Three card tarot spreads

Three Card Tarot Spreads
2


Contents

Three Card Tarot Spreads 3
Know Thyself Spread 5
Predict a Person’s Reaction Spread 5
The Stress Spread 6
Spiritual Path Spread 6
Celestial Spread 7
The Hermit Spread 8
The Baba Yaga Spread 8
Odd Love Spread 9
Past Life Spread 9
Daily Spread to Learn Tarot 10
Simple Three Card Spread 10
Impending Marriage Spread 11
Wash It Right Outta My Hair Spread 11
True Intentions Spread 12
Tell Me Something Spread 12
Head, Heart, Hands Spread 13
Don’t Write In Starlight Spread 13
New Deck Spread 14
The Statistician’s Spread 14
List of Common Three Card Spreads 15
Resource Guide 17

Three Card Tarot Spreads
3




Three Card
Tarot Spreads














Presented
By
Aeclectic Tarot

Three Card Tarot Spreads
4



About the Tarot Spreads

The original spreads in this book were contributed by members of the
Aeclectic Tarot Forum.
Join the community at www.tarotforum.net.



About Aeclectic

Aeclectic Tarot is dedicated to the diversity and beauty of tarot, and
has been the online home for tarot lovers since 1996.
Visit at www.aeclectic.net.





Cover image thanks to Nicolette Neish Photography
Edited by Alissa Hall – www.alissahall.com

Three Card Tarot Spreads
by Aeclectic Tarot

ISBN: 978-0-9871104-5-9

Copyright © Aeclectic Tarot 2014

Thank you for buying Aeclectic Tarot Spreads and helping Aeclectic
continue to support tarot lovers around the world.

Three Card Tarot Spreads
5



Know Thyself Spread

by Glass Owl




1 - Who I am

2 - What I do not know about
myself that I should

3 - What I can do to get more in
touch with the real me

“The phrase ‘Know thyself’ is steeped in history, however, it was its appearance in the
movie The Matrix that inspired this spread’s creation.” - Glass Owl






Predict a Person’s Reaction Spread

by Metafizzypop



1 - What they’ll feel

2 - What they’ll think

3 - What they’ll do





“Did you borrow your best friend’s cashmere
sweater, and then burn a great big cigarette
hole in it by accident? Here’s a spread to use
before you give the sweater back.”

- Metafizzypop






Three Card Tarot Spreads
6


The Stress Spread

by Astraea Aurora



1 - What causes me the most stress at the
present time

2 - How do I usually handle it, how do I cope
with stress

3 - How can I actively release stress now,
how can I balance the stress and relax




“The Stress Spread is able to get to the source of your stress, no matter in

which area it manifests itself. When you use it, try to take a couple of minutes
just for yourself and your reading. The time in which you do the reading can be
your first step to relaxation and de-stressing.” - Astraea Aurora





Spiritual Path Spread

by Bodhran



1 - What will this path offer me (gift)

2 - What will this path require of me (challenge)

3 - How will this path change me (possible
outcome)



Three Card Tarot Spreads
7




Celestial Spread

by Eowyn


New Moon Spread: To use between waning crescent and
waxing crescent, especially during New Moon.

1 - What lies in your dark depths, what is unseen,
what we stumble against in the dark nights

2 - What will begin to show, what will arise

3 - What will illuminate the dark path, the key in the
night


Full Moon Spread: To use during waxing, gibbous or
during Full Moon.

1 - What can be seen with clarity, so bright that it can
even blind you

2 - What gets completed, what closes a cycle

3 - What begins to fade away, to darken, to abandon
you, or, what needs to be

Sleeping Sun Spread: A spread for wishes and dreams.

1 - For dreams I hold in my life: Current dreams that occupy the day time,
that you ponder in mind and heart, perceived as long term goals

2 - For wishes I hold in my night: Current desires, intimacy aspects,
sudden interests and passion

0 - Sleeping Sun (base card of the deck, or shadow card): How you are
standing right now in relation to your dreams, desires and wishes

“These spreads can be used
separately and they can also
be used together, during one
lunar month, for greater
understanding in how they
interrelate.” - Eowyn
Three Card Tarot Spreads
8



The Hermit Spread

by Glass Owl

Take your deck to a quiet place, free of turmoil and imagine yourself walking the
path of the Hermit. Leisurely shuffle your deck, taking as much time as you need,
until you feel that it is time to stop.

