The Unhealthy Loop spread (10 or 11 cards), for any kind of relationship

[MandMaud]

Feedback please!
This spread is for examining the kind of relationship that keeps cycling round and round the same patterns. ('Unhealthy' is the clue, lol.) Need not be a romantic relationship; just as often we get stuck in this kind of loop with parents, or as parents, or with work colleagues or friends... etc. Or use this for a person (could be yourself) who keeps getting into the same knots in one relationship after another. Or to explore what an ambition or a project (Tarot, say) means in your life.

It came to me the other day (mentioned here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread...04#post3244204 and tried out here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread...52#post3249252) and it resolves into three main 'sections' - plus the final card which is optional. This helps; eleven cards is too many for me! I was thinking of pre-learnt dance steps and psychobabble but maybe the 'dance steps' theme is for a different spread. After four tries I think it is potentially a useful spread. If you try it, or adapt it (or a better title?), please post here.

~~11
~~~4
10~~~~7
~~~1
~~9~6
~~~2
8~~~~~5
~~~3

1 VISIBLE PROBLEM ~ how the problem manifests, its visible form
2 ITS ROOT ~ its basis, what's actually there, what it's really about, or its past
3 INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ~ finances; living conditions; work; health
4 INFLUENCE OF OTHER PEOPLE ~ people involved, eg family; people around, eg at work, neighbours; people with opinions; or public opinion and/or gossip

5-6-7 PERSON B [I put 'B' first because my first try involved me, and it was natural to place myself on the left, and natural to do me second]
8-9-10 PERSON A

5 and 8 BAGGAGE ~ stuff that affects this relationship but doesn't belong to it, nott seen or not understood; eg childhood issues, hang-ups, unfounded / out-of-date / irrelevant fears; past lives; the ex; where A and B met; if B is not an individual, this could be the type that A always hooks up with, or the motivation that led to this project

6 and 9 SCRIPT ~ the way this person presents, the same-old same-old s/he keeps churning out, a behaviour pattern, habit or unthinking response (eg being defensive, poor-me attitude, threats, whatever); her/his contribution to the repeating cycle

7 and 10 RESPONSIBILITY / TASK / CAN-SHOULD ~ what s/he must step up to; an approach that hasn't been thought of, or has been avoided; if it looks like there's nothing to be done, this will be a relief or if it's an 'ought', may be uncomfortable ... May clear up what each cannot expect of the other, it's the other's job; can be a very useful card depending on context.

11 OVERVIEW [optional] ~ I started with OUTCOME but that interpretation hasn't 'fitted' in any of my try-out readings so far (If you try it, do post about how this position works for you); not sure if this one's redundant.

The layout actually looks more like two half-circles back to back with cards 1,2,3,4 as a vertical line between, capped with 11. (if you can represent it better, please do.) It doesn't really matter but I place cards 1 and 2 pretty touching, even overlapping (it's a 'tall' layout after all); then 5-6-7 and 8-9-10 are each a 'semi-independent' group of three. Something like a butterfly? or the Japanese kanji for 'river'?

Enjoy! And let me know!
mm

[sedgeez]

This looks really good, ill try it out when I get home later. Its just what I need in regard for me and my brother.

Ill give you feedback once I've tried it

Thanks

[MandMaud]

Originally Posted by sedgeez

This looks really good, ill try it out when I get home later. Its just what I need in regard for me and my brother.

Ill give you feedback once I've tried it

Thanks

Looking forward to hearing how you find it!
mm