Before we begin:
I want to start with some terminology & definitions that will help you understand the language used in the art of tarot.

Meanings: There are card(a) meanings and position(b) meanings.

(a) Card: Each tarot card has symbolisms that are unique to its self. These symbols are representations of things we encounter in life. There are many, many good books and websites that explain the traditional meanings of each card so I won’t be doing that here.

(b) Position: This is where a card is placed in a spread. A seven card spread will have seven positions and each position has a meaning or representation. Each positions meaning is merged with the meaning of the card that is put in that position.

Querent: I believe this to be a ‘made-up’ word just for the world of Tarot. I have yet to find the word, even with alternate spellings in any dictionary. A querent is the person who is presenting a question to the cards. This can be you, reading for yourself, or it may be the person who comes to you for a reading. Other names for this person are; sitters, clients, subjects, etc.

Major Arcana: The word ‘arcana’ means secrets or mystery. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that are numbered from 0 to 21 in Roman numerals. These cards represent the greater forces working around us, those things that we have little or no control over.

Minor Arcana: The remainder of the cards is called the Minor Arcana and consist of 4 suits; Swords, Wands, Cups & Pentacles. Each suit has 14 cards; Ace thru 10, and the court cards; Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Both the suits and the court cards can come with alternative titles in some decks.

Part of the art in reading tarot cards is a thing known as the ‘tarot spread’ There are 100’s of Tarot spreads in print. There are a whole lot more that Tarot readers create for themselves.
Here are a few layouts and breakdown of some commonly used spreads as well as many spreads that I designed out of personal need and creative desire.
If you are new to tarot or a veteran reader, you might find a new spread to expand your tarot abilities or that perfect spread that you have been looking for. I have used all these spreads for others and myself with some powerful and surprising results.
I do hope that you enjoy it and that it adds to your tarot experience.

Below are three categories of Tarot spreads

I – Traditional Spreads~

II – My Spreads~

III – Shared Spreads

NOTE:
When “Future” is used in Tarot, it does not mean that the outcome the cards express is something written in stone. Everyone is in control of their actions, wall have free will. Future cards tell what the future will be if a person does nothing to change their current direction. If a future card says that one is going to get fired from their job, then that person needs to change their bad habits at work. If the cards say that love is around the corner, then one must be open to receive that love. It may not be a lover, it could be a long lost friend. If one does not look around that corner, then they miss the opportunity.
One thing that I have found in all my years of reading Tarot, is that the cards are never wrong, that it is the reader that does not read them correctly. And even the best reader can get things wrong from time to time.


My 3 Card Spreads



This spread has many names, Polarity, Energy, and others that are question and layout specific and inspires by.
The lay-out on the left is used when doing a reading for or about a male & the lay-out on the right is for a female reading. The purpose in the way the cards are placed is based on my belief that shapes and designs have a 'power' of their own.
These two spreads can also be used in combination for a compatibility or relationship spread......spread details below in '6 card spreads'


Both spreads have the same meanings for the cards in the order that they are pulled from the deck.

1-SELF: this card expresses the emotional, mental & environmental experiences of the querent.
2-POSITIVE: this card expresses the positive influences, potential, things that are beneficial and opportunity.
.3- NEGATIVE: this card expresses the negative influences, setbacks, things than are defeating.

The Self card: Placement of the card is in a ‘row’ all it’s own. It’s separation makes a focus point in the spread connected to individuality as well as separation.
Meaning represents the person having the reading. It is their personality and attitudes in regards to the question. This card shows where the querent stands within the situation.

Negative Influences card: Placement is on the left. Represents the forces and energies that are working against the individual’s issue. These can be physical or external sources, some barrier, or personally built walls, fears, insecurities, or enemies. The card expresses those things that are not helping in the situation.

Positive Influences card: Represents the forces and energies that are beneficial to the issue and individual. These can be talents or and attitudes that are helpful in the situation as well as any associates or events that contribute in a positive way.

Seeking Advice Spread


1. Issue
2. Surroundings & Environment
3. Self
4. What to keep
5. What to let go of
6. Direction to take

EGG Spread:
This spread has two variations. One is for Projects & Ideas. The other is for Relationships
Project & Idea Egg
Positions 1 & 2 relates to the project/ideas foundation.
This can be the past, resources on hand, old skills & supporters.
Position 1 also carries the energy of the Magician, Positions 2 carries the energy of the High Priestess
Position 3 carries Empress energies and represents the Creative Thoughts
Position 4 carries Emperor energies and represents the Logical Thoughts
Position 5 carries Hierophant energies and represents the Logical Actions
Position 6 carries Lovers energies and represents the Creative Actions
Position 7 carries Chariot energies and represents the project/ideas Potential

Relationship Egg
Positions 1 & 2 relates to the relashonships foundation.
This can be the past, resources on hand, old skills & supporters.
Position 1 also carries the energy of the Magician, Positions 2 carries the energy of the High Priestess
Position 3 carries Empress energies and represents the Creative Emotions
Position 4 carries Emperor energies and represents the Logical Thoughts
Position 5 carries Hierophant energies and represents the Logical Actions
Position 6 carries Lovers energies and represents the Creative Actions
Position 7 carries Chariot energies and represents the relationships Potential

The spread is looks like this:




Customizing the Traditional Celtic Cross

When it comes to the Celtic Cross, there are many versions of this traditional spread to be found. I got a little discouraged with the spread because it seemed that every source on tarot I referred to had different position meanings as well as the order the cards where placed. I stayed away from this spread for a long time because of this.
So this is for everyone who is a student of tarot-
I have expanded on my experience in how I finally made my way to reading and using the Celtic Cross; or CC for short.

