Introduction to Spreads
The principal purpose of a spread is to articulate a situation, that
is, to divide it into a suitable number of interrelated components
(aspects, dimensions, perspectives) upon which the cards can comment.
Therefore, spreads can differ in the number of components, in the ways
they dissect the situation, and in the interrelationships they
display. This last aspect is what gives "spreads" their name, for the
interrelationships among the components is represented by the spatial
arrangement of the cards. This may be as simple as placing cards
representing the past on the left, the present in the center and the
future on the right. Or they may have a more complex structure (such
as the Celtic Cross) or make use of existing symbolic structures (such
as the Tetractys). Or the arrangement may key into symbolic structures
from other divination systems, such as astrology, by using the circular
array of houses, for example (Dodecatropos spread). Generally more
complex spreads are appropriate for more complex situations, in which
there are more aspects that need to be represented and explored.
An especially large collection of spreads (over 100 pages worth) can be
found in Gad (Appendix II). It is worthwhile to experiment with a
variety of simple and complex spreads, but then settle on a few that
you find especially easy to work with. Here, I present several spreads
that are especially appropriate for the Pythagorean Tarot.
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Last updated:
Tue Jun 8 17:54:01 EDT 1999