Amethyst Rose
June 26th, 2001, 02:40 PM
I thought some people might find this interesting and useful... it's from an online magickal study group I belong to called Moonsongs (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MoonSongs).
Taken from Basic Tarot Study Group
LESSON 6 - Spreads, Games and Activities
TAROT SPREADS AND GAMES
There are an infinite number of ways to work with your Tarot deck, ranging from pulling a single card from the deck to doing complex spreads of the cards. At the onset of the group, when I mentioned that we would be exploring some "Tarot Games," I detected a note of something which I couldn't quite finger; perhaps it was a fear of using something so meaningful in a less-than-solemn application. Technically, most of the card layouts that I'm going to present to you here are "spreads"; they're
different patterns in which to lay the cards and work with them. The difference is that the book _Tarot Games_ by Cait Johnson and Maura Shaw is subtitled "45 playful ways to explore Tarot cards together," meaning that while the respect and reverence for the Tarot is ever-present, there is no harm in taking a light-hearted approach to working with your deck. I think that the book itself sums this up nicely:
"Far from trivializing the magick of the cards, Circle (Tarot)
Games are based on the idea that play can be sacred and
meaningful, that the deepest wisdom can be discovered through
laughter and shared enjoyment. One of the most important things we have found in teaching and playing these games is that
deep seriousness and an impish sense of fun can coexist
beautifully."
From this book, I have included only those "games" which are intended to be "played" by one person, for obvious reasons; I'd enthusiastically recommend this book (or any work on the Tarot with Cait Johnson as a contributing author) for those people who'd like to pursue more seriously the subject of "playing" with their decks (pun QUITE intended).
In addition to the _Tarot Games_ book (which shall be represented as [TG] for further identification purposes), I'll also be including spreads and ideas from _Tarot for Every Day_ [TED] (also) by Cait Johnson, _Classic Tarot Spreads_ [CTS] by Sandor Konraad, and _Tarot Made Easy_ [TME] by Nancy Garen.
A WORD ABOUT SPREADS
From time to time, as we've already found, sources may vary regarding information about various aspects of working with the Tarot (remember the "Are wands associated with Fire or Air?" issue...). One book may tell you that the cards in a Celtic Cross spread (used as an example and not represented here, due to the fact that most everyone is familiar with it, or has seen it, and the deck's pamphlet should include a description) are to be laid in order in one way. Another source may indicated that a different
"order" for the laying and interpreting of the cards is correct. As in all things, you'll find a way with which you're the most comfortable, and THAT is the Celtic Cross layout that YOU should be using. Here's a novel concept: It's YOUR choice. <G>
DESIGNING YOUR OWN SPREADS
I have included a spread in this lesson which is of my own design; I've always called it "The Relationship Spread," because it gives insight into just that: Interpersonal relationships (usually romantic) between two people. I designed this spread at a time when I was resolving some relationship-related issues in my own life, and it seemed as though everyone around me wanted a reading on their "love life."
Anytime you read the cards, and you do it slightly differently than the depiction of the spread in the book, you've "created" a spread. It's as easy as that. To get a little more in-depth with the designing of spreads, you need to ask some questions:
How do I want to use this spread?
What do I want to know from the cards?
What sort of time frames do I want to explore for this information?
How many (different) people are involved in this situation?
Am I looking for specific answers, insights or trends for the
problem/question/issue at hand?
With these answers, you can normally figure out how many cards you'll be using and what each will represent in reference to the query. The next step is to figure out the layout for the cards; determine this using the relationships between the cards in the deck (including significators, if your spread will be using them) and an overall "shape" that pulls the focus of the reading together for you. Experiment a little. Do some readings on
yourself with the spread, to see which arrangement of the cards feels the most correct or "right."
USING THE DIAGRAMS
The diagrams for the spreads will be VERY rudimentary; go to:
http://www.egroups.com/files/MoonSongs/BeginningTarot/TarotLesson06gifs/
to view graphical interpretations of three of the spreads and games.
