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15 Tarot Spreads for General

Advice: Love, Career, and
Step 1
Spiritual Guidance
Consult tarot cards for any matter under the sun
and answer your most burning questions
Co-authored by Susan Levitt and Madeleine Flamiano
Last Updated: February 28, 2023 References

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Spreads for General Life Advice | Spreads for Love

Advice | Show more

Do you want to use your tarot deck to gain some

clarity and direction? Tarot cards are super
versatile divination tools that can advise you in
all areas of life, from your romantic prospects to
your soul purpose. If you have a wide range of
“Am I On the Right Path?” Spread (5
questions and want answers from the Universe,
you've stumbled on just cards)
the right place—
welcome, dear reader! Here, you'll be able to try
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1 Sign Unfaithful People Hide
An Easy To Miss But Hard To Deny Sign That They
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Things You Should Know

The purpose of general tarot spreads is to

receive guidance about multiple subjects,
from your love life to your career path.
Tarot spreads help you tap into your intuition
and self-reflect. Ultimately, tarot layouts arm
you with knowledge about your
circumstances or your future.
To create a "Year Ahead" spread, draw 13
cards. The first 12 represent a pearl of
wisdom for every month, while the 13th card
gives you guidance for the next 12 months.

Section 1 of 6:
Spreads for General Life Advice

“Am I On the Right Path?” Spread (5

cards)
Curious if you’re taking all the right steps and
making all the best moves? If you want a little
nudge of encouragement or a course
correction, this layout has you covered. It’ll
give you some real straight talk and either
reassure you or redirect you to save you a lot
of hassle in the long run. All you’ve got to do is
draw 5 cards and arrange them in 1 row to
reflect on how your current choices impact
you:[1]

Card 1: Who am I right now?

Card 2: Am I on the right path?
Card 3: What’s the main obstacle standing
in my way?
Card 4: What circumstances are in my
favor and helping me out?
Card 5: How can I make progress and
move forward in my life?

“Where Will I End Up?” / “Wheel of

Fortune” Spread (3 cards)
When it comes to the game of life, we’re all at
the mercy of the Wheel of Fortune—after all,
sometimes you might find yourself on top,
while other times you might be at rock bottom.
If you’re interested in knowing if you’ll have a
change in fortune, then pull out the “Wheel of
Fortune” card from your deck. Then, draw 6
more cards and make a pile of 7 cards. Shuffle
them and make 3 piles. Wherever the “Wheel
of Fortune” card ends up will spell out your
destiny:[2]

Pile 1 (Yes): Your fortune is about to

change.
Pile 2 (Maybe): Your fortune might
change.
Pile 3 (No): Your fortune is unlikely to
change.

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“How Can I Be My Best Self?” Spread

(7 cards)
Eager for some self-improvement? Your tarot
cards can be your best friends when it comes
to elevating your consciousness and
demanding more from yourself. Not only can
they shed light on what’s so marvelous about
you, but they can also offer no holds barred
advice about what’s holding you back. For a
glimpse of the best version of yourself, draw 7
cards; form 2 rows of 3 cards and place the 7th
card between them:[3]

Card 1: Who am I now?

Card 2: What is blocking my way to
success?
Card 3: How can I overcome these
blocks?
Card 4: What new energy should I invite
into my life?
Card 5: What’s the first step I should take
to invite in that new energy?
Card 6: What’s the second step I should
take to welcome in new energy?
Card 7: What does my “best self” look
like?

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Section 2 of 6:
Spreads for Love Advice

“Heart Opener” Spread (4 cards)

Do you feel a bit guarded or reserved when it
comes to love? Whether you’re recently single
or have been flying solo for a while, your tarot
deck can be your wingman and give you some
eye-opening advice about how to invite love
into your life. To learn how to let down your
walls, draw 4 cards and form a “Y” to give a
resounding “yes” to romance:[4]

Card 1: Why is my heart closed?

Card 2: How can I open my heart?
Card 3: How can I see the world through
the lens of love?
Card 4: What will I see as a result of this?

