How do you decide which layout to use?

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Somewhere I read a discussion on which layout to use. These folks were talking about reading swaps. One said a 3-card reading - the other said just a one card reading will do.
How do you know?

The reason I'm asking is cause I'd like to try some different spreads - ususally I use the Celtic Cross - but of course I wanna use the one best for the situation. When doing anniversary or birthday readings I've found I feel more comfortable with a "Wheel of the Year" type spread. Just recently I've found a use for the "Horseshoe" spread - which is basically two - 3 card draws laid out together to form a horseshoe. Giving the querent 2 paths to consider. I plan on using the Valentines or Love (L-shaped) spread come Valentines Day - for a few folks I know.

But when someone ask for a reading - how do you decide which spread would be best? How do you know "ok, this I can read with one card" or "this needs a full Celtic Cross"?

BTW - all the spreads I mentioned I found in the stuck forum. Except for the Wheel of the Year which was introduced to me by Mithrea - thanks sister! But there are some threads about it floating around....and it may be mentioned in the stuck forum as well.

[Mithrea]

Heehee :p

The spread I use depends on many factors: the person I'm reading for, the subject, how much time I have, how detailed the question is, the period of time involved, the knowledge of Tarot of the person I'm reading for, and so on. I consider all of these factors quickly and the rest is gut. However, there are less than five spreads that I use at all. I prefer to keep things simple :)

Witchy, I'd like to recommend another one to you (if you don't already know it.) I use a pyramid spread for romantic relationships that I have found very useful and helpful. SV posted it a while back but I don't think it's in the STUCK thread (I could be wong). http://members.tripod.com/~turcio/index-5.html

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Caught me?;)

Anyway, thanks. And yes I saw the pyramid spread when searching for others. I'll have to consider it. I understand our members did very well with that spread.

[Azure]

Unless the question is exceptionally specific, I usually start with a three card reading to examine the energies around the querant - usually, that gives me all I need if I really look - then offer to do more if it seems incomplete. Sometimes I use just one, usually when the question I get is exceptionally vague, to see what turns up.
Sometimes larger spreads are just too much information to start out with - like several people talking to you at the same time.

[Flaire]

Usually for general readings, I do 3 card spreads.. If it's for a relationship one, I use this 6-card relationship spread. (I'll have to find it again....)

Usually, though, I don't use more than 6 cards. I started using the CC spread, but there was too much for me to remember at the time....

[Morrighana]

I also usually start with a 3 card reading to get a general idea of the relationship between the querant and their question, and then move on to a larger spread.

I've recently started using the Rose spread, when I find the Celtic Cross spread would be too involved. I don't think that it is listed in the stuck thread, but it only uses 6 cards. It's kind of like a mini-CC.

Looks like:
......4
3..1.6...5
......2
1-Querant's unconscious state(dreams, motivations, etc)
2-how the querant's aspirations influence the situation(also represents the element of fire)
3-mental influences(air)
4-combined influences of the material plane(earth)
5-emotional influences(water)
6-Querant's conscious mind(active personality, agreed reality, etc)


I still do a CC if I need a really detailed answer. I try out new spreads occaisionally, though, if I am posed a question that doesnt seem to fit a Rose spread.

[Zaniah]

When doing a reading for anyone, I first consider how well I know them. Then I try to apply the context of thier current life situation, if I know it, to one of the many spreads I have at my disposal. Or I ask them what they want. Or I choose at random. Or, and this is my favorite, I guinea-pig a newfound spread on them :D

I don't do a lot of readings for people I don't know, so I find I can afford to keep myself fascinated and just go crazy with it. If I was getting bored with readings, I think I'd have a problem O.o

[tarotbear]

I probably use 2-3 different spreads all the time, ones that seem to work for me.
To create one of your own, you need to look at your question, then decide exactly how much information you would need to get a complete answer. Is three cards too few? Ten cards too many? Sometimes 5 or 6 cards is more than enough info.

I use this 5-card spread from 'Power Tarot' also known as 'The Wheel'. It concerns influences running through your life. my students used this to great success, especially since it does not have 10 cards!


-----------------------1

------------4----------5---------2

-----------------------3 (pretend it's round, O.K.?)

1) The situation as it now stands
2) The WANING influences - influences that have already happened, or have just ended, yet are still being felt.
3) The HIDDEN influences - things that have not yet happened but will contribute to the situation
4) The EMERGING influences - things that have just started or are about to start
5) The SYNTHESIS OF THE PREVIOUS FOUR CARDS - this is the hardest card to read since it is an overview of the other four cards in combination with each other. You can read this as 'the Outcome'.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Any readings I do here in the forum are only THREE card readings. I don't put alot of time and effort into readings here unless I have conversed with the member and feel that a longer, more detail reading is optimal. This is only because I have let other take advantage of me and I don't anymore! ...but I digress, that should be posted in the Tarot Etiquette thread. ;)

I usually pick a spread that deals with the subject of the question to best aid in the interpretation of the reading. There are plenty of links to spread stuck here. You could also go to the Tarot faq 4.0 page, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2377/LayoutFAQ4.html and find a layout to best suit your needs.

You caould also go spreadless. Before you draw a card, speak allowed the significance of the card, then lay it anywhere on the table. (Just remember what the significance is throughout the rest of the reading.) Then you can lay as many cards as you need. When you can't think of anymore "significance", then pull a Summary card that draws the reading to a close.

Tarot is an intuitive aid, so why shouldn't your spreads be as well?? ;)

:boing:
~D

[Amethyst Rose]

I don't actively decide which spread I'm going to use....it's completely on instinct, I let my hands put cards where they will, and stop laying cards when it feels right. Most of the time I end up with spreads that are completely unique, that I haven't used before. But sometimes the more moderate spread presents itself, like the celtic cross or 3 or 5 card spread comes up....its up to the cards though, not up to me. :)

[AmbivalentMirage]

I simply use the number of cards that I feel I need to use. For serious readings that don't require a "problem vs. outcome" kind of reading, I lay out seven cards. For relationship readings, I like to lay out nine cards. (three for each person and three for the relationship) But, when confronting a problem, I do a Qabbalistic Tree of Life layout to help me see deeper and know what course of action is best. ^.^