When you’re learning to read tarot cards, it’s easy to get obsessed with spreads, aka the intricate laid-out card patterns that you see all over social media and beyond. But here’s a pro tip from someone who's been reading tarot cards for literal decades: a tarot spread is simply a structured list of questions you’re asking the cards. Yes, it really is that simple.
Each card position represents one piece of the puzzle in the form of a question. Questions can be about past influences, current energy, other people’s feelings, future possibilities, or yes-or-no. Spreads will include as many cards as there are questions, you might see some of ten or more, but usually, you can get a really good reading from just three cards, which is what most tarot readers start out with when first learning. It’s best to start small and build up.
You don’t need to memorize dozens of complex layouts to get meaningful insight—what truly matters is your intention and the quality of your questions. However, when you’re learning, and have so much to think about in terms of interpreting your card meanings, it is easiest to use ready-made spreads. This will give you a feel for how to structure your questions and how to position them so your spread flows naturally into a story that offers a complete analysis of your situation or life area.
Below, you will find four simple spreads that are easy to learn, adaptable to any deck, and powerful enough to give you real clarity without complexity or overwhelm. So what are you waiting on? Set up a nice little corner or table space, light a candle, grab a journal, and get ready to start your tarot reading journey.
The Beginner Tarot Spread
Difficulty level: Easy.
When to use: Perfect for daily guidance.
This simple three-card spread is designed to help you reflect on your day and set intentions for tomorrow. Use it each night to connect with your intuition and track your personal growth. It’s perfect for beginners because it’s only three cards and relates to an immediate timeframe that you will be able to analyze more easily than a far-off future or a hazy mystery.
Lay three cards in a row, left to right, and ask:
- What was my biggest lesson today?
- What should I be most grateful for today?
- What can I look forward to tomorrow?
Lay down one card per question and use its essence and meaning to answer that question for yourself, this will require some mental gymnastics because the card meanings are never perfectly aligned to what you ask. There is always some lateral dot-joining to be done. This is part of the skill of learning the cards and adapting their meanings to your questions.
The Love Tarot Spread
Difficulty level: Easy to intermediate.
When to use: Great for questions about relationships.
This spread helps you understand your connection with someone—whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member. This spread will help you see the ways you can progress and bond with the person in question. Lay four cards in a circle to represent the cyclical nature of relationships, place the first card at the top and work clockwise.
Ask your cards:
- What are their true feelings or intentions toward me right now?
- What’s the root cause of our current dynamic?
- What do we need to talk about?
- What step can I take to strengthen our bond?
It’s a gentle way to prompt necessary dialogue and see your relationship’s bigger picture.
The Self-Reflection Tarot Spread
Difficulty level: Intermediate.
When to use: Best during the Full Moon.
This layout pairs emotion with insight, helping you decode your subconscious feelings. Lay out four cards in two pairs—each duo represents a feeling (the first card) and its cause (the second card).
Duo One
- What am I feeling sad or uneasy about right now?
- Why do I feel this way?
Duo Two
- What am I feeling excited or hopeful about?
- Why do I feel this way?
This spread realigns your emotional and rational selves, helping you express what you are feeling but haven’t yet put into words.
The Hope and Comfort Tarot Spread
Difficulty level: Good for every level.
When to use: When you need reassurance.
When life feels heavy, this five-card spread helps you process challenges and see the silver lining. Lay the cards in a line, from left to right, to symbolize moving from confusion to clarity. This reading is designed to help you face something difficult and keep moving forward. Remember: each card represents a single question, so five questions requires five cards in answer.
Ask:
- What hard truth do I need to face right now?
- How will this experience change me for the better?
- What action should I take next?
- What reward or gift will come from this?
- What light is guiding me through?
This spread reminds you that tarot is your ally in finding strength, wisdom, and hope when something is troubling you in your life.