For the diagrams used here, follow this key:
Any card signified in parentheses, like (2), will be UNDER the card
referenced directly to the right of it. In other words, if you saw in the diagram (2) 3, it would indicate that the #2 card is placed first, then the #3 card is placed on top of it (but preferably placed so that the bottom card is still visible).
Any card signified in backward slashes, like \2\, will be lying "on its
side," much like the "card that crosses" in the Celtic Cross reading. You can make the decision as to which "end" of the card on its side is the "top," and which is the "bottom," for the purpose of discerning reversed cards; I always consider the "end" on the left-hand side to be the "top" of the card
Remember how the center of a Celtic Cross layout begins? First there's the Significator- S card, then there's the "card which covers"-1, then there's the "card that crosses"-2. This is how a Celtic Cross diagram would look (the one I always use, anyways):
-------------3------------10
----5---(S)(1)\2\---6---9
---------------------------8
-------------4-------------7
If you have any questions with the diagrams, feel free to ask.
THE SPREADS
1. THE RELATIONSHIP SPREAD (My own creation) - Used to determine what might be going on in a relationship.
------------------------------4
------------------------1----\3\-----2
--------------------7-------------------8
---------------------------5-----6
-----------------------------------------------9
Notes:
The \3\-card should actually touch both the 1- and 2-cards. The bottom of the 4-card should "come between" the 1- and 2-cards. The 7-card's top right corner should touch the 1-card's bottom left corner The 8-card's top left corner should touch the 2-card's bottom right corner.
1-The first Significator card
2-The second Significator card
3-That which connects (common bond)
4-That which comes between (potential conflict)
5-Past foundation of the relationship (what it was built on)
6-Present foundation of the relationship (what it stands on)
7 & 8-What these individuals bring to the relationship
9-Future of the relationship; what will continue to hold it together or take it apart.
Cards of which to take special notice, should they appear: Empress, Emperor, Lovers, 10 of Cups, World
2. THE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE SPREAD [TME] - Used for meditative
purposes, to help guide you along your spiritual path
---------2-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8
--------------------------1
Notes:
The 1-card should be directly beneath the 5-card, but not touching The cards should be shuffled before EACH card is pulled, asking the following questions, pulling THAT card and placing it, then shuffling for the next question.
1-Where you are now, or that which concerns you
2-What is the force or motivation behind your desire
3-What is the underlying problem
4-What you need to understand that you're not aware of
5-What you need to do to come to terms with your problem
6-What's the best way to proceed in order to carry out the advice given
7-Spiritual guidance concerning your future
8-Your ultimate attainment
3. THE ZODIAC SPREAD [TME] - Used to predict events or determine influences in specific areas of your life
--------------------------10
-------------------11-------------9
------------12-----------------------------8
------1------------------13--------------------7
------------2------------------------------6
------------------3----------------5
---------------------------4
Notes:
The cards (1 through 12) should be fanning outward from the center, like spokes in a wheel (hard to depict here, in this fashion); they should form a circle around the 13-card, with their bottoms "facing" toward it.
1-FIRST HOUSE-This deals with your self-expression, identity, or how you see yourself.
2-SECOND HOUSE-This represents tangible assets, personal income, and earning capacity.
3-THIRD HOUSE-This house governs intellect and communication, mental expression, letters, writings, and relatives.
4-FOURTH HOUSE-This rules your home, property, environmental experiences, and domestic affairs.
5-FIFTH HOUSE-This is associated with pleasurable pursuits, romance, entertainment, and speculative ventures.
6-SIXTH HOUSE-This pertains to working conditions, job efficiency, obtaining or holding a job, and one's relationships with other employees, as well as matters associated with health, sickness, and nutrition.
7-SEVENTH HOUSE-This refers to partnerships, agreements, and mergers, as well as marriage, divorce, business relationships, and close personal relationships.