“Catching Feelings” Spread (6 cards)

Do you already have a hunch, but you’d like
your tarot cards to sharpen your intuition? This
layout will help you make sense of how your
crush sees you. Also feel free to use it on a
current SO to see if their feelings have
changed or if they’re just as fresh as the day
they met you. To read your love interest like a
book, draw 6 cards; form a diagonal line with 5
cards and lay down the 6th card so it's parallel
to this line:[5]

Card 1: What am I feeling right now?

Card 2: How do I see my love interest?
Cards 3 & 4: How do they feel about me?
Card 5: Why do they feel that way about
me?
Card 6: What should I do with this
knowledge?

“Relationship Check-In” Spread (8

cards)
If you want a comprehensive session with your
tarot decks, this layout will help you delve into
the past so you have a better handle on your
relationship’s future. It’s most appropriate for a
connection that’s already established and for
people who share a history with one another.
To roll up your sleeves and really get into the
nitty-gritty of your love life, draw 8 cards. Form
an "L" with the first 3 cards, a "V" with the
fourth and fifth cards, and a column with the
final 3 cards.[6]

Card 1: How can I improve our

relationship?
Card 2: What were we like when we first
met?
Card 3: What attracts us to each other?
Card 4: What is the current state of the
relationship?
Card 5: What are the strengths of our
relationship?
Card 6: What are the weaknesses of our
relationship?
Card 7: What can I keep in mind about my
partner’s needs?
Card 8: What should my partner keep in
mind about my needs?
Card 9: What’s the best way to improve
upon our relationship?

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Section 3 of 6:
Spreads for Spiritual Advice

“Advice from My Archangels” Spread

(7 cards)
Do you have really big questions that call for
some divine support? Well, you’re in luck—
tarot cards can be the perfect tool to channel
the archangels so they can give you some
heavy-duty answers for your burning queries.
You’ll even be able to convene with multiple
archangels for a whole range of perspectives.
To reach out to the heavens, draw 7 cards;
form a circle with the first 6 cards and place the
final card in its center.[7]

Card 1: Archangel Michael, what is my life

purpose?
Card 2: Archangel Raphael, how can I
heal myself?
Card 3: Archangel Uriel, how can I take
action to improve my life?
Card 4: Archangel Gabriel, how can I fully
express myself?
Card 5: Archangel Azrael, what do I need
to let go of?
Card 6: Archangel Ariel, how can I
improve my finances or career prospects?
Card 7: Archangels, how do you see me?

“Soul Purpose” Spread (5 cards)

Are you aching to know what you should be
doing on a soul-deep level? If you want a deep
dive into your divine purpose, your tarot cards
will hold up a divine mirror so you can reflect
on the important work in store for you. They’ll
help you identify your higher calling and advise
you about how to move forward to fulfill it.
Draw 5 cards and form an “X” to put your soul
purpose in your crosshairs:[8]

Card 1: What’s a way to describe my

soul’s energy?
Card 2: What’s my higher purpose?
Card 3: What special gift do I bring to this
world?
Card 4: How can I put this gift to use?
Card 5: What will I attain once I’m aligned
with my soul’s purpose?

“Akashic Record” Spread (6 cards)

In layman’s terms, the “Akashic records” are
cosmic archives in another dimension that list
everything you’ve done in previous lifetimes,
what you’ll accomplish in this lifetime, and what
your destiny is. If you’d like to know every facet
of your soul so you can get a rich
understanding of yourself, use your tarot deck
to delve into your Akashic records. Draw 6
cards and form a circle for a full picture of your
spirit. Place the first card above the second
card on the left-hand side of the layout; place a
third card to the right of this column; place a
fourth card next to the third card, and place a
fifth card below the fourth card:[9]

Card 1: Who was I in my past life?

Card 2: Who could I become in this
lifetime?
Card 3: What’s been hidden about me?
What do I ignore about myself?
Card 4: What is my inner truth?
Card 5: How can I thrive in this lifetime?
Card 6: How can I serve others in this
lifetime?

