I also check the included book for any keywords that feel helpful in determining what I will get out of working with this deck.

(I switched position of 2nd and 3rd cards from original spread)
New Deck Interview
…5……6…
……4……
…2……3…
……1…….
1. Tell me more about yourself; What is your most important characteristic? 
“Power of Three”
Power of 3 transcends time and space. Wisdom, protection, wish fulfillment. 3 card draws work best.
2. What are your strengths as a deck?
“Ring of Fire”
Allows heaviness of life to give you strength. Fine tune your focus. Mindfulness.
3. What are your limits as a deck?
“Tree of Life”
Unmoving. Unchallenging.
4. What do you bring to the table; What are you here to teach me?
“The Architect”
Connection. All view points are equal. Balance. Do not compare yourself with others.
5. How can I best learn and collaborate with you?
“The Seer”
Lifting the veil. Embracing gift of second sight. Connect to own inner wisdom.
6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
“Sacred Scarab”
Protection, rebirth, regeneration. Balance. Potential unfolding like the lotus. Be a leader. Have healthy boundaries.
In summary, this deck will work best with 3-card spreads – one card may not have enough info and more than three cards may become too convoluted.  This is an empowering deck that can help when I need some positivity.  Because it’s limitations for me are “unmoving, unchallenging” this may not be the deck to use when I need some flat out kick-me-in-the-ass messages, because it will not waiver from a balanced and uplifting perspective.  Though, this deck will be great to use the imagery for meditation and reflection, and can assist in embracing my gifts.
Now, what if I was to use this deck to try and get some kick-me-in-the-ass messages?  I wouldn’t be receiving that message at all.  I might say, “oh, this deck is too fluffy in it’s messages.  I need something to tell me flat out what I’m doing wrong, not something that’s only seems to give trite advice.”  Since I now know how best to work with this deck I shouldn’t have any issues in receiving its messages. 
Every deck will work differently with every person.  You may have the same deck and it could be real hard on you, and not positive and uplifting at all.  Doesn’t mean that the deck is bad or that you aren’t a good reader, it just means that you need to make sure you are using the tools appropriately.
Do you have any new deck spreads that you use? Comment below!  Would love to hear your experiences with interviewing your decks.
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Please contact me if you have any questions, or topic suggestions for future Tarot Talks posts.

Brightest Blessings,
Phoenix Rose
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Connect on social media:
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Template of New Deck Interview:

****** 5 ****** 6 ******
********** 4 **********
****** 3 ****** 2 ******
********** 1 **********

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?
2. What are your strengths as a deck?
3. What are your limits as a deck?
4. What do you bring to the table — what are you here to teach me?
5. How can I best learn from and collaborate with you?
6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

I have seen a few different spreads, but I like this one the best. Sourced from FireRaven listed on Tarot Forum.
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If you liked the featured deck, check out their shop on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/494758639/the-seekers-oracle-card-deck-barbara