8-EIGHTH HOUSE-This house governs death, rebirth, legacies, and inherited assets.
9-NINTH HOUSE-This is a very important house, in that it governs spiritual guidance and teaching which work toward developing self-knowledge. It also refers to travel and lengthy journeys.
10-TENTH HOUSE-This house describes your goals, ambitions, achievements, and wordly attainments.
11-ELEVENTH HOUSE-This house is associated with friendships and/or affiliations which help to advance your personal objectives.
12-TWELFTH HOUSE-This is also a significant house in that it represents a blind spot in you rmakeup that could cause limitation or unnecessary suffering.
13-SUMMATION-This is the final result of all the preceding cards; you can always use clarification cards if your answer is unclear.
4. THE HORSESHOE SPREAD [CTS] - Used as a question answering spread. (looks like a horseshoe)
-------------------4
--------------3--------5
-------------2-----------6
------------1-------------7
Notes:
Spread the cards face down, turning up each one AS it is to be interpreted; if reading for someone else, an alternate method is to start with the 4-card (rather than with the 1-card), to see what may be on the Questioner's mind.
1-Past: This may be the immediate past, or it may go further back in time.
2-Present: Immediate present.
3-Immediate Future
4-Card of Consultant/Questioner: Something on consultant's mind.
5-Attitude of Another: This will usually be a person known to consultant and somehow connected with the question.
6-Obstacle: If a favorable card comes up in this slot, it would indicate that there is no real obstacle to overcome; if unfavorable, it would describe the type of obstacle consultant has to face.
7-Outcome: This will be the logical culmination of the other cards in the spread.
5. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE SPREAD [CTS] - An overall reading-style spread, similar to the Celtic Cross in nature, and designed to be used the same way. (set up in a circle of the 8 directions, with sig in the middle of the circle)
------------------------(N)
-------------------------1
---------------(NW) ------------(NE)
-----------------5-------------------6
--------(W) 3---------SIG 9---------4 (E)
-----------------7-------------------8
----------------(SW)--------------(SE)
---------------------------2
--------------------------(S)
Notes:
This spread is in the shape of a compass; after shuffling, take the top THREE cards from the pack and place them in the form of a fan face down in the pile designated #1 according to the diagram. Continue this procedure of laying three cards at a time at the various "compass" points until you have eight piles on the rim of the wheel. The ninth pile you should then place in the center of the compass, to the right of the SIG (significator) card,
which is placed face-up. The piles should be turned face-up AS they are interpreted.
SIG-Significator
1-Three above you: Covering influence
2-Three below you: Matters in control of the questioner
3-Three behind you: Past
4-Three before you: Immediate future
5-Three for your house and home
6-Three for your hopes and fears
7-Three for what you *DO* expect
8-Three for what you do *NOT* expect
9-And three for what is sure to come.
6. THE CALENDAR SPREAD [CTS] - This is primarily a future time spread and is helpful when the consultant has some expectations for the year to come and wishes to zero in on the time period when certain things will begin to manifest. (looks like a pyramid)
-----------------13
--------------12----11
-------10----9----8-----7
----6---5-----4----3-----2----1
Notes:
The first twelve cards in the spread deal with the twelve months following and the summit card (13-card) of the pyramid is the indicator for the year. Traditionally, the 1-card represents the month in which the reading is being conducted - or the following month if it is the closing part of the month - and the next eleven cards, the succeeding months. Place all cards face up, then use regular interpretations.
7. MABON'S GATE SPREAD (from _The Arthurian Tarot, a Hallowquest Handbook_) - Good for business and/or personal goal insight.