For some I may sound redundant to all things known of the CC, but the each step in important in it's own way.

Figuring out how you want to do the CC comes from what makes sense to you logically as well as intuitively. What makes it easier to remember what each position is and in what order they are put into that position.
Also looking at the CC in pieces, like each is a little spread of it’s own and they are all put together to make a bigger spread.

My process in finding my way of reading the CC-

I typically do not use a significator. It takes a card from the deck that might need to be in a better position than in the middle of things. I know what my significator is, so it is implied.
I explain the significator because the first card is called “what covers you”. If there was a significator card in the center of the table, then this first card would cover it.

CARD 1 Covers You
Usually there is a question, the issue, this is what this card is, covers your issue. The word “covers” bounces from adjective to verb, yet covers (there’s that word again” the position and it’s meaning as a whole.
This is what the reading is all about. The card will show the nature of the situation.
This first position is usually the same in every version of the CC and rightly so for it is a card that meaning and position make absolute sense.
This is the "Covers You" card.

CARD 2 Crosses You
The next card is the one that sits sideways on top of card 1.
This card is called “Crosses You”.
This card represents the things that you will come across.
It may be helpful, it might be a hindrance. This card represents those forces that are working for or against you- the energies that “sit on top” of your situation or the things you will come across due to your current direction in life.
It is a card that either strengthens or weakens the first card.



These two cards, when laid out form a cross as is shown on the left





CARDS 3-4-5-6
Before You - Behind You - Below You - Above You
The next part is usually where things can become confusing or frustrating if you have encountered all the different ways this spread has been described.
Four more cards are placed around the first two cards as so-





The first example is popular because the motion of the order makes a cross.
There are other orders: 16 or so; I think….

Try each of them out and get a feel of what seems to have a flow.
I use example #2

Regardless of the order that you put your cards in, it is quite simple to remember what each card position represents by where it is placed.

Let’s first look at the two cards to the left and to the right of center cards 1 & 2.
These cards are called "Before You" and "Behind You"

With the way the cards in the center representing the situation & energies; it is not to hard to imagine that these cards to the left and right represent the Past & the Future- what is Behind you & what is Before you.
Behind being what we have left behind and what is passed, what is before is what we have yet to get to, it is ahead of us.
Some spreads have the future card on the left; others put the future card on the right. The choice for you is to work with what feels natural to you. For me, the left seems to be what is "Behind Me" in my past.

The thing to keep in mind when developing the way you make the CC your own-
Do you want your spread to have the past card placed on the table before the present card? or after.
To me, again, logically, my past card is put on the table before my future card.

So as you can see; I work the spread as a left to right sort of thing- just like reading a book. Therefore, the "Behind Me" card is on the left and the "Before Me" is on the right.
But the flow of your lay out may place these differently.

The next cards are ABOVE & BELOW the center cards-
What is BELOW you- what is usually below anything? The ground, the foundation, a base….
This card represents the background, something of the past and present that is the basis and root of the issue.
The foundation of the situation.

What is ABOVE you- what do you usually do for things that are above you? You reach for them, yes?
Goals are one of those things that we reach for, aim for. This card has been called aspirations-goals-aims.
It is basically what we are wanting of the situation. This card is sometimes confused with the Hopes & Fears card. What we aim for and what we hope for can sound one and the same, but there is a difference.
One is strictly a goal; the hopes are more of the actions and environment towards that goal.
Some put the goals card on the right and the future card on the top position.

An alternate meaning for the top and bottom cards is the ‘higher’ self, being the card above and the subconscious for the card below. Again what the card means in the spread is what you feel most connected to.

These 4 cards that fall in the N-S-E-W direction are to be of your own design, the order that they are in as well as the placement. You may feel more connected with the idea that the Aim/Goals card should be the 6th card and placed in the Eastern position.
Find what works for you, what feels natural, what seems logical.

CARDS 7-8-9-10
With the one/two word position ‘title’ Covers, Crosses, Above, Below;
The four cards that line the right side of the cross of the first 6 cards
starting from the bottom are:

These 4 cards that run in a row on the right, starting from the bottom, can also have varied meanings such as SELF is sometimes titles ATTITUDE, or ENVIRONMENT could be OTHERS.


So….start with two things- Find the ten card meanings that you want and will work best for you then figure out the order, the way you place your cards.. .