What is Tarot Spreads?

Tarot cards, as the name suggests, is the pack of playing cards which was used for playing different card games in olden days. But today, tarots are used for predicting the past, present and future of the individual. Tarot cards do not predict the future exactly, but instead they interpret the possibilities of the events taking place in the future. There are different tarot spreads used by tarot readers to gain extra information from tarot cards. Every position in the spread is assigned to health, love, past, future, work, etc. The only problem with this is that it can be complex to correlate the semantics of the position with the tarot card and its divinatory meaning.

As you become familiar with the tarot deck, it will be easier to decipher the tarot meanings. Same is the case with tarot spreads. There are hundreds of tarot spreads used for special purposes. For the beginner, it is important to first know the types of spread and how they function.

What is Tarot Spread?

A tarot spread is the configuration of cards laid in the pre-specified geometric pattern. Every position of the card in the pattern has specific meaning. When tarot cards are put together in the tarot spread, the meanings of the tarot cards can be used to form a story. Thus, the pattern of the spread provides the framework for tarot reading. Tarot reader uses placement of the cards or position of the card with identified theme.

The tarot spreads have variety of implications depending on the question asked or issue explored. Some tarot spreads relay information in general way while some are designed to convey information in specific way. The tarot meanings also vary complexity from simple one card spread to complex spreads involving all 78 cards. The choice of the spread to be used depends on the reader and the type of question to be answered.

Currently the most famous tarot spreads used are

• The Ellipse Spread
• Celtic Cross Spread
• Five Card Spread
• The Mirror Spread
• The Relationship Spread
• The Mandala Spread
• Tree of Life Spread
• Horoscope Spread

Choosing the types of spreads depends on the question asked by the questioner and how deep and exact answer is required for the question.

Types of Tarot Deck

Tarot cards are used for predicting the past, present and future of an individual. Remember that the tarot cards do not predict the exact future but it tells the future possibilities of the events taking place in life of the individual in future. Free tarot card reading can be necessary for the individual while taking any important decision related to business or personal life. There are numbers of tarot decks available for tarot reading and one can choose the tarot deck that he/she finds suitable to interpret.

There are many types of tarot decks available and there is no standard number of cards for all decks. The demonstration of these cards varies greatly though the cards, suits and their meanings are same. The tarot decks are classified based on the themes like animals, dragons, nature, fantasy, etc. Following are some commonly used tarot decks.

Tarot Decks:

• Rider Waite Tarot Deck
• Oracle Tarot Deck
• Gipsy Tarot Tsigane

Rider Waite Tarot deck:
Rider Waite deck is commonly used today in tarot reading. This deck was created by A.E. Waite in 1909 and published by Rider And Company. The images of the tarot deck are simple but the card background holds a rich blend of symbolism. The Rider Waite tarot deck can be easily distinguished from the other deck by the fact that the pictorial representation of each card in deck is significant of its origin.

Oracle Tarot Deck:
The Oracle tarot deck is also the set of cards used for tarot reading. It is not as significant as Rider Waite deck in terms of symbolism of Major and Minor Arcana. This deck is generally used for fortune-telling or meditation. Using this tarot deck for meditation helps to bring the clarity of thoughts.

Gipsy Tarot Tsigane:
The artwork presented on the Gipsy tarot tsigane deck is unusual. This tarot deck is much popular amongst the readers, professionals, and amateur due to the use of the bright colors. The four suits of this deck are described as the four casts in the society and the interpretation is accredited to gipsy.
Some Other Tarot Decks:

• Ator tarot
• Benedetti Tarot
• Cat People Tarot
• Colman Smith Tarot
• Golden Tarot