Tarot spreads are a powerful tool for gaining insight and understanding into different aspects of your life. However, as a beginner, it can be overwhelming to navigate the vast array of options available. And with all the information you can find out there, it may be difficult to know where to start. No worries! In this article, we will explore 3 beginners’ tarot spreads that can be all you need to embark on your tarot journey.
These simple spreads provide a solid foundation for your practice, offering a balance of simplicity and depth to help you ease into the rich world of tarot readings. So, whether you’re drawn to just getting a message for the day, gaining insights into your current situation, or exploring the potential future paths, these beginner spreads will guide you in honing your skills and building confidence in your tarot practice. Let’s dive in and uncover the transformative insights that await you on this exciting journey!
Already an expert in tarot? Ready to elevate your practice? The you may be interested in the hidden realms of wisdom that advanced tarot spreads unveil.
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ToggleTips to Get Started with Your Tarot Practice
When you’re just starting out with tarot, the key is to take it slow and build a practice that suits you and feels reliable over time.
Embarking on your tarot journey requires a deliberate and thoughtful approach. It’s not just about shuffling cards, but curating an experience that resonates with your essence and establishes a reliable connection over time.
Choosing the Deck
Choosing the right tarot decks is akin to selecting companions for your journey. As a beginner, certain decks may resonate more strongly with your evolving connection to tarot; here’s a list of the 15 best beginners’ tarot decks. Take your time exploring the myriad options available. Consider the symbolism, artistic style, and overall energy of each deck. Whether it’s the classic Rider-Waite or a modern, themed deck, let your intuition guide you to decks that evoke a profound connection.
Interpreting the Cards
Interpreting tarot cards is an art that evolves with practice. Each card carries layers of meaning, and as you delve deeper into your practice, you’ll find your interpretations becoming more nuanced and insightful. While considering numerology, elements, and mastering the meanings of both the Minor Arcana and Major Arcana may seem overwhelming at first, remember that tarot is a journey, not a destination. Trust your instincts and personal connection with the cards, allowing their symbolism to weave a unique narrative tailored to your experiences.
Transitioning to Complex Spreads
Before venturing into longer and more advanced tarot spreads, master the art of shorter readings. These concise layouts act as stepping stones, refining your ability to discern the subtleties of each card. Shorter spreads provide a solid foundation, preparing you for the intricacies of advanced layouts.
Asking Questions with Precision
Crafting well-thought-out questions is a cornerstone of effective tarot reading. The accuracy of your readings is intricately tied to the clarity of your inquiries. Instead of vague or open-ended questions, be specific and intentional. Consider the details you seek and frame your questions with precision, inviting the cards to provide targeted guidance.
In the realm of tarot, patience is a virtue. Allow your practice to unfold organically, savoring each discovery and building a profound connection with the cards as you navigate your unique tarot journey.
Tarot Journaling
In the beginning, it’s also a good idea to jot down your interpretations and the messages you get from the cards. Even experienced readers do this to keep track of their readings, note interesting combinations, and get better at tarot. Know that even experienced tarot readers find value in such a system. So, keep a tarot journal just for this purpose, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll get the hang of what the tarot cards mean!
Beginners’ Tarot Spreads: Tarot Made Easy
One-Card Pull
The one-card pull is the very start for every tarot amateur. It is as simple as its name suggests. The most effective way to learn tarot is to start by pulling a card for the day. You can ask the deck to show you the “Energy of the day”, or a piece of advice about how to face your daily challenges.
One thing I used to ask my deck at the beginning of my practice, and that I still do every now and then, was “What energy do I need to embody” during the day? That would help me go through the next hours. As nightfall approached, I used to take my time to ponder all the situations I faced, and I correlated them with the card I pulled when at the start of my day.
I also tried to reflect on how embodying a certain energy helped me to deal with people or problems. For example, one morning I did my one-card pull before going to work and I had the Queen of cups. The suggestion was to be patient and compassionate in my dealings with my colleagues or my students. Later on that day, I saw that I really needed to have patience and be more understanding than usual, as I was presented with some unexpected setbacks.
