How I Screwed Up My Tarot Spread (Again)
So look, I wanted to try this 10-card spread I saw online. Sounded great for big life questions. Grabbed my trusty old deck, shuffled like I always do, feeling pretty confident. But man, things went sideways fast. Turns out, where you put the dang cards actually matters a bunch, and I clearly wasn’t paying attention when I first learned it.
First mistake? Total noob move. I just kinda dumped the ten cards out onto my coffee table. Like, flick flick flick, one after another, not really thinking. Had them in a rough line, but the order? Who knows. Past card next to future card, outcome squished up against advice… it was a hot mess. Stared at the pile feeling totally lost. “What the heck does this one mean now?” I remember thinking. Yeah, pointless.
Okay, fine. Reset time. Shuffled again. Thought maybe I needed more space. Pulled out the bigger tablecloth, cleared off books and my half-empty coffee mug (mistake number two brewing… literally). Started placing them one by one this time. Position one: Past. Okay, placed it roughly left. Position two: Present. Thought “middle-ish”. Position three: Future. Okay, right. So far so good? Not really. I completely forgot the spread used a specific pattern – like a cross or something? My cards were just… wandering around the table. Position four ended up near my elbow, five was kind of behind position two. Total chaos. I lost track of which position was which instantly. Smacked my forehead.
My coffee mug nearly became a victim when I went to flip a card. Heart pounding, I rescued the deck just in time. Right then, I realized I needed structure. Like, serious structure. Felt dumb, because this should be simple.
Wiped the table down properly this time (no more liquid hazards!). Found that darn diagram on my phone that I should have checked first. The 10-card spread had a specific layout: three cards in a vertical line on the left for past/present/future foundations, two crossing in the center above and below for like, influences and stuff, then the rest fanning out right in a specific order for obstacles, hopes, environment, outcome, etc. Got it. Finally.
Shuffled slowly, thinking of my question. This time, I placed each card carefully:
- Card 1 (Past): Top left spot.
- …and so on, following that map.
Card 2 (Present): Smack dab middle left spot.
Card 3 (Future): Bottom left spot. See? Column forming.
Card 4 (Crossing Above): Placed it horizontally above Card 2.
Card 5 (Crossing Below): Placed it horizontally below Card 2.
Card 6 (Obstacle): Positioned it exactly where the diagram showed, top right.
Flipped them over slowly after placing each one exactly. Night and freaking day difference! Suddenly, seeing Card 4 crossing Card 2? It made total sense contextually. Knowing Card 8 was specifically about external influences, placed just so next to Card 7 (Hopes)? Boom. The reading flowed. I could see connections I was completely blind to before.
The lightbulb moment: That simple act of placing them deliberately and correctly? It wasn’t just about neatness. It framed the story. Each position gave the card meaning beyond just its individual picture. Duh. Feels obvious now. I was rushing, skipping basics, getting sloppy. No wonder my previous readings felt vague.
So yeah, the next time you try a bigger spread? Don’t be me. Grab that diagram or memorize the exact positions first. Place each card slowly, precisely, naming its spot as you put it down. Seriously saves so much headache and confusion. My cards went from jumbled mess to a clear(ish) picture just by putting them in the right damn place. Who knew?
