In Part 1 (see journal post Master the Art of Creating Personalized Tarot Spreads: A Spiritual Guide to Intuitive Card Reading), we explored the foundations of creating personalized tarot spreads. Now, I’ll walk you through my actual process of crafting spreads based on monthly themes and single cards—techniques I’ve refined through my spiritual practice and monthly workbooks.
Step 1: Connecting with Your Monthly Theme
Begin by sitting in your sacred space with your journal open. Take three deep breaths to center yourself. Ask: “What energy is most prominent for me this month?” or “What area of my life needs focused attention?”
For example, in my March workbook, I felt drawn to the theme of “Renewal and Growth” as spring energy was emerging. This became the heart-centered intention for my spread creation.
Step 2: Mind Mapping Your Theme’s Elements
Create a mind map by writing your theme in the center of a page and branching out with related concepts, symbols, and questions.
Example: “Renewal” Mind Map
- Areas needing fresh energy
- Releasing old patterns
- Seeds to plant
- Nurturing new beginnings
- Cycles of nature
Pattern Recognition
Notice recurring themes or symbols in your mind map. For my “Renewal” spread, I observed a natural cycle pattern—endings flowing into beginnings, dormancy leading to growth.
Step 3: Determining Your Spread Structure
Based on your mind map, decide how many cards will best serve your theme. Remember our 5-8 card guideline for effective readings (but, as always, use your intuition to decide what feels right).
For my “Renewal” spread, I chose a 6-card layout mimicking a plant’s growth cycle:
- My “Spring Renewal” Spread Structure
- Card 1: What needs to be composted (representing what must end)
- Card 2: Seeds of potential (new ideas or opportunities)
- Card 3: Necessary nourishment (what will support growth)
- Card 4: First sprouts (early signs of progress)
- Card 5: Potential challenges (weather/conditions to navigate)
- Card 6: Full bloom potential (ultimate outcome)
Step 4: Creating a Visual Layout
Sketch your spread pattern in your journal. The physical arrangement should enhance the spread’s storytelling power.
For my “Renewal” spread, I designed a spiral pattern moving from center outward, mirroring a plant’s growth from seed to bloom. This creates a temporal energy flow while honoring the cyclical nature of growth.
Step 5: Working with a Single Card as Inspiration
Sometimes, a single tarot card can inspire an entire spread. Let me demonstrate with The Empress card:
The Empress-Inspired Spread
When deeply connecting with The Empress card one month, I created a spread focused on abundance and nurturing. I asked myself: “What aspects of The Empress energy do I need to explore in my life right now?”
This led to a 5-card spread:
- Self-Nurturing: How can I better care for myself?
- Creative Expression: Where is my creativity seeking outlet?
- Sensual Awareness: How can I more fully experience life’s pleasures?
- Abundant Mindset: What beliefs about abundance need shifting?
- Natural Wisdom: What message does nature have for me now?
Step 6: Testing and Refining Your Spread
Before finalizing your spread, perform a test reading for yourself. Notice:
- Does the narrative flow logically?
- Are the card positions clear in their meaning?
- Does the reading address your original intention?
- Are there any redundancies or gaps?
After my initial test of the “Renewal” spread, I realized I needed a card specifically addressing what to nurture versus what to release, so I refined the positions accordingly.
Step 7: Documenting Your Creation
Once satisfied with your spread, document it in your tarot journal or workbook with:
- The spread name and date created
- A sketch of the layout
- Detailed descriptions of each position
- Notes about the energy or intention behind the spread
- Results from your test readings
Monthly Theme Journal Prompts:
- What recurring symbols appeared in my readings this month?
- How did my created spread illuminate my monthly theme?
- What insights emerged that I hadn’t considered before?
- How might I evolve this spread for future use?
Final Thoughts: Trusting Your Intuitive Process
Remember that creating tarot spreads is a deeply personal practice. Your intuition will guide you to the structures, questions, and patterns that resonate with your spiritual journey. As you develop spreads for your monthly themes, you’ll build a personalized collection of tools for self-discovery and growth.
In my experience, the most powerful spreads emerge when we release rigid expectations and allow our inner wisdom to flow through us onto the page. Your spreads don’t need to be complex to be profound—sometimes the simplest layouts yield the deepest insights.
I encourage you to use your monthly themes as doorways to spread creation. Notice what energies are present for you each month, what questions arise, and what patterns emerge in your life. Let these observations inspire spreads that support your unique spiritual path.
What monthly theme is calling to you right now? What spread might you create to explore it more deeply? Trust yourself, and begin.