| One of the most difficult things about Tarot | | | | underneath the fist ten that were dealt out. This |
| reading, after you've learned the cards | | | | spread is usually used when a little more |
| themselves, is picking a spread to use for your | | | | information is required. You will begin to build an |
| reading. There are a variety of spreads for Tarot | | | | intuition for when to use this spread. One thing |
| readings and knowing which one is best is not | | | | you must understand is that you can't start with |
| always an intuitive thing, at least not at the start. | | | | a Celtic Cross and decide to convert it into a |
| This article is going to give you some basic | | | | Celtic Block. These are two different spreads and |
| guidelines for choosing a spread to use as well as | | | | you must decide beforehand which one you are |
| go over what the most common spreads are. | | | | going to use. |
| Hopefully, after reading this, you'll have a good | | | | The third most common spread, and the most |
| starting point for the spread you decide to use | | | | complicated of the three, is the Predictive Manteia. |
| for your subjects. | | | | This spread allows you to go into the most depth |
| There are many spreads, some of which are | | | | of the three spreads. The foundation of this |
| extremely complicated. However, I have found | | | | spread is the Past, Present and Future Triadic |
| that there are three spreads in particular that fit | | | | Solidifiers. All the other cards in this spread are |
| just about any occasion and should be more than | | | | placed around these three cards in a certain order. |
| enough to get you started. We can dive into | | | | Each solidifier will have a block triad associated |
| more advanced spreads in future articles. | | | | with it, totaling nine cards, three for each solidifier. |
| The most basic spread is the Celtic Cross. This is | | | | The spread then concludes with cards ten through |
| the most commonly used, and quite honestly, will | | | | fifteen, which all have their own meanings. This |
| probably be more than good enough for just | | | | spread, unlike the first two, cannot be continued. |
| about any reading that is asking a general | | | | It is complete in and of itself. This spread should |
| question. What I mean by a general question is | | | | only be used for the most complex of questions, |
| one such as, "Will I be getting a promotion at | | | | such as, "I am dating 2 guys at the same time. |
| work?" This is a common question that people will | | | | The one wants to marry me and move to |
| ask and doesn't require too much in depth | | | | Atlanta. The other wants me to move in with him. |
| analysis. For questions of these types, a Celtic | | | | If I marry the first guy, I will have to quit my job |
| Cross spread, which consists of laying out ten | | | | (another factor) and relocate, thus selling my |
| cards in a certain order, should be more than | | | | home (another factor)...and so on. You get the |
| good enough to answer the subject's question. | | | | idea. Questions of this nature are extremely |
| You will probably use this spread about 95% of | | | | complex because they affect so many areas of |
| the time. | | | | the subject's life. In this case, the Predictive |
| The next most common spread is the Celtic | | | | Manteia will probably be the right spread to use |
| Block. This spread is actually very similar to the | | | | for the reading. |
| Celtic Cross as the first ten cards are laid out the | | | | As you do more and more of these, you will |
| same way. However, with the Celtic Block spread, | | | | begin to develop an intuitive sense for what |
| you deal out four more cards, 11 through 14, | | | | spread to use. |