Spreads with separate majors & minors?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Feb 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ninly	12 Feb 2002
I have seen it written that throwing major and minor arcana separately in a single spread was common or standard practice before some point in history. Anyone know about this? Use it? Know of any spreads? The only spread I've seen is described in the LWB that came with l'Ancien Tarot de Marseille that I bought in…Marseille, by Jove, or maybe it was Avignon. It (the spread) is a horseshoe variant that uses twelve majors in three groups and then only three minors as resultants. Anyone else find this strange? Also, on a similar path of interest, what, if any, experience have people had with the use of standard playing cards (52 or 54 card decks) in divination?

Ramses	12 Feb 2002
Well, I don´t know if this is the answer you´re looking for , but ...I´ve read about spreads that use only the major arcana....don´t remember right now the lay out ... By the way...What does LWB stand for ???...lol... Ah...And I have a friend that only uses standard playing cards...and she´s really good at it ...It seems that she uses it according to numerology...and the lay outs of the spreads are completely different...she uses all the cards...and sees how close some of them are to each other , separeted in groups ...it´s really complex...but not that difficult to understand....

Ninly	12 Feb 2002
Quote: Ramses (12 Feb, 2002 16:54): Well, I don´t know if this is the answer you´re looking for , but ...I´ve read about spreads that use only the major arcana....don´t remember right now the lay out ... No, I've seen those too, I'm talking (or rather, asking) about spreads with both major and minor, wherein they're separated and then separately shuffled and, uh, dealt. Quote: Ramses (12 Feb, 2002 16:54): By the way...What does LWB stand for ???...lol... Uh, maybe my acronym is wrong, but…Little white booklet…? Quote: Ramses (12 Feb, 2002 16:54): Ah...And I have a friend that only uses standard playing cards...and she´s really good at it ...It seems that she uses it according to numerology...and the lay outs of the spreads are completely different...she uses all the cards...and sees how close some of them are to each other , separeted in groups ...it´s really complex...but not that difficult to understand.... That's great. Since I posted the question I found another note that mentions the technique, too. Doesn't say anything about it, though. I'd like to hear or read more…

Pollux	12 Feb 2002
I remember of a spread like that you mentioned... I saw it in a very old book, or those courses in instalments that come with newspapers... :-) Actually it was a newsagency source for Tarots... I deeply disliked it. :-( The spread, however, was a Horseshoe spread indeed. It was suggested (actually, it was the only horseshoe spread contemplated) that, when having it, cards 1-3-5-7 you chose Minors, and 2-4-6 you got Majors. In addition, it was explained that, after differentiating between Minors and Majors, one should take it and spread it on the left and the right. And the cards had to be picked at choice - no shuffling or something. :-) Bye :-)

Rose	12 Feb 2002
Rachel Pollack developed a spread for her book written for the Haindl Tarot called the Hagall Spread (named after a rune), which is one of my favorite spreads. The Major Arcana, Minor Arcana pip cards, and Court Cards are all separated out and shuffled individually. Lay out 4 suit cards, 3 major cards above them, and 3 Court Cards below them. The first suit card shows the general situation, the central issue. The second suit card shows a past experience that acts as a cause of the of the current matter. The third suit card shows your conscious or subconscious attitudes and impressions about the situation. The fourth suit card shows one possible result of the situation as things stand right now. The Major Arcana cards concern the spiritual tasks involved. The first Major card represents Spiritual history-past behavior and what you've learned in your spiritual journey. The second Major card shows the spiritual task or challenge and current opportunities for learning. The third Major card represents metamorphosis, how the situation might change you and what you will gain spiritually as a result. The first court card represents the Helper. This represents a person who will support you and help you deal with the present situation. What qualities does this person have that will help you deal with the problem? The second court card represents you. At this point in time you are expressing an aspect/qualities of the person on the card. The third court card represents the Teacher who can instruct you and give you insight into the situation. What can you learn from this card?

StormCloud	12 Feb 2002
Here's one I use - seems to work well. Lots of work to separate out all the cards :) http://www.tarotpassages.com/june2001spread.htm

Mateo06	12 Feb 2002
I use a poker deck since i can't find a nice tarot deck that i like, I use all the same meanings as a tarot deck just without the knights and major arcana. I am pretty sure u ppl know what suit goes with what suit in the tarot. so i won't bore u with that, but i think the poker deck is more accurate, and better because it's compact. But thats just my opinion

catlin	14 Feb 2002
I found such a spread in the book to the Kazanlar Tarot Deck. This Mr Kazanlar who has created the Kazanlar deck put up a thesis that the separate majors & minors were related to the Spanish tarot tradition of King Alphons (Alonso) and is part of the 3 Alphonsinian tarot spreads. I still have not tried it out.

AutumnMoonfire	17 Jun 2002
There is such a spread in the Goddess Tarot Workbook on page 207 It's called the beginnings tree. I used it and liked it although I didn't like seperating out the deck...I would post it,but I am not sure that's cool.

The Spreads with separate majors & minors? thread was originally posted on 12 Feb 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.