So I got curious about this big debate in tarot circles: should you go for the full 12-card spread or keep it simple with just three cards? Grabbed my trusty Rider-Waite deck last Tuesday morning to test both methods head-to-head.
Starting With The 3-Card Spread
First, I cleared my desk and shuffled like crazy while thinking about my stalled writing project. Laid out three cards in a straight line: past, present, future. The Tower for past made me snort – yeah, that deadline disaster last month was chaotic. Present showed The High Priestess, hinting I knew more than I admitted. Future card? Two of Pentacles. Clear as day telling me to balance research and writing.
Attempting The 12-Card Spread
After lunch, I tried the Celtic Cross spread needing 10 cards plus two clarifiers. Took forever to position them correctly. First card (central issue) was Nine of Swords – spot on about my anxiety. But by card seven (external influences), I got lost. Drew The Hanged Man upside down and three court cards together. Brain started frying trying to connect: “Does reversed Knight relate to Eight of Cups or the querent’s fears? Wait, what’s blocking the outcome again?” Had to keep checking my cheat sheet.
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What totally surprised me:
- Time difference shocked me – 3-card took 15 minutes including journaling; Celtic Cross ate 50 minutes
- Simple spread gave actionable “do this now” vibes; complex one felt like solving a mystery novel
- Kept second-guessing interpretations in the big spread when cards contradicted each other
The Messy Comparison
Next day, I reread both journal entries. 3-card notes were practical: “Prioritize outline completion Thursday, research Friday.” Celtic Cross pages looked like detective work with arrows everywhere – “Moon in position 3 suggests hidden doubts BUT Justice nearby means… wait does that override…?” Felt like the 12-card was throwing multiple solutions at me while the 3-card gave one focused path.
Final Verdict
For quick daily guidance? Three cards all the way – faster, less headache, keeps you honest. Saving the Celtic Cross for deep dives like New Year readings or major life decisions. Funny how the fancier method actually made me trust my intuition less. Might stick with three cards unless I’ve got serious time and caffeine!