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Section 4 of 6:
Spreads for Health Advice

“Listening to My Body” Spread (7

cards)
Want to be more attuned to your body and
treat it like a temple? Your tarot cards can
gently remind you to take care of yourself and
preserve the beautiful vessel that the Universe
granted you. They’ll also help you learn the
way your body tries to communicate with you.
To learn about how to safeguard your health,
draw 7 cards to form a “U” and enlighten
yourself about the most important person in
your life—you.[10]

Card 1: How is my body feeling today?

Card 2: What does my body need right
now?
Card 3: What is something I need to take
more seriously about my body?
Card 4: What is something my body is
trying to tell me?
Card 5: How can I improve how I take
care of my body?
Card 6: How can I be better attuned to my
body?
Card 7: How can I show gratitude to my
body?

“Self-Care During Rough Times”

Spread (5 cards)
Hit a couple pitfalls and feel worse for wear?
No worries! Your tarot cards will do their best to
encourage good habits that’ll restore and
energize you. Not only that—they’ll give you
guidance about holistic health so your mind,
heart, body, and soul are all well taken care of.
To fully lean into your rejuvenating journey,
draw 5 cards and form a cross; place card 1 in
the center, place card 2 below card 1; place
card 5 above card 1; place card 3 to the left of
card 1; and, finally, place card 4 to the right of
card 1.[11]

Card 1: How do I see myself right now?

Card 2: What does my body need to feel
healthy and nourished?
Card 3: What does my heart need to give
and receive love?
Card 4: What does my mind need so I can
stay focused and productive?
Card 5: What does my soul need to
connect to my inner truth and purpose?

"Healing Trauma” (8 cards)

Are you struggling with a deep wound or an
emotional burden that’s slowed you down?
Maybe you want to break free from the past so
you can move forward. Your tarot decks can
help you confront traumas, even ones that
have remained buried, so you can taste
freedom and relief. To release yourself from
any emotions or experiences that trouble you,
draw 8 cards. Form an upside down pyramid:
at the bottom, place cards 1 and 2 next to each
other; line up cards 3-5 in a row above cards 1
and 2; line up cards 6-9 in a row above cards
3-5.[12]

Card 1: How has this trauma impacted my

life?
Card 2: What emotions do I carry because
of this trauma?
Card 3: How does this trauma affect my
relationships with others?
Card 4: How does this trauma affect the
way I see myself?
Card 5: What do I need to do to release
this trauma?
Card 6: What lesson can I learn from my
past experience?
Card 7: How can I begin to move past this
experience?
Card 8: How will my life change when I
finally release my trauma?
Card 9: Who will I become when I let go of
my trauma?

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Section 5 of 6:
Spreads for Advice About the Future
“Life Purpose” Spread (5 cards)
Need some strong counsel about what to do
with your future? Maybe you’re considering a
career transition or you want to make use of
your skills to change the world. This layout will
not only help celebrate all you offer to society
but also reveal the obstacles that stand in your
way. For some insight about how you can
transform your circumstances this coming year,
draw 5 cards. Line up cards 1-3 in a horizontal
row; place card 4 above card 2 and card 5
below card 2:[13]

Card 1: How am I really doing right now?

Card 2: What am I amazing at?
Card 3: What is my purpose right now?
Card 4: What is getting in my way?
Card 5: How can I love myself so I have
the energy to fulfill my purpose?

“Year Ahead” Spread (13 cards)

If you want a forecast for your whole year so
you know what to anticipate, this layout will
give you a glimpse into the future. In fact, it’ll
help you know what to expect from January to
December. To give yourself a great head start
so you know what to prepare for, draw 13
cards—you’ll have a piece of insight for every
month as well as advice for how to conquer
your entire year. Form a circle with cards 1-12,
then place card 13 in its center.[14]

Cards 1-12: A pearl of wisdom for every

month.
Card 13: Guidance for the next 12 months.

“My Future Self” Spread (8 cards)

Want to fast-forward and get well acquainted
with your future self? While you might not have
a time machine, your tarot deck is the next
best thing! This layout will help you pose
questions to the version of yourself that exists
a year—or even ten years—from now,
depending on your query. For some teasers
and spoilers, draw 9 cards. Create a topmost
row with cards 1-3; make a middle row with
cards 4-6; form a bottom row with cards 7-9:[15]

Card 1: What am I like right now?