Uncover Your Blessings with the “Gratitude Card”
Another one-card pull you can try is the so-called “Gratitude card”: this card is meant to tell you what blessings you can count on in your life, what you should be grateful for, and it can help you tremendously when you need to see the positive side of your circumstances. Sometimes it is far too easy for us to dismiss the good things we have under our noses!
For example, if you pull the Ten of pentacles, the card is telling you to be grateful for your family, or the solidity you’re building for yourself. Maybe you’re working on something that will be passed on to your descendants, or you’re being very good at creating a secure environment for your children. Whatever the case, recognize that and give thanks to the universe for the positive things in your life.
As you can see, this is such a fabulous and simple layout for every beginner. Keep your favorite guidebook by your side and use it to unlock the meanings of the cards.
Two-Card Pull
The two-card pull is very effective when you need to get advice. It gives you a deeper message than the simple one-card pull and is something you can really use to guide you through your daily life or even a period of time. There are so many possibilities here, but I’ll just mention some of the most popular ones.
One thing is common to ask with two cards is “What I’m doing well, what I could do better”: this simple spread is phenomenal if you have doubts about how well you’re performing at work, or if there’s still room for improvement in any undertakings—and there’s always, isn’t it?
You could also try to do the “Do this, don’t do this” spread: it is one of the most straightforward ways to get guidance if you don’t know how to behave in a certain situation. For example, if you get The Fool in the “Do this” position and the Five of Cups in the “Don’t do this” position, then you should stop focusing so much on the past, blaming yourself, and living in regret for something that happened and you can’t change. Instead, it’s time to move forward with confidence and a little bit of innocence, renewing your optimism and faith in life. There are so many opportunities you can still grab out there! The fact that you can’t see them at the moment doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.
As one can observe, you can get so much even from the simplest layouts, you don’t have to be a professional or know all the 78 cards by the book to start reading for yourself and progressively try to add more cards to your daily spreads.
Three-Card Pull
There are so many popular three-card spreads to try. Here I’ll recommend you some of my most used ones. The most common of these spreads is the “Past, present, future” spread. This is a spread that is used to gain insight into the past, present, and future of a specific situation or question. The past goes to your left, and then you pull the second card in the middle and the third to your right. The first card represents how the past has influenced the current situation. The second card shows the current state of affairs. The third tells you about the likely outcome of the situation. It is an amazing simple spread that can provide guidance on how to navigate a current situation and what steps to take to achieve a desired outcome in the future.
Looking for more ideas? While you can pull one card for your day (and even month, week, or year) you can have some fun drawing three cards for the week as follows: “Beginning, middle, end of the week”. If you need help making a decision, you can try the “Pros, cons, advice” spread. If you’re dealing with a new situation, then ask the cards “What to expect, what to do, outcome”.
Anyway, one of my favorites remains the “Think, say, do”: you can use it to know what kind of thoughts you need to invite, how to focus on being more proactive with your words, and what you need to do in the situation.
Finally, if you’d like to go within, and explore your inner workings, you can pull the cards in this order: “Within, without, advice”. This spread allows you to see what’s going on internally, what’s going on externally, and what you need to focus on.
Summing Up
Sometimes one, two, or three-card spreads are a valuable tool for those who are new to the world of tarot reading. With the variety of spreads available, if you’re an amateur, there is no excuse to not start practicing and honing your skills! From the simple three-card spreads to the more complex spreads we will examine in the next articles, each spread offers a unique perspective and insight into your questions.
As a beginner, it is important to remember that the tarot is a tool for self-discovery and growth. It is not a magic wand that will give you all the answers, but rather a guide to help you navigate through life’s challenges. As you continue to practice and learn, you will discover new ways to interpret the cards and develop your own personal style. So, don’t be intimidated, grab your deck and let’s get reading!
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