TAROT LAYOUTS

VERSION 3.0 - 03/25/1996

Tarot.Layouts.FAQ - complete versionFrequently Asked Questions about Tarot Layouts

Compiled by David C. Jones (djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu)Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones.

This document, in its entirety, is Copyrighted by David Clark Jones. It may be freely redistributed, in part or in whole, provided that this and the above copyright notice are not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated into any commercial product(s) without the written permission of the copyright holder. Permission is expressly granted for this document to be made available for file transfer from installations offering unrestricted anonymous file transfer on the Internet or at any Bulletin Board System which does not require a user registration fee for downloading purposes (this excludes trial membership periods). Permission is also granted for this document to be made available at any publicly accessible World Wide Web page. Printed paper copies of this document may be sold without my permission PROVIDED THAT THE SALE PRICE OF THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE COST REQUIRED TO PRINT/COPY THE DOCUMENT. (Essentially, I don't care what you do with this, as long as you're not directly making money off of the document itself.)

This document will be posted directly to the following newsgroups on the fifth day, or whenever possible, of odd numbered months: alt.magick alt.divination (news.answers pending)

I have been asked to post this document to the following newsgroups. Unfortunately, I do not have access to these groups. If anyone would like to volunteer to make the posting for me, I would greatly appreciate it: alt.tarot alt.magick.tyagi (alt.answers pending)

If you feel that there is any newsgroup not listed above which would be appropriate for, and benefit from, a regular posting of this document, please inform me via e-mail and I will include it.

The most current version of this FAQ may be obtained at the following locations: djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu http://www.io.com/user/cortese/ http://www.iii.net/users/dtking/tarot.html http://web.egr.msu.edu/~philpott/Tarot/tarot.html http://www.ionet.net/~graham/sarena.shtml

If you would like to1) Include this document in your WWW page, FTP site, or any other publicly accessible location 2) Receive updated version of this FAQ as they are made3) Have your site included in this document,

please feel free to contact me at djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu.Also, please feel free to contact me with any corrections, submissions, comments, thanks, flames, book offers, free food, etc. at the same address.

It has come to my attention that several people not on the internet have been receiving copies of this document through friends. If you are one such person (or perhaps not) and would like to receive updated copies via regular mail, or you would just like to drop me a line, my snail address is listed below. Mailed copies of the FAQ will cost $4/ea. to cover the cost of copying and mailing; there may be additional mailing

charges for persons living outside the 48 states. People who mail contributions to the FAQ will receive two updates, free of charge, if their submission is used.

David C. Jones

2428 Louise Apt #1Denton, TX 76201

ADMINISTRATIVIA

NOTE: A mailing list for new version will no longer be maintained. It is very difficult for me to do multiple e- mails on my system and it requires over an hour for me upload the FAQ for e-mail (my server does not have an option to attach files). Also, since the new FAQ is always sent to the above web sites on odd months, keeping a mailing list is redundant. The ONLY people who will receive new copies on a regular basis via e- mail are the web site maintainers and people who made new contributions to that version of the FAQ. You may still send requests to have the FAQ e-mailed, but they will only be honoured for one mailing.

Please be aware that I will be moving relatively soon. This is March posting of the FAQ, to be followed up in May, July, and September. The move will occur around the time of the July posting. At this time I expect both my e-mail and living address to change. If you receive this document during or after the latter part of July and you wish to contact me, please locate a newer version of the FAQ to ensure you have a correct address. A new version will be release after I move, even if it is only to correct this information.

"When we lay out the Tarot in the Spirit of Wisdom, we objectify the subjective, make the invisible visible and provide form for the formless. The Tarot exteriorises the interior life, it reveals the inner life like disclosing fluid." ----Naomi Ozaneic, _The Element Tarot Handbook_

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0. Who am I and how this list got started

1. General Information 1.1. Paradigm Spread (0)

2. Simple Spreads 2.1. The Line Spread (5) 2.2. Awen Spread (9) 2.3. Playing Deck Spread (21) 2.#. Pyramid Spread (21) - moved to section 32.4. Romany Spread (21) Aka Three Seven's Spread 2.5. Spread of Thirty-Six (duh) 2.6. The Waite Spreads (78)

2.6.1. The Forty-Three Card Layout 2.6.2. The Thirty-Five Card Layout

2.7. *Name Spread (variable)

3. Complex Spreads 3.1. *Action Spread (5) 3.2. Spread of the Elements (5) 3.3. Magic Seven Spread (7) 3.4. Soul Dreamers Spread (7) 3.5. Spirits of the Circle Spread (7) 3.6. Split Hexagram Spread (7) 3.7. Four Seasons Spread (8) 3.8. Hearth Spread (8) 3.9. Amanda's Fan (9) 3.10. Arianrhod Spread (9) 3.11. *Spiral Layout (10)

3.12. Tree of Life Spread (10) 3.12.1. Davis' Tree of Life 3.12.2. Doane's Tree of Life 3.12.3. Peach's Tree of Life (78) 3.12.4. Comments and Variations

3.13. Tetragrammaton Spread (10+) 3.14. Yes or No Spread (10) 3.15. The Celtic Cross (11)

3.15.1. Waite's Celtic Cross 3.15.2. Danburg's Celtic Cross 3.15.3. Peach's Celtic Cross 3.15.4. Lines within the Reading 3.15.5. Variations and Comments.

3.16. Key Spread (11) 3.17. Magic Cross Spread (13) aka Christian Cross Spread 3.18. Qabalistic Cross (14) 3.19. *Fortune Teller's Spread (15) 3.20. Thoth Spread

3.20.1. Original Thoth Spread (15) 3.20.2. Peach's Thoth Spread (16)

3.21. + Wish Spread (16) 3.22. Grand Source Spread (21) 3.23. + Pyramid Spread (21) 3.24. * Twenty-One Card Spread (21) 3.25. Magic Mirror Spread (29) 3.26. Timing Spread (39) 3.27. Life Spread (50) 3.28. Three Fans (54+) 3.29. Ladder Spread (78)

4. Astrological Layouts 4.0. Astrological Information

4.0.1. Astrological Houses 4.0.2. Planetary Symbols 4.0.3. Astrological Symbols

4.1. Planetary Spread (Peach) (8) 4.2. Four Trines Spread (12) 4.3. Twelve Houses Spread (12) 4.4. Astrological Spread (13+) 4.5. Planetary Spread (Davis) (14) 4.6. Daily Spread (15) 4.7. Sephiroth Spread (26) 4.8. Solar Spread (49)

5. General Variations 5.1. Additional Card Modifiers 5.2. Extending the Path 5.3. Rotating the Layout 5.4. Yes/No Answer 5.5. Querent Cards

5.5.1. Personality Traits 5.5.2. Astrology 5.5.3. Physical Traits 5.5.4. Open Deck 5.5.5. Random Selection 5.5.6. No Querent

6. Rituals of Meditation 6.1. Mandalas (1)

6.1.1. Daily Focus Point 6.1.2. Contemplation Ritual

6.1.3. Opening the Door 6.2. Qabalistic Cross of the Tarot Ritual (4) 6.3. Suit and Function Meditation (14) 6.4. Figure of Eight (22) 6.5. Square-Triangle Layout (78)

7. Miscellaneous Stuff 7.1. Divination w/ normal deck of playing cards (Vienneau) 7.2. * Timing information

8. + References and Thanks

9. + History of this document + indicates new information was added to this section since v2.1* indicates a totally new section in this FAQ since v2.1- indicates part of this or all of this section was removed and/or incorporated elsewhere

Some other spreads that were not part of this original document, from various sources.

0) WHO AM I AND HOW THIS LIST GOT STARTED

I am David Clark Jones, currently a student at the University of Northern Texas, Denton. I am also a beginning student of the Tarot. (I find it interesting that I say 'beginning' student. I have been studying for almost one year now, and, through this document, I have met several people who have studied tarot for 10, 15, and 20+ years. They too call themselves beginners.) Last April a friend of mine gave me a standard Rider-Waite deck as an Easter present and I immediately connected with it. I have since begun studying the more spiritual aspects of the tarot, although I do practice a little divination with the deck. As part of my studies, I found a book at my local library called _How to Read Tarot Cards_ containing twelve different layouts, which was originally the main source of information for this document. When a peer on the net and I became involved in a discussion about layouts for a program he was writing, I told him that I would type this list up and post it; I didn't really mind since I wanted to have this list on file for personal use in the future. When I was done, I figured if I was going to spend all this time typing all this information up and give it away for free that I might as well keep the list running and I always wanted to have the prestige of saying I was a FAQ maintainer (even if I am the only person impressed by that), so I decided to make it a FAQ. As stated earlier, I will be a student of the tarot for one year this April and would like to deeply thank all those who contributed. Its been a wonderful year of learning and I am only sorry I did not make the time to learn more. If for some crazy reason you would like to meet me, I will be attending Beltane in Austin. I'll be running around giving away copies of the FAQ and doing free readings. If I'm clothed, I'll be wearing a really obnoxious hawaiian shirt. My fiancee might get a dealers table where I will also be giving away copies of the FAQ, so IF she decides to run it, you should be able to find me fairly easily.

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1) GENERAL INFORMATION The very first thing that I learned about reading tarot cards after talking to another reader about the subject is that no two people really do it in quite the same way. As such, I have tried to re-write all of these layouts to be as flexible as possible, which wasn't easy or even possible in some cases, and allow you to choose which method will serve you best.

On a similar note, some of the things that I have learned and come to believe about tarot cards go directly against some of the things presented in this document. It is my intention, however, to relate information and not to pass judgement, especially since some things I disagree with may work for others. As such, I will

attempt to include any informational comments that I receive from anybody as long as it doesn't seem redundant, so please send in anything that you believe might be useful to others.

Also, I would like to keep this document directed solely towards layouts that can be used for a general deck. Some decks, like a healers deck, often will have their own layouts, but such a layout would probably not have any significance when used with a general deck. However, I have included layouts which came from the Thoth deck, Druid Animal deck, and the Witch's Tarot since their divinatory interpretations are not restricted specifically to those decks. If your not sure, just send it to me anyway; it can't hurt. Finally, if you see this document in one of the newsgroups to which it is 'indirectly' posted (see top of document), this means that I don't have access to that newsgroup. If you see this document there, please do not post follow-up articles to me in that newsgroup; I will never see them. Please send all comments/suggestion/etc. to djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu

It should be emphasized right now that this document is not really designed for a reader who is just starting to learn. This isn't to say that it is designed only for 'experts', but you should at least understand how to use one of the layouts listed below so that you can compare my explanations to your knowledge and then use that comparison as a key for understanding the other layouts. In short, I'm not going to baby-step you through these things. If I label a card as an environment card, you should have a vague idea what that means. The following section explains how each layout is presented.

1.1 PARADIGM SPREAD (0) (REFERENCES)

Each spread will have a title and then a number, in parenthesis, indicating the number of cards traditionally used in this reading. Cards in the layout themselves will be represented by numbers, except that the Querent card (also known as the Significant and other similar names) may be shown by the letter Q. Single digit numbers may have a zero placed in front of them for formatting purposes. If room permits, cards that are associated with one another will be connected with lines.

Layout: This section will show in text graphics, and perhaps describe, how this particular layout looks.

Deal: This is the order in which the cards are traditionally dealt for this layout. I would like to emphasize the word traditional. In a few of these layouts the card ordering does not appear to make any sense, so if something seems to work better for you I see no reason why you shouldn't do it. Also, sometimes readers will intentionally alter the order of the deal if they have a premonition to do so.

Reading: This explains what each card in the layout represents

Variations: This will list any variations in the readings that this particular spread may have.

Comments: Miscellaneous comments about this layout that don't fit in any of the above categories.

Throughout a spread, you may also find names in parenthesis to indicate the reference(s) used for that section.

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2) SIMPLE SPREADS

The most important layout in this section is Line Spread. The Line Spread is the easiest and most simple spread to understand; if you are just learning the Tarot, this is good one start with. It should be noted that most of the rest of the layouts for tarot decks can be traced back to this layout. Most layouts, even the 'complex' ones, are merely a series of line spreads which interlock in some fashion or another. Even though this is a very simple layout to perform and understand, it is also probably the most important one to be able to understand since it allows you to see how cards will relate to one another.

The remaining layouts in this section are all spreads which contain several line spreads put together, with each line having a different meaning. There are a few spreads in the Astrology section which also belong in this category, but I felt it was more appropriate to put them there than to try to introduce them here.

2.1) THE LINE SPREAD (5)

Layout:[5] [4] [3] [2] [1]

Deal: Right to Left

Reading:Cards 4 and 5 represent the futureCard 3 represents the presentCards 1 and 2 represent the past

Variation: A simple, and very commonly used, variation of the Five Card Spread works as follows: instead of placing two cards on each side of the present card, place three our four, yielding a seven or nine card spread (or go higher if you wish). The further you get from the center card, the further into the past/future you are looking.

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2.2) AWEN SPREAD (9) (CARR-GOMM)

Layout:

C1 C2 C3[1] [4] [7] - Row 1[2] [5] [8] - Row 2[3] [6] [9] - Row 3

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: The three columns (C1 - C3) represent the past, present, and future, respectively. In each row, cards are interpreted as follows:

Row 1: Cause, dynamic, impulse, guiding idea, or motive being a situation or event.Row 2: Effect of first card at the emotional, social, or relationship level.Row 3: Effect of first card at the physical level of manifestation.

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2.3) PLAYING DECK SPREAD (21) (VIENNEAU)

Layout:

[01] [02] [03][04] [05] [06][07] [08] [09][10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15][16] [17] [18][19] [20] [21]

Deal: Shuffle the pack and choose a Querent card. Cut the pack into three decks, one each to signify the past (left), present (middle), and future (right). Have the Querent pick one pack. Indicate which deck is which please!

