Cult of Tarot Forum

I have always noticed that a lot of people use predefined spreads for their readings. The most famous being the Celtic Cross (which has become a kind of religion, almost a dogma). There are even books devoted to spreads.

This has always puzzled me somewhat. I've never used (as far as I remember, or perhaps in my very early days of Tarot), a predefined spread. Except for the Past/Present/Future one which I use quite often.

What is the advantage of this ? Doesn't the question itself define what the spread is to be and should therefore be new each time, as each question is new and unique ?

Which doesn't mean that on occasions we find ourselves doing similar spreads.

But it's always seemed to me that it's much better to make up a spread as needed and more spontaneously.

What are your points of view on this issue ?

I mostly read freeform asking questions and pulling cards. Sometimes a spread will show something I am missing through not asking the right questions I find the 'cross and triangle' and the 21 card block useful in this regard.

I second inomminate, I use freeform and go from there. Mostly three cards will do and then if the reading warrants it I keep asking follow up questions pulling three cards for each question till all questions have been answered. I've run through most of the deck using this method.

When I'm feeling motivated I will do a cross, or the croix spread, I like the square of nine, the council of 13, and the astrological spread. I like to keep it simple and only go for spreads when I'm motivated. The way approach spread isn't with predefined positional questions or focuses. It's mostly fluid areas to look into. I like reading directionality, and mirroring when there're lots of cards on the table.

I usually do 3 to 5 card spreads and I assign each position a meaning. The meanings I assign are directly related to my question and I make them up on the fly.

I find if I don't assign a meaning to the positions before I lay the cards down, I just can't get a cohesive reading. my mind just goes all over the place. So if one position is "what should I avoid" then the message of that card is pretty clear and can't be confused with "what do I need". There is no muddling. And then all together I have a fairly clear unambiguous answer to my question.

I used to do the Celtic Cross all the time. It really is a good spread. I would love a refresher of it or maybe some new ways to look at it. I think I learned it from a quick description in a LWB somewhere, so I suspect there is more to it than I have ever given it credit for.

I tried different versions, and I learned that I do better with spreads, but I make them up myself specifically for the situation/question. Often, I use a kind of mind map to find out what I really want and need to know, and take it from there. I like the visual aspect - from mindmap to spread. And when I start out with a bit of structure, I find it easier to spread out when reading. But I'm fascinated by freeform readers.

I have to concur with Joan Marie and Nemia. a freeform reading - to get feelings and ideas about a subject - is completely fine, of course. But with regard to any kind of specifics, one needs only to consider the question backward: let's say the reading presents the reader with intense Male Energy, or an unequivocal Yes, or deceitful machinations - how is one to know what these answers mean without clearly defined parameters? an unequivocal Yes as an answer is very different if the question is "Is he the right guy for me?" than if it's "Is he just using me until someone better comes along?" Personally, I find if the tarot is asked a hazy question it will supply a hazy answer.
that said, possibly the only workable rule of thumb is: whatever works.

I enjoy free-form readings on occasion, but I find spreads truly deliver far more possibility to dive deep. By focusing, either formally in preparation or choosing based on concept and need as mentioned above, it adds a layer or three of nuance that assist the reader from my experience.

Look at a spread such as The Blind Spot --which you can find here many places in subtle variance online, but these placements are from Raven's tarot site (Corax.com)

position cards clockwise simply like this
1 2
4 3

"Card 1 -

This is your outside appearance; what you know and others can see

Card 2 -

This is the unknown; what you're not aware of, no-one can see, but what is ruling you from the inside

Card 3 -

This is the hidden; what you know but won't show others

Card 4 -

This is the blind spot; what you can't recognize but what others see in you"

It's hard to formulate such self-assessment, and quantify a double-meaning that challenges one's emotional intelligence, when just lying cards down. Don't get me wrong, I like to do that as well, but I encourage you to grab a book of spreads (there's so many) or peruse online and simply give some structure a go.