Tarot Layouts
Here are my main layouts...
Some say that you cannot tell the future, and I will agree. Now the reason that I agree is not for the reasons that most might think. I agree that you cannot predict the future because the future is not certain. There are an infinite amount of possibilities that lay out infront of every person. Think about it is a million forks in the road through out life. Where you go depends on your choices. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with your choices but the choices of others.
Below are the 2 main layouts that I employ. I use several more when the need arises, but I am a strong believer that if you are going to practice this art, then you need to pick a tool that best suits you and stick to it. The more practice you get with a spread, and a deck, the better you will be at seeing the possibilities that lay infront of someone.
The Celtic Cross
The ten card Celtic Cross is the most common Tarot card layout I've ever come across. With this popularity there comes the problem of many variances of placement. Below is the one I use with my comments about the interaction of the placements. In my opinion the Celtic Cross works best when used to answer specific questions. Remember to put some thought into the formulation of the question you wish to ask.
Card 1: The present
Card 2: The immediate challenge facing the querent. You will often pull a difficult card here, which will indicate an obstacle that must be overcome. When you pull a "good" card here, examine it carefully because it will still represent a challenge.
Card 3: Distant past, foundation. This card should indicate the root of the subject matter of the question
Card 4: More recent past, including events. This will indicate events taking place, not necessarily directly connected to the question. For example, if a love affair going wrong Card 3 would show the root of why it is going wrong, whereas Card 4 will show something that recently happened to reflect this. You could see this as a "check comment" card - a way of seeing that the reading is sound.
Card 5: The best that can be achieved. This is directly related to the question. Note that this may not necessarily gel against
Card 10 - it depends whether you are able to get the best. However, a negative card here probably means that it is worth cutting your losses rather than putting any more effort into the situation.
Card 6: Immediate Future. This indicates events in the next few days or week(s). This reading does not cover months, under normal circumstances. I will say this though, I have done a couple readings that did cover the next couple months. There of course was other influences that caused this anamolly.
Card 7: Factors or inner feelings affecting the situation. Compare this against Card 1 in order to understand underlying forces/trends. If there is conflict between them this tends to indicate that the querent is going in the wrong direction.
Card 8: External influences. People, energies or events which will affect the outcome of the question and are beyond the querent's control.
Card 9: Hopes or fears around the situation. This may produce a card that confuses us badly. Always bear in mind that hopes and fears are closely intertwined, therefore that which we hope for may also be that which we fear, and so may fail to happen. Sometimes it is useful to draw a second card for clarification after the reading has been laid, and to read the two together.
Card 10: Final outcome. This is a fairly self explanatory card. However it is worth saying that if the card comes up somewhat
ambiguous, once again it may be worth drawing three extra cards to clarify. These should be interpreted through the lens of Card 10. So if the card drawn is the Tower and we draw the Ace of Cups, Princess of Cups and Four of Cups in a reading about a relationship, the Tower would indicate that it is time to move on. The Ace of Cup suggests that a new relationship is promised with better things ahead. The Princess of Cups brings new love (and possibly pregnancy). The Four of Cups shows deep levels of contentment and happiness, and many options for progress.
5 Card Spread
You could try this spread for determining a course of action - it's a Five Card Spread. This is a very useful spread when trying to decide a given course of action. Card 4 will often reveal a subconscious impulse - perhaps a blockage which is stopping you from achieving your desired result. Card 5 shows the possible results from taking a given course of action. The spread works best if, whilst selecting the cards, you concentrate on one aspect of the decision, rather than 'either/or' type questions.
Card 1: The present or general theme of the reading
Card 2: Past influences still having effect
Card 3: The future
Card 4: The reason behind the question (this will probably shed light on 2)
Card 5: The potential within the situation.