Reading:Row 1: Situation, State of mind

Row 2: Family, RelationshipsRow 3: Hopes, Wishes, and DreamsRow 4: Long-term expectationsRow 5: Unexpected eventsRow 6: Immediate DevelopmentsRow 7: Long-term results

Comment 1: Although it suggested to choose a Querent card, there is no mention of its location in the layout. Also, no directions are given if the chosen deck is cut too short. Use your own discretion.

Comment 2: This is called the 'Playing Deck' spread because this is the layout which Vienneau included in his post about fortune telling with a regular deck of playing cards. (See Section 7.1)

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2.4) ROMANY SPREAD (21) (PEACH) THREE SEVENS SPREAD (DOANE)

Layout:[21] [20] [19] [18] [17] [16] [15] - Future[14] [13] [12] [11] [10] [09] [08] - Present[07] [06] [05] [04] [03] [02] [01] - Past

Deal: Right to Left, Bottom upwards as numbered above

Reading: Each row represents events or influences for the time period indicated. Adjacent card in the same row modify one another. Ordering of cards in a row are not necessarily significant.

Variation 1: One variation of this reading is that the middle card of each row (18, 11, and 04) should represent the most significant event of the time period shown. This makes cards farther out on the edges of the row (21, 15, 14, etc.) less significant. (Doane)

Variation 2: Peach has reversed the order of the rows and the order of the deal. This makes card 1 in the upper left and dealing proceeds to the right and down, card 21 in the lower right, the top row the past, and the bottom row the future.

Variation 3: One variation, which also applies to the other rectangle shaped layouts listed below, is that cards in the same column may influence each other.

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2.5) SPREAD OF THIRTY-SIX (DOANE)

Layout: six rows of six 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 – Future 12 11 10 09 08 07 – Present 06 05 04 03 02 01 – Past

Deal: Left to Right, Bottom up

Reading:The first three rows should be read from right to left, bottom up. Each of these rows are associated with their own time interval as shown above. Cards whose sum total 37 are related. Card 36 should be used to either modify, clarify, or gain more information about the details of card 1. Similarly, card 35 modifies card 2, and so on.

Variations: See 2.4 Variation 3.

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2.6) THE WAITE SPREADS (78)

The following two layouts come from the Waite book and are meant to be used in conjunction with one another. The forty-three card spread is offered as a regular method of divination while the thirty-five card spread is meant to be used only if part of the first spread is unclear or left in doubt. In keeping with the flexibility of this document, I see no reason why the thirty-five card spread could not be used on its own nor why it could not be used in conjunction with other layouts to resolve similar ambiguities, but these are merely my assertions and not those of Waite himself.

2.6.1) THE FORTY-THREE CARD LAYOUT (43)

Layout:07 06 05 04 03 02 01 Q - 1st line14 13 12 11 10 09 08 - 2nd line21 20 19 18 17 16 15 - 3rd line28 27 26 25 24 23 22 - 4th line35 34 33 32 31 30 29 - 5th line42 41 40 39 38 37 36 - 6th line

Deal: I include this method of dealing only for those who are interested in ritual. I, personally, see no point in it. This passage is lifted directly from the Waite book:

Shuffle the entire pack and turn some of the cards round, so as to invert their tops. Let them be cut by the Querent with his left hand. Deal out the first forty-two cards in six packets of seven cards each, face upwards, so that the first seven cards form the first packet, the following seven the second, and so on-as in the following diagram: --

[6th packet] [5th packet] [4th packet] [3rd pack] [2nd] [1st]

Take up the first packet; lay out the cards on the table in a row, from right to left; place the cards of the second packet upon them and then the packets which remain. You will thus have seven new packets of six cards each, arranged as follows –

[7th packet] [6th pack] [5th] [4th] [3rd] [2nd] [1st]

Take the top card of each packet, shuffle them and lay out from right to left, making a line of seven cards. Then, take up the two next cards from each packet, shuffle and lay them out in tow lines under the first. Take up the remaining twenty-one cards of the packets, shuffle and lay them out in three lines below the others.

You will thus have six horizontal lines of seven cards each, arranged after the following manner. [Same as above layout w/out card Q]

Reading: The Querent card (Q in the diagram) is always the Magician (Trump 1) if male or the High Priestess (Trump 2) if female. This card is to be pulled out of the layout and placed in position Q; Then, pull a random card out of the remainder deck to replace the card. If this card in not in the layout, pull it from the remainder deck. Cards are read numerically as shown

Variation: See 2.4 Variation 3.

Comment 1: No explanation is given as to how to interpret any of the cards other than all the cards should be harmonized (really, as should be done for any reading). In short, use your own intuition.

Comment 2: Waite suggest that this method be used when "no definite question is asked". In other words, this is a spread that is good for just a general reading but, Waite goes on to note that the reading can be used even the querent specifies a time span for the reading.

Comment 3: This layout does not have a known name. Waite merely titled the section "An Alternative Method of Reading the Tarot Cards."

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2.6.2) THE THIRTY-FIVE CARD LAYOUT

Layout:07 06 05 04 03 02 01 - line 113 12 11 10 09 08 - line 218 17 16 15 14 - line 322 21 20 19 - line 424 23 - line 535 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 - line 6

Waite does not specify any pattern in which the layout must be setup, other than each packet (see below) be dealt in a line. Therefore, you need not follow the above diagram; an aesthetically pleasing variant might be center each row about a vertical axis causing lines one thru five to form an upside-down pyramid and line six to be a very broad base. No method of line ordering is given either, so these may be swapped around so long as each line retains its meaning once moved, although the above line ordering would probably be best to use to maintain consistency with the previous layout.

Deal: Take up the 42 cards from the previous spread an put them in one pile to the side. Place the querent card on top and upright. Take the 35 cards constituting the remainder pile. Shuffle and cut as before. Divide into six packets as follows: Packet 1 containing the first seven cards, Packet 2 containing the next six cards, Packet 3 containing the next five cards, Packet 4 having four cards, Packet 5 having two cards, and Packet 6 having the last eleven cards. As before, packet one should be on the right and continuing numerically leftward. Take each packet in turn and deal each one into its own line.

Reading:Line 1 - House, EnvironmentLine 2 - Querent, Subject of the divinationLine 3 - Events and Persons passing on the outsideLine 4 - Surprises, the unexpectedLine 5 - Consolidation. May also moderate the unfavorable cards of previous lines.Line 6 - "...that which must be consulted to elucidate the enigmatic oracles of the others; apart from them it has no importance." - Waite (whatever the hell he meant)

Each line should be read from right to left.

Comment: Waite does not specifically state that cards from each packet should be dealt from right to left. I have assumed that he meant as such since this would be consistent with everything else in the previous layout.

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2.7) NAME LAYOUT (VARIABLE) (KAPLAN/SOTO)

Layout:Layout consists of three rows, one row for each for the querent's first, middle, and last name. In each row, deal the same number of cards as there are in that part of the person's name. In the example below, I use Robin Edwin Southworth.

R O B E R T1 2 3 4 5 6 - Past| Remote | Transition | Recent |

E D W I N7 8 9 10 11 – Present| Influence | Key | Influence || on others | | of others |

S O U T H W O R T H12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 - Future| feelings | goals | future | influences | outcome | Deal: Deal as described above. If the querent doesn't not have middle name, repeat the first name on the second row. The first and second rows must have at least three cards. If the person's name does not have at least three letters deal three cards anyway. Similarly, the last name must contain five cards. For example: If you did a reading on Harry S Truman, you would have 5, 3, & 6 in each of the three rows. If you did a reading on William Howard Taft, you would have 7, 6, & 5.

Reading:

Each row is divided into sections. The first two rows have three sections while the last has five. The middle card(s) in each row is the key card(s).

The first row represents the influences and past experiences of the Querent. To the left of the key card there are the remote past influences cards, which represent the substrate of the Querent's life. To the right of the key card there are the recent influences cards, which represent influences from last months, weeks or even days ago. The key card represents very near influences, that may not have ended their action yet.

The middle row refers to the actual influences. To the left of the key card there are the influences the Querent exercises on the people near him. The cards may also show impressions or opinion of others on the Querent. To the right of the key card there are the influences or pressures that others exercise on the Querent. The key card shows the structure and environment in which the Querent lives and works right now.

The last row refers to the future and the final answer. To the left there are the inner emotions and specific goals of the Querent. To the right, the future influences or the spheres of influence that may appear in a near future. To the rightmost part there's the final result of the influences shown on the rest of the cards. The key card shows the future the Querent is just entering in. This card may show obstacles to pass or the moments, good luck or the progress towards a goal the Querent is trying to reach.

This layout also contains a very interesting aspect: the Age card. This card is obtained with the Querent's age and it's very important. For example, if our Querent is 18 year-old, you will count from card number 1 until you reach the 18th card (in this example, the 2nd "O" in Southworth). If the Querent were 29, the Age card would be the "D" in Edwin. This Age card is very strong and of great influence. Its meaning is a very important key for the understanding of the past, present and future of the Querent.

Comment 1: The formatting of the layout in the original e-mail became messed up after importing the document. I think I got it right since it looks consistent with the text, but I still need to double check it.

Comment 2: Although the reading stated that each line is divided into sections, no specific method is given, although from the example it can be implied that each section should be as equal in length as possible.

Comment 3: No mention is made about what to do for people with multiple middle names. My fiancee comes from former European royalty and by tradition her full name is Dawn Lee Elizabeth Katherine Danes Barnard. As always, use your own discretion.

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3) COMPLEX SPREADS

3.1) ACTION SPREAD (5) (MORISON)

Layout: 1 5

2 43

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:

Card 1: The question itself, important aspects of the question.Card 2: Past Events.Card 3: How the querent has reacted to the matter or character strength which are more relevant to the matter.Card 4: EnvironmentCard 5: Solution to problem.

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3.2) SPREAD OF THE ELEMENTS (5) (CARR-GOMM)

Layout: N W Q E S Deal: Querent, East, South, West, North

Reading: Use to gain insight into aspects of the self which need balancing or development.

Card Q: QuerentEast: Intellectual or Mental LifeSouth: Sensual and/or Instinctual LifeWest: Emotional LifeNorth: Intuitive and/or Spiritual Life

Variations: As different people have different mappings from the directions to the elements, how you choose to interpret each position may alter accordingly.

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3.3) MAGIC SEVEN SPREAD (7) (DOANE)

Layout: 1

/ \ 5---/-----\---6 \ / \ / X 7 X / \ / \ 3---\-----/---2 \ / 4 Deal: Numerically as shown above.

Reading:

Card 1: Past event leading up to the present stateCard 2: The present stateCard 3: Immediate futureCard 4: Suggested Solution, what the querent should do to obtain more control over the current situationCard 5: The current environment and/or its affect on the matterCard 6: OppositionCard 7: Result

Variation 1: Change the following cards (Davis) Card 4: Issue to be dealt withCard 5 and 6: Opportunity and limitation (these positions flip, use your intuition as to which is which in a given reading)

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3.4) SOUL DREAMERS SPREAD (7) (SILBURY)

Layout: ---------------- / \ / \ [5] /[2] \ [6] \ [1] [3] | \ / / \------- [4] / / - [7] /

Layout: X X X X X X X X X X X 5 X X 2 X The X’s are for placement X 1 6 X X 4 X X 3 X X X X 7 X X X X X X X X X X X

The cards should be placed such that they create an outward clockwise spiral

Deal: Select card 1 as you would a querent card. Shuffle the deck and deal numerically as shown Reading: This reading is intended to help one understand a dream's message or meaning.

Card 1 - Key. Choose a card the represents the dream situation or your feelings about the dream.Card 2 - Dream Situation. Tells something about the dream's events, such as when where, how, and why.Card 3 - Energy Within. Primary energy of the dream.Card 4 - Conscious Meaning. What the dream means to you in 'walking life.'Card 5 - Subconscious Meaning. What the dream means to you on an inner psychic level.Card 6 - Serpent Energy. When energy is needed to cause the dream to manifest physically, if you desire, or to solve the dream's dilemma.Card 7 - Outcome. How the dream will manifest and its effects.

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3.5) SPIRITS OF THE CIRCLE SPREAD (7) (CARR-GOMM) Layout:[2] [7] [4] [1][5] [6] [3]

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:

Card 1: QuerentCard 2: Spirit of the Ancestors - influence of family elders Card 3: Spirit of the Tribe - influence of cultureCard 4: Spirit of TimeCard 5: Spirit of Place - influence of birthplace and residenceCard 6: Spirit of the Journey - influence of previous livescard 7: Awen - gifts/blessings/graces of the gods or nature

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3.6) SPLIT HEXAGRAM SPREAD (7) (KRAIG) Layout: 1-----2 \ /

\ / 3 7 6 / \ / \

4-----5

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:

Cards 1 & 2: Unknown spiritual influences. Card 1 will have a stronger affect than Card 2Card 3: Spiritual advice for the matterCard 4: Unconscious desiresCard 5: Conscious desiresCard 6: Practical adviceCard 7: Final outcome if you proceed with matter at this time.

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3.7) FOUR SEASONS SPREAD (8) (CORTESE/REED) Layout:

34 6

1 52 8

7 Deal: Numerically as shown. Reading:Card 1: Dominant for Spring, symbolizing the conception or initiation of an action or ambition, the planting of the seed, so to speak. The modifier for spring is card 8.

Card 2: Modifier for Card 3.

Card 3: Dominant for Summer, symbolizing the progression of a plan, the way in which an idea will flower. The modifier for summer is card 2.

Card 4: Modifier for Card 5.

Card 5: Dominant for Autumn, symbolizing the resolution of the plan, how events will "wind themselves up." The modifier for autumn is card 4.

Card 6: Modifier for Card 7.

Card 7: Dominant for Winter, symbolizing the period of reflection after an action or plan has been completed, or what the querent may wish to learn from the progression of events. The modifier for winter is card 6.

