Karma readings - do you prefer your own spreads or do you use spreads from books, etc

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

catlin	05 Nov 2003
Some days ago I did a karma reading with one of my "self-made" spreads and I found the outcome much more interesting and better than when I used the spread S. Abraham suggest in her "How to read the tarot" book. Before I was a bit reluctant to use my own spreads in a karma reading as I see a karma reading different than "normal" readings. Do you apply the saying "that something you have made for yourself is stronger" also for spreads or don't you see a difference?

Alissa	05 Nov 2003
Hmmm, I'll throw in my two cents. I *do* receive karmic information for/about people often, but not necessarily while I'm doing a Tarot reading. However, when it does appear in a spread, I usually get this funny feeling about whatever it is (hard to describe, a tingly thing that tells me there's energy behind what I'm doing). If I "follow" the energy, it usually takes me to a deeper meditative place and I will see lots of flashes or pieces of information will spontaneously come to me regarding a previous life(ves). These are usually because they are karmic factors that are "in play" regarding the issue we're discussing. As far as "straight" karma Tarot reading (straight = not trying to use one's intuition but only the cards to find the karma stuff), long ago I still used the Celtic Cross spread, and adapted it for karma. I would use the bottom card a position of "Karmic Past." or what one has created in this life/issue to resolve, and the top card as "Karmic Future," or what the querent can expect to walk into next, if the situation remains unchanged. There are lots of karmic spreads out there, and probably more in the Spreads Forum than I can even guess. Might wanna do a Search if you feel like having a bunch to compare against. And, I'm not exactly sure how to interpret your last question, but I think you're asking, "Is the spread 'better' if you made it up yourself?" To which I say : Sure it does! and No it doesn't! If you make up a spread that *feels* right, USE IT. If you feel like using another spread that just popped into your mind while shuffling, USE IT. I think that where we put our intention is where we will garner the greatest results.

DeLani	05 Nov 2003
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by Karma readings. Do you mean Karma in the technically correct sense of the Hindu word, as in the "bad" (anti-dharma) things you do in one life will affect your next life, or do you mean the popular new-age meaning of your spiritual "balance sheet" of good deeds vs. bad deeds? Sorry if I'm being obtuse. I'm just not sure how you would do a reading on either of these. But in general, for any reading, I sometimes use book (and aeclectic!) spreads if I think they meet my needs. Sometimes I switch them around to suit my tastes, or sometimes I make up a completely new spread (then post it here for others to use). It just depends on what I need from the reading at the time.

catlin	06 Nov 2003
MM DeLani, Well, I ment Karma in both "meanings" here. Just let me know your experience, you know I am curious. Some days ago I did such a reading for a guy who was in trouble with his relationships (he had a crush on 2 different girls who both rejected him) so he wanted to know what was going on. My self-made spread revealed that he was a kind of mercenary/knight living in the 13th century who was married to a woman but in the same time he had a concubine who bore him a son. He was responsible for the death of his wife (she grived for not being able to give him children and she knew of his relationship to this other woman and tolerated it) but after her untimely death he did not marry his concubine due to social matters so he made both women miserable. Besides, the love for fighting and gaining wealth was more important to him than the 2 women.

Mimers	06 Nov 2003
Catlin, We could start a thread in Tarot Spreads and see what spreads everyone uses for Karma readings. I would be interested in seeing what different people use for past life spreads as well. I don't have any experience doing these kind of readings and it would be of interest to me as well.

catlin	06 Nov 2003
Done, Mimers, switch to the spread section. I hope you can figure out the spread, I had some trouble with the diplay of the spread graphic.

Mimers	06 Nov 2003
Thanks Catlin! I checked it out right away and had some questions. Hope you don't mind. Funny, when I quoted your post the layout looked as it is supposed to, so I have the idea of how it should lay. Thanks again! Mimi

lark	06 Nov 2003
Have you ever read a book called Karmic Tarot by William Lammey? I was just wondering because it's about karmic spreads. I was thinking of ordering it as it's an area I'm interested in studying. Karmic readings can be so valuable when the person you're reading for just can't seem to figure out where there problem stems from. Namaste

The Karma readings - do you prefer your own spreads or do you use spreads from books, etc thread was originally posted on 05 Nov 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.