One-card and three-card spreads
Card of the day, Past–Present–Future, Situation–Action–Outcome, and Body–Mind–Spirit.
4 min read
By the end you'll
- Know which kind of question each 1- and 3-card spread suits
- Read the positions of each spread correctly
The 1- and 3-card spreads are the foundation of every other spread. Get comfortable with them before moving on to larger ones. The diagram above shows the positions of each.
Card of the day (1 card)
Suits short questions about a single matter, such as "What should I focus on today?" Answer with one piece of advice.
Past / Present / Future (3 cards)
Suits "how will it go?" questions. Tell it as a timeline. The middle card is where the querent stands now.
Situation / Action / Outcome (3 cards)
Suits "what should I do?" questions. The middle card is the advice, and the outcome comes about if the querent follows it.
Body / Mind / Spirit (3 cards)
Suits questions about self-care or balance in life. The heaviest card shows what to look after first.
Body / Mind / Spirit
Question: Which part of myself should I take better care of right now?
Cards: Nine of Wands, position Body; Nine of Swords, position Mind; The Star, position Spirit
Sample answer: Body: Nine of Wands. You are worn out but still pushing on. Mind: Nine of Swords. Worry is keeping you awake. Spirit: The Star. Deep down you still have hope and the strength to heal. The heaviest card is Mind, so start by dealing with the worry, for example by writing your worries down before bed. Your body will get its rest after that.
Tip: If a Major Arcana card lands in the Present or middle position, give that card the most weight.
Summary
- 1 card = one piece of advice
- Past / Present / Future = a timeline
- Situation / Action / Outcome = the middle card is what to do
- Body / Mind / Spirit = find the heaviest area