Card 8: Modifier for Card 1.

Comment 1: "This spread is used to examine motivations for plans or ambitions. The cards are arranged so as to call to mind the progression of the seasons and also the progression of any action or plan through the four stages of conception, progression, resolution, and reflection." – Cortese

Comment 2: Cortese obtained this spread from Ellen Cannon Reed's _The Witches Tarot_.

Comment 3: Since the cards are not read in the order in which they are laid out, it may be best to lay out the cards face down before the reading, and turn them over one-at-a-time as they are read. I prefer to turn over the dominant for a given season, then turn over the modifier for that season; I usually interpret these two cards before I progress to the next season. However, this is simply a matter of personal taste for me; I heartily encourage you to turn and read the cards in what ever fashion with which you feel most comfortable.

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3.8) HEARTH SPREAD (8) (CARR-GOMM) Layout: 8 7 1 2 6 5 3 4 Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:Cards 1 & 2: East - Perceived - way querent perceives the issueCards 3 & 4: South - Observed - way others perceive the issueCards 5 & 6: West - Desired - way querent wishes issue to beCards 7 & 8: North - Potential - way issue could be Variation: Meanings may vary with individual interpretations of the four directions.

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3.9) AMANDA'S FAN (9) (DAVIS) Layout: 4 3 5 6 78 1 9 Card 2 is laid across Card 1 as in a Celtic CrossCards 3-7 are an arch above the line of cards shown; it should look like a fan

Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:1. Questioner2. Crossing3. Foundation4. Past5. Present6. Future7. Outcome8. Inner Influences9. Outer Influences Comment 1: Named after the person Davis was talking to when developed.

Comment 2: "This is obviously based on the Celtic Cross and Sword; it was developed because we were both dissatisfied with the Celtic Cross--it just didn't *flow* logically. So I reworked it." (Davis)

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3.10) ARIANRHOD SPREAD (9) (CARR-GOMM) Layout: 3 2 4 9 1 5 8 6 7Cards 2 - 9 should be arranged in a circular pattern with card 1 in the center. Card 2 represents the NW, Card 3 N, etc.

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: Position two represents the beginning of the Druid New Year, also known as Samhuinn (or Samhain), a traditional time when this spread is used. The sequence of eight cards is generally viewed as a one-year cycle, but may be used for other time cycles as well. Relationships between cards are seen as if a web connects each card to the center and a circle connects the outside ring. Thus card 3 is related to cards 2 and 4 while cards 3, 1, and 7 will form a line.

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3.11) SPIRAL LAYOUT (10) (BIGGS) Layout:7 6 81 Q5 9 2 4 3 5 overlaps Q in the center

Deal: Lay out the cards with Q first and then numerically.

Reading:

Q: The Querent1: Foundation: What the querent's current situation is built on. 2: Past Actions: Actions that the querent has taken in the past that have contributed to the current situation.3: Past Emotions: The querent's emotional status in the past4: Past Outside Influences: Other peoples actions/emotions that have affected the querent's situation.

5: Current Position: Where the querent stands now in relationship to the situation.6: Future Outside Influences: Others actions/emotions that will affect the querent.7: Future Emotions: Emotions the querent should watch out for in the future.8: Future Actions: Actions that the querent may take in the future.9: Outcome: The foreseen outcome of the situation.

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3.12) TREE OF LIFE SPREAD (10)

Layout: / 1 \

/ | \ 3----+----2 | \ | / | 5--\-+-/--4 |\ \|/ /| | \ 6 / | | / | \ | 7----+----8 \ | / \ 9 / | 10

Deal: Numerically as shown Readings:

3.12.1) DAVIS' TREE OF LIFE 10) Present9) Inner guidance, intuition8) Masculine -- intellectual inspiration7) Feminine -- beauty of self, inspiration, passion6) Soul as it should be--mutation & learning experience5) Building the corner-stone of cosmocity within the self4) Testing ground -- things to let go of3) Unmanifest knowledge (fancy talk which means 'secrets')2) Bridge to higher cosmos1) Where your next stage of development will lead you.

3.12.2) DOANE'S TREE OF LIFE Cards 3, 5, and 7 make up the Tree of Evil or the unfavorable treeCards 2, 4, and 8 make up the Tree of Good or the favorable treeRemaining cards are outcome cards. Card 1: Spiritual outcomeCard 2: Influence of WisdomCard 3: Influence of IntelligenceCard 4: Influence of Justice (and the quest of it)Card 5: Influence of MercyCard 6: Love of Beauty, Love, and LifeCard 7: Desire for VictoryCard 8: Influence of SplendorCard 9: EnvironmentCard 10: Physical Power or Material Outcome

3.12.3) PEACH'S TREE OF LIFE (78) After dealing, repeat the deal again and continue to do so until all 78 cards are used. Select a Querent card for the querent. Whichever pile the Querent card lies in will tell the main subject of the reading.

Pile 1: Inner Spiritual QuestPile 2: Personal InitiativePile 3: Sorrows and BurdensPile 4: Financial GainsPile 5: Enemies and DiscordsPile 6: Glory and FamePile 7: LovePile 8: Business and CommunicationsPile 9: Mental and Physical HealthPile 10: Home

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3.12.4) COMMENTS AND VARIATIONS

Comment 1: It is interesting to note that in all three tarot layouts I have seen that the numbers 4 and 5 are swapped although the meanings for those positions do not change. Conversely, in most books I have seen about the Tree of Life the tree is numbered as above. I chose the numbering above because it is more consistent with the studies of the Tree of Life and also because the sequence 2, 4, 8, that it forms on the right hand side of the tree makes more sense from a numerological perspective. Choose whichever ordering suits you best, but remember that it will only affect the order of the deal and not the interpretation of the card for that position.

Comment 2: Those with a background in Qabalism and/or the Tree of Life may find better meanings and/or other relationships between the cards and will probably be able to use this layout better. Since each position in the tree of life may encompass several meanings, it probably wouldn't hurt to consider all the meanings given above for each position in the tree, for they are all valid interpretations. For those who do not have a great deal of knowledge about the subject, I offer the following meanings for each position on the tree that may help you further, but by no means does this supplement proper study of the subject (Ozaniec):

10. Malkuth...The Kingdom...the situation now9. Yesod...The Foundation...inner guidance, intuition8. Hod...Splendor...Masculine: intellectual inspiration7. Netzach... Victory ...Feminine: beauty of self, inspiration, passion6. Tiphareth... Beauty soul as it should be--mutation and learning experience5. Geburah...Seveity...testing ground: things to let go of4. Chesed....Mercy...building the corner-stone of cosmocity within the self3. Binah... Understanding ...unmanifest knowledge2. Chokmah...Wisdom....bridge to higher cosmos1. Keter...The Crown...where your next stage of development will lead you.

Comment 3: Davis attributes this layout to Ly Warren-Clark.

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3.13) TETRAGRAMMATON SPREAD (10+) (PEACH) Layout:Heh Vau Heh Yod etc. 15 14 1312 11 10 09 08 07

06 05 04 03 02 01 Deal and Reading:Shuffle. Have the Querent cut the deck once to the left. Have the querent take the deck on his left and cut it again, once to the left. Have the querent take the deck on his right and cut it again, once to the right. Turn over the top card of each deck. Each of the four cards will represent one of the letters of the Tetragrammaton shown above. Read them accordingly.

Next search each pack until you find the Querent card. Do not take the Querent card out of nor change its position in that deck. Discard the remaining three decks. Begin dealing the cards of the selected deck from right to left, bottom up, into rows of six, until the deck is depleted. If the Querent card is not surrounded on all four sides, have the reader choose one card randomly from the discarded piles and place it such that it properly covers the Querent card. Begin by reading the cards which surround the Querent card.

Next, each card in the deck is assigned a numerical value (more commonly called its 'rank'). The Querent card is assigned the value of four. Proceed by reading the card four cards away from the querent. If you run out of cards, wrap around to the first card dealt. After reading that card, skip the number of cards away that the value of the current card indicates (i.e. if the current card is the seven of wands, the next card will be the one seven spaces away). Continue to read cards and skip in this manner until you come upon a card you have already read. Skip values for court cards are: Page - 7, All others - 4.

Skip values for Major Arcana are:

3 - Fool, Hanged Man, Judgement9 - Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Wheel of Fortune, Tower, Sun, World12 - Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Justice, Death, Temperance, Devil, Star, Moon

Finally, the entire layout is read as follows. The first two columns on the right represent past events. The middle two columns represent events of the present. The last two columns, the future.

Comment: Peach's book does an extremely poor job of explaining what the Tetragrammaton is and really doesn't seem to understand its significance. Rather than use her convoluted explanation (which would take up a couple of pages anyway), I include two excerpts below from Naomi Ozaniec's book for the benefit of those who have not studied the subject.

Yod - Signifies the open hand of man. It implies power, direction, skill, and dexterity. The open hand symbolizes beneficence, a sign of the Supreme Spirit.

Heh - Signifies a window which permits light and two way vision.

Vau - Signifies a nail which joins things together creating union. Grammitcally it is used like _and_ to join phrases together. It is very close in concept to the sanskrit 'yoga' which means union.

Heh - Represents the end result of the process. Yod Element of Fire Primal EmanationHeh Element of Water TransmissionVau Element of Air StabilizationHeh Element of Earth Consolidation

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3.14) YES OR NO SPREAD (10) (PEACH)

Layout: +-----+5 9 |Q | 4 8 | +-----+ Q | | | 1 +--| 1 | 7 3 | |6 2 +-----+

Card 1 partially overlaps, but does not cross, the Querent as shown Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:Card 1 - Called the 'answering card'. If upright, the answer to the question was yes; if reversed, no. Also the outcome card for the reading.

Cards 2 & 3 - 'Helpful' Influences. Reasons the outcome will occur.

Cards 4 & 5 - Querent's thoughts regarding the matter

Cards 6 & 7 - 'Adverse' Influence. Things that are working against the outcome

Card 8 & 9 - Querent's feelings regarding the matter

Comment 1: Peach suggests the cards be read in the following order: 1, 2&3, 6&7, 4&5, 8&9

Comment 2: Note that 'helpful' and 'adverse' influences are always with respect to the outcome shown in card 1. Thus if the answer comes up no, cards 2 & 3 will be aiding that outcome and not necessarily aiding the querent.

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3.15) THE CELTIC CROSS (11) Layout: 10 03 09 06 1Q2 05 04 08 07 Note that card 1 is placed directly on top of, and therefore concealing, the Querent card. Also note that card 2 is placed across (or perpendicular) and on top of card 1, as the diagram on the right not-so-vividly demonstrates.

All comments in the 'Reading' sections will refer to this diagram. Ignore alterations in the dealing pattern when cross referencing with this diagram.

3.15.1) WAITE'S CELTIC CROSS Deal: Numerically as shown.

Reading:Card 1 - Influences, atmosphere.Card 2 – ObstaclesCard 3 - Often called the crowning card. May have one or more of several meanings: 3a - Highest state the querent can achieve in the matter 3b - Highest perception the querent has in the matter 3c - What the querent wishes to achieveCard 4 - Often called the base card. It represents foundations or possessions of the querent. Events that have already passed.Card 5 – PastCard 6 - Future InfluencesCard 7 - Attitude or position in the matterCard 8 - House, EnvironmentCard 9 - Hopes or Fears

Card 10 - Future Events

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3.15.2) DANBURG'S CELTIC CROSS Deal: Reverse Cards 3 and 4. Reverse Cards 5 and 6. Reading: (These are all lifted from the alt.tarot FAQ) 1. Where the querent is at the time of the reading.2. What holds the querent where they are.3. How the querent has been thinking about the question.4. Base of the question - why it is being asked.5. Near future6. Recent past7. What the querent has to bring to the situation.8. What the situation has to offer the querent.9. Querent's innermost hopes and/or fears.10. Final outcome of the situation, unless deliberately changed.

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3.15.3) PEACH'S CELTIC CROSS Deal: Card 3 is in the top position. Card 4, left. Card 5, down. Card 6, right. Reading:Card 1 - What is on the Querent's mind.Card 2 - ObstaclesCard 3 - PastCard 4 - Immediate futureCard 5 - Far futureCard 6 - PresentCards 7-10 - Same as Waite.

3.15.4) LINES WITHIN THE READING This section is taken from memory, out of a book. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I originally saw it (sorry). If you use the Waite method, there are four lines, or associations of cards, that exist in this layout. Similar lines may be constructed from the other Celtic Cross layouts shown here.

Cards 5, 1, 2, 6; Time: This sequence follows an obvious pattern from past to present to future

Cards 10, 3, 6; Future: These three cards all essentially project into the future. Sharing information between these cards can yield more specific details

Cards 7, 8, 4, 6; Influences: Cards 7, 8, and 4 all represent things which influence the querent with respect to the question. It is through the combination of these influences that the outcome shown in card 6 may be achieved or avoided.

Cards 4, Q, 2, 3: I have not seen a good qualifier to describe the relationship between these cards, but it generally goes like this: The querent would like to achieve (or can achieve) what is depicted in card 3, but certain influences (card 2) prevent him/her from doing so. However, the querent does have the proper resources (card 4) to overcome the obstacle. This line can vary depending upon which interpretation you use for card 4.

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3.15.5) VARIATIONS AND COMMENTS.

Variation 1: Sometimes cards 7 thru 10 are placed on the other end (the left side) of the cross. Again, this could alter the interpretations of the groupings stated in 3.15.4.

Variation 2: I have seen the Celtic Cross done locally (& it seems to be a local variant) with 3 cards allotted to each position in the "pillar" to the side of the central cross (i.e. positions 7 - 10). This means that there are 12 cards to work with, as opposed to the usual 4; it can be quite useful. (Smith)

Comment: I have seen a few different (and occasionally contradicting) methods of determining whether the obstacle card (card 2) is upright or reversed. Use your own discretion.