--------------7----8-----9-----10
-----------------3------------6
-----------------2-----11----5
-----------------1------------4
1-What I would like to achieve
2-What is blocking me from achieving it
3-How I unconsciously block myself
4-What I have already achieved
5-What helped me achieve it
6-How have I helped myself
7-The way my idea is received by others
8-Who will benefit from my idea
9-How I can revisualize my idea
10-The next step
11-The key which will unlock the door to achievement
Taken from Basic Tarot Study Group
LESSON 6 - Spreads, Games and Activities
TAROT SPREADS AND GAMES
There are an infinite number of ways to work with your Tarot deck, ranging from pulling a single card from the deck to doing complex spreads of the cards. At the onset of the group, when I mentioned that we would be exploring some "Tarot Games," I detected a note of something which I couldn't quite finger; perhaps it was a fear of using something so meaningful in a less-than-solemn application. Technically, most of the card layouts that I'm going to present to you here are "spreads"; they're
different patterns in which to lay the cards and work with them. The difference is that the book _Tarot Games_ by Cait Johnson and Maura Shaw is subtitled "45 playful ways to explore Tarot cards together," meaning that while the respect and reverence for the Tarot is ever-present, there is no harm in taking a light-hearted approach to working with your deck. I think that the book itself sums this up nicely:
"Far from trivializing the magick of the cards, Circle (Tarot)
Games are based on the idea that play can be sacred and
meaningful, that the deepest wisdom can be discovered through
laughter and shared enjoyment. One of the most important things we have found in teaching and playing these games is that
deep seriousness and an impish sense of fun can coexist
beautifully."
From this book, I have included only those "games" which are intended to be "played" by one person, for obvious reasons; I'd enthusiastically recommend this book (or any work on the Tarot with Cait Johnson as a contributing author) for those people who'd like to pursue more seriously the subject of "playing" with their decks (pun QUITE intended).
In addition to the _Tarot Games_ book (which shall be represented as [TG] for further identification purposes), I'll also be including spreads and ideas from _Tarot for Every Day_ [TED] (also) by Cait Johnson, _Classic Tarot Spreads_ [CTS] by Sandor Konraad, and _Tarot Made Easy_ [TME] by Nancy Garen.
A WORD ABOUT SPREADS
From time to time, as we've already found, sources may vary regarding information about various aspects of working with the Tarot (remember the "Are wands associated with Fire or Air?" issue...). One book may tell you that the cards in a Celtic Cross spread (used as an example and not represented here, due to the fact that most everyone is familiar with it, or has seen it, and the deck's pamphlet should include a description) are to be laid in order in one way. Another source may indicated that a different
"order" for the laying and interpreting of the cards is correct. As in all things, you'll find a way with which you're the most comfortable, and THAT is the Celtic Cross layout that YOU should be using. Here's a novel concept: It's YOUR choice. <G>
DESIGNING YOUR OWN SPREADS
I have included a spread in this lesson which is of my own design; I've always called it "The Relationship Spread," because it gives insight into just that: Interpersonal relationships (usually romantic) between two people. I designed this spread at a time when I was resolving some relationship-related issues in my own life, and it seemed as though everyone around me wanted a reading on their "love life."
Anytime you read the cards, and you do it slightly differently than the depiction of the spread in the book, you've "created" a spread. It's as easy as that. To get a little more in-depth with the designing of spreads, you need to ask some questions:
How do I want to use this spread?
What do I want to know from the cards?
What sort of time frames do I want to explore for this information?
How many (different) people are involved in this situation?
Am I looking for specific answers, insights or trends for the
problem/question/issue at hand?
With these answers, you can normally figure out how many cards you'll be using and what each will represent in reference to the query. The next step is to figure out the layout for the cards; determine this using the relationships between the cards in the deck (including significators, if your spread will be using them) and an overall "shape" that pulls the focus of the reading together for you. Experiment a little. Do some readings on
yourself with the spread, to see which arrangement of the cards feels the most correct or "right."
USING THE DIAGRAMS
The diagrams for the spreads will be VERY rudimentary; go to:
http://www.egroups.com/files/MoonSongs/BeginningTarot/TarotLesson06gifs/
to view graphical interpretations of three of the spreads and games.
