the purpose of doing daily 3-cards spread..(m)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jeank74	06 Mar 2003
I have been told by many tarot readers that I would learn a lot by doing 3-card spread (body-mind-spirit) on a daily basis. At the beginning, I did learn a lot from this exercise since it gave me opporutnites to just learn the meaning of each card. However, I often don't feel how these cards are relevent to my daily life. No matter whether I did the reading in the morning or before bed time, I just cannot see how I can "learn" from the spread. Is there something wrong with me? Am I expecting too much from the spread? Should the daily spread tell me anything about that day of my life? I have two decks, one is Rider-Waite and the other one is Thoth. I did try to use Thoth for a daily spread, but I just cannot read Thoth at this stage. None of the Thoth card speaks to me. In the meantime, when I read for others, 98% of my interpretations make senses to the querents, some of whom I don't even know of. Please, I need your help so that I can use tarot as a method of meditation and learn from the experience. Thanks! :)

WolfSpirit	06 Mar 2003
As I see it, it's good to do a daily spread and to write this down, maybe you will discover a pattern if you read it back after a month or so, for ex. cards that reappear all the time were probably very important in that period. Sometimes you only see this when you look backwards. I never did the mind-body-spirit spread though. There are lots of different spreads you can use; my favourite daily spread (I think I learnt it from Trogon) is this: 2 1 3 1= beginning of the day 2= theme of the day, important influence 3= end of the day. But sometimes I don't feel like really doing a spread, and I just draw one card. Sometimes it relates to something happening that day, but sometimes I see it as advice, something I should give some thought, maybe meditate about. Like you, I sometimes don't see why I got those cards that day, but what stands out most is cards that I draw over and over again. Then, if I get negative cards often nothing bad happens, but maybe that is because I am prepared and protect myself psychologically. For example, when I draw the three of swords I try to contact my friends that day so they can cheer me up if necessary. I think you can learn a lot from a daily spread, but if you get tired of it maybe it is good idea to stop for a while and try something else. After all, it is you who decides what you want to do with the cards. edited because I wanted to make a neat triangle of that 3-card spread but I'm afraid you will have to use your imagination on this one...

jeank74	06 Mar 2003
WolfSpirit (I like that name:D), Thank you for your advice. I will try that spread and thank you for the effort to make it a triangle. I do see it!!!

Mimers	06 Mar 2003
Hi JeanK, Definitely try other things. I do a mind, body, spirit most days, but sometimes I just do 2 cards. I got this from someone here and I am afraid I don't remember who. It is one card for the theme of the day and one card for how to approach it. Have fun with it. Mimers

Elvisisnotdead	06 Mar 2003
The purpose of doing a three card daily reading, is to learn, learn, learn, and practice, practice, practice. Only by actively using tarot - keeping a journal - and looking back with hindsight will you know how the cards apply to life! Jerry

Alex	06 Mar 2003
I do think it is an overload of reading. One daily card with the purpose in mind, to meditate about that card during the day, be enough. Not to predict an event for the day, but simply, to meditate upon the card and look for experiences/things in the real world that reflect the possible meanings of the card. Today, I got the Magician and Temperance. I couldn't help it to associate with Wbush's press conference on the TV, pretending to care about "assuring democracy in the world" and stating that he does not want war, and that there will be a war only if SH wants to. Reading too much, in my oppinion, can only cause you to trivialize the meanings of the cards. Daily readings make very little sense, in my oppinion, if taken literally. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by jeank74 No matter whether I did the reading in the morning or before bed time, I just cannot see how I can "learn" from the spread.

Diana	07 Mar 2003
When I take the time (which is most days), I do a four card spread. It helps me focus on my inner feelings, to be more aware of what is going on around me, and how to cope with what I will be encountering during the day. Contrary to Alex, I take my readings very literally. 1) What I give 2) What I get 3) Advice 4) Outcome Of course, the card number three is the one I focus on most, because it will help smooth out any imbalances or upsets caused by any contradictions or clashes between card number 1 and 2. For instance yesterday, I was on the receiving end of stress and upset, but my inner self was peaceful, but living very much in my emotions. The advice card, if I had been more disciplined in my thinking, would have helped me overcome the contradiction. I didn't follow the advice - I let my emotions take over. Dammit. I went to bed thinking to myself "what's the point of doing a daily reading if you don't listen to it, you silly twit". My readings always relate to my day - I have never found them to be off.

Major Tom	07 Mar 2003
One card a day is probably enough, but I do a daily cover and cross which I record in my journal. As I've gone along, I've always (eventually) found how the cards relate to the day. Most times the cards help me get the most of my day. I suppose it's all down to what you use the tarot for. Me? I think tarot is for providing the information I need to produce the outcomes I want. })

jeank74	07 Mar 2003
thank you all for the great advice. I guess I have expected too much from the cards. I will change my attitude and approach! ;)

Aoife	07 Mar 2003
I like to 'pick and mix' depending on what phase I'm in. More recently I've felt like I'm in a phase of growth and change [and therefore uncertainty] and I need as much help to focus as possible. So, at the moment I like to do a 3 card draw each morning: what I know what I don't know what I need to know In the few weeks that I've been doing this particular spread it's never failed to be helpful - sometimes quite profoundly.

Trogon	08 Mar 2003
Howdy Jean, I also do a "daily" 3-card spread - using the one that WolfSpirit mentioned. I do learn a lot about interpreting the cards and how they relate to daily life. It has also been helping me a lot with how the cards can relate to one another, for instance, the "peak" or "main theme" card can give you an idea of how to interpret the other two. I have found though, that I sometimes start getting somewhat blocked after a few weeks of reading every day for myself. When that starts happening, I take a break for at least a few days up to a couple of weeks. This gives my mind a chance to rest from doing those readings on myself.

The the purpose of doing daily 3-cards spread..(m) thread was originally posted on 06 Mar 2003 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.