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3.16) KEY SPREAD (11) (EFRAN) Layout: 2 4 61 8 9 10 3 5 7 11 Row 2-4-6 and Row 3-5-7 should touch creating a stagger. Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:Card 1: Querent & position in relation to your question/situation.

Cards 2 - 7: These cards are arranged into 3 pairs (2 & 3, 4 & 5, 6 & 7). Each pair represents a conflict between two opposing influences, factors, people, opinions, etc. The interpretation will depend on the question, but the conflicts tend to be problems or obstacles the querent faces. You may want to choose one option in a pair over the other, or attempt to reconcile the two, or simply recognize that a conflict exists.

Card 8: Past

Card 9: Present

Card 10: Future -- where things are headed. This could be the future if no action is taken, or the desired future, or the future if some specific action is taken. You could try adding a card between 9 and 10 to represent the action or decision that will lead to card 10's future, or have several 'future' cards for various possible outcomes (two would be reasonable). If you are comfortable with a single card 'prediction' of the future, the layout is probably ok as is.

Card 11 (Optional): A summary of the reading, or a final comment on the situation, or advice, or a clarification of cards 8-10 if they are unclear. I don't always use this card -- I have found that it generally doesn't clarify things much. (See card 10 for other things to put here instead.) I feel that there should be a card here, because then the layout is shaped roughly like a key (hence the name), which in my opinion looks cool. I suspect the layout would look unbalanced without a card here. [ed. note: 'I' refers to Efran who made the layout]

Comment 1: "Here's the Tarot layout I use, one I invented (as far as I know). I developed the basics of the layout very soon after I became interested in the Tarot (I didn't think much of the standard ones), but I'm still working on it. It's not meant to be primarily predictive. Instead, it's intended to help the querent examine their question in a new light. (For this reason, it's a reasonable layout for self-readings, if you do them.) There are predictive elements, but I tend to use them rather broadly." – Efran

Comment 2: Since this is an ad hoc layout made by a beginner (at least a beginner at the time) there is obviously a lot of flexibility and room to play with. With a good interpretation for card 11 and maybe by extending the line (section 5.2) this could become interesting.

Comment 3: When doing a reading with this layout, I generally ask the querent to interpret the cards with respect to their question. I offer suggestions based on the standard meanings of the cards, or new meanings that suggest themselves in light of the relationships between cards, but ultimately the querent knows the facts of the situation they're asking about, and they can best align those facts with the cards. (I tend to use cards whose meanings are obvious, like the Rider-Waite-Smith deck or the new Robin Wood deck.) I generally like to discuss each card or group of cards with the querent, but if they feel they understand the meanings and don't want to share their interpretations with me, that's fine too.

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3.17) MAGIC CROSS SPREAD (DOANE) AKA CHRISTIAN CROSS SPREAD (13)

Layout: 06 0701 02 03 04 05 08 09 10 11 12 13 Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:Left Branch: The pastCard 3: The presentLower Branch: The futureRight Branch: ObstaclesUpper Branch: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.

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3.18) QABALISTIC CROSS (14) (PEACH)

Layout:

08 09 10 01 02 03 Q4 05 06 07 11 12 13 Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:It is suggested that the cards in this spread be read in the order shown below

Card 4 - Querent's state of mindCards 13, 12, 11 - Past, with 13 being the farthest back in timeCards 1, 2, 3 – PresentCards 10, 9, 8 - Future, with 8 being farthest in timeCards 5, 6, 7 - Feelings of others involved in the matter

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3.19) FORTUNE TELLER'S SPREAD (15) (MORISON)

Layout:

05 04 0614 13 15 02 01 03 11 10 12 08 07 09Deal: Numerically as shownReading:Cards 1- 3) To You: OutcomeCards 4- 6) At head: Querent's ThoughtsCards 7- 9) At feet: Things you control, possible choicesCards 10-12) By side: Things which give you strengthCards 13-15) Surprise: Things not known to querent or overlooked

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3.20) THOTH SPREAD (15) Layout: 13 09 05 04 08 12 02 01 0314 10 06 07 11 15 Deal: Numerically as shown [Back to contents]

3.20.1) ORIGINAL THOTH SPREAD Reading:Cards 2,1,3: Nature of querent and questionCards 13,9,5: First Possible outcomeCards 4,8,12: Second Possible outcomeCards 14,10,6: "Psychological commentary" on the whole spread Cards 7,11,15: Factors beyond the control of the querent.

Comment: This is called the Thoth Spread as it is the spread that comes with the Thoth deck.

3.20.2) PEACH'S THOTH SPREAD

Deal: Use the same deal, but add a Querent card underneath card 1.

Reading:It is suggested that the cards be read order described belowCard 1: Querent's primary concernCards 2, 3: Further depth into problem and/or Querent's characterCards 14,10,6: Background, how the querent came into the situationCards 7,11,15: Activities of other people in the situationCards 4,8,12: How the problem will progress, harmonize w. 7,11,15.Cards 13,9,5: Possible alternative actions

If two cards in set 7,11,15 are Major Arcana then the progression given in set 4,8,12 cannot be changed, otherwise the querent has the power to alter the situation via events in set 13,9,5. If two Major Arcana appear, set 13,9,5 indicate either how a bad outcome can be lessened or how a good outcome may be assisted.

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3.21) WISH SPREAD (16) (DOANE) Layout: 6 5 4 3 2 1 Q 9 8 7 15 14 13 12 11 10 Q - Querent card Deal: Select a card to represent the querent. Shuffle and cut deck. Deal numerically as shown.

Reading:It is suggested that this reading be used if the querent has a specific wish that s/he would like to happen, hence the name.

Each group of three cards has its own significance

Group 1: EnvironmentGroup 4: Description of querent's wishGroup 7: OppositionGroup 10: Factors that will enter into this matterGroup 13: Realizations of the querent (usually in the future)

The nine of cups is often called the wish card. If this card should turn up anywhere in the reading, except in group 7, this would be a strong indication that some part or all of the querent's wish will come true. The closer it appears in the above numeric sequence, the sooner the wish will be realized. If the nine of cups appears in group 7, this is an indication that the wish will probably not come true; the other two cards in the group will yield the cause. If the nine of cups does not appear, this should not be taken as an indication of either fate, although other cards in the reading may confirm or deny the wish.

Alternate Reading (Morison):

The following alternate reading was sent to me, but this interpretation does not necessarily need to be associated with a wish as above.

Group 1: Present, General SituationGroup 4: Resent PastGroup 7: Actions that can be taken by Querent. Personality traits which my be used to querent's advantage. Group 10: Uncontrollable aspects of the situation. May be aspects/opinions of others. May describe a new situation. Group 13: Final OutcomeCard 16 (Querent in original): Optional Card, add it if the reading is confusing.

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3.22) GRAND SOURCE SPREAD (21) (CORTESE) Layout:

01 02 03 08 10 12 15 16 17 Q 07 14 04 05 06 09 11 13 18 19 20 Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:Card Q: Querent

Cards 1, 2, 3: Inner influences at work, the motivations of the querent, or what the querent wishes to learn.

Cards 4, 5, 6: Outer influences, or the influences from people or things outside of the querent that may have caused the querent to ask their question.

Card 7: Initiation of the action, the seed that will grow, or the question that will be answered.

Cards 8, 10, 12: Three stages of the action or answering of the question under examination, and they are modified respectively by cards 9, 11, and 13.

Card 8: beginnings. The initial stages of the actions.

Card 9: modifies card 8. It may give a hazy picture of the outcome that the querent has in mind, or it may simply be a further examination of the beginnings of the action under consideration.

Card 10: Progress. The way that the outcome is achieved.

Card 11: modifies 10 in the same way card 9 does card 8.

Card 12: possible changes in plan, or resolution. This card may serve to examine any ways that the querent will have to change course in midstream.

Card 13: modifies 12 like card 9 does card 8.

Card 14: Outcome of the process outlined in cards 8 - 13.

Cards 15, 16, 17: Possible effects of the resolution on the querent

Cards 18, 19, 20: Possible effects of the resolution on things other than the querent, or on the querent's relationship to the world around them.

Comment: "This is a good general-use spread for giving an overall picture of the resolution to a problem in the past or future. It affords an opportunity to examine inner and outer influences before an action is taken, the inception or motivation of the action, the progression of the action, the resolution, and what inner and outer effects this will have. It may also act to highlight the process by which a question uppermost in the querent's mind may be answered, though it may not give the answer." – Cortese

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3.23) PYRAMID SPREAD (21) (DOANE) Layout: 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 0908 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 Deal: Face Down, Right to Left, Bottom upward Reading:Cards 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 are referred to as key cardsCards are divided into five sequences as follows:Sequence 1 - cards 1 - 5Sequence 2 - cards 5 - 9Sequence 3 - cards 9 - 13Sequence 4 - cards 13 - 17Sequence 5 - cards 17 - 21

It is important to note that each key card is not only the final card in a sequence of five, but also the first key card of the next series of five. Thus 25 ends the second sequences and also starts the third. The four cards to the right of a key card represent the events previous to the time or event that the key card signifies. Key cards always represent significant events; if a card of the Major Arcana appears in a key location, it may mean that event is of great significance. This is a list of the suggested time intervals each key card represents. Key 1 - PresentKey 2 - Immediate FutureKey 3 - Intermediate Turn of EventsKey 4 - Distant FutureKey 5 - End of the Matter Comment 1: The design of the layout lends itself to being read from the apex down the sides, i.e. 21, 19, 15, 9 and 1. Ditto on the left. It may sometimes be split down the middle IF the two halves conveniently fall into 2 distinct "stories" or messages - this happens surprisingly often. I think this spread is quite sophisticated, and can be used for in-depth readings. (Smith)

Comment 2: Note that the time intervals given here are a guideline. First, in the example reading given to me for this layout and due to the nature of the question, key 4 was more appropriately labeled the present and keys 1, 2, and 3 were in the past. Secondly, if the matter is to be resolved in a short period of time, the term 'Distant Future' would only be distant with respect to the matter, but not necessarily distant with respect to this persons life or our time frame.

Note: The card numbering for this layout was been changed. A couple of people have sent notes stating that the original numbering was confusing, so I abandoned the system used in the original book and adopted a numbering more consistent with the rest of the document. Also, now that the purpose of the layout was explained to me, I felt it more appropriate to move the layout out of the Simple Layouts and into the Complex ones.

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3.24) TWENTY-ONE CARD SPREAD (21) (MORISON) Layout:

1918 11 12 20 410 3 5 13 19 2 6 14 717 8 15 21 16 Deal: Numerically as shownReading:Card 1: The SignificatorCard 2: The immediate pastCard 3: An important factor in the present. Inobvious.Card 4: Seeker state of mindCard 5: Most likely immediate futureCard 6: An important factor in the present. Very obviousCard 7: Seeker gut feelings.Card 8 & 9: Influences in the past that affected #2Card 10 & 11: Current influences affecting #3. Inobvious.Card 12 & 13: Possible future influences, affecting #5Card 14 & 15: Obvious current influences, affecting #6Card 16: Seeker physical situation. Possible health or life statusCard 17: The root of the matter in the past

Card 18: A current matter. It may be hidden or unknown, overlooked. Or it may represent assumptions, possibly incorrect.Card 19: Seeker spiritual will. This may conflict with or illuminate the Seeker's conscious desires.Card 20: A likely future event. Card 21: What the Seeker must think about [Back to contents]

3.25) MAGIC MIRROR SPREAD (29) (DAVIS) Layout: 09 04 14 23 19 27 Earth 20 16 24 Transformation Inspiration 08 03 13 10 05 15 06 01 11 Water Essence Air 22 18 26 21 17 25 Sacrifice Integration 07 02 12 Fire28 and 29 are Magic Cards Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:In each group of three cards, the middle card is the key card. The other two cards are used for additional insight. Suggested order of reading is Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Essence, and then "the four gates which are linked to the four Wiccan Sabbats".

Comment 1: "This reading's only purpose is to examine oneself. I only do this at Samhain because of the intensity. One could do this reading with another person, but the process would have to be one of giving the person ideas as to what the cards might mean and letting her figure out how this fits into his/her life. This would probably take even longer than usual. :-)" (Davis)

Comment 2: At one point on alt.magick there was a discussion about the elements and their compass positions. Not surprisingly, many people had different associations. I assume that Davis was using the compass points he is used to, but he may not have been. In any case, you may find rearrangements of both the elements and that gates that better suit your personal introspection.

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3.26) TIMING SPREAD (39) (PEACH) Layout: Three Piles of cards03 02 01 Deal: Start dealing cards into the first pile, face up, one at a time. Stop dealing when either an ace appears or when you reach the thirteenth card for that pile. Repeat for piles two and three.

Reading:

Pile 1 - Top card indicates reasons why the Querent may be hesitant toward the matter.Pile 2 - All cards in the pile reveal why the matter is stagnant.Pile 3 - The top card will indicate a yes/no answer for the question. All cards indicate information about the events that will resolve the matter and when the matter will be resolved.

Comment 1: This spread is intended to be used when the Querent has a 'clearly formed' yes/no question and one which will have an indication as to when the matter can be resolved.

Comment 2: Peach claims that the spread will reveal a definite time period telling when the matter will be resolved, but fails to explain how to derive it. (See Section 7.2)

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3.27) LIFE SPREAD (50) (DOANE) Layout: 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2214 37 2313 36 38 2412 /----\ 2511 35 | 50 | 39 2610 34 \-41-/ 40 2709 33 32 31 30 29 2808 07 06 05 04 03 02 01

The book which I am getting this out of shows one diagram for the layout but then shows an actual layout with cards in a different order. I will attempt to describe both.

Diagram: Cards 34 - 40 form a pyramid starting at the at the places shown by cards 34 and 40 and peak at card 37. Cards 41-49 are placed in a circle surrounding card 50. Card 41 is in the correct position; others follow clockwise.

