Alright, let me walk you through how I actually do a 3-card tarot reading. It’s become my go-to spread for quick insights, super practical.
Getting Started
First off, I gotta find a moment where I won’t be interrupted. Sometimes it’s early morning, sometimes late at night. Doesn’t really matter when, just needs to be quiet-ish. I usually sit at my desk or even on the floor.
I grab my deck. I’ve got a few, but I tend to use my slightly worn Rider-Waite Smith deck most often. Feels comfortable, like old jeans.
Then, I think about the question or the situation. I try to make it clear in my head. Not like, “Will I win the lottery?” but more like, “What do I need to understand about this current challenge?” or simply, “What energy surrounds me today?”. Holding that thought is key for me.
The Shuffle and Draw
Okay, shuffling. This part’s important. I don’t have a fancy technique. I just shuffle the cards in a way that feels good. Sometimes it’s a standard riffle shuffle, sometimes just mixing them around on the table. I do this while keeping the question in my mind. I keep going until it just… feels right? Like a little internal ‘ding’ that says “okay, stop shuffling now.” It’s hard to explain, you just kinda know.
Once I stop shuffling, I usually cut the deck into three piles using my left hand (heard somewhere that’s the receiving hand, stuck with it). Then I stack ’em back together in whatever order feels natural at that moment.
Then I draw the three cards from the top. Simple as that. I lay them out in a row, face down, left to right.
- Card 1 (Left): Represents the Past / Foundation / What led up to this.
- Card 2 (Middle): Represents the Present / The core issue / The current situation.
- Card 3 (Right): Represents the Future / Outcome / Advice / Where things are heading.
These positions aren’t set in stone, mind you. Sometimes I tweak ’em based on the question, like maybe Situation / Obstacle / Advice. But the Past-Present-Future structure is the most common one I use.
Reading the Cards
Now for the fun part. I turn over the cards one by one, usually left to right.
I look at each card individually first. What’s the image? What feeling does it give me? What keywords pop into my head? I don’t rush this. I let my first impressions sink in.
Then, the crucial step: looking at them together. How does Card 1 lead into Card 2? How does Card 2 potentially evolve into Card 3? Are there repeating symbols or numbers? Are the suits telling a story (like lots of Cups suggesting emotions, or Swords indicating conflict/thought)?
This is where the ‘reading’ happens. It’s less about knowing exact book meanings (though those help!) and more about weaving a narrative based on the cards in these positions, for this specific question. I look for the flow, the connections.
Sometimes the message is crystal clear. Other times, it’s a bit muddy, and I have to sit with it for a while. I might jot down some notes – the cards, my first thoughts, the story I see. It helps me process.
Wrapping Up
Once I feel I’ve gotten the gist of the message, I take a moment to absorb it. Thank the cards, sounds a bit woo-woo maybe, but it feels right to me. Just a quiet moment of acknowledgement.
Then I gather the cards, give them another shuffle just to clear the energy, and put them back in their box or bag. That’s pretty much it. My way of doing a straightforward 3-card reading. Nothing too mystical, just a practical tool I use often.
