Your Guide to Tarot + Oracle Cards: Common Spreads
A Part of The Alignment Archive
Layouts to connect, reflect, and receive.
Some cards want to speak in sentences. That’s where spreads come in.
Spreads are layouts—specific ways of placing multiple cards to reveal different facets of a question, a situation, or your own inner state. Each position in a spread acts like a lens, helping you see a particular aspect of the story.
They’re not rules—they’re rituals. Anchors. Invitations.
You don’t have to be an expert to use them. You just need a quiet moment, an open heart, and a willingness to listen.
How to Use a Spread
Whether you’re pulling one card or ten, here’s how to invite the cards to speak with clarity and care:
Center Yourself
Take a deep breath. Let the noise settle. You can light a candle, play soft music, or simply close your eyes for a moment. Create a pocket of presence.Get Clear on Your Intention
You don’t have to phrase it perfectly. But it helps to know what you’re asking. You might speak it out loud, write it in a journal, or just hold it gently in your mind.
Examples:“What do I need to know about this decision?”
“What energy am I moving through this week?”
“What’s ready to shift?”
Choose Your Spread
Pick a layout that feels aligned. (Or let the cards tell you how many want to come.) You can always adapt spreads to suit your needs—there’s no one right way.Shuffle and Draw with Intention
As you shuffle, stay with your question. Trust your hands to know when to pull. You can draw from the top, fan them out and intuitively pick, or cut the deck—it’s all about what feels natural to you.Place the Cards in the Spread Layout
Lay them out one by one, following the positions of your chosen spread. You can place them face-up as you go, or wait until all are down before revealing them.Interpret with Curiosity, Not Judgment
Let the cards speak. Notice what emotions arise, what patterns you see, what messages want to come through. You can look up meanings if you’d like—but your intuition is the wisest guide.
Common Spreads to Try
The One-Card Pull
The Daily Doorway
Use when: You want a quick check-in or anchor for the day.
What it reveals: A theme, insight, or energy you’re moving through.
Prompt examples:
“What wants my attention today?”
“What am I being invited to embody?”
The Three-Card Spread
The Sacred Snapshot
Use when: You want a simple but layered story.
Popular formats:
Past / Present / Future
Mind / Body / Spirit
Situation / Challenge / Guidance
What’s fading / What’s rising / What to integrate
Three cards can hold so much. The shape is simple—the meanings are infinite.
The Crossroads Spread
The Two-Path Reveal
Use when: You’re facing a decision or transition.
Layout:
Card 1: Option One
Card 2: Option Two
Card 3: What’s unseen, underlying, or guiding both
This spread doesn’t tell you what to choose. It shows you what each path holds—and what’s quietly pulling the strings beneath the surface.
The Four-Card Elemental Spread
Earth / Air / Fire / Water
Use when: You want to check in holistically.
Layout:
Earth: Body / Grounding
Air: Mind / Perspective
Fire: Will / Action
Water: Emotions / Intuition
This spread brings balance. It’s especially helpful when you’re feeling scattered or untethered.
The Spiral Spread
The Growth Journey
Use when: You’re in a moment of transformation or transition.
Layout (example):
Card 1: Where I am now
Card 2: What I’m shedding
Card 3: What I’m integrating
Card 4: What I’m calling in
Card 5: The next step
(Add more cards if you feel called—there’s no limit.)
This spread honors the journey as nonlinear. You’re not solving—you’re unfolding.
Final Tips
You can adapt any spread. Let it be intuitive.
If a card doesn’t make sense right away, give it time.
You can mix tarot and oracle in the same spread.
It’s okay to pause and come back to the reading later.
You don’t need a question. You can just ask: “What do I need to hear right now?”
Reflection Prompt
Which spread are you drawn to right now?
How do you want to feel as you read the cards: clearer, calmer, braver, more connected?
Keep Exploring
← Previous: Your Guide to Tarot + Oracle Cards: The Major Arcana Journey
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