Bright Blessings, Witches, Witchlings, and Witchlets! In another installment of our Tarot Spread Series, we’re talking all about self-assessment spreads. We’ll be focusing on what constitutes a self-assessment spread and different ones you can try out and add to your practice. Let’s go!
WHAT IS A SELF-ASSESSMENT TAROT SPREAD?
A self-assessment spread can aid those looking for clarification concerning:
- Taking a closer look at your current self
- Evaluating your self-esteem
- The best way to approach an issue given your present strengths and weaknesses
- Personal development
and more!
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TAROT READING
So how do you do a self-assessment spread? First, let’s go over a few suggestions to yield the best possible results when reading the Tarot.
- Breathe. Take a minute or two and perform do some deep breathing exercises. This has been shown to decrease stress, which in turn allows you to really tune into your body. Sink into yourself and become present in the moment. SOURCE
- Cleanse your deck. This will lead to clear answers from the cards. You can do it in any way you prefer, from knocking to smoke, crystals, or sounds to moonlight or sunlight, or visualization.
- Choose the spread you want to do. There are a lot of self-assessment-oriented spreads out there that address a multitude of situations, problems, and questions you may have. It’s important to choose the best one that will match with the type of guidance you are seeking.
DIFFERENT SELF-ASSESSMENT TAROT SPREADS
The following list of Tarot spreads is meant as a source of inspiration. While this list is not exhaustive, it does offer some ideas for self-assessment spreads you might want to try. You may even find yourself coming up with your own spreads. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Strength | Weakness | Advice
- Who You Are Now | Who You Wish To Be | Steps To Get You There
- Your Issue | What To Tap Into | How You Will Overcome The Issue
- What To Let Go Of | What To Nourish | What To Heal
- Your Root | Your Shadow | What You See | What Others See
- How You’ve Been Deceiving Yourself | How To Stop | What To Focus On
POSITIVE CARDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN SELF-ASSESSMENT SPREADS
As Tarot spreads are just one facet of self-assessment readings, knowing the key cards to look for and their (typical) meanings is just as important. Remember that the Tarot is always open to intuitive interpretation and what one reader sees, another will not. The following corresponds to cards in the upright position.
MAJOR ARCANA SELF-ASSESSMENT CARDS
-The Chariot VII: signals taking the reins, gaining control, and taking responsibility for your actions
-The Hermit IX: suggests you are willing and able to take time for self-reflection
MINOR ARCANA SELF-ASSESSMENT CARDS
-Ace of Cups: new opportunities for self-love
-Eight of Pentacles: skill development, training, and education
-Ten of Pentacles: signals great accomplishment and success, stability and certainty
DETRIMENTAL CARDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN SELF-ASSESSMENT SPREADS
Just as much as there are cards that point to easy sailing, there are cards that indicate a storm is brewing on the horizon. Again, interpretation is the name of the game here; but the following is to offer some insight into common cards that are typically read as blockages in self-assessment spreads. The following corresponds to cards in the upright position.
MAJOR ARCANA SELF-ASSESSMENT BLOCKAGE CARDS
-The Devil XV: points to the negative forces that hold you back from being the best version of yourself
-The Tower XVI: signifies a sudden change in personal foundations
MINOR ARCANA SELF-ASSESSMENT BLOCKAGE CARDS
-Two of Pentacles: signals self-doubt and feeling overwhelmed
-Three of Swords: points to fears and/or restrictions around feelings
-Ten of Swords: signifies bottoming out, hitting a wall, and complete burnout
IN CONCLUSION…
As you can see, self-assessment Tarot spreads can offer a lot of insight into a myriad of challenges you may be seeking guidance for. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these spreads or if you have your own you like to use in your practice. As always, Bright Blessings and Happy Crafting!