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Tarot spread layouts and the meaning of positions

Tarot Spreads: Layouts and Positions

Here are spreads from one card to ten. Each layout shows where every card goes and what its position means, and any spread can be done online.

One Card Tarot Spread

One card for one question. The shortest and fastest spread.

Card of the DayOne card for one question: the fastest spread there is.One Card TarotOne card for one question: the fastest spread there is.Yes or No TarotOne card for a quick yes or no.

3 Card Tarot Spreads

Three cards suit beginners: the spread is easy to lay out and to read as one short story.

Three Cards: Past, Present, Future

3 cards · General

A tarot classic: where the situation came from, where you are now and where it is heading.

  1. 1Past
  2. 2Present
  3. 3Future
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Career Spread

3 cards · Career

Three cards for work questions: the road so far and the next step.

  1. 1Past
  2. 2Present
  3. 3Next step
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5 Card Tarot Spreads

Five cards leave room for comparison: of two options or two sides of a relationship.

Two Options Spread

5 cards · Choice

Two paths compared: the heart of the choice, each option and its consequences.

  1. 1The heart of the choice
  2. 2Option A
  3. 3Consequences of A
  4. 4Option B
  5. 5Consequences of B
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Relationship Forecast

5 cards · Love

Five cards on how your relationship is developing.

  1. 1Right now
  2. 2What nourishes the relationship
  3. 3What tests it
  4. 4Advice
  5. 5What comes next
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Manifestation Tarot

5 cards · Goals

Five cards to clarify a wish: what you want, what blocks it, what helps and where to start.

  1. 1The true desire
  2. 2What is in the way
  3. 3What will help
  4. 4The first step
  5. 5The result
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6 Card Tarot Spreads

Six cards open up questions about relationships well.

What He Thinks

6 cards · Love

Six cards on what a person feels and what they keep hidden.

  1. 1What he feels
  2. 2What he hides
  3. 3How he sees you
  4. 4What he wants
  5. 5What holds him back
  6. 6Where his thoughts lead
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Soulmate

6 cards · Love

Six cards about a future partner and the circumstances of meeting.

  1. 1What this person will be like
  2. 2What drives them
  3. 3What will bring you together
  4. 4How you will meet
  5. 5What they will teach you
  6. 6What stands in the way
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7 Card Tarot Spreads

Seven cards let you compare three paths at once and see the outcome of each.

Three Options Spread

7 cards · Choice

Three paths and their outcomes, so you can compare without rushing.

  1. 1The heart of the choice
  2. 2Option A
  3. 3Outcome of A
  4. 4Option B
  5. 5Outcome of B
  6. 6Option C
  7. 7Outcome of C
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Horseshoe Spread

7 cards · General

Seven cards laid in a horseshoe: past, present, hidden influence, you, surroundings, obstacle and outcome.

  1. 1Past
  2. 2Present
  3. 3Hidden influence
  4. 4Yourself
  5. 5Surroundings
  6. 6Obstacle
  7. 7Outcome
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9 Card Tarot Spread

Nine cards are needed when a situation has many layers and it matters to go through it in parts.

Reconciliation

9 cards · Love

Nine cards about a breakup, a possible return and what to let go of.

  1. 1How it ended
  2. 2Your part
  3. 3Their part
  4. 4What is left between you
  5. 5What stands in the way of returning
  6. 6What could help
  7. 7What this experience taught
  8. 8Chance of reconciliation
  9. 9Advice
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Celtic Cross: the 10 Card Tarot Spread

The classic spread for a deep look at a complex situation.

Celtic Cross

10 cards · General

Ten cards for a complex situation: from hidden causes to the likely outcome.

  1. 1The heart of the matter
  2. 2The challenge
  3. 3The foundation
  4. 4The recent past
  5. 5A possible outcome
  6. 6The near future
  7. 7Yourself
  8. 8Your surroundings
  9. 9Hopes and fears
  10. 10The outcome
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How to choose a tarot spread

Start with the question

First decide what you want to find out: an assessment of the situation, advice, a comparison of options or how events will develop. The question itself suggests which layout fits.

Size by the weight of the question

For everyday questions one to three cards are enough. Serious life decisions are better laid out with five or more cards, for example in the Celtic Cross.

Master one spread properly

It is better to know two or three layouts well than to try dozens. In time you will notice how the same positions work in different situations.

Questions about tarot spreads

Which tarot spread should a beginner choose?

Start with three cards (past, present, future): it is short but shows development. Then move on to spreads about relationships, work and choices.

How do spreads differ by number of cards?

The more cards, the more detailed the picture, but the harder the reading. One card gives a focus, three give dynamics, five to seven give an analysis with options and ten give a deep reading.

Can I rename the positions?

If you lay out the cards yourself, you can. The main thing is to define the meaning of the positions before the cards are drawn, not after.

Free Online Tarot with AI

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What else to try

Quick spreads and tools for different cases

Tarot Spreads

All tarot spreads

  1. Celtic Cross

    The classic 10 card spread for complex questions

  2. Two Options

    Compare two options and their consequences

  3. Three Options

    Compare three paths and their outcomes

  4. Horseshoe

    Seven cards: the development of a situation from past to outcome

  5. Manifestation

    Five cards: wish, obstacle, resource, step and result