Tarot is a great tool to find clarity and direction in life. When you feel astray and don’t know where to turn, the tarot is there to help you find your way.
In this article, I share my favorite tarot spreads for life direction. All of them are perfect for beginners as well as seasoned tarot readers.
The most potent tarot spreads are the ones where you don’t get distracted.
THE BEST TAROT SPREADS FOR FINDING DIRECTION
When I started to learn the tarot, I thought that the greater the spread, the better the message. As time passed and I gained more experience, I noticed that the opposite was true.
The slimmer and more focused a tarot spread is, the more likely you will get the central and essential points.
When you feel lost or not aligned with your inner compass, the best thing you can do is to find spreads that bring you essential information.
I have divided life direction into four main topics: love, career, spirituality, and finances. This makes it easier to find a spread that suits your unique situation.
SPREAD #1: LIFE-PURPOSE AND DIRECTION
Here’s my favorite go-to spread for general life direction when you feel lost. The questions target critical energies and give you invaluable insights into how to proceed to find your way in life.
Start by grounding yourself, shuffle the deck, stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to and lay down the cards from left to right.
How to read the message
- Ground yourself with a couple of deep breaths
- Open your mind to receive the messages you need to hear
- Shuffle the deck
- Stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to
- Lay down the cards from left to right
- Accept the message and work with the energies
- Change does not happen overnight – stick to it
The first card tells you what to focus on to get clarity and direction in your life. This energy is essential to recognize if you feel stuck.
The second card hones in on what energy you need to let go of to be able to proceed on your life path.
The third card is what energy you need to cultivate to change your path.
Let the spread rest for a couple of weeks. It will do more harm than good if you create a new spread because the first one felt uncomfortable. I have seen this happen more than once, so please stick with the tarot’s message.
SPREAD #2: DIRECTION IN LOVE
If you might feel lost in the direction of your love life or relationships, it is recommended to skip the urge to read about the person in question. You can learn more about why this is here.
Focus on what you can change, which is your input into the relationship. This spread targets what needs to be changed, what you need to hold on to, and where to find true love.
In some cases, true love might be found somewhere else, which can be hard to accept. Give it time and process your feelings – with spiritual work and time, things tend to get more precise.
How to read the message
- Ground yourself with a couple of deep breaths
- Open your mind to receive the messages you need to hear
- Shuffle the deck
- Stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to
- Lay down the cards from left to right
- Accept the message and work with the energies
- Change does not happen overnight – stick to it (even the uncomfortable answers)
The first card is all about what you can do to change the situation and your relationship for the better.
The second card concerns the good qualities of your relationship that you should nourish and hold on to. This is like the glue of your relationship and shouldn’t be ignored if you need change to happen.
The third card is where you can find true love. This card might be hard to swallow because it might give you answers you don’t want to hear.
If you get a court card in this position, it might indicate the personality traits of a suitable partner – do you recognize characteristics in someone you already know? Remember that the energy of the card, not the gender itself, is essential!
SPREAD #3: CAREER DIRECTION
If you feel stuck or lost regarding your career, work, or business life, this tarot spread targets the most important energies to help you get out of the rut.
It can be hard to know your current situation as we tend to get overwhelmed by work. When we have a clear view of where we stand, it is much easier to decide if we need to change or move to something new.
The third card is a significant one in this spread as it indicates what your next step is. Take it to heart, even if it feels uncomfortable.
How to read the message
- Ground yourself with a couple of deep breaths
- Open your mind to receive the messages you need to hear
- Shuffle the deck
- Stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to
- Lay down the cards from left to right
- Accept the message and work with the energies
- Change does not happen overnight – stick to it (even the uncomfortable answers)
The first card is all about the current situation – how you feel about your work or career. It is easy to create an illusion that everything is okay to soothe a stressed mind.
The second card is about what needs to be changed to find your true path in life.
The third card is how to make a change for the better. Please take special note of this card, as it unlocks what needs to be done to get out of the rut.
SPREAD #4: SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
If you feel stuck in your spiritual life, this tarot spread is for you! Explore what needs your attention and what to let go of that is no longer serving you.
Lastly, you also get advice on what needs to be done for you to be able to flourish and bloom.
Please note card number two, as it gives invaluable insights into what you need to let go of. This can be very hard at times. Be kind to yourself, and don’t rush things.
How to read the message
- Ground yourself with a couple of deep breaths
- Open your mind to receive the messages you need to hear
- Shuffle the deck
- Stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to
- Lay down the cards from left to right
- Accept the message and work with the energies
- Change does not happen overnight – stick to it
The first card is what you need to focus on to make a change. This card can be a positive as well as negative energy.
Maybe you have negative thought patterns that need to be changed. Perhaps you are too focused on one thing, and you lose direction.
Keep an open mind and explore the answers given by the tarot, even if it might sometimes feel uncomfortable.
The second card is all about what you need to let go of. If you have worked hard on something, this can be a tricky thing to do. Be kind to yourself and go slow.
The third card is the key to making you flourish. This is the card for direction and it makes sure to work on this energy with all your heart.
SPREAD #5: FINANCIAL DIRECTION
Knowing what to work on to improve your financial status can be challenging. It can sometimes be to find a better job, change spending, or reboot a stagnant business.
This tarot tells you where to start when you feel overwhelmed and stuck.
As always, remember that tarot is for guidance and inspiration only. When it comes to finances, you should always consult a professional.
How to read the message
- Ground yourself with a couple of deep breaths
- Open your mind to receive the messages you need to hear
- Shuffle the deck
- Stop shuffling when your intuition tells you to
- Lay down the cards from left to right
- Accept the message and work with the energies
- Change does not happen overnight – stick to it
The first card is about what is currently holding you back. Please take note of this energy, as it is critical to change.
The second card is where you can find new business or career opportunities. Maybe it is time to launch that new project you have been thinking about. Perhaps you need to make a career shift?
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t recommend general readings as they give pretty vague answers. But when you feel lost, they are perfect for getting the ball rolling. You can read more here if you want to learn more about general readings and what they are.
Start with the general spreads in this article, and when you get a bearing, narrow down your questions and create unique spreads for your situation. If you want inspiration for tarot spreads that are easy for beginners, you find great ones here.
If you want personal advice, my expertise is career and business readings. You find me here. Looking forward to hearing from you!
THE DEFINITIONS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE BASED ON THE RIDER WAITE DECK AND SYSTEM.
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