Turn over your deck and fan it, looking for the Hermit. When you find him, pull
the Hermit out along with the cards on either side of him. These are the cards that
his lantern is casting its light upon. If the Hermit happens to be at one of the ends
of the deck, view the cards as being in a circle and use the card at the opposite
end of the deck to flank his other side.



1 - Left: What you hear as the Hermit,
what the voices tell you in solitude

2 - Middle: You, the Hermit, during a time
of reflection and solitude

3 - Right: What you receive as the Hermit,
what counsels and comforts you in
solitude





The Baba Yaga Spread

by Nisaba



1 - What are you running from

2 - What is it you seek


3 - What are you willing to risk








“This spread is very good for introspective self-examination. It allows you to
develop a new perspective on your shadow-self, on your unconscious motivations,
fears and desires. This spread really is not about prediction, or about reading for
others - it is very close-up and intimate.” - Nisaba
Three Card Tarot Spreads
9

1 - Why I’m lonely





Odd Love Spread

by Eowyn

2 - What kind of lover should I focus on
looking for

3 - Where will we meet










Past Life Spread

by Dancing Bear

1 - Who was this querent in a past
life that reflects this one

2 - What was the occupation of
this person

3 - What were the dynamics of the
querent’s relationships





“There is no specific layout, just pull 3 cards and place
them where it feels right. You may draw a fourth card to
ask how this person died. Or, you may ask about the
surrounding environment, which is helpful to indicate the
era this person lived. It’s all up to you and your individual
needs.” - Dancing Bear
Three Card Tarot Spreads
10



Daily Spread to Learn Tarot

by shesawolf

Divide the deck into Majors, Minors, and Court cards, and
shuffle each stack separately before drawing a single card.


1 - Major: Represents a lesson or situation for the day; helps
to deepen one’s understanding of each Major by relating
one to daily life

2 - Court: Represents someone you’ll come in contact with, or
something to learn about yourself, or someone else, that
day; assists in learning how to associate the Court cards
with people and personalities

3 - Minor: Represents obstacles or advice for the day; helps
one to learn how the Minors can be associated to everyday
and/or mundane circumstances




Simple Three Card Spread

by Rolando





1 - What you are dealing with right now;
this position represents what is

manifesting at the moment

2 - What you need to leave behind; this
position represents what needs to be
let go of

3 - What you need to look forwards;
this position represents what needs
to be embraced



“In life we face situations as well as people who affect us in every part
of our lives, such as love and work, or mental and physical. This simple
spread is for simple issues that a person is facing and can’t break free
from, or feels as if there is no solution. So, in the long run, the issues
won’t develop into something bigger.” - Rolando


Three Card Tarot Spreads
11





Impending Marriage Spread

by Bodhran

1- What the querent brings to the marriage

2 - What the partner brings to the marriage

3 - Gift, or challenge, created by their union














Wash It Right Outta My Hair Spread

by Glass Owl

1 - The Dirt: What’s in your hair that you need to wash out

2 - The Soap & Water: This will be helpful in loosening up the
dirt and removing it

3 - The Drain: What you will gain from letting the dirt go





“Use this cleansing spread when you feel the need to
wash something out of your hair, and your life. For the
first card position you may use a significator or let the
Tarot decide for you by drawing a card.” - Glass Owl






Three Card Tarot Spreads
12




True Intentions Spread

by Apollonia

1 - What face is this person showing
to me, or to the world, in this matter

2 - What is in her/his heart

3 - Why is s/he acting this way






“The True Intentions spread illuminates the difference, if any, between a person’s outer
facade and their actual feelings in a given situation. The spread gives a glimpse into the
person’s true motives, which can help in gaining a better understanding of the person and
how their hidden intentions might affect the situation.” - Apollonia





Tell Me Something Spread

by zachlost

1 - Tell me something I know about <name>;
allows you to focus on what you already know to
draw your mind into an alignment of thoughts


2 - Tell me something I don’t know about <name>;
this should compliment the previous card, or
scream out like an alarm


3 - Tell me something I can help <name> with; I like this
question because it relates back to the person and
addresses a facet of their lives I could contribute to
Three Card Tarot Spreads
13







Head, Heart, Hands Spread

by Bodhran

1 - What do I need to know today

2 - What do I need to embrace today

3 - What do I need to do today













Don’t Write In Starlight Spread

by Eowyn



Inspired by Ronnie James Dio’s song, “Don’t talk to strangers,” this spread works in
the following way: Under a starred sky, write down the 3 words that represent the
kind of relationship you want to have. Begin with the sentence, “I’m going to have a

relationship of (your 3 words that better describe your wish).”

