History

Believe it or not, tarot cards didn’t always exist as a tool for divination. Created in Italy during the 1400s, these decks were originally used as playing cards. A standard deck contained four suits (hearts, wands, chalices, and swords), however, a fifth suit containing 21 “triumph” cards were added. Their purpose was to be “trump” cards that held power over any others within the standard deck. Each card was illustrated with rich Italian imagery, but the “triumph” cards bore symbolic images that represented different historical characters or lore.

In 1780, the cards made their shift from playing cards to what we now know as “fortune telling” cards. These cards mirror almost exactly the modern decks used. They contained 78 cards which are divided into two categories: the major arcana (22 cards) and the minor arcana (56 cards).

The 22 cards of the major arcana concern themselves with larger trends in the querent’s life. Within the major arcana, the 22 cards are assigned a roman numeral relating to the four cards of that number in the suits of the minor arcana. For example, The Lovers (VI) comes before the Six of Wands, Chalices, Swords, or Pentacles.

The 56 cards, however, are divided into four suits that represent aspects like love (Chalice), social experiences (Wands), money (Pentacles), and troublesome issues (Swords). By either reading a single card or by putting them together in a spread, the reader can uncover underlying issues or bring positive circumstances forward.

Common Spreads

So what are tarot spreads? A spread is an arrangement of cards placed in a particular order to be read and assigned meaning. In a spread, not only are the cards important but where they are in a given spread carries meaning. Choosing one or two spreads to start with and practice repeatedly will allow the reader to become more focused on the meanings of the cards. It also allows your intuition to take over when doing a reading; don’t second guess yourself.

For the beginner, some common tarot spreads are

• single card (best for answering a singular question)
• 2 card spread
• 3 card spread (there are variations of this)
• Celtic Cross

Each of the aforementioned layouts is best used on one querent. If doing multiple readings (like at a party or among friends), it is recommended to use a single, two, or three-card spread as it can be a mentally and emotionally draining process. That being said the reader can also be the querent (or seeker); you can read cards for yourself until you are more comfortable reading for other people.

Getting Started

Before looking at the specific spreads, it is important to consider shuffling and “dealing” of the cards. Each reader will decide what works best with their style, but it’s always useful to offer up some suggestions.

The first option would be to have the querent (seeker) shuffle the cards. Once they are content with their shuffling (there isn’t a specific amount of time that needs to pass, it’s just once they feel done), they return the deck to the reader. The deck must be returned vertically (short ends facing the reader and querent). This is important because it determines which cards are reversed, and which ones are not. If, as the reader, you choose to turn the pile left or right, you could be altering the reading. Once the deck is returned, the reader uses the cards on top to perform their reading.

Another option for shuffling has the reader shuffle the cards, then fan them out for the querent to choose cards based on where they feel an energetic pull. If using a spread with more than four cards, it can get a little complicated. Make sure that as the cards are pulled, they’re placed in the spread and that multiple isn’t being pulled at once.

These are not the only two options, but they are among the most common. In some cases, the reader will knock three times on the deck before passing it to the querent or they will knock on it once it sins their hands. The reason for this is to help rid the deck of previous energy or remove any hold the reader has on the deck to allow the querent’s energies to take over.