Tarot Spreads
What a spread is, which one to choose for your question, and where to draw it online.
What a tarot spread is
A tarot spread is a layout in which every card position has its own meaning. The same card reads differently in the "past" position than in the "advice" position, so the spread gives the cards a frame. A simple question needs a simple spread, and a complicated situation needs more positions.
Spreads you can draw here for free
- Card of the day: one card for the day ahead.
- Yes or no tarot reading: one card and a straight answer. For a quick version see the yes no oracle.
- 3 card reading: three cards for a question with a bit of background.
- 5 card reading: five cards for a wider look at one situation.
- Love tarot reading and the relationship spread: spreads about feelings and partnership.
- What is he thinking: a love spread that looks at the other person's side.
- Money tarot reading: work and finances.
- Life tarot reading: a general reading of where you are.
- Random tarot card: draw one or three cards at random.
- Celtic Cross reading: ten cards for a question you want to see from every side.
- Horseshoe spread: seven cards for a decision with several factors.
- Career tarot reading and the decision spread: five cards each for work questions and a choice between two options.
- Weekly tarot reading: one card for each day of the week.
- Breakup tarot reading and the soulmate reading: five cards each about the end of a relationship and about love.
See all of them on the tarot readings by topic page.
Common spreads and how they are read
One card
One card answers a narrow question or sets a theme for the day. It is the best way to start learning the deck.
Three cards
The usual reading is past, present and future. Other popular versions are situation, challenge and advice, or you, the other person and the relationship.
Horseshoe spread
Seven cards in a U shape, read in order: past, present, hidden influences, obstacles, outside influences, advice and outcome. It suits decisions with several moving parts.
Celtic Cross
Ten cards, the best known spread, in a cross and a vertical line of four. A common set of positions is: 1 the present situation, 2 the challenge that crosses it, 3 the foundation, 4 the recent past, 5 the conscious goal, 6 the near future, 7 you and your attitude, 8 your surroundings, 9 hopes and fears, 10 the outcome. Because it has many positions it is read slowly, and beginners usually learn three-card spreads first.
Five card cross
Five cards in a cross: the situation in the centre, what lies behind it on the left, what lies ahead on the right, what supports you above and what challenges you below. It gives more structure than three cards without the length of a Celtic Cross. You can draw a five-card layout in the 5 card reading.
Relationship spread
A common five-card layout for a partnership: you, the other person, the connection between you, the main challenge and the likely direction. It keeps the focus on the relationship rather than on predicting what another person will do. Try the relationship spread.
Career and money spread
Four to five cards that cover where you stand now, what you want, what stands in the way, what helps and the next step. For a ready layout see the money tarot reading.
Past, present, future
The classic three-card pull and the easiest to read: the past explains how you got here, the present shows where you are, and the future card describes the direction if nothing changes. Use the 3 card reading to draw it.
Yes or no spread
One card for a single question, or three cards for a majority vote. Each card is read as yes, no or maybe, and the answer that appears most often wins. The yes or no tarot reading draws a single card and shows the full interpretation.
Yearly or monthly spread
Twelve cards, one for each month, plus one extra card for the theme of the whole year. It is long, so read it over several sittings and write the cards down. Many readers draw it on their birthday or on New Year.
How to choose a spread
Match the spread to the size of the question. A day, a mood or a yes or no question needs one card. A choice or a relationship question fits three to five cards. Leave the ten-card layouts for situations you want to look at from every side. In all cases, write the question down before you draw, and read the cards in position order.
Every card in these spreads has its own page. Browse the Major Arcana and the four suits of the Minor Arcana to look up what you drew.