Once you are done, pull a card for each word, interpreting the possibilities (pros and
cons) of making your wish come true.



Three Card Tarot Spreads
14





New Deck Spread

by Tor




1 - What will you give me


2 - What do you want in return


3 - What kind of relationship will we have

The Statistician’s Spread

by eclaasse

When statisticians try to understand
a problem, one step is to collect
descriptive data. Sometimes this
will be done as a pilot study,
sometimes through reading
previous literature, and sometimes
it's the specialist's “best guess.”


The two main descriptors of data used are a
measure of central tendency (usually the average)
and a measure of spread (the variance, or standard
deviation). From those two summaries one may
continue the decision-making process.



1 - The Average: If this situation were to play out over and over, where would the
outcomes tend towards; what can we expect “normal” to be, this is
perhaps the ideal outcome

2 - The Spread: How much variability or deviation is within this problem; what
influences the outcome to deviate from the average

3 - The Decision: What steps should be taken; this may be an advice card, or
contain any other pertinent information that assists in the decision-making
process
Three Card Tarot Spreads
15



List of Common Three Card Spreads


Three card spreads are extremely universal, and commonly traded amongst the
Tarot community. Here is a list of ‘classic’ three card spreads that can be used with
any layout you desire.


Past - Present – Future
Timeline readings are useful for exploring the progression of an issue, or
to gain a general outlook.


Situation - Advice – Outcome
This spread can be used on any topic (love, career, conflict) that you
desire.

His Side - Her Side - The Truth
This old adage can help you gain a better perspective on the matter.

Option 1 - Option 2 – Advice
Gain clarity on two choices in your life and an advice card to help you
choose.

What is Known - What is Unknown - What Needs to be Known
Gives the querent a chance to prepare themselves for the unexpected.


Love & Relationship - Career & Finance - Spiritual Path
Great catch-all spread, perfect for gaining a general outlook on current
circumstances.

Mind - Body – Spirit
See how you’re travelling in all three areas of your life, and the correlations
between.

Three Card Tarot Spreads
16


Yes - No – Maybe (Or, Yes - Maybe - No)
Some prefer the neutral “Maybe” card to be placed at the center to balance
the polarities.

Good - Bad – Ugly
A tongue-in-cheek spread that uses humor to help us face something that
we prefer not to.

Get Ready - Get Set - Go! (Or, On Your Mark - Get Set - Go!)
Useful for the preparation, development and launch of a new project,
relationship or business venture.

Positive - Neutral – Negative
This spread is great for helping identify the pros and cons of a situation.

Now - Next – Later
An alternative timeline reading that provides a better look ahead.

Red Light - Yellow Light - Green Light
A warning, a caution, and a confirmation for any issue or situation,
including relationships

Id - Ego – Superego
Freudian theory identifies your irresponsible and overly-responsible
choices, and the balance found between

Three Card Tarot Spreads
17

Resource Guide

Suggested Tarot Decks

Gilded Tarot - A visually stunning Rider-Waite style tarot, with mix of
medieval, fantasy, cosmic and steampunk art.

Golden Tarot - A sumptuous, seamlessly collaged Tarot deck, skilfully

blending medieval and Renaissance artwork into 78 whole Tarot scenes

Hanson-Roberts Tarot - An easy to understand deck for beginners, it has
positive, slightly medieval artwork that softens the Rider-Waite imagery.

Housewives Tarot – A kitschy domestic tarot deck, with artwork that is
thoroughly fifties in style, attitude, furnishings, and fashion.

Rider-Waite Tarot - A classic Tarot deck, perhaps the most well-known
in the Western world, and often called the first modern Tarot deck.


More from Aeclectic Tarot

The Tarot Reading Companion - Discover the unique stories and
meanings behind all 78 cards, learn how to read with ease and
confidence, and expand your readings with reversals – all in our 292-page
guide to getting the most from your cards.

Aeclectic Tarot Spreads - Find 40 more unique and original tarot
spreads and layouts.




Three Card Tarot Spreads
18

Further Conversation

Talk about these spreads in the Tarot Spreads board at the Aeclectic
Tarot Forum, practice your reading skills in the Reading Exchange, or
just share your thoughts in Talking Tarot.


Feedback

Thanks for reading Three Card Tarot Spreads! If you liked it, we’d love for
you to send us a testimonial. If you thought we could have changed or
added something, then we want to hear from you too. Contact us at
Aeclectic Tarot.