How-to Guides · 6 min · 2026-07-18
After understanding the meanings of the cards, you may need to learn how to arrange the spreads to answer the questions in your heart. This guide introduces the 5 most basic tarot spreads, from simple to complex spreads, to help you start your journey of practicing tarot.
A spread is a way of arranging cards in a certain pattern to answer specific questions. Each position in the spread has its own meaning, helping you read the overall picture of the situation you are asking about.
This is a universal spread, suitable for beginners. You can use just the Major Arcana cards or the entire set of 78 cards.
Arrangement: 3 cards form a triangle
Meaning of each position: - Position 1: Past situation - Position 2: Current situation - Position 3: Future situations
This spread is easy to do and allows you to see the natural progression of a problem over time. A useful check is to name the visible action on the card before choosing advice.
This spread is specifically designed to explore romantic relationships, helping you understand both people's feelings and their development direction.
Arrangement: 5 cards in a pyramid shape (1 card at the top, 2 cards in the middle, 2 cards at the bottom)
Meaning of each position: - Position 1: Your feelings about the other person - Position 2: The other person's feelings about you - Position 3: Current status of the relationship - Position 4: Future development direction - Position 5: Is there a third person? (draw 1 more card if needed, place above position 2)
Tip: The extra card in position 5 should be analyzed along with position 2 for better understanding.
This spread was created by tarot master Marcia Masino and is dedicated to predicting the fortunes of each season of the year. You should do it on special days: spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice.
Preparation: 1. Divide the 78 cards into 5 groups: 22 Major Arcana cards + 4 Minor Arcana groups (sticks, cups, swords, coins) 2. Shuffle each group separately 3. While shuffling, set the intention: "What will my destiny be like this season?"
How to draw cards: 1. Start with the group of Wands, intuitively choose the card that appeals to you the most, place it in position 1 2. Continue with Cups (position 2), swords (position 3), coins (position 4) 3. Finally, draw 1 card from the Major Arcana and place it in the middle (position 5).
Meaning of each group:
Represents energy, strength, will to action, work and career. This card shows your motivation and how you approach work this season.
Represents spiritual experiences, intuition, emotions and relationships in life. This card reflects your emotional and relationship status.
Represents your intelligence, thinking, cognitive ability and how you communicate. This card shows your perspective on the world and your harmony with your surroundings.
Represents material, financial, safety and health foundations. The upright card often indicates stability, while the reversed card (inverted) indicates effort and effort.
This card is in the middle, summarizing all the groups. It represents your general energy, your spiritual growth, areas of effort, and the overall picture of your psychology and life during this season.
This spread is perfect when you are facing a difficult decision and need guidance from the tarot.
Preparation: Discuss with yourself (or the questioner) to clearly determine what option A is and what option B is.
Arrangement: 5 cards
Meaning of each position: - Position 1: Your current status - Position 2: Situation if you choose A - Position 3: Situation if you choose B - Position 4: Future results if you choose A - Position 5: Future results if you choose B
By comparing positions 4 and 5, you can see more clearly which path is right for you.
This is the most comprehensive and detailed spread, allowing you to deeply analyze every aspect of a problem.
Arrangement: 10 cards
Meaning of each position:
1. Position 1 - Mind: Current state of the problem 2. Position 2 - Obstacles: Challenges or obstacles you are facing 3. Position 3 - Ideal: The ideal goal or situation you want to achieve 4. Position 4 - Base: Your true foundation or intention 5. Position 5 - Past: Factors from the past influence the present situation 6. Position 6 - Near future: What's going to happen 7. Position 7 - Self: Your psychological state or position in this matter 8. Position 8 - Environment: Influences from surroundings, other people, circumstances 9. Position 9 - Hopes/Fear: What you most hope or fear 10. Position 10 - Result: The final result or resolution of the problem
Tip: This spread requires a lot of concentration, so make sure you have enough time and quiet space to do it. The strongest interpretation usually connects image, position, and question in one sentence.
Tarot is a great tool for self-reflection and discovering hidden aspects of life. Let the cards guide you on your path to self-discovery.
Read deeper
Reference source: zhihu.com — Popular Tarot Spreads
Reading note: Check these meanings against the cards beside them before settling on one keyword.
Source: Zhihu
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