Card 2: What is my future self like?
Card 3: What’s my current situation? Am I
struggling?
Card 4: What should I spend less time on
so I can evolve as a person?
Card 5: What should I spend more time on
to evolve as a person?
Card 6: What should I remember to do so I
can set myself up for the future?
Card 7: What should I let go of to become
my best self?
Card 8: What does my future self want to
give me credit for?
Card 9: What do I have the potential to
accomplish?

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Section 6 of 6:
Interpreting Your Tarot Cards

The Major Arcana:

The Fool (0): You are about to start a new

chapter of your life.
The Magician (I): You have special gifts
that set you apart from others.
The High Priestess (II): You must follow
your inner voice and instincts.
The Empress (III): You radiate
compassion, beauty, and love.
The Emperor (IV): You are an authoritative
figure that provides structure.
The Pope (V): You are a spiritual leader
who’s meant to teach others.
The Lovers (VI): You need to give your
relationships extra attention.
The Chariot (VII): You have an upcoming
victory to look forward to.
Strength (VIII): You have the courage to
handle anything Life throws at you.
The Hermit (IX): You need some alone
time to manifest success.
The Wheel of Fortune (X): You're about to
learn a lesson about luck.
Justice (XI): There is a consequence for
every action you take.
The Hanged Man (XII): Surrender to the
Universe right now.
Death (XIII): A chapter is about to close in
your life.
Temperance (XIV): Remain patient for your
efforts to come to fruition.
The Devil (XV): A series of temptations
might test your will power.
The Tower (XVI): You'll face a difficulty, but
you'll push past it.
The Star (XVII): The Universe is working in
your favor, so have faith.
The Moon (XVIII): You're about to face
what you've been running from.
The Sun (XIX): You're moving in the right
direction, so stay hopeful.
Judgment (XX): Reflect on your past
choices to gain self-awareness.
The World (XXI): You're exactly where
you're meant to be right now.

The Minor Arcana:

