How To Do A Simple Three Card Spread

There are so many different types of tarot card spreads, it can be confusing to understand which one to use and to learn.

There are so many different types of tarot card spreads, it can be confusing to understand which one to use and to learn. Here are some suggestions on how to do a simple 3 card spread.

Please note: in order to read the cards effectively, you should be familiar with their individual meanings and how they relate to each other when they are presented in a spread. Most Tarot Card readers are familiar with the Celtic Cross Spread, but a three card basic spread is a good way to learn how to read cards for beginners.

Even before you start to use a three card spread, there is an exercise you can do daily. Its purpose is to familiarize yourself with the cards and the idea of reading them. It is easy to do and will strengthen your abilities when it comes to reading cards in general.

What you do is you shuffle your cards and pull one a day to see what your day will be like, what you should know or be aware of or guidance for moving through your day. Concentrate on your query and then pull a card in any way that you feel called to: pull from the middle, shuffle and take the top card, or spread them out and pick the one that draws your attention. Look at what the card represents by using the guide book or a trusted website, and then interpret your message based on that information. This is an excellent way to get familiar with the cards and their meanings. It also helps you develop your sense of intuition which is also very important for reading the Tarot Deck.

Let’s move on to the Three Card Spread:

Here are the Steps to conduct a Three Card Reading: 

1. Focus on Your Question 

2. Shuffle Your Cards

3. Pick one of the Cards and put it in the center of the table. This card represents the “present situation” in relation to the question you asked.

4. You will then pick another card and lay it to the left of the first card. This is the past in relation to the question you asked. Keep in mind the past could be the day before or even the night before. It doesn’t mean years ago necessarily based on what you asked. This card connects you to the present situation or middle card.

5. Next Pick your third card and lay it to the right of the middle card. This is the future or outcome position to the question. Keep in mind that the future could mean later that day. It doesn’t necessarily mean a year from now.

Look at each individual card meaning and then try to create the story for the 3 cards you pulled. Are you moving away from something in your past and now moving towards a desired outcome as presented in the ‘future’ card? How do the cards related, is there a theme? Is there a warning for you, something you should be paying more attention to or maybe consider a different perspective?

I suggest keeping track of the individual readings and start looking for a pattern or progression in the messages. Is there something you didn’t pick up on in an earlier reading that now makes more sense? How could you have interpreted the cards to receive a more accurate reading originally? Make notes in your journal as a way to integrate what you’ve learned.

And there you have it! You just did a reading. Simple and to the point. When you get to the point that this is easy for you, you can begin to explore more complex types of spreads.

Similar Posts