Layout: Cards 34, 43, 42, 41, 49, 48, and 40 are all placed in a row. Card 41 is the lowest and the cards to the side are raised very slightly, each card going up the further out you proceed forming a very broad V shape. Cards 35, 44, 50, 47, and 39 follow a similar pattern but are not packed in as closely together and raise up making a steeper V. Cards 45 and 46 lie above cards 44, 50, and 47 and about halfway up cards 35 and 39; they are centered in their row. Cards 36 and 38 lie to the sides of cards 35 and 39 but are one row up. Essentially it looks more like a series of cascading arches more than it does a pyramid and a circle. Experiment with both of these for awhile and try to find something that works. It would be difficult to show this with only text graphics.

Suggested Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:

As the name suggests, this should be used for a general life reading; a specific question is not required or suggested but may be used to focus on one area of the querent's life.

Cards 1 - 28, the material square: These cards represent activities on the physical plane. These cards reflect only physical events and conditions; spiritual interpretations should rarely be considered. Interpretations should be directed toward the physical body, possessions, people, and the like.

Cards 29 - 40, the mental trine: These cards represent events in the mental plane. Consider those interpretations dealing with intellectual pursuits and attainment of knowledge.

Cards 41 - 49, the spiritual circle: These cards represent activities on a spiritual level. Consider interpretations that relate to spiritual changes and goals.

Card 50, dominant life factor: This card represents the most important event that occurs and affects all three planes. This card will show the most dominant influence shaping the life of the querent.

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3.28) THREE FANS (54+) (PEACH) Layout:

15 14 13 12 17 16 11 10 19 18 09 08 20 07 21 11 10 09 08 07 06 22 12 06 05 23 13 05 04 24 14 07 06 05 04 03 25 15 08 04 03 0226 16 09 03 02 01 17 10 02 01 A 11 01 B C

This should look more like 3 fans than it does the above layout. Also, cards should all point outward from a central point.

Deal: Shuffle the deck and deal into three piles. Take the middle pile and set it aside as Pile A. Take the remaining two piles and shuffle them. Again, deal into three piles. You should have one extra card, set it aside. Take out the middle piles and set it aside as Pile B. Take the remaining two piles and extra card, shuffle and deal into three piles again. You should have two extra cards, set them aside. Pull out the middle pile as Pile C. Take the extra cards and extra piles and set them aside as Pile D. Deal Piles A, B, and C into the three arches shown above.

Reading:Pile A - Querent psychological condition in present & near future. Pile B - Querent's work or occupation and his/her thoughts of it.Pile C - Q's material condition regarding home, health, & finance.

If the Querent's significator card is not in the above three fans, take Pile D and deal it out in a similar fan as the other three. This fan may answer a specific question not answered by the fans.

Comment: Peach recommends this as a six month reading to use when the querent has no specific question to ask.

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3.29) LADDER SPREAD (78) (PEACH) Layout:

7775 76

74 73 7268 69 70 71

67 66 65 64 6357 58 59 60 61 62

56 55 54 53 52 51 50 *42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 3323 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12Q 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

* - see variation below Deal: Choosing a Querent card; note which direction s/he faces. If the card faces to the right, place it in the lower left corner and deal as shown. If the card faces left, place it in the lower right corner and deal each row in the opposite direction shown.

Reading: Five timing cards should appear somewhere in the spread. These will be the only method by which the reader can judge past, present, and future. Clear your mind and try not focus on a 'story line', the main idea with this spread is to look at the overall picture. Ask the Querent not to interrupt you during the reading; provide him/her with a pencil and paper to write down questions if any come to mind, and ask them after the reading is over. Because you are trying to grasp a large picture by means of a spontaneous approach, you don't want to interrupt the flow of the reading. Begin the reading; no order of reading the cards is specified. Once the reading is over, the querent may ask any question, but do not refer back to the layout for the answers; since you have seen the overall picture (even if it lies only in your subconscious) your answers should come out naturally. Peach puts a strong emphasis on not thinking while analyzing the layout or while answering questions; again the idea is to let the pattern work into your subconscious and allow thoughts to form there.

Variation: In the layout shown in the book, the layout stops at card 50 and an arrow is drawn to indicate to continue the deal. There is no indication as to whether this means to finish only that row or whether to lay out the whole deck as shown above.

Comment: Having not finished reading this book, I am uncertain as to what it meant by the 'five timing cards'. Each of the four aces is assigned a season of the year as follows: Wands - Spring, Cups - Summer, Swords - Fall, Pentacles - Winter. You can also refer to section 7.2 for further assistance. Other than that, use your own discretion.

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4) ASTROLOGICAL LAYOUTS

While re-compiling this document for version 2.0, I noticed two things. First, I had quite a few layouts that were based in astrology and secondly, I was repeating quite a bit of information between these layouts. At that point, I simply decided it was easier to give the Astrological layouts their own section and hopefully save a little space by not having to repeat some things.

To begin with, most of these layouts can be done without any knowledge of astrology. There is enough information presented here that a good reader could just look at the descriptions and do the reading. I doubt, however, that such a reading would be fully understood on every level. Thus, I would recommend, although it is not necessary, that you have some sort of astrological background or do some research on the subject if you plan on using any of these layouts.

It would be important to add here that I have a very small and inadequate background in astrology. The information given below is based solely on the information given to me along with the layouts presented in this section. If anyone who is well versed in astrology and tarot would like to make any comments regarding the information presented, particularly in section 4.0, they would be greatly appreciated.

4.0) ASTROLOGICAL INFORMATION This section will contain some brief descriptions of astrological symbolism that will be useful for these layouts. If you are unfamiliar with these symbols, you may have to refer back to this section when interpreting the layouts.

4.0.1) ASTROLOGICAL HOUSES (DOANE) 1st House: Physical Body, personality, interests2nd House: Personal possessions3rd House: Siblings, private studies, acquaintances4th House: Environment5th House: Pleasures, love affairs, speculation, children6th House: Work, illness, pets7th House: Marriage, partnerships, enemies, legal matters

8th House: Death, debts, gifts, possessions of others9th House: Teaching, philosophy10th House: Honor, business11th House: Friends, hopes, wishes, and dreams12th House: Self-ruin, enemies, obstacles

4.0.2) PLANETARY SYMBOLS (DOANE/PEACH/DAVIS)

Sun: Outer expression. Honor. Health. Superiors. Men. Achievement.Mercury: Communication. Intellectual Concerns. Siblings. Business.Venus: Relationships. Love. Friendship. Money. Art.Earth: present situationMoon: Inner needs. Domestic or social concerns. Women.Mars: Creation. Sex. Struggle. Misfortune. Enemies.Jupiter: Opportunities for growth. Business. Religion. Acquisitions.Saturn: Lessons & limitations. Illness. Loss. Secrets. Elders. Intellectual deliberation.Uranus: Individuality, DifferencesNeptune: Ecstasy/illusionPluto: Power for Transformation

4.0.3) ASTROLOGICAL SYMBOLS Aries - Querent, disposition and matterTaurus - Financial situationGemini - Travel and communicationCancer - Home life, familyLeo - Querent's pleasuresVirgo - Querent's healthLibra - Partnerships, marriageScorpio - Represents inheritances and deathsSagittarius - Philosophy, religion, educationCapricorn - CareerAquarius - FriendsPisces - Burdens, restrictions, fears, obstacles

4.1) PLANETARY SPREAD (8) (PEACH) Layout: 04 03 05 02 Q 06 01 07 Deal: Numerically as shown Reading:Card 1: Moon Card 2: MercuryCard 3: Venus Card 4: SunCard 5: Mars - Also may represent the solution or answer to the matter which is why it is called the reconciler.Card 6: Jupiter Card 7: Saturn Comment: "Cards of this spread can and ought to be paired and read in juxtaposition, i.e., the card in the position of the Moon should be paired with that in the position of the Sun; the card in the position of Venus with that in the position of Mars, and so on." – Peach

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4.2) FOUR TRINES SPREAD (12) (DOANE) Layout: Twelve cards are displayed in a CIRCLE. In clockwise order, starting at the left (nine o'clock) this is the numbering of the cards: 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 10, 3, 7, 11, 4, 8, 12.

09 02 06 05 10 01 03 12 07 08 04 11 Deal: Numerically as shown. Reading: As the name suggests, there are four sets of three cards (trines) that work in conjunction with another.

Trine of Life (1, 6, 11): Card 1: Personal life: health Card 6: Mental life: travel Card 11: Life of Posterity: children, love affairs, pleasure, speculationTrine of Power (2, 7, 12): Card 2: Honor and authority: business, reputation Card 7: Environment: illness, work Card 12: WealthSocial Trine (3, 8, 9): Card 3: Partners: marital, enemies Card 8: Kin and thought: siblings, intellectual matters Card 9: Associates: friendsTrine of Secrets: Card 4: Things concealed in the environment Card 10: Money: debts, taxes, inheritance Card 5: Afflictions: enemies, failures, obstacles Comment 1: Doane indicated that this layout was influenced by astrology, although its relation to astrology is not immediately apparent. Comment 2: Card numbering makes no sense, even from an astrological point of view. Again comments are welcome.

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4.3) TWELVE HOUSES SPREAD (12) (DOANE) Layout: Numbering is the same as the Four Trines Spread but uses a diamond formation instead of a circle

02 0609 10

05 0301 0712 11

08 04 Deal: Numerically as shown Reading: Even though the deal uses the awkward scheme shown above, the cards are read by what house they are in astrologically. House one is in the same position as card 1, but house numbers increment by one going in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, House two is in position 12, house three in position 8, and so on.

Comment: Card numbering makes no sense, even from an astrological point of view. Again comments are welcome.

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4.4) ASTROLOGICAL SPREAD (13+) (PEACH) Layout:Cards are arranged in a circle and point outward from the Querent 11 09 12 10 0801 Q 07 02 04 06 03 05 Deal: Numerically as shown. The reader may, before the reading, continue to redeal the deck in the same order (minus the Querent position) and thus putting two cards into each slot and providing more information regarding that aspect of the persons life. Peach suggests dealing up to four or more into each slot. Also, cards may be dealt in blocks of four (or five or whatever) into each position instead of repeating the deal four times.

Reading:Card 1: Aries Card 2: TaurusCard 3: Gemini Card 4: CancerCard 5: Leo Card 6: VirgoCard 7: Libra Card 8: ScorpioCard 9: Sagittarius Card 10: CapricornCard 11: Aquarius Card 12: Pisces

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4.5) PLANETARY SPREAD (14) (DAVIS) 14

12 1310 09 11

08 0705 04 06

02 0301

Each row shown has the height of half a card length, thus the cards look staggered.

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:

1. Earth...present situation2. Moon...inner needs3. Sun...outer expression4. Mercury...communication5. Venus...relation6. Mars...drive7. Jupiter...opportunities for growth8. Saturn...lessons limitations9. Uranus...individuality, differences10. Neptune...ecstasy/illusion11. Pluto...power for Transformation12. and 13. Environment14. Divine Light...advice from Higher Power

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4.6) DAILY SPREAD (15) (PEACH) Layout M 8 D 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13M - Month Card D - Day Card Deal: First, remove the month and day card indicated in the table below and place them in the positions shown above. Shuffle and cut as normal, then deal numerically as shown.

Month Card Day CardAries Emperor Sunday SunTaurus Hierophant Monday High PriestessGemini Lovers Tuesday TowerCancer Chariot Wednesday MagicianLeo Strength Thursday WheelVirgo Hermit Friday EmpressScorpio Death Saturday WorldSagittarius TemperanceCapricorn DevilAquarius StarPisces Moon Reading:It is suggested that cards be read in the order presented below.Cards 11-13: Events leading up to the day in question. Start with card 13 and work toward 11.Cards 1 - 3: Morning Events, start with card 1Cards 5 - 7: Afternoon Events, start with 7Cards 8 -10: Evening Events, start with 8Card 4: Outcome of any special projects of the day and/or how the day will go overall.

Comment: "This spread is particularly useful for answering specific questions about settled future events -- like parties, for instance, or job interviews. It is _not_ particularly useful as a daily device to be used everyday before leaving the house, and it should _not_ be used in that way" – Peach

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4.7) SEPHIROTH SPREAD (26) (DOANE) To do this spread, remove all 22 major arcana and the Ace of each suit. These are the only 26 cards used in the reading.

Layout:Row 1: 03 18 04 17Row 2: M CRow 3: 02 19 | 05 16Row 4: 20 | 06Row 5: ASC --+-- DES 22 21Row 6: 01 | 15Row 7: 11 10 | 14 07Row 8: N CRow 9: 12 09 13 08

Row 2 begins at the same height where row 1 ends.Row 3 begins at the midpoint of Row 2Row 5 begins where Row 3 endsRow 7 begins where Row 5 ends

Rows 4 and 6 lie at the midpoints of Rows 3, 5, and 7Rows 8 and 9 are symmetrical to rows 1 and 2Cards are paired if their sum equals 21 (i.e. 3 and 18 are paired) Paired cards should be adjacent to each other. Pair 3/18 should meet at the same vertical line which divides the card ASC in half. Follow symmetry. Each pair is called a 'throne'. The throne number is the same as the lowest number of the pair. (i.e. 3/18 make up the third throne) Pair 22/21 is called the StaffNote that ASC, DES, NC, and MC each denote only one card. Deal:The four Aces must go in the ASC, DES, NC, and MC position. Shuffle the four aces. Place the first Ace in the position marked ASC and continue in a clockwise direction. (Humorous note: the Doane/Keyes book says to shuffle and three-cut these cards as you would the regular deck. Is there actually anybody out there who has ever bothered three-cutting a four card deck?)

The Major Arcana go in the remaining 22 locations. Shuffle the Arcana and deal as shown numerically in the above diagram.