For the diagrams used here, follow this key:
Any card signified in parentheses, like (2), will be UNDER the card
referenced directly to the right of it. In other words, if you saw in the diagram (2) 3, it would indicate that the #2 card is placed first, then the #3 card is placed on top of it (but preferably placed so that the bottom card is still visible).
Any card signified in backward slashes, like \2\, will be lying "on its
side," much like the "card that crosses" in the Celtic Cross reading. You can make the decision as to which "end" of the card on its side is the "top," and which is the "bottom," for the purpose of discerning reversed cards; I always consider the "end" on the left-hand side to be the "top" of the card
Remember how the center of a Celtic Cross layout begins? First there's the Significator- S card, then there's the "card which covers"-1, then there's the "card that crosses"-2. This is how a Celtic Cross diagram would look (the one I always use, anyways):
-------------3------------10
----5---(S)(1)\2\---6---9
---------------------------8
-------------4-------------7
If you have any questions with the diagrams, feel free to ask.
THE SPREADS
1. THE RELATIONSHIP SPREAD (My own creation) - Used to determine what might be going on in a relationship.
------------------------------4
------------------------1----\3\-----2
--------------------7-------------------8
---------------------------5-----6
-----------------------------------------------9
Notes:
The \3\-card should actually touch both the 1- and 2-cards. The bottom of the 4-card should "come between" the 1- and 2-cards. The 7-card's top right corner should touch the 1-card's bottom left corner The 8-card's top left corner should touch the 2-card's bottom right corner.
1-The first Significator card
2-The second Significator card
3-That which connects (common bond)
4-That which comes between (potential conflict)
5-Past foundation of the relationship (what it was built on)
6-Present foundation of the relationship (what it stands on)
7 & 8-What these individuals bring to the relationship
9-Future of the relationship; what will continue to hold it together or take it apart.
Cards of which to take special notice, should they appear: Empress, Emperor, Lovers, 10 of Cups, World
2. THE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE SPREAD [TME] - Used for meditative
purposes, to help guide you along your spiritual path
---------2-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8
--------------------------1
Notes:
The 1-card should be directly beneath the 5-card, but not touching The cards should be shuffled before EACH card is pulled, asking the following questions, pulling THAT card and placing it, then shuffling for the next question.
1-Where you are now, or that which concerns you
2-What is the force or motivation behind your desire
3-What is the underlying problem
4-What you need to understand that you're not aware of
5-What you need to do to come to terms with your problem
6-What's the best way to proceed in order to carry out the advice given
7-Spiritual guidance concerning your future
8-Your ultimate attainment
3. THE ZODIAC SPREAD [TME] - Used to predict events or determine influences in specific areas of your life
--------------------------10
-------------------11-------------9
------------12-----------------------------8
------1------------------13--------------------7
------------2------------------------------6
------------------3----------------5
---------------------------4
Notes:
The cards (1 through 12) should be fanning outward from the center, like spokes in a wheel (hard to depict here, in this fashion); they should form a circle around the 13-card, with their bottoms "facing" toward it.
1-FIRST HOUSE-This deals with your self-expression, identity, or how you see yourself.
2-SECOND HOUSE-This represents tangible assets, personal income, and earning capacity.
3-THIRD HOUSE-This house governs intellect and communication, mental expression, letters, writings, and relatives.
4-FOURTH HOUSE-This rules your home, property, environmental experiences, and domestic affairs.
5-FIFTH HOUSE-This is associated with pleasurable pursuits, romance, entertainment, and speculative ventures.
6-SIXTH HOUSE-This pertains to working conditions, job efficiency, obtaining or holding a job, and one's relationships with other employees, as well as matters associated with health, sickness, and nutrition.
7-SEVENTH HOUSE-This refers to partnerships, agreements, and mergers, as well as marriage, divorce, business relationships, and close personal relationships.
8-EIGHTH HOUSE-This house governs death, rebirth, legacies, and inherited assets.
