SWOT Analysis Spread

**blue_fusion** · 27-08-2004

I had nothing better else to do last week, and a lotta time to kill as well, when this idea came up. Why not apply SWOT Analysis to a tarot reading?! For those unfamiliar, SWOT (which I learned from my organization management classes) means Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats. Its basically used to analyze, identify, and assess an organization internally (Strengths and Weaknesses) and externally (Opportunities and Threats).

What I did was I applied this with the standard Past-Present-Future spread so it actually becomes an extended version of that, with 12 cards. I laid them out as such (the numbers indicating the sequence of the cards as I laid them down):

---------------------------------|past|-----|present|-----|future|
----------|Strengths|--------------1-------------5-------------9
----------|Weakness|--------------2-------------6-------------10
----------|Opportunities|-----------3-------------7-------------11
----------|Threats|----------------4-------------8-------------12

The good thing about this is you can also do some cross-sectional analysis (like comparing your weaknesses in the past and present, and perhaps see if there's a trend with how the future ones will come up). On the downside, it becomes a thinker when ya have a very positive card for a threat (but then too much of a good thing is bad, no?). So one has to be creative with interpreting as well.

I'm still trying to master reading with it, though.

If any of ya guys ever try it, I'd be happy to hear how ya used it in yer readings.

Alissa · 27-08-2004

So glad to see you posted this, after our conversation in chat blue_fusion...

Now that's putting that "corporate mentality" to psychic work, eh?

**blue_fusion** · 28-08-2004

lol. thanks. but you were right, one has to look more into things to see if they are threats (or opportunities) no matter how positive or negative they seem at first glance.

Imagemaker · 28-08-2004

I love this! Great addition to the world of tarot.

It also strikes me that SWOT could also be the 4-card staff used with the first 5 cards of a Celtic Cross.

A SWOT Cross!

Alissa · 28-08-2004

One challenge to this spread is the one that blue_fusion and I spoke of last night. He mentioned that 3 of cups showed up in a position of what should be left behind, or perhaps, the "threat"... I don't rightly remember.

In any case, at first it seems incongruous that "working together and fellowship" could be a negative aspect to the situation. However, while talking, I mentioned maybe the card was suggesting "over-fraternization in the workplace, to the extent that nothing gets done. Like when the boss tries to be everyone's 'friend.' "

This seemed to make more sense in the overall context of what the cards might be trying to suggest, but wasn't apparent at first sight, so to speak.

A great way to expand upon *any* spread, you're right Imagemaker!

**Anna** · 29-08-2004

Oh I love this!!! Well done Blue-Fusion, this is a cracking spread!

And it strikes me as very versitile....the past present and future colomes could be changed to "me, you, us" if you needed a SWOT relationship analysis, or "mind,body,spirit" too, or acctually lots and lots of variations on the 3 card spread!

**blue_fusion** · 29-08-2004

yup, its a cool way to "expand" spreads. i like the me - you - us spread idea!!! i shall try using that when my friends ask for relationship readings. hehe and the celtic cross thing'll work too!

its also a great way at expanding one's creativity with interpreting the cards and expanding your relationship with each card.

**Trogon** · 30-08-2004

Very nice spread Blue_fusion! I can see how it would be very useful both for groups as well as for an individual. Thanks for posting this.

Stregaverde · 30-01-2005

Was searching through AT's fantastic spread index and found this--just what I was looking for! I can't wait to use it, it looks like an extremely productive spread. Wonderful, thank you!

**ArwenNightstar** · 30-10-2005

I just used this for a client. She loved the spread and took quite a bit away from the reading. Thank you for sharing this!

