Mystical Angels

What kind of spread do readers use for their cards in tarot reading?

How many cards does one use for one reading? What does the spread look like? Can I read myself? If not, who is safe to practice reading for? Where can I get my own set of tarot cards, or do I/can I make them myself? Sorry for all the questions ^///^ thank you in advance !

Public Comments

1. I usually go with Marmite. (Tarot is a focusing device - so it is actually best to read for yourself. The Rider-Waite and the Marseilles Tarots are the only original decks commonly available. But if you are only making a fashion statement, it doesn't really matter which deck you use).
2. you can buy them at barnes and noble, but making them would be better, because it would have your essence on them. they also have instruction books on how to read the cards etc. i used to date a pagan that did tarot readings so that's how i know.
3. I ordered my deck (Ryder-Waite) from Amazon.com because I wanted a very large deck. My cards are about 4x6 and I like that (though it took a while to get the hang of shuffling them lol). I created my own spread to accomplish my own purpose. I draw 7 cards which I view this way: the first 3 are representative of the past..the 4th is representative of the person being read and their present circumstances...the last 3 are indicative of the future. You may ask why I would tell them about the past or present since they already know that....it is because I want to establish credibility with them and with myself before I give them suggestions about their future. I tell the person I am reading for that if I am not correct in the first two parts of the reading, then they should completely ignore the last part. If I am reading someone in person, and find I am not getting the first part right, I will simply stop the reading and save us both some time....because I've made no connection with that person. I also do not use generalities but am very specific about the past and present (i.e. you had asthma as a child or you are the middle child), because I hold myself to a high standard with this. (It is not my main function as I've been a medium for 6 years, however a year ago I talked to some readers, and they got me interested in it.)
4. How many cards does one use for one reading? That depends. What is the question? How much time do you have/how in-depth do you want to go? Which deck are you using? Spreads can range anywhere between one-card spreads and 72-card spreads (yes, I've heard of spread that use the whole deck!!) Personally, I find three-card spreads to be the most convenient for quick readings but have a whole range of spreads I like that can be as few as 3 or as many as 15. What does the spread look like? A basic three-card spread can be laid out in a row or a triangle. (body-mind-spirit might be a row while Self-Spouse-Outcome might be a triangle.) There are books dedicated just to tarot spreads out there... there are just a ton of options when it comes to laying down cards! Can I read myself? If not, who is safe to practice reading for? Yes, you can read for yourself. That's probably the best practice you can get. Where can I get my own set of tarot cards, or do I/can I make them myself? You can find tarot decks for sale at most big box bookstores like Barnes and Noble, but their selection is usually rather small. Local metaphysical shops often carry a wider selection of decks and sometimes even have sample cards for you to browse through (many would also be willing to order a deck for you if they don't carry a deck you like in stock.) If you strike out at either of these types of places, there's always the internet. Plenty of places to buy tarot decks online... you might even luck out and get a used deck for cheap or even free if you check places like eBay or Craigslist. Yes, you can make your own deck, but if you are a beginner, I would not recommend it. It is helpful to know the implications and meanings of the cards before designing your own deck. If you are completely unable to get ahold of a tarot deck, you can always teach yourself how to use ordinary playing cards in a similar way. -Scarlet
5. If you are just starting out, probably best to start with the Rider-Waite deck. It's the most common one and there are tons of guidebooks available. You can get them at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, the cards and the books. Some good books to look into are Rachel Pollack's and Mary Greer's. One very commonly used spread is called the Celtic Cross. The books will have the spread and describe reading the cards in it. You can read yourself, but it is not easy! Also, when you are first starting out, it will be puzzling to figure out what the cards mean. The Celtic Cross starts with 10 cards, then you can add a few more. You can also do quick, 3 card spreads by cutting the cards into three piles and turning over to see the one on the bottom. I recommend getting either the Rider Waite or the Cosmic tarot, but preferably the RW to start, and Rachel Pollack's The Tarot Unveiled, if you want just one book to begin with. Later, you will want to get more books. Have fun, and don't take it too seriously until you get comfortable with all the meanings of the cards.