When I first started to learn to read Tarot, I thought I needed to master the 10-Card Celtic Cross to be a good Tarot reader. But every time I used the popular Tarot spread, I felt completely confused and frustrated, unable to see the forest from the trees and not knowing what my reading was trying to tell me.
Enter the three-card Tarot spread.
Finally – a way to quickly and accurately answer my questions, with just three Tarot cards.
Sure, there are tons of fancy (and complicated) Tarot spreads that have ten, twenty, even all seventy-eight Tarot cards in them. But if you want to get to the heart of your question, then the best place to start is with a simple three-card Tarot reading.
It doesn't matter whether you are a Tarot beginner doing a reading for the first time or a seasoned professional with decades of experience – a three-card Tarot reading will give you the crystal clear insight you need. Seriously, you can get super deep with just three cards.
To get you started, here are 25 easy three-card Tarot spreads for you to use in your readings.
General Three-Card Tarot Spreads
Past / Present / Future
The nature of your problem / The cause / The solution
Current situation / Obstacle / Advice
Situation / Action / Outcome
Context of the situation / Where you need to focus / Outcome
What I think about the situation / What I feel / What I do
Example:
Three Card Tarot Spreads for the Future
We all know that Tarot cards aren't going to give you lottery numbers or predict exact events, but they are an incredibly useful tool for guiding you into the future you want. Read more about my feelings the Tarot's predictive abilities here.
Where you stand now / What you aspire to / How to get there
What you aspire to / What is standing in your way / How you can overcome this
What will help you / What will hinder you / What is your unrealised potential
Three Card Tarot Spreads for Understanding the Past
What you can change / What you can’t change / What you may not be aware of
What worked well / What didn’t work well / Key learnings
Three Card Tarot Spreads for Love and Relationships
You / The other person / The relationship
What you want from the relationship / What they want from the relationship / Where the relationship is heading
What brings you together / What pulls you apart / What needs your attention
Three-Card Tarot Spreads for Decision-Making and Choices
Do you run to your trusty Tarot deck when you've got a tough choice to make? I know that I certainly do. Over decades of consulting my deck in times that I needed direction, I noticed a number of helpful cards kept popping up. That's why I made a list of the Top 10 Tarot Cards for Decision Making. You can read it here.
Strengths / Weaknesses / Advice
Opportunities / Challenges / Outcome
Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3
Option 1 / Option 2 / What you need to know to make a decision
The solution / An alternative solution / How to choose
Three-Card Tarot Spreads for Self-Discovery
Mind / Body / Spirit
Your conscious mind / Your sub-conscious mind / Your super-conscious mind
Material state / Emotional state / Spiritual state
You / Your current path / Your potential
Stop / Start / Continue
What the Universe wants you to be / The personal qualities required / Specific action required
Are you struggling to read Tarot for yourself? Don't worry, you're not alone! We created our course Tarot 101 just for you. Get started now!
Reading Tarot with these 25 three-card Tarot spreads won't just give you a quick Tarot reading – they will help you get to the heart of your question and give you the crystal clear insights you are looking for. And ultimately, that means becoming a better Tarot reader who can help more people with your natural gifts and talents.
More Tarot Spreads
Looking for more spreads? You're in luck! With the help of a few friends, I've created all different spreads to help you navigate your, year, life choices, relationships, and more. Check out the Tarot Spreads archives here.
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