What Is a Spread?

This might be obvious to some of you, but to those of you very new to Tarot, it's definitely a topic worth covering!

Once the cards are shuffled, they are turned and spread out in such a way that each position has a distinct meaning attached to it...hence, spread (states the Master of the Obvious).   For example, three cards can be "spread" in a row, with the first indicating the Past; the second, Present; and the third, Future.  The card that falls in each position is interpreted based on that position.  Say the Five of Pentacles (a cards of difficult times and limited opportunities, to oversimplify) falls in the Past position--that would tell me that the influences of that card are on their way out.  Were that card in the Present position, the client would likely be in the midst of those influences right then and attempting to push past those obstacles.  And so it goes.

Spreads can be made up of one card (a deceptively powerful spread, by the way) to as many cards as necessary.  I find spreads of more than 12-15 cards to be a bit unwieldy, but I use them on occasion. Clarification cards can easily be added to any spread to shed additional light on hazy cards as necessary; this is simply a matter of, after the initial spread is laid out, turning over a card from the top of the deck and setting it near the questionable card to be read as an adjunct.

My next topic will involve an overview of how I read reversed cards in a spread (cards that fall upside down).  I'm a big fan of reading reversals because they automatically double the possibilities of the 78 card deck...actually, they intensify the possibilities endlessely when one considers that the same card can have countless meanings depending on where it falls in a spread.  There is so much to say about Tarot!

Deviant Moon

There are countless Tarot decks out there. While my go-to deck for client/public readings is usually the Rider-Waite-Smith (in part because the imagery is familiar to many), originally created in 1909, there are many others that I really enjoy. One of my very favorites is the Deviant Moon Tarot, created by Patrick Valenza in 2008. He took inspiration for his images from 18th century headstones, so it's fitting to give this deck a mini-tribute as Halloween looms! Below are some card images; in order, they are:  The Magician; Five of Wands; The Chariot; Two of Pentacles. The Deviant Moon cards are ingenious--dark, moody, whimsical, fantastical, unique. This deck is a true work of art, and Patrick Valenza has a companion book coming out soon, which I can't wait to get my hands on. If you're in the market for a new deck and nothing is grabbing you, take a good look at this one. I highly recommend the Deviant Moon. Click here to find it on Amazon and to see further images. These cards offer such a fresh perspective when I read with them, particularly when I read for individuals who can see the brooding beauty in shadow...

The Deviant Moon Tarot

By Patrick Valenza

© U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; 1st edition (June 24, 2008)