blue_fusion wie lange mehr? Join Date: 15 Jun 2002 Location: crossroads of eternity (oh if you must, las Islas Posts: 1,637	SWOT Analysis Spread I had nothing better else to do last week, and a lotta time to kill as well, when this idea came up. Why not apply SWOT Analysis to a tarot reading?! For those unfamiliar, SWOT (which I learned from my organization management classes) means Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats. Its basically used to analyze, identify, and assess an organization internally (Strengths and Weaknesses) and externally (Opportunities and Threats). What I did was I applied this with the standard Past-Present-Future spread so it actually becomes an extended version of that, with 12 cards. I laid them out as such (the numbers indicating the sequence of the cards as I laid them down): ---------------------------------\|past\|-----\|present\|-----\|future\| ----------\|Strengths\|--------------1-------------5-------------9 ----------\|Weakness\|--------------2-------------6-------------10 ----------\|Opportunities\|-----------3-------------7-------------11 ----------\|Threats\|----------------4-------------8-------------12 The good thing about this is you can also do some cross-sectional analysis (like comparing your weaknesses in the past and present, and perhaps see if there's a trend with how the future ones will come up). On the downside, it becomes a thinker when ya have a very positive card for a threat (but then too much of a good thing is bad, no?). So one has to be creative with interpreting as well. I'm still trying to master reading with it, though. If any of ya guys ever try it, I'd be happy to hear how ya used it in yer readings. __________________ water my days with patient tears Last edited by blue_fusion; 27-08-2004 at 15:20.

27-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #1

Alissa Citizen Join Date: 13 Aug 2002 Location: Perched with ravens, New Mexico Posts: 4,668	So glad to see you posted this, after our conversation in chat blue_fusion... Now that's putting that "corporate mentality" to psychic work, eh? __________________ Will Tarot for couture

27-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #2

blue_fusion wie lange mehr? Join Date: 15 Jun 2002 Location: crossroads of eternity (oh if you must, las Islas Posts: 1,637	lol. thanks. but you were right, one has to look more into things to see if they are threats (or opportunities) no matter how positive or negative they seem at first glance. __________________ water my days with patient tears

28-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #3

Imagemaker Citizen Join Date: 15 Dec 2003 Location: NH, USA Posts: 4,019	I love this! Great addition to the world of tarot. It also strikes me that SWOT could also be the 4-card staff used with the first 5 cards of a Celtic Cross. A SWOT Cross! __________________ Notice everything. It's sending you a message.

28-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #4

Alissa Citizen Join Date: 13 Aug 2002 Location: Perched with ravens, New Mexico Posts: 4,668	One challenge to this spread is the one that blue_fusion and I spoke of last night. He mentioned that 3 of cups showed up in a position of what should be left behind, or perhaps, the "threat"... I don't rightly remember. In any case, at first it seems incongruous that "working together and fellowship" could be a negative aspect to the situation. However, while talking, I mentioned maybe the card was suggesting "over-fraternization in the workplace, to the extent that nothing gets done. Like when the boss tries to be everyone's 'friend.' " This seemed to make more sense in the overall context of what the cards might be trying to suggest, but wasn't apparent at first sight, so to speak. A great way to expand upon any spread, you're right Imagemaker! __________________ Will Tarot for couture

28-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #5

Anna Citizen Join Date: 09 Jul 2004 Location: England Posts: 3,251	Oh I love this!!! Well done Blue-Fusion, this is a cracking spread! And it strikes me as very versitile....the past present and future colomes could be changed to "me, you, us" if you needed a SWOT relationship analysis, or "mind,body,spirit" too, or acctually lots and lots of variations on the 3 card spread! __________________ "Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there..." ~ Rumi "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" ~ JK Rowling

29-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #6

Trogon Citizen Join Date: 27 Aug 2002 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 2,395	Very nice spread Blue_fusion! I can see how it would be very useful both for groups as well as for an individual. Thanks for posting this. __________________ "A famous person once said; 'you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time' ... but, as I (an even more famous person) say; 'if you don't teach them to read, you can fool them whenever you like!'" [Max Headroom]

30-08-2004	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #8

Stregaverde Citizen Join Date: 08 Oct 2004 Location: Land of the Renaissance Posts: 291	Just found this! Was searching through AT's fantastic spread index and found this--just what I was looking for! I can't wait to use it, it looks like an extremely productive spread. Wonderful, thank you! __________________ "Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." --Carl Jung

30-01-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #9

ArwenNightstar Citizen Join Date: 17 May 2003 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 1,403	Just used this I just used this for a client. She loved the spread and took quite a bit away from the reading. Thank you for sharing this!

30-10-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #10

Support the Forum via Google Adsense
	#ADS