Reading:The four aces represent the Astral Kingdoms and relate to the four angles of the horoscope. Astrologically ASC represents ascendence or first house and pertains to life. MC stand for Midheaven or tenth house and pertains to honor or business. DES stands for descendence or seventh house and pertains to love or war. NC stands for Nadir or fourth house and relates to secrets or outcomes. You should start your reading based on which kingdom most closely relates to the question your querent has asked. (ie if the querent asks about marriage, start the reading in the descending house)

The following is a suggested list of how to interpret each Ace in each location:

Ace Ascendence Midheaven Descendence NadirPentacle Strength

VigorVitality

Favorable but requires effort

Great Strength

Unfortunateoutcome

Wands FavorableWork or Responsibility

GreatPower

Difficultycaused by Difference

Struggle or smallreturn

Cups Pleasures may deplete vitality

Pleasure may ruin honor

Joy and Happiness pleasant result

Swords sickness/death failure disputes favorable outcome

Note that Asc and Des have three thrones while Mid and Nadir have only two. When reading the Asc or Des thrones, the center throne (1 or 6) will indicate the most important factor of that throne.

Determine which kingdom is most appropriate to the Question. Cards in the thrones of this kingdom indicate what conditions caused the outcome suggested by whichever Ace appearing in that kingdom. The kingdom opposite the Question is the opposition. It thrones detail what opposes the querent. The kingdom immediately clockwise the Question represent the events which will lead to the conclusion. The kingdom counterclockwise to the Question yields the outcome of the matter. Its thrones give more specific detail of that end.

If the whole reading or any part of it seem contradicting, the staff will reveal why the answer was unclear.

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4.8) SOLAR SPREAD (49) (DOANE) Layout: Seven rows of seven49 48 47 46 45 44 43 -- Saturn42 41 40 39 38 37 36 -- Jupiter35 34 33 32 31 30 29 -- Mars28 27 26 25 24 23 22 -- Sun21 20 19 18 17 16 15 -- Venus14 13 12 11 10 09 08 -- Mercury07 06 05 04 03 02 01 -- Moon Deal: Right to Left, Bottom up. Reading:In each row, the middle card (4, 11, 18, 25, etc) represents present conditions or influences. The three cards to the right represent the past; the three to the left, the future. Each row will relate to either a certain aspect of life or certain people (or perhaps both)

Comment: One variation of this reading is that adjacent cards in the same column may also influence each other.

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5) GENERAL VARIATIONS

This is a list of variations which can apply to many or all of the layouts listed above.

5.1) ADDITIONAL CARD MODIFIERS Sometimes one card in a reading may be ambiguous in meaning. Some tarot readers will often throw another card on top of an ambiguous card in order to gain more insight into the matter. For example, in one reading of mine, the Querent was engaged and also a college student. The Seven of Pentacles came up in the environment card, an indication that money may be a problem. Since the Querent had to worry about both tuition money and trying to adjust to moving out from under his parents support, it was unclear where the root of this monetary concern was coming from. I turned the next card in the deck over on top of the Seven of Pentacles; the card was the Two of Cups, indicating that the marriage and moving out his own would be the main cause of his monetary problems. I have occasionally seen tarot readers put up to three modifier cards in one position, so there is not a one card limit. Remember, however, that putting too many modifiers on the board can also create more haziness than it does clarity, so don't saturate the board either. In short, this is something that, generally, is only used when it is either absolutely necessary or when the reader has an instinct that such a card will be helpful.

5.2) EXTENDING THE PATH This is a modification that can be used whenever there is some sort of sequential path or line in the reading. It is, however, very infrequently used on non-temporal lines. Sometimes the Querent (or the reader) may wish to more information about what is to happen in the future than what is currently displayed in the layout. To gain more information, the temporal line may be stretched further into the future by simply adding another card onto the layout and the end of the current line. More than one card may be added if desired. On the opposite end, sometimes events of the present or future may not have obvious precursors. The temporal path may also be extended farther into the past to help gain some insight as to the causes of the present and/or future states.

5.3) ROTATING THE LAYOUT Usually only used for unclear readings. If a particular layout is symmetrical (like a line spread) or at least partially symmetrical (like the Celtic Cross) you may turn the layout upside-down and re-do the reading with the same cards. Interpretations of this variation differ. Some readers will say that occasionally the reader

forgets to rotate the deck toward him and that reversing the layout adjusts for this mistake. (One reader I know tends to make a big deal about the rotation of the deck before and after the shuffle and whether a reading is done from the perspective of the querent or the reader since they usually sit opposite one another.)

Another account says that if you turn the layout upside-down that you are reading the opposite outcome, so such a reading should be negated to get the results one is actually looking for. Use your own discretion and stick with whatever fits in with your schema.

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5.4) YES/NO ANSWER (DOANE) This is an additional variation generally only used on the line spread. If you allow the querent to ask a yes or no question, count each card turned upright as a vote for yes and each card reversed count as a vote for no. The middle (or present) card's vote gets counted twice. Interpret tie votes as you see fit.

This variation can actually be applied to any of these layouts, although I doubt anybody would want to do so for some of the larger readings like the Solar Spread. Even if a yes or no question is not asked by the querent, some readers may do such a tally to indicate a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the querent. It should also be noted that many books on tarot strongly discourage the use of tarot decks for yes/no type questions.

5.5) QUERENT CARDS In layouts that use a Querent card, there are several ways in which such a card may be chosen.

5.5.1) PERSONALITY TRAITS One method derives from the descriptions of the court cards themselves. All of the court cards can be used to describe a person's personality or character. Some readers will show the querent a list of these descriptions and allow the querent to choose the one which s/he feels is most like him/herself. If the reader knows the querent fairly well or personally, s/he may choose the card for the querent.

5.5.2) ASTROLOGY One second method is to use Astrological symbolism. There are several different and varying methods that will map the twelve symbols of the zodiac into the sixteen royalty cards. These mappings, however, can vary from book to book and, therefore, from person to person. If you wish to use this method, it would probably be best to find a couple of such lists to use as a guide and then compose your own correspondences from there.

Actually, this method is the same as the one described above (5.5.1). Authors will simply take the traits of the cards and the traits of each astrological sign and pair up the ones which match the most. Unfortunately, these matches aren't always perfect which is why you may find different lists.

5.5.3) PHYSICAL TRAITS A third method used is eye/hair color. Some authors associate each of the sixteen court cards with an eye color, a hair color, and a gender. Simply choose the card whose attributes match those of the querent.

5.5.4) OPEN DECK A similar method to the one described above works in the exact same way, only it allows the reader to choose any card in the deck, not just from the sixteen court cards. For example, if the querent has a question related to his/her employment, the Eight of Pentacles would be an appropriate

Querent card. However, unless the querent is very knowledgeable about Tarot, it is strongly discouraged to allow him/her to choose his/her own card with this method.

5.5.5) RANDOM SELECTION In the same spirit as the method described above, sometimes a reader will simply take the top card off of the deck after the shuffle and cut and use that as the querent card. This method may give the reader more information about either the question that has been put forth or the character and personality of the querent.

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5.5.6) NO QUERENT Finally, and most boring, the Querent card can simply be taken out of the reading. Some readers feel that this actually allows for more clarity in the reading. For example, I know a teacher and a student both of whom I associate with the Queen of Cups. If I do a reading for the student and pull that card out of the deck as the Querent, it is more difficult to tell when her teacher will have an influence on the matter in question, since her (the teacher's) card can't come up anywhere in the reading. Conversely, if I simply don't use a querent card (or use Random Selection) and the Queen of Cups comes up somewhere in the reading, it is a strong indication that her teacher will be giving her guidance in the matter.

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6) RITUALS OF MEDITATION

This section contains Tarot layouts which are not expressly intended for divinatory purposes, but rather, are intended for personal introspection and meditation. DISCLAIMER: Be forewarned that I make no claims as to the usefulness or safety of these layouts. Many of them require some sort of knowledge of the magickal arts and I would definitely recommend that, unless you are already proficient with such practices, you discuss these techniques with your teacher or path-shower before using them.

6.1) MANDALAS (DANBURG-WYLD)

>From the alt.tarot FAQ:

One simple technique [for tarot meditations] is to select a card and use it as a miniature mandala. Or put out an array of cards and do the same. Some people pick a card in the morning and use it as a 'focus point' for the day - looking for aspects of that cards meaning in the events that occur to them.

6.1.1) DAILY FOCUS POINT (BUCKLAND)

With respect to a daily 'focus point', Llewellyn's Magickal Almanac notes an old Romany tradition of starting the New Year with The Lovers and proceeding numerically. After finishing the Major Arcana, the next day would start with the Ace of Swords, then the two, three, etc. up through King. Repeat with the Wands, then Cups, and finally Pentacles. The next day would stars with the first card of Trumps and proceed numerically. It should be noted that there are a few differing opinions as to where the Fool (or trump 0) should be placed when ordering the Arcana. The following timetable would be used if placing the Fool anywhere _after_ the Lovers on a non-leap year.

Jan 1 - The Lovers (Trump 6)

Ace of Swords: 01/18 04/06 06/23 09/09 11/18

Ace of Wands: 02/01 04/19 07/07 09/23 12/10Ace of Cups: 02/15 05/04 07/21 10/07 12/24Ace of Pentacles: 03/01 05/18 08/04 10/21 Magician, Trump 1: 03/15 06/01 08/18 11/04

Dec 31 - Eight of Cups

If the year is a leap year, The Ace of Pentacles will start of February 29th instead of March 1st. Subtract one day from each date thereafter and Dec 31 will end with the Nine of Cups.

If you choose to order your trump numerically (i.e., placing the Fool before the magician) or in any position before the 6th Trump, then you must subtract a day from each date starting with the Ace of Swords on 01/18.

Finally, I have seen people use different orderings for Trump ranking. Feel free to adjust this schedule to suit your personal ordering schema.

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6.1.2) CONTEMPLATION RITUAL (KRAIG)

Another simple one-card meditation works as follows:

1) Remove the 22 Major Arcana cards.2) Perform a relaxation ritual. This is done mainly to help you focus and such rituals are standard in

any book on Golden Dawn magick. Shuffle the deck as you feel necessary. 3) Select any one card and look at the picture on it for a length of time. When finished contemplating

the image, take a few breaths to remain focused and relaxed.4) Record the card name and number in a diary. Also record any feelings, sensations, or ideas you

received while focusing the card.

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6.1.3) OPENING THE DOOR (OZANIEC) Naomi Ozaniec's book contains a number of exercises which allow one to gain more insight into each of the Trump cards, but very few of them would actually qualify as meditations or rituals. Here is one of the few exceptions described, verbatim, while explaining how to use tarot cards as doorways.

1) Select the Trump you wish to work with. Have the relevant Trump in front of you.2) Enter a meditative state. Visualize the Tarot Trump clearly in your mind.3) Allow the image to grow so that the frame of the Trump becomes a doorway.4) Step into the image. Deepen your meditative state. What can you learn from this Tarot Trump?

When the meditation is finished, step back through the image, reduce it to a proper size and return all images to a passive state.

5) Record your experience straightaway.6) Do not attempt to encounter more than one image during a single session.

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6.2) QABALISTIC CROSS OF THE TAROT RITUAL (4) (BUCKLAND) Layout: 02 |08 -14 |21 |Trumps 2, 14, and 21 are laid upright while Trump 8 is layed on its side (see diagram on right).

Ritual:1) Prepare the temple. From a consecrated pack of Tarot card containing the traditional Qabalistic

symbolism, remove the following: THE HIGH PRIESTESS, TEMPERANCE, THE UNIVERSE, STRENGTH. Place the four trump cards upon the altar as indicated in the diagram.

2) Take a Ritual Bath.3) Place your right index finger above the crown of your head. Bring your hand down as if drawing the

Divine Light into your body. Touch your forehead and intone the word, "ATAH" (ah-tah). This means "I Am." Visualize a Bright light centered at the crown of your head.

4) Bring your finger down to the middle of your chest and vibrate the name, "MALKUTH" (Mahl-kooth) which means "The Kingdom." After touching your chest, draw the hand down to the level of the groin and point toward the floor. Imagine a shaft of white light extending from the top of your hand down to your feet and ankles. Concentrate for a minute on the white pillar of light stretching from Kether to Malkuth.

5) Touch your right shoulder and intone the name, "VE-GEBURAH" (V'-geh-boo-rah) which means "And the Power." See another point of white light beginning at your shoulder.

6) Bring your index finger directly across your body to the left shoulder. Vibrate the name, "VE-GEDULAH" (V'-geh-doo-lah), which means, "And the Glory." See a brilliant white shaft of light perpendicular to the first one which connects both shoulders.

7) Put both hands out in front of you and clasp them together as if praying. Then bring the clasped hands close to your body and position them straight up, just in front of your heart. Intone "LE-OLAHM, AMEN" (lay-oh-lahm, Ah-men), which means "Forever, Unto the Ages." Visualize a complete cross of light formed within yourself, which consecrates the temple of the body through the power of the Divine Names.

Once you have established the Qabalistic Cross you may initiate the Cross of the Tarot. However the image of the Cross of Light must remain firmly fixed in your mind. With your index finger tough the four points on your body a second time, and repeat the names from ATAH through VE-GEDULAH, but add the following visualizations:

8) At the crown of your head, imagine a brilliant spiral shape contained within the point of light at KETHER. This is the symbol of the First Whirlings. [ed - there is a small picture of a spiral making nearly two full rotations.]

9) At the bottom of the first shaft of light, visualize the symbol of the cross within a circle. See this sigil at your feet in black. This represents MALKUTH, the manifested kingdom. [ed - picture of an 'X' circumscribed in a circle.]

10) At your right shoulder, see the red symbol of Mars flaming within the white shaft of Light. This symbol alludes to GEBURAH, the Sphere of Severity. [ed - picture of Mars, more commonly known as the symbol for male, or a circle with an arrow pointing to the NW.]

