Tarot spreads layouts and what each position means
A spread is the layout: how many cards you place and where. The same card means different things depending on the position it lands in. Here are the common spreads and the ones Sumifuda Tarot uses for each topic.
Updated September 23, 2026
The one card draw
The simplest spread: a single card. You read the answer or message straight from the card's meaning. It is good for the day ahead or for narrowing a doubt down to one thing. On this site the one card reading, yes or no tarot and the daily tarot reading use it.
The three card spread
Three cards in a row. Past, present and future from left to right is the classic reading, but the positions can be set to fit the question: situation, cause and advice, or you, them and the relationship.
Most of our topics use three cards with their own position meanings. For how do they feel about me, they are what they show, what they really feel, and where the two of you are heading.
The Celtic Cross
A well-known ten card layout. Two cards cross at the center, four sit around them, and four more stand in a column on the right. Together they cover the present and the obstacle, what you are aware of and what lies underneath, the recent past and the near future, your own position and the influence of others, hopes and fears, and the likely outcome.
With that much information, pulling it into one reading takes practice. If you are learning alone, get comfortable with the three card spread first.
The horseshoe and the hexagram
The horseshoe lays seven cards in an arc and reads the flow from past to future along with the surroundings and advice. The hexagram places seven cards in the shape of a six-pointed star and is often used to read two people's feelings and where the relationship is going.
The spreads used on Sumifuda Tarot
Each topic on this site has a fixed number of cards and fixed positions. In every topic, your birth cards join the reading as its foundation.
| Topic | Cards | Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Love | 3 | Where your love life stands, What shifts it, What comes next |
| How they feel | 3 | What they show, What they really feel, Where the two of you are heading |
| Ex back | 3 | Why you drifted apart, How they feel now, The chance of coming back together |
| Soulmate | 3 | Signs of a meeting, Who they are, Your next step |
| Marriage | 3 | The two of you now, What stands in the way, The road to marriage |
| Compatibility | 3 | Your feelings, Their feelings, The bond between you |
| Career | 3 | Your work luck now, What holds you back, What unfolds next |
| Money | 3 | How money flows, What to watch, How to improve it |
| How others see you | 3 | How people see you, What they leave unsaid, What changes the picture |
| Future | 5 | Past, Present, Near future, A year from now, Your life theme |
| Card of the day | 1 | Card of the day |
| Year ahead | 3 | First half of the year, Second half, Key to the year |
| Yes or no | 1 | Answer card |
| One card | 1 | Message |
Why we read with the Major Arcana only
Sumifuda Tarot uses only the 22 cards of the Major Arcana out of the full 78. Each card carries a lot of weight, so the answer stays clear even with few cards. It suits questions about feelings and direction more than small everyday details.
Tarot spread questions
What spread should a beginner use?
Start with a single card, then move to three once you are comfortable. Reading one card well makes combinations much easier.
Can I make up my own positions?
Yes. Decide what each position means before you lay the cards, and do not change it afterward, and your reading will stay consistent.
How many cards should I use?
One for a single question, three to see the flow, five or more for a tangled situation.