9-NINTH HOUSE-This is a very important house, in that it governs spiritual guidance and teaching which work toward developing self-knowledge. It also refers to travel and lengthy journeys.
10-TENTH HOUSE-This house describes your goals, ambitions, achievements, and wordly attainments.
11-ELEVENTH HOUSE-This house is associated with friendships and/or affiliations which help to advance your personal objectives.
12-TWELFTH HOUSE-This is also a significant house in that it represents a blind spot in you rmakeup that could cause limitation or unnecessary suffering.
13-SUMMATION-This is the final result of all the preceding cards; you can always use clarification cards if your answer is unclear.
4. THE HORSESHOE SPREAD [CTS] - Used as a question answering spread. (looks like a horseshoe)
-------------------4
--------------3--------5
-------------2-----------6
------------1-------------7
Notes:
Spread the cards face down, turning up each one AS it is to be interpreted; if reading for someone else, an alternate method is to start with the 4-card (rather than with the 1-card), to see what may be on the Questioner's mind.
1-Past: This may be the immediate past, or it may go further back in time.
2-Present: Immediate present.
3-Immediate Future
4-Card of Consultant/Questioner: Something on consultant's mind.
5-Attitude of Another: This will usually be a person known to consultant and somehow connected with the question.
6-Obstacle: If a favorable card comes up in this slot, it would indicate that there is no real obstacle to overcome; if unfavorable, it would describe the type of obstacle consultant has to face.
7-Outcome: This will be the logical culmination of the other cards in the spread.
5. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE SPREAD [CTS] - An overall reading-style spread, similar to the Celtic Cross in nature, and designed to be used the same way. (set up in a circle of the 8 directions, with sig in the middle of the circle)
------------------------(N)
-------------------------1
---------------(NW) ------------(NE)
-----------------5-------------------6
--------(W) 3---------SIG 9---------4 (E)
-----------------7-------------------8
----------------(SW)--------------(SE)
---------------------------2
--------------------------(S)
Notes:
This spread is in the shape of a compass; after shuffling, take the top THREE cards from the pack and place them in the form of a fan face down in the pile designated #1 according to the diagram. Continue this procedure of laying three cards at a time at the various "compass" points until you have eight piles on the rim of the wheel. The ninth pile you should then place in the center of the compass, to the right of the SIG (significator) card,
which is placed face-up. The piles should be turned face-up AS they are interpreted.
SIG-Significator
1-Three above you: Covering influence
2-Three below you: Matters in control of the questioner
3-Three behind you: Past
4-Three before you: Immediate future
5-Three for your house and home
6-Three for your hopes and fears
7-Three for what you *DO* expect
8-Three for what you do *NOT* expect
9-And three for what is sure to come.
6. THE CALENDAR SPREAD [CTS] - This is primarily a future time spread and is helpful when the consultant has some expectations for the year to come and wishes to zero in on the time period when certain things will begin to manifest. (looks like a pyramid)
-----------------13
--------------12----11
-------10----9----8-----7
----6---5-----4----3-----2----1
Notes:
The first twelve cards in the spread deal with the twelve months following and the summit card (13-card) of the pyramid is the indicator for the year. Traditionally, the 1-card represents the month in which the reading is being conducted - or the following month if it is the closing part of the month - and the next eleven cards, the succeeding months. Place all cards face up, then use regular interpretations.
7. MABON'S GATE SPREAD (from _The Arthurian Tarot, a Hallowquest Handbook_) - Good for business and/or personal goal insight.
--------------7----8-----9-----10
-----------------3------------6
-----------------2-----11----5
-----------------1------------4
1-What I would like to achieve
2-What is blocking me from achieving it
3-How I unconsciously block myself
4-What I have already achieved
5-What helped me achieve it
6-How have I helped myself
7-The way my idea is received by others
8-Who will benefit from my idea
9-How I can revisualize my idea
10-The next step
11-The key which will unlock the door to achievement