Best Tarot Spreads for Beginners

There are many Tarot spreads for beginners to choose from when they start learning how to read the cards. Rather than than try to learn all of them it is better to choose a couple to start with, and concentrate on becoming very familiar with them.

There are a wide number of spreads used from the simple i.e. a one card spread, to complicated ones using all the cards such as the zodiac spreads. The tarot card spread used can depend on the question of the querent i.e. whether it is a specific question requiring an answer, or whether it a more general enquiry needing a more detailed response.

Spreads can be made up of cards which sit alone, or of cards which interact with each other, and when you're new to the cards the whole thing can seem a little over-whelming.

Some tarot spreads suit some readers better than others so it's a good idea to try a few and see which ones feel comfortable to you.

 Don't worry too much if you can't remember all the various meanings of the cards, that will come in time without you even realising it - and going forward most of your interpretation of the cards will come from intuition anyway.

Having said that it never hurts to have a good tarot card book on the side to refer to and I would recommend Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Card Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning.

Without doubt, this is the simplest of all the tarot card spreads for beginners. It is true that using one card may not seem like much of a spread, but this is a great way of learning the how the cards work, and what their meanings are.

Each day draw a single card from the tarot deck and note it's meaning. Start with looking at the card and seeing what impressions you get from it before checking back against your books.

Keep a note of each card drawn and after a period of around a month look back at the cards drawn and see what conclusions you can draw from them - how much have they mirrored you day to day life.

This can also help you form your own interpretations of cards as not all readers interpret the same cards in the same way but if you can learn the interpretations in your own life, you have a better chance of interpreting them correctly in a reading for someone else.

This is a good 'snapshot' reading, very much a 'where are you now and where are you going' reading.

It uses 6 cards which can either be laid out in 2 rows of 3 or 1 row of 6 - it doesn't matter which so long as you know which cards are in which position.

The position of the cards represents the following:

1. How you feel about yourself
2. What you want most at the current time
3. Your fears
4. What is going for you
5. What is going against you
6. Outcome

This is a more detailed version of the 6 card spread. It still deals with the 'where are you now and where are you going' theme but does so in more depth. This is a good learning spread as each card has a specific position but can have more than one meaning, so thorough interpretation is required.

This spread uses 10 cards which are laid out as follows:

Card 1 in the centre with Card 2 laid across it.

Card 3 is below this i.e. South, Card 4 to the West, Card 5 to the North and Card 6 to the East - together the cards form a cross.

The remaining 4 cards (cards 7 - 10) and laid in a vertical line to the side with card 7 level with card 3 and card 10 level with card 5.

The meanings of these positions are as follows:

1. Card 1 is relates directly to the matter in hand, the central issue being asked about
2. Card 2 relates directly to card 1 and can either reinforce it or oppose it - these 2 cards need to be looked at together
3. Card 3 is the root cause of the problem for example some hidden worry. Card 3 is represents the influence which is causing the situation in cards 1&2.
4. Card 4 is the past or a factor that is receding
5. Card 5 represents either goals, or a potential future outcome - it maybe that it represents the desired outcome but not the actual.
6. Card 6 is the future or approaching influence.
7. Card 7 is you and how you see yourself and what you expect from yourself
8. Card 8 is how other see you or what they expect from you - if there is a obvious difference between cards 7 & 8 this may need more exploration.
9. Card 9 represents your hopes and fears, or guidance of some sort. It can often tell you something you already know but don't want to recognise.
10. Card 10 is the most likely outcome should you continue on the path you are on - and that's important. If you don't like the outcome - change the path.

To get the best out of your tarot cards you have to become very familiar with them, which means using them frequently and regularly.

Practice on yourself first, then on friends and family who won't mind if you occasionally have to look something up.

If you feel you need some extra help with learning there are various courses you can do to help you, a quick search of the Internet should bring up some in your local area, or if you have a local new age shop they may well have a list.

It's important to go at your own pace and not to overdo it ~ reading cards constantly can be tiring and you use a lot of mental energy.

Always remember that tarot spreads for beginners an experts alike are simply a tool to help you on your way, and should be used as such. Free will and personal choice should always be the bedrock of your actions.