Images © Brigid 2001
© Maven 2001
Hello, everyone.
I have been using this spread for about 9 years and have shown a few people and they find it very useful. I now wish to share it with others so that it may prove as useful to you as it has with me. I thank you all in advance for your patience and gladly welcome your questions, comments, and recommendations. I also apologize in advance for bad spelling and awkward wording.
My 15 card spread. As far as I can tell my spread is unique. There are slight similarities to some of the layouts in the Tarot FAQ, but it does not function like any of them.
Some background is needed to explain the origins of this layout and the concepts I put behind it. The first time I ever had a reading done by a friend for me she used a standard Celtic cross layout. I saw that there was a lot of deficiencies in it but it still gave a very good reading. About a day later I came up with the pattern below. It took me a year to get my first deck (Robin Wood) and test it. I must say that the results were fascinating.
This layout uses a concept that I have always had the Idea that there are certain events that are "nearly" impossible to avoid (indicated by the "*" ). In this concept of time there are also many ways to enter and exit these nodes. How you enter the "node event" determines the results of the event.
For example: You will meet a certain person at event node "*1". In choice "a" you are kind.
In choice "b" you are aggressive.
In choice "c" you are talkative.
In choice "d" you are playing in a band.
The outcome of "a" is that you and this person just say hello and go your separate ways. The outcome of "b" could mean you have a verbal argument. In choice "c" there is the chance of you becoming friends. In choice "d" you could meet the one that you will marry because the music attracted their attention to you. The possibilities are infinite for entrances and exits, but there is a direct link with a given entrance and exit (cause and effect).
a ____ ____ d
b ___ \ /____ a
c ___>->*1<<____ c
d ____/ \____ b
The cards are placed in numerical order starting at card 1. I personally place the cards face up as I lay them. This gives me a good overview and shows me many of the inter-connections between the cards.
Cards 1,2,3 form a small triangle with their inside corners touching.
Cards 4,5,6 are place like spokes from a wheel. These connect the outer triangle.
Cards 7,8,9 and A,B,C are placed starting at the top and progress to the respective corner. These cards touch base to base. The remaining cards are delt from left to right along the bottom. These also touch base to base.
The layout consists of 15 cards divided into five groups.
1,2,3 Are the relevant past.
4,5,6 Are the recent events.
7,8,9 Is the first possible path.
A,B,C Is the second possible path.
D,E,F Is the current most likely outcome.
These 5 groups are more like 4 groups in that the first and second possible paths represent the current two most likely possibilities of entrances/outcomes to the event.
***Side note*** In the exploded segments of the layout a "+" indicates the top of the card.
1,2,3 Are the relevant past.
These cards are read counter clockwise from point 1.
These cards tell you about the relevant past information.
The information helps focus the reading
4,5,6 Are the recent events.
These are read outward from the center like spokes of a wheel. Starting with card 4. These are immediate relevant events that pertain to the question.
7,8,9 Is the first possible path.
A,B,C Is the second possible path.
These are the two most likely paths of entrance/exit. These are read from 7-8-9 then A-B-C. The top of these cards points to the top of the pyramid. Each of these paths are a possible path to the final outcome. You may notice that the paths are events and outcomes in themselves. The reader will usually see the potential harms and benefits that can come from each path. In my experience I have found that there is always knowledge to be gained regardless of the path chosen.
D,E,F Is the current most likely outcome.
The cards are read from D-E-F. The top of the cards is to the right.
This represents the event itself and the current outcome as of the time of the reading. This layout offers the reader to ask the question "Based on what you have learned what would you change?". A second reading done after a few minutes of contemplation by the querant. You will notice many of the past and present cards being the same or similar but the outcome may now be different given that the querant has actually gained knowledge via the previous reading.
NOTES:
1) I have noticed that the timing of events literally jumps out at you. This layout is very flexible in regards to questions about a certain time span. It has proven useful for as little as a day's time, and up to ten years.
2) For those people who use a querant card it should be placed at the center of the layout. I do recommend that you try this layout without it first. If you do have a question as to who the layout was for, draw the next card from the deck and place it in the middle.
3) If you do feel the need for a clarifier or two go ahead and use the next cards in the deck as you feel is necessary.
4) I have tried this layout with doubled cards in the positions and got no significant improvement in the reading. So I will recommend against it.
If you have any comments or questions please E-mail me at
maven@i2k.com
Thank you again for reading this and please let me know if this works as well for you or others as it does for me.
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