Tarot Card Spreads Explained

Tarot cards have been used for divination, or fortunecards describe the normal progression of a holy life
telling, since at least 1750. Some people believe theand are used to tell where a person is along their
cards are guided by a spiritual force, some believejourney or if they have strayed.
they tap into our collective unconscious, while othersInterpretations of Cards: Each card has a variety of
believe they help the individual access their creativesymbolic meanings and many interpretations are close
subconscious.to that of the Kabbalah or those found in Alchemy.
The Tarot Deck: The deck is split into two differentThe images drawn on the cards are the artist's way
types of cards, the Major and Minor Arcana. Theof representing their insight in to the meaning of the
Major Arcana are trump cards and they are: Thecards, the Kabbalah, or Alchemy. Artwork often
Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, the Empress,involves symbolism and the elements. The meanings
The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, Theof the cards are interpreted based on the cards
Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune,position in the spread.
Justice, the Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, TheSpreads: There are several ways to draw, or spread
Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun,the cards. It should be noted that one card could
Judgment, and the World. The Minor Arcana consistconstitute a spread.
of 56 cards, 4 suits of 14 cards each. The suits are:The Horseshoe Spread: The horseshoe is a common
swords, batons (wands), coins (disks or pentacles),spread where 7 cards are arranged in a semi-circle.
and cups.The cards read from left to right represent the past,
Meaning of Minor Arcana: The Minor Arcana resemblepresent, influences, obstacles, expectations, best
modern playing cards having ace through ten andcourse of action, and likely outcomes.
four face cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. EachThe Star Spread: The star spread starts in the lower
of the suits corresponds to the elements: coins withleft and follows the 5 points of the star. The cards
Earth, swords with air, wands with fire, and cups withrepresent what you see, what you can't, what you
water. Each of the face cards also corresponds to ancan change, what you cannot change, and what you
element: Page with Earth, Knight with air, Queen withcan expect.
water, and King with fire. The face cards of theTetractys: Ten cards are arranged in four rowed
corresponding suit (Queen of Cups or water ofpyramids. Each pyramid represents the elements:
water) are the most powerful cards.earth, air, wind, and fire. Each card has a different
Meaning of Major Arcana: The Major Arcana aremeaning, and the card at the top of the pyramid is
numbered one through 22 and have no suit. Thesethe significator.