How-to Guides · 6 min · 2026-07-18
Want to learn tarot but haven't memorized every card's meaning yet? The yes or no spread is the fastest way to begin practicing without needing to hold the entire deck in your head. Count upright and reversed positions—and you might have your answer.
This is the simplest spread in tarot, suited for anyone—even those new to the cards who haven't yet learned individual meanings. You need only distinguish between upright and reversed positions, then count which appears more often. In practice, begin with the position's job, then let the card image sharpen the answer.
Yes or no spreads work best for questions with clear, binary answers—those that can genuinely be answered with yes or no.
Tip: If your question begins with "should I," rephrase it as "if I do this, can I...?"
1. Focus on your question 2. Shuffle and cut the deck 3. Draw 3 cards and lay them in a horizontal line 4. Notice each: upright or reversed?
When reversed cards appear, remember their upright meanings—these offer clues about how to improve the situation.
Example: You ask "Will this project turn a profit in three months?" and draw: - 2 reversed cards (including Judgment reversed) - 1 upright card
Result: NO (reversed cards dominate)
But Judgment upright speaks to reflection and learning from past experience. The insight: If you reassess your strategy and reconnect with former partners, the project still has potential.
1. Shuffle and cut the deck 2. Draw 5 cards and lay them in a horizontal line 3. Note their positions left to right: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
Example: 5 cards are: Upright – Upright – Reversed – Reversed – Reversed - Position 1 upright: +1 point - Position 2 upright: +1 point - Position 3 reversed: +2 reversed points - Position 4 reversed: +1 reversed point - Position 5 reversed: +1 reversed point
Total: Upright = 2 points | Reversed = 4 points → The answer is NO
Use this when the result might lie somewhere between extremes—not a clear-cut yes or no.
Good fits: - Can this project generate partial profit in three months? (It might earn 40% of the target) - Can I lose 5kg in two months? (You might lose 4kg—close, but not quite)
Poor fits: - Can I reconcile with this person? (Either you do or you don't) - Will I pass this exam? (If taken, the result is certain)
These points matter more than you might think:
1. Your concentration — Are you truly focused on the question? 2. Belief — Complete skepticism makes any reading less precise 3. The reader's intuition — Each person senses differently 4. Energetic resonance — The flow between cards and reader
Remember this: Tarot isn't absolute prophecy. It's a tool to help you reflect and adjust your actions if needed. If the card feels abstract, ask what it changes in the next small decision.
Reference: Tarot practice from Rider-Waite-Smith tradition
Read deeper
Reading note: Check these meanings against the cards beside them before settling on one keyword. The strongest interpretation usually connects image, position, and question in one sentence.
Source: Zhihu
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