How I Read Tarot!

My preference for reading is a three card spread, with one card acting as the guiding card, telling what the reading is about. The other two become “modifier” cards, which further inform the story of the reading. Usually, I also will ask, after I’ve finished the main reading, if the person I am reading for would like me to pull another card for clarity. 

For this example, I have already pulled a “clarity card.”

This reading pulls from the main deck and the three booster packs. This could be read as a subject in the person’s life, that is encroaching on all aspects. Just from that fact alone; or, it may feel at the time, that the information outside of the direct imagery of the deck is irrelevant. I use my intuition of the space I’m in and my interactions with the person to fully inform what information I should deem important.

Finding these important threads make each reading unique, even if you happen to pick the exact same cards in the exact same order for two people (which has happened! Even when you shuffle!)

Another thing is, I let my intuition also guide where the cards should be on the table. The reading may go from starting as they are in the first image, to something similar to the second, depending on the relationships forming between the cards.

Usually, I’d try and take in the whole reading first, to myself, looking for all the threads, but as I start talking about each of those threads, that's really the moment the reading solidifies in my mind.

For this reading, I found the Stand card and the Old Friend to be harmonious, with the card from the Tarot or Not deck (I will nickname it Yellow Flower for the purpose of reading) acting as a thread in between them, leaning more towards being about the Old Friend card. The Strength card adds to the reading as a whole.

I would use the Stand card as the card the reading is about.

My go-to interpretation would be about standing up to the unknown, though paired with the Old Friend, it begins to look more like standing up either for someone, or against someone.

The Yellow Flower speaks to me as being about light in the darkness, but with the face in the corner, being more as a show being put on time and time again. With its closeness to the Old Friend, maybe this reading is talking about having to stand up to a long time friend, who you feel you may always have to put on a show of being happy all the time. With the Strength card, it may talk about the duality of being strong for your friend, and also neglecting the strength in dealing with your adversities, for the well-being of this friend.

The most important thing though, is to bring positivity to the reading. Nothing is ever hopeless, and no matter your headspace, it’s important to practice how to put a positive spin on things, as you never know what someone is going through, or how heavy the subject is that you are tugging on in their mind. It’s always important to know the world doesn’t stop at your reading, for you as well as the subject of your reading; so let both parties leave with something valuable to chew on, and make the world a little brighter in the process.