11) At your left shoulder, picture within the point of light, the blue sigil of Jupiter. This suggests CHESED, the Sephirah of Mercy. [ed - picture of Jupiter. Looks like the number 2 with a line going through and perpendicular to the line at the bottom of the 2.]

12) Now return to the complete image of the Cross within your body. Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "GIMEL" (Gee-mahl). See the first shaft of it from Kether begin to change to the color blue. The blue light descends from your head to the area of your heart and stops there. Concentrate your thoughts on the image of THE HIGH PRIESTESS from the second Key of the Tarot. The High Priestess controls the flow of Divine Power from its eternal Source in Kether to the rest of the temple (you -- as a reflection of the Tree of life). Through her you experience all spiritual events. She controls and regulates all life, and she connects that which is above to that which is below. Contemplate her image for a few moments.

13) Intone the name of the Hebrew letter "SAMEKH" (Sahm-ehk). The shaft of light turns brilliant blue from your heat down to your groin area. Visualize the figure of TEMPERANCE from the 14th Key of the Tarot. The feminine, angelic form of TEMPERANCE blends the opposing elements of Fire and Water, Sun and Moon, Intellect and Emotion, Force and Form. She harmonizes these contradictory elements of your personality into a mixture of perfect balance, clearing the way for real spiritual growth to take place. Meditate upon this image for a short period of time.

14) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TAU" (Taw). The shaft of light leading from your groin to your feet turns indigo or violet-blue in color. Imagine the female figure from THE UNIVERSE, the 21st Key of the Tarot. The form of the Dancing Goddess gives final form to the Manifest Universe. She is the womb of Heaven, giving birth to the signs of the Zodiac, the Planets and the Elements. She is the completion of the Grand Design in the Mind of the Eternal. Take time to mediate upon this image.

15) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TETH" (Tayth). Envision the second shaft of white light which connects the two shoulders begin to turn bright yellow, starting at Geburah. Imagine the woman from

STRENGTH, the eighth Key of the Tarot. She holds the fierce and mighty lion under perfect control through the power of her Will. She has tamed the raw, fiery energy of the beast and transformed it by discipline. The strength generated from passion and intellect working together under will is tremendous. Feel the sense of inner strength given off by this image.

16) Repeat once more the words "LE-OLAHM, AMEN" while making the appropriate gestures. Visualize the complete Cross for the final time in glowing white light.

The ends the ritual.

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6.3) SUIT AND FUNCTION MEDITATION (14) (OZANIEC)

Layout: 10 01 09 02 08 K Q N P 03 07 04 06 05Cards 1 - 10 are arranged in a circle, each cards top pointing outward from the circle. In the center are the King, Queen, Knight, and Page of the suit. Note that Ozaniec calls them the King, Queen, Price, and Princess respectively.

Deal: Each of the four minor suits is ascribed with a function: Swords - Function of Thinking Cups - Function of Feeling Wands - Function of Intuition Pentacles - Function of SensationChoose a function which you would to personally develop and deal the fourteen cards of that suit as shown above and enter a meditative state

Ritual: (verbatim) Find yourself standing in an antechamber within a castle. You wait. Ahead of you a pair of great double doors are closed. Beside the doorway you see a bell. You move forward and ring the bell. A deep note rings out. You stand back. The doors swing open slowly. You enter and find that you stand in a Great Hall. At the far end seated on a long low dais you see four crowned figures. Here are the King, Queen, the Prince and the Princess. An unseen voice rings out, 'Welcome to the Elemental Court'. You move forward further into the hall. A fanfare rings out. 'Let the Elemental Powers step forward.' Now from behind the dais a character dressed plainly comes to meet you. The character carries the Ace of the elemental suit and shows it to you. You meditate on it. The character returns. A new figure appears bearing the Two of the suit. In this way each character appears before you, bearing the appropriate Tarot card. The characters appear from the direction that you have prepared in your spread. When the bearer of the tenth card has returned, spend a few moments in the quiet meditation before moving on to the next phase. When you are ready, approach the dais where the Elemental Court sit. Face the King and pose the question, 'What must I do to awaken the function of ...?'

Face the Queen and pose the question, 'What must I do to develop the function of ...?'

Face the Prince and pose the question, 'What must I do to sustain the function of ...?'

Face the Princess and pose the question, 'What must I do to express the function of ...?'

Each question presents an opportunity for personal realization. Meditate on all that has transpired. Offer thanks for what has taken place. Close the meditation.

Write your experiences up straightaway.

The work does not finish when the meditation closes. The impetus is transformed from the private interior experience into daily life and ordinary interaction. Become aware of the repercussions and effects of your work, recording the perceived results in your diary. These results may in turn become the subject for further reflection. The process becomes self- perpetuating. Initiation is a cycle.

[paragraph deleted]

Each of the Tarot suits may be used in the same way. We may safely explore and enrich these basic functions within ourselves. Do not hurry such work. It is important to allow all effects to be integrated into life. The four elemental initiations could be spread through the space of a year.

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6.4) FIGURE OF EIGHT (22) (CANNON) Layout: 04 05 03 06 02 07 01 08 00 09 XXX - Cards 10 and 21 should cross 11 20 each other on the XXX 12 19 13 18 14 17 15 16 Deal: Deal the 22 Major Arcana cards into the positions shown Ritual: This is lifted directly from Mr. Cannon's e-mail. Keep the orientations consistent [when dealing] and you should find that the first loop of 10 cards (Fool- Hermit) are all facing outwards from the loop, yet by an Escheresque twist of orientation, the second 10 cards (Strength - Judgement) are all facing inwards. Significant, huh?

Meditation is a high-falootin' glorification of what I do which is better described as "make a cup of tea and ponder a bit" but you should see the whole story of the trumps click into place before you. Light candles, etc., if that's what you like.

Then you can go on to look at opposites.

The first loop, pretty obviously, is the worldly or "materialistic" phase of the Fool's progress and similarly the second loop the "spiritual" phase. If there was ever a more graphic illustration of the continuity of existence I'd like to see it. Now, if you have laid out your cards carefully and evenly, you should be able to ponder the relationships between the opposite pairs of cards in the two loops, e.g the Pope (5) vs. The Devil(15), or the Chariot (7) vs. Death (13).

I hope I've got these opposites correct from memory, I haven't got a pack in front of me right now to test the layout!

The above technique is from Alfred Douglas' book.

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6.5) SQUARE-TRIANGLE LAYOUT (78) (CANNON) Layout: +------+ | /\ | | / \ | |======| +------+ Deal: Set out the 21 numbered trumps in an equilateral triangle, 7 cards per side, with the Fool in the middle. Outside this, lay out the minor cards in a square, four sides each of 14 cards. Or you can put the square inside the triangle, whichever you prefer.

Ritual: [or more appropriately, ponder this. Again, directly lifted from Andrew's e-mail]

Ponder the fact that the Fool can "see" either the secular, worldly domain of the minors, or the spiritual progression domain of the majors. He can't experience both, because he is constrained within the two- dimensional world of the cards he inhabits and one of the domains is always obscured from him by the other.

Clearly to experience both aspects of existence the Fool must somehow rise along a dimension or degree of freedom supplemental to those in which he normally operates. Alternatively, he must displace himself from the center of his universe by some kind of leap.

This is a heavy-duty meditation, if you're into that kind of thing, the square and triangle can be considered as "philosophical machines" and it can all get a bit serious.

>From Fred Getting's book.

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7) MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

7.1) DIVINATION WITH A NORMAL DECK OF PLAYING CARDS (VIENNEAU) The following is a near verbatim copy (spell check changes only) of Viennau's post to alt.divination describing the meaning of each of the cards in a regular playing deck when used for fortune-telling. I would also note that I have seen a couple of books at my local Bookstop with these listings. I have not compared them.

Hearts:Aces- Happiness, love, friendshipKing- a fair-haired man, affectionate and generous but impetuousQueen- a fair-haired woman, trustworthyJack- a fair-haired young person, a good friend10- good fortune, happiness9- the "wish" card; desires come true8- invitations, but also partings7- someone is unreliable6- unexpected good fortune; generosity5- jealousy, indecision4- changes, possibly travel or postponements3- need for caution2- success, friendship

Spades:Ace- conflicts, a difficult love affairKing- dark-haired man, ambitious, usually successfulQueen- dark-haired woman, can be seductive or unscrupulousJack- dark-haired young person, a well-meaning person10- worry9- bad luck, can mean delays or quarrels8- disappointments and opposition7- a warning against possible loss of friendship6- an improvement in the person's life5- anxiety, setbacks, interferences4- jealousy, business troubles3- partings, possible due to faithlessness2- scandal, gossip, danger of deceit

Diamonds:Ace- a money, ringKing- fair-haired man, stubborn and powerfulQueen- fair-haired woman, flirtatious, sophisticated, wittyJack- a relative, someone not quite reliable10- journey, changes, usually bringing wealth9- opportunities and surprises, usually financial8- late marriage or new relationship; unexpected money7- a gift6- a reconciliation; a warning against a possible second marriage5- successful meetings, particularly in business4- an inheritance, a change for the better3- legal or domestic battles2- a love affair becomes more important than hitherto Clubs:Ace- Harmony, property, achievements, loveKing- a dark-haired man, honest, openQueen- a dark-haired woman, string-minded, helpful, attractiveJack- a reliable friend10- money from an unexpected source, good luck or gift9- a new romance8- opposition, danger or recklessness7- prosperity, though a danger of romantic interference6- business success5- help from a friend or spouse4- bad changes or alliance3- good marriage or alliance2- disappointment and opposition Significators:1. fair or grey-haired man over 40....... King of Diamonds2. fair or grey haired woman over 40..... Queen of Diamonds3. fair-haired young man ................ King of Hearts4. fair-haired young woman .............. Queen of Hearts5. dark-haired man over 40............... King of Spades6. dark-haired woman over 40............. Queen of Spades7. dark-haired young man................. King of Clubs8. dark-haired young woman............... Queen of Clubs

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7.2) TIMING INFORMATION (MORISON)

7.2.1) SEASONAL TIMING Suits: Wands, Spring Cups, Summer Swords, Fall Pentacles, WinterRanks: Aces - Week at the beginning of the season. Kings - The matter was completed last year at this time. Queens - The matter was completed last season. e.g. - Ace of Wands would be the first week of the Spring Equinox

7.2.2) STAGES METHOD Aces - The beginning of a situation.Twos - Direction the matter will take. May be a 1st meeting point.Threes - The point at which details grow and the matter solidifies.Fours - Foundation has begun. Roots are put down in order to build.Fives - The first challenge or glitch in the situation.Sixes - Issue changes & grows;If it stagnates, it will not continueSevens - Variety added, Scope of the idea/project may be expanded.Eights - Evaluation period. People & ideas may be put to the test.Nines - Moving forward. The issue is nearly completed.Tens - Completion of the cycle, project, or issue.Pages - Signify risks and messages.Knights - Indicate movement and direction.

8) REFERENCES AND THANKS Biggs, Catherine, e-mail 9/19/95. (c4winds@teleport.com, listed as Clan of the Four Winds) Buckland, Raymond (editor), _Llewellyn's 1992 Magickal Almanac_. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1991.(A loan from Monica Withee.) Cannon, Andrew, private E-mail. August 29, 1995.(Andrew was kind enough to mail me two layouts that he had taken off of alt.tarot.) Carr-Gomm, Philip and Stehpanie, _The Druid Animal Oracle_. Simon & Schuster Inc., New York. 1994.(This books comes with the Druid Animal tarot deck, loaned to me by a friend, Monica Withee.) Cranmer, Steve, e-mail 06/07/1995. (cranmer@brivs2.bartol.udel.edu)(After posting Version 1.0, Steve was kind enough to send me his personal collection of layouts that he has collected off the net for a few years. Although he is not credited anywhere above, I owe a good portion of this FAQ to him.)

Cortese, Janis Maria C. C., newsgroup posting. 9/2/1993. (cortese@netcom.com)(Originally forwarded to me by Cranmer. Janis was kind enough to return my e-mail to her and lend a bit more information to me. She is also the woman who very courteously offered to lend me part of her web page as home for this document.)

Danburg-Wyld, Mark, Tarot.FAQ (v. 1.1). 10/22/1993. (danburg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) Davis-Howe, Bran A., newsgroup posting. 2/18/1992. (formerly at ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu)(Forwarded to me by Cranmer) Doane, Doris Chase and King Keyes, _How to Read Tarot Cards_. Harper & Row Publishers, New York. 1971.(Not a very good book, IMHO. Somewhat strict about how things should be done and interpreted, but it does contain twelve different layouts.)

Douglas, Alfred, _Tarot, The_. Arkana, 1991. (ISBN 0-14-019239-5)(This reference was sent to me by Andrew Cannon, although I don't recall what for.)

Efran, Daniel S., newsgroup posting. 2/16/1992. (formerly at d30t+@andrew.cmu.edu) (Forwarded to me by Cranmer) Gettings, Fred, _Tarot - How to Read the Future_. Chancellor Press Ltd., U.K. 1993. (ISBN 1-85152-251-4)(Another unknown reference from Andrew Cannon.) Graham, Sarena. (graham@ionet.net)(maintains web site containing this document) Kaplan, Stuart, _Tarot Classic_. Proper cite forthcoming.(The e-mail that Jose Soto sent me was translated from Spanish. Until I can get my hands on this book, I won't know if it was originally done in Spanish or if its a translation from English.)

King, D. T. (dtking@iii.net)(maintains web site containing this document) Kraig, Donald Michael, _Modern Magick Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts_. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1994.(Another loan from Ms. Withee) Lord, Paul, newsgroup posting. 2/18/1992. (formerly at plord@HUB.CS.JMU.EDU)(Forwarded to me by Cranmer) Morison, Helen, e-mail. 1/5/96. (last known at gmorison@ix.netcom.com)(Helen sent me an e-mail which I just sort of glanced at and blindly threw in with my to-be-sorted stuff. After finally _looking_ at it, there was a plethora of information it, including some stuff I had been specifically looking for. Major thanks to you Helen.)

