How-to Guides · 8 min · 2026-07-18
Yes or No Spreads: The Simplest Way to Start Learning Tarot
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'll have your answer.
What Is a Yes or No Spread?
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.
When Should You Use This Spread?
Yes or no spreads work best for questions with clear, binary answers—those that can genuinely be answered with yes or no.
Questions That Fit:
- Can I reconcile within a month?
- Can I earn £300,000 next year?
- Will this project turn a profit in three months?
- If I enroll in this course, can I complete it?
Questions That Don't Fit:
- Should I take on this project? (Too subjective)
- Should I reach out to reconcile? (No objective answer exists)
Tip: If your question begins with "should I," rephrase it as "if I do this, can I...?"
Method 1: Three Cards (Quickest)
Steps:
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?
Reading the Result:
- More upright cards → The answer is YES
- More reversed cards → The answer is NO
- Equal split (1 upright–2 reversed or 2 upright–1 reversed) → Study the detailed meanings
If You Know Card Meanings:
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.
The Role of Major Arcana:
- No Major Arcana cards → The result is easily changed by your actions
- 1–2 Major Arcana cards → The result can shift, but requires real effort
- 3+ Major Arcana cards → The result is nearly fixed—a larger pattern at work
Method 2: Five Cards (More Nuanced)
Steps:
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
Scoring:
- Positions 1, 2, 4, 5: each upright card = +1 point, each reversed = +1 reversed point
- Position 3 (center): each upright card = +2 points, each reversed = +2 reversed points
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
Reading the Result:
- More upright points → YES
- More reversed points → NO
- Equal points (such as 3–3 or 2–2) → MAYBE—the outcome lives in gray space
When to Use Method 2:
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)
The Role of Major Arcana:
- 0–1 Major Arcana cards → The result bends easily with your effort
- 2–5 Major Arcana cards → The result resists change; external forces at play
Factors That Affect Accuracy
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.
Tips for Beginners
- Start with three cards—it's fast, simple, and effective
- You don't need to memorize the entire deck to begin
- Always phrase questions that are specific, objective, and measurable
- Keep a record of your readings—after a few weeks, you'll see real accuracy emerge
- Action is the key—tarot only suggests; you decide what changes
Reference: Tarot practice from Rider-Waite-Smith tradition