Ace of Wands: It's time to take a risk that

will really pay off.
Two of Wands: You may be holding
yourself back due to cynicism.
Three of Wands: Remain patient and
optimistic right now.
Four of Wands: Group up with others to
pull off a big project.
Five of Wands: Feel free to be incredibly
ambitious and take-charge.
Six of Wands: Your community respects all
the ways that you serve it.
Seven of Wands: Your gifts and talents are
going to allow you to shine.
Eight of Wands: Your circumstances are
about to quickly change.
Nine of Wands: You need some rest after
all your hard work.
Ten of Wands: Your task will require all
your time and attention.
Page of Wands: It's okay to be
independent and make your own rules.
Knight of Wands: Overcome your self-
doubt and take action right now.
Princess of Wands: Tap into your
spirituality when making a decision.
Prince of Wands: Be bold when you enter
a new business venture.
Queen of Wands: Gather your crew and
encourage teamwork.
King of Wands: Use charisma and
leadership to achieve what you want.
Ace of Cups: Push yourself to see the
positive parts of your relationships.
Two of Cups: You will experience a soul
connection with a friend or a lover.
Three of Cups: You will enjoy really
harmony and fun in your relationships.
Four of Cups: You're probably longing for a
change right now.
Five of Cups: You've been struggling with
anger and trauma.
Six of Cups: You're about to connect with
your inner child and celebrate life.
Seven of Cups: It's time to be hopeful and
raise your standards.
Eight of Cups: Be wary of those who might
take advantage of you.
Nine of Cups: You will receive many
rewards for all your hard work.
Ten of Cups: You and all your loved ones
will experience safety and joy.
Page of Cups: You're very idealistic and
would benefit from reason and logic.
Princess of Cups: It's fine to trust your gut
and interpret your dreams.
Prince of Cups: You're doing a great job
balancing feelings and logic.
Knight of Cups: Forget your self-limiting
beliefs and take a leap of faith.
Queen of Cups: Be emotionally honest
with yourself to find the truth you seek.
King of Cups: People feel your passion
and power when they see you.
Ace of Swords: Keep focused on one goal
at a time to see it through.
Two of Swords: You're faced with two
options and need to make a decision.
Three of Swords: You're feeling hurt,
disappointed, and possibly heartbroken.
Four of Swords: You need some solitude
so you can gather your thoughts.
Five of Swords: You are walking away
from a situation that didn't serve you.
Six of Swords: You're transitioning and
putting the past behind you.
Seven of Swords: You need to use your
wits instead of aggression to win.
Eight of Swords: Avoid feeling powerless
and instead realize you're in control.
Nine of Swords: You have some dark
thoughts that are weighing you down.
Ten of Swords: You're about to face an
inevitable end to a situation.
Page of Swords: You're full of passion and
a desire to express yourself.
Knight of Swords: You're feeling
particularly ambitious and driven right now.
Princess of Swords: You're about to make
your ideas a reality very soon.
Prince of Swords: If you concentrate and
focus, you'll achieve what you want.
Queen of Swords: Your intellect and clarity
is a gift that people appreciate.
King of Swords: Your smarts and power
help you achieve victory.
Ace of Pentacles: You're about to manifest
what you wanted to attract.
Two of Pentacles: You're capable of
juggling many responsibilities.
Three of Pentacles: Your wisdom and
experience will help with your goals.
Four of Pentacles: You'll generate wealth if
you stay focused on your goals.
Five of Pentacles: You're experiencing a
period of loss right now.
Six of Pentacles: It's important for you to
both give and receive.
Seven of Pentacles: Commit to your
dreams in order to realize them.
Eight of Pentacles: You are getting closer
to mastering your skill sets.
Nine of Pentacles: Be proud of what
you've achieved in your career.
Ten of Pentacles: Share your success with
others and uplift them.
Page of Pentacles: You're tapping into
your power to achieve your goal.
Knight of Pentacles: It's time to remain
responsible to get what you want.
Princess of Pentacles: Remain grounded
during your creative endeavors.
Prince of Pentacles: Work diligently and
manage your time wisely.
Queen of Pentacles: You're bound to
experience prosperity and security.
King of Pentacles: You're on a path toward
wealth and material success.

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Tips

If you only have playing cards, try out

cartomancy as a way to address your
questions—hearts represent cups (emotions
and love), diamonds symbolize pentacles
(finances and work), clubs stand for wands
(actions and creativity), and spades indicate
swords (intellect and challenges).
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

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References

1. ↑ https://angelorum.co/tarot-spreads/am-i-on-
the-right-path/
2. ↑ https://www.tarotassociation.net/yesornowit
htarot/
3. ↑ https://www.emeraldlotusdivination.com/blo
g/2017/09/29/tarot-spread-self-improvement-
awareness
4. ↑ https://tarotinlove.com/when-ill-find-you-
love-tarot-spread/
5. ↑ https://tarotsingapore.online/relationship-
tarot-spread-feelings/
↑
6. https://backyardbanshee.com/tarot/spreads/
7. ↑ https://www.newagehipster.co/blog/2015/11
/7/advice-from-archangels-angel-spread-x
8. ↑ https://angelorum.co/topics/divination/what-
is-your-divine-message-taro/
9. ↑ https://www.thetarotlady.com/tarot-bytes-
episode-197-tarot-akashic-records-leeza-
robertson-pamela-chen/

More References (6)

About This Article

Co-authored by:
Susan Levitt
Tarot Card Reader

This article was co-authored by Susan Levitt and by

wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Susan Levitt
is a professional tarot card reader, astrologer, and feng
shui consultant based in San Francisco, California
since 1986. Susan is the author of five books that are
published in several languages including Introduction
To Tarot and Taoist Astrology. She posts tarot reading
updates on Facebook, on Twitter @tarot_tweet, and
her lunar blog. Her work has been featured on CNN
and she was voted “Best Astrologer” by SF Weekly in
San Francisco. This article has been viewed 37,340
times.

Co-authors: 3
10 votes - 100% Updated: February 28,
2023
Views: 37,340

Categories: Tarot Cards

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that

has been read 37,340 times.

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