Ozaniec, Naomi, _The Element Tarot Handbook. Initiation Into the Key Elements of the Tarot_. Element Books Limited, Shaftesbury, Dorset. 1994.(Only a few mediational layouts in this book, but other than astrology it contains EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know about interpreting the tarot. If your serious about learning tarot outside the realms of divination, this is a GREAT book to get.)

Peach, Emily, _The Tarot Workbook_. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, New York. 1984(A fair mixing divination and Qabalistic symbolism.) Philpott, Tammie. (philpott@egr.msu.edu)(maintains web site containing this document) Reed, Ellen Cannon, _The Witches Tarot_. Proper cite forthcoming. Silbury, Tira, _Sacred Marriage, The_ Honoring the God and Goddess Within Each Other._ Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1994.(Another loan from Ms. Withee) Smith, Alison, private E-mail sent by her son. 10/2/1995. (tsmith@ddjhb.didata.co.za) Soto, Jose C. Cabezas, private E-mail. 1/24/1996. (josec@bipv02.bi.ehu.es)

Vienneau, Wade Devin, newsgroup posting. 6/21/1992. (gmvsw@academic.stu.StThomasU.ca) Waite, Arthur Edward, _The Pictorial Key to the Tarot_. Citadel Press, New York, New York. 1993.(If you own the Rider-Waite deck from U.S. Games, you already have most of this, but there is still some useful information in here and I definitely recommend it if you plan on using a Waite deck regularly.)

Withee, Monica, friend.(Monica was kind enough to loan me a few books out of her library on the magickal arts which contained tarot layouts in them.)

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9) HISTORY OF THIS DOCUMENT 6/06/95 - Version 1.0 A very rough draft as a favor for a peer on alt.divination. Contained Five Card, Line, Yes or No, Magic Seven, Celtic Cross,Tree of Life, Four Trines, Twelve Houses, Magic Cross, Wish,Pyramid, Three Sevens, Sephiroth, Thirty-Six, Solar, and LifeSpreads. Also contained Card Modifiers, Line Extensions, LayoutRotation, and Yes/No general modifiers (Section 4, now Section 5). Released to the public domain. 6/10/95 - Version 1.1 Minor formatting changes, including a grammar check. Included cites with each entry. Addition of Four Seasons, Amanda's Fan, Key, Planetary (Davis), Thoth, Grand Source, and Magic Mirror Spreads. Information added to Magic Seven and Tree of Life Spreads. Never publicly released. Used mainly as a draft for v2.0 7/01/95 - Version 2.0 First version to state copyright. Division of groups into simple, complex, and astrological. Bibliography more 'thorough'. Size of document required changing from text to WP5.1 format (available from me upon request) Three-Sevens Spread changed to Romany Spread Addition of Astrological Information section. Addition of Playing Deck, Waite, Tetragrammaton, Yes or No, Qabalistic Cross, Sixteen Card, Timing, Three Fans, Ladder, Astrological, Planetary (Peach), and Daily Spreads. Information added to Four Seasons, Celtic Cross, Romany, Tree of Life Spreads. Addition of Querent Card Variations added with Personality, Astrological, Physical, Open Deck, Random, and No Querent variations. Addition of Miscellaneous Information with playing card variation only. Addition of FAQ History. 9/17/95 - Version 2.1 Thoth and Sixteen Card Spreads combined into one section. Addition of Mediational Layout Section Addition of Awen Spread, Spread of the Elements, Spirits of the Circle, Hearth, Arianrhod, Split Hexagram, and Soul Dreamers Spread.

Addition of Madalas, Daily Focus Point, Contemplation Ritual, Open the Door, Qabalistic Cross Ritual, Suit/Function Meditation, Figure of Eight, and Square-Triangle Layout 3/25/96 - Version 3.0 FAQ split into parts due to size. Information added to preamble of FAQ including: change in copyright notice, snail mail address, information on obtaining hard copies. Information added to section 0. Information added to Wish Spread. Pyramid Spread removed from Simple Spreads and added to Complex Spread. Information was also added to layout. Addition of Name, Action, Spiral, Fortune Teller's and Twenty- One Card Spreads ?/??/?? - Version 3.1 I still haven't decided how to add that third Ozaniec layout. It is actually a multi-part layout and crosses somewhat into the realm of meditation, so its going to be a pain to implement. In any even, I WILL put it in the next FAQ, even if I'm not happy with the results. I went into Bookstop last week and notice a new and wonderful book called Classic Tarot Layouts. Unfortunately, I didn't have any money at the time, but I plan on picking it up when I get my next paycheck. I also forgot to catch the author's name, but its something for all of you to look for next time you're out at the mall or whatever.

OTHER SPREADS

A TAROT SPREAD FOR DIRECT QUESTIONS – UNKNOWN SOURCE

The way you spread the cards is quite important - each spread (whilst having similar types of position) yields differing information. The Celtic Cross (a ten card spread) is quite a good broad based spread, which will give a good deal of info on a specific situation.

There are other layouts that do things like give you a year view, or an astrological perspective or whatever. Some spreads answer specific questions better than others (I've personally never found the Celtic cross good for this - it's almost as though you get too much information.)

Any spread should give you the same overview, but one spread will highlight - for instance - emotional matters, whereas another might pick up outside influences better.

You could try this seven card spread as a variation that answers direct questions well - it's called an Ellipse Spread:

Card 1: Past influences now having bearing on the situation Card 2: Now - the influences surrounding you at the minute

Card 3: Future influence having bearing Card 4: What to do

Card 5: External influences having bearing Card 6: Hopes and fears

Card 7: Final outcome of this situation. I find Card 4 particularly useful, specially if you read it against the 'Working with' section. It allows you to get a handle on the things you need to be doing to help yourself in this situation now.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CROSS

[5] [10][4] [1] [6] [09] [2] [08] [3] [07]

Position 1: Current ExpressionThis card shows how you are expressing yourself at the moment. It may reflect an attitude, disposition, or behavior.

Position 2: Present ConcernThis card reflects what you are presently concerned about, what is on your mind, or may describe a situation you are currently experiencing.

Position 3: EnvironmentThis card shows what's going on in your external environment and your place in it.

Position 4: Recent PastThis card shows an event or feelings that you experienced in the recent past. It will highlight an experience or feeling which you are still holding onto but need to let go.

Position 5: Desired OutcomeThis card shows your desire regarding the concern.

Position 6: Expected OutcomeThis card reflects what you expect to happen. This may or may not reflect the desired outcome.

Position 7: FearsThis card represents your present fears with regard to the question and concern and illuminates qualities that may be holding you back from your truest expression.

Position 8: Unfulfilled NeedThis card reflects what is needed in this situation and tends to depict qualities that you have been lacking for some time in other areas of your life as well.

Position 9: Strengths/Skills NeededThis card reveals strengths, talents and skills that will help you get through this situation. It can sometimes be interpreted as advising a course of action to take at this time.

Position 10: Most Likely OutcomeThis card reveals the outcome that will most likely happen given the present circumstances and your present course.

PROCESS-DIRECTION SPREAD

[1][2] [3]

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

[10]

Position 1: IdealThis card represents what your ideal is in this situation; what you want, hope for, or desire.

Position 2 and 3: Choice of ActionThese two cards reflect a choice that you are considering with regard to your question.

Position 3, 4 and 5: Underlying IssuesThe following three cards reflect issues that support or provide a backdrop to the question asked. The center card is the key issue that ties the reading together.

Position 7: NoThis card represents what you should say "no" to or put behind you.

Position 8: Current ExpressionThis card shows how you are expressing yourself at the moment. It may reflect an attitude, disposition, or behavior.

Position 9: YesThis card reflects what you should say "yes" to or the next steps to take.

Position 10: Most Likely OutcomeThis card reveals the outcome that will most likely happen given the present circumstances and your present course.

ANOTHER SPREAD published in

the book 'Choice Centered Tarot' by Gail Fairfield[Numbers represent order the cards are layed out in, 1 being first]

10Key Factor

9

Probable Result

7 8Resource for step Interference to step

6Needed Step towards goal

5Goal To Seek

1 & 2 3 & 4Whats wrong at Present Whats right at Present

Interpetation: The concept of 'right' and 'wrong' is meant as being what is the unnatural and natural events and people in the situation you are reading for, to help identify hinderances to the most useful goal to go towards (5). (7) is a Resource that is present or that must be tapped by the person(s) involved to achieve the goal, while (8) is any interference, such as personal procrastination or a financial setback that is hindering the movement towards the goal. (9) represents where things may lead towards once the goal has been reached and (10) is a key factor overall to watch for while dealing with the whole 'big picture' of the reading. Why use this layout? Well for some it is easier to deal with the present more than to reflect on the three states of time (past/present/future) and it is also easier for some people to center themselves by dealing with thoughts as a series of goals to be reached and then moved past to other things. This layout is more Jungian in construct than magickal, that is it is designed to work well with the psychological triggers of the human mind to assist in making decisions.

FULL DECK TAROT STAR SPREAD by Unicornis

There are very few Tarot spreads which use the entire deck in a single unified pattern. What follows is a description of such a spread. It is best suited for situations in which a great deal of complexity is present, and for 'general' readings. The steps for creating the spread are:

1: Thoroughly shuffle the deck until it 'feels' right. While I personably do not allow another person to shuffle my cards, if the reading concerns another it is acceptable to allow that person to hold the deck while concentrating upon the matter in question. This is a personal preference, but I am convinced that the relationship between reader and deck is a very personal one and that contact with the deck by another may 'confuse' the reading.

2: Dealing from the 'bottom' of the deck (i.e. with the cards face down and dealing from the topmost position), create thirteen piles of six cards each. The first pile is in the center and the other twelve are in a circle around it. Each pile should be dealt consecutively (all six cards at once). Although it is not necessary to actually place them so, at least understand that the first card dealt in a pile (Card 0) is in the center of a circle of five cards (Card 1 through Card 5). This circle is, in actuality, a Star. When laying them out in a Star, use the following spread for each pile:

13 4

05 2

Note that if you trace the numbers from 1 to 5 you will trace a five-pointed star, always moving clockwise around the circle to reach the next point.

3: Interpret the spread.Interpretation of this spread is based upon the astrological symbolism of the twelve houses. The first pile of cards in the circle of twelve piles is House 1, the second is House 2, etc..

The individual piles delineate the specific factors at work in each of the twelve basic areas. Card 1 represents the matter in question (the 'problem', question, etc.). Card 2 represents the 'source' (cause of the problem, inception of a project, etc.). Card 3 represents factors which bear upon the matter, but which are external to it (and probably out of the control of the querant). Card 4 represents actions taken with

regard to the matter. Card 5 represents the outcome of those actions. Card 4 is the most difficult to interpret, since 'action' could here represent several different things. First of all, it might represent an action which has already been taken. If so, then Card 5 will represent the probable outcome, unless counter actions are taken. Secondly, it might represent the action which the querant is asking about (i.e. 'Should I ...'. Card 5, again, represents the probable outcome. Thirdly, it might represent the suggested course of action (answer to the question 'What should I ...'). In this case, Card 5 is the suggested goal. It is quite possible that Card 5 will relate to a past outcome (i.e. everything has already transpired). If this seems to be the case, then it is possible that all five cards must be interpreted as relating to another person, instead of the querant. Most of the time the sense of Card 4 should be apparent from the context of the reading. Card 0 always represents the 'heart' of the individual Star spread. Usually, this relates to the querant's own relationship to the matter which is germane to the house in question. It can also, however, represent the underlying ('behind the scenes') factors which precipitated the matter, not to be confused with the 'cause' of a problem. In this sense, it will usually represent motivations, rather than actions. In some cases Card 0 will represent a person, other the querant, to which the Star actually relates. In such a case, an attempt should be made, based upon the situation and the nature of the card to identify that person, since this implies that the matter is either out of the hands of the querant or the querant is only an 'ambient' factor (and will then be represented by Card 3 for that particular Star. In a similar manner, Pile 0 (the one at the center of the circle), represents the 'heart' of the entire reading. This will always pertain to the reasons (motivations) of the querant, and interpretation of this Star spread must be used to modify all of the others. This is not the place to delve into the meanings of the twelve houses in detail. There are many good books in print which deal with this. I highly recommend the following, which give excellent interpretations of the twelve astrological houses (coinciding with the twelve 'Stars' of this Tarot spread):

The Astrological Houses: The Spectrum of Individual Experienceby Dane Rudhyar

The Astrology of Personalityby Dane Rudhyar

A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologerby Michael R. Meyer

The full deck star spread lends itself admirably to an in-depth study of any matter. The human condition is far too complex to use a simple yes-no approach to any matter of importance. More so than spreads which involve only a small number of the total factors which could come into play, the full deck star spread allows detailed analysis of all of the options and avenues which are available. It will also show how the outcome of an action might affect areas of the querant's life which were not specifically part of the reason for consulting the Tarot in the first place.

It might take a little longer to use, and might require a little more effort on the part of the interpreter, but the extra work will be repaid many-fold in the certainty that no stone was left unturned.

YES OR NO SPREAD

kditto@isis.cs.du.edu (Kimborly Ditto)The cards are shuffled and cut by the person asking for the reading. The reader then takes the cards and, starting from the top, deals them out into 3 piles of thirteen cards each, face up, and puts the remainder aside. The question is answered by the aces, if there are any, on the top of the piles. 3 aces is an immediate answer, 1 or 2 involve a wait for an answer, and none mean that the cards are unable to answer the question at that time. Straight up is positive, and reversed is negative (or "no").

I should have said this at the start. This reading is used for definite yes or no questions.

I have no idea how well this reading style works, as I use the standard Celtic cross myself, and I have my doubts as to the effeciveness (if that is the correct word) of it.