Deity Tarot Spread - A 12-Card Digital Reading
Last Updated: October 26, 2022
If you’ve been feeling as though you’ve been receiving messages from a certain deity, there’s a tarot spread for that. This agnostic witch Tarot spread is designed to help you identify the deity trying to connect with you. We’ll explore their character traits, their preferred way to work with you, and most importantly why they are getting in touch with you. So if you’re curious about who it is that has been reaching out to you, give this spread a try!
As part of secular spell-work sometimes reoccurring patterns happen in a way that cannot be ignored – this is not to say we are trying to seek them out, but when they become that much more apparent, know that this tarot spread is a safer space to explore this without criticism or judgement. It’s my honour to provide you with some structured questions to chat with your tarot deck about who this could be, why they are reaching out, and what it all means for moving forward.
How to find your deity
Deities are another name for divine supernatural beings, and they can come in many forms. My favourite thing about them versus the idea of a God from a monotheistic religion is that deities are flawed. They’re not perfect, they have an array of passions and preferences, and due to their relationships with humans, we have a very rich mythology history we can take inspiration for our own perspectives and journeys.
You may come across signs that are already trying to get your attention, such as through other divination methods like numerology or animal sightings (zoomancy). You may have noticed the same themes coming up for you or the same imagery too. It may even be that you aren’t sure if there are actual signs happening, or that you’re still feeling skeptical. Good! Let’s embrace this, and explore it a little further!
I would also thoroughly recommend that once you have your answers from the tarot explore a good book for mythological research. There are many amazing books out there on deity history, and I cannot recommend enough that you find one (or several) that speaks to you. This is a way to get to know them even better, learn about their preferences and how they like to work and understand the context of your reading even more.
How to work with a deity
If you’re having trouble connecting with your deity, here are a few tips from my friend advice to me:
- Get outside! Go for a walk in nature and see if any beings make themselves known to you.
- Sit quietly and meditate on the qualities you would like your deity to share.
- Set up an altar with items that represent your desired qualities.
- Write a letter to your deity expressing your wishes and desires.
- Light a candle and say a prayer asking for guidance.
- Reading as much mythology surrounding the pantheon as they want to work with to show commitment.
- Ultimately if there is one thing to do, please ask them. Seek out to see what they want, and what they prefer. This doesn’t mean it’s plausible or exactly something you have to do, but there are also ways you can work with what they want.
For example, with Etruscan religion haruspicy was a big thing but animal entrails aren’t so easy to come by and, in my opinion, an ethical choice. In this instance, you could befriend your local butchers and have a look whilst you’re there, or utilise vegetable strips (like kale, carrot peels, mushroom shreds) in an offering bowl of moon water instead.
Alternatively, if you can use books regarding haruspicy history – these are more beneficial and easy ways to work around some of the accessibility inquiries that may come up.
Deity tarot spread layout & questions to ask
This tarot spread was built with love and research. There are so many tarot spreads out there for deity work, but none so far that I can see who has approached it from the apprehensive, secular or agnostic aspect. It’s really important that we can draw a boundary if this is something we don’t actually want to indulge in at this time in our journey, and I talk a bit more about this below. I fully advocate using multiple decks for this spread, more so than any other, as it can offer even more depth to your reading and give you a clearer answer.
To begin, shuffle your tarot deck and draw a card for each position in the yearly tarot draw as shown in the below layout.
Finally, take some time to reflect on the questions that each card position represents and what message the tarot cards in that position might be trying to tell you. If you’re just starting to learn tarot, or if you’re still getting to know your deck, you may find my in-depth articles on the meanings of every tarot card helpful.
Tarot card #1: Who is this? Attributes 1, 2 and 3
This is a placement I have originally put as one card, but I fully recommend expanding it up to three cards so that you can see a list of features or qualities that are quite strong with this individual.
Tarot card #2: Associations or Mythological Story
This card would show you something from their background in terms of their mythological story that you may or may not know about. This card may also show you an association of your main deity, so for example, if you thought you were connecting with Artemis, to then pull “The Sun” as an association card would suggest Apollo, which reaffirms the connection with Artemis, as they are Apollo’s sister.
Another example would be if you were potentially connecting with Odin, and you pulled the “Tree” Lenormand card, I would take this confirmation, as despite Odin’s lack of grounded energy itself – he had a very significant encounter with the Yggdrasil tree.
Tarot card #3: Personality description
This placement would describe more of this individual to you, in a way you may not know them from the research, the books or the mythology. Even those who appear extroverted with big courageous back stories might share with you that they are reserved, they’re into meditation and they seek time away from others to recuperate (especially if “the Hermit” shows up). This card offers you a little more insight into them as multifaceted figures.
Tarot card #4: Things to know right now
With any immediacy, this placement is for what you need to know, including why they showed up for you or a situation that’s occurred that you need more support with. This may show up like The Empress, who carries themes of nurturing and creativity – if you’ve been having a creative block, and the Empress comes up, the message here is you’ve got assistance from this individual.
Or it may show up with The Tower, with its themes of abrupt change and shaking the foundations. Maybe something comes that surprises everyone, so pay close attention to what follows.
Tarot card #5: Things to know about working together
This placement is for if you choose to continue this path and want to work together, this will show you what the progress together looks like. If, for example, the 3 of Pentacles came up, it would indicate that they are here to see your growth through your career or business.
If the Death card came up, it would be to show you that they are here to guide you through an ending or a new chapter – it doesn’t have to be as drastic as it sounds, but this is definitely something to consider.
Tarot card #6: Things to avoid & how not to work together
This placement will show you things that the deity is not enthused about discussing or working with you on. It’s a card of boundaries and disinterest, and it’s not to be taken lightly.
If for example, the Devil card came up, this would suggest that they have no interest whatsoever in any kind of addiction you might be struggling with – so if that’s something you want help with, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Other examples could be Queen of Wands showing up; they’re not here to help with your career or business, but other areas in life that need some passion and attention.
Tarot card #7: What do they want
This is a very on-the-nose card, but a question we have to ask. What do they want from you? Why have they made themself known now? What was the reason for them to step into the light for you to see them?
This could be the Ace of Cups, which would indicate they want to start a new relationship with you – whether that’s a business partnership, or a more intimate one.
It could also be The Fool, which would suggest they want you to take a leap of faith with them and embark on a new journey together.
Other examples could be the 5 of Swords, where they want you to cut ties with something or someone, or the Wheel of Fortune, where they want you to take a chance and help fix cycles.
Tarot card #8: What you bring to the relationship
What this card will show you is a trait or mental attribute that is appealing and beneficial for this deity. It is not meant to be a criticism or incite an ego boost, but an honest account of what they find most harmonious for you both to work together.
This may show up like the Four of Wands, and indicate that they find your stability and home life very appealing, or The Sun, which would show that they are drawn to your optimistic attitude and warm energy.
Tarot card #9: Nature of your relationship moving forward
This card will share with you a description of your work together, and how it will feel to both of you as it progresses. It will also give you a sense of the deity’s energy and what their intentions are for this relationship.
An example of this could be The Lovers, which would show that it is a very intimate and personal relationship where you share deep trust and understanding with one another.
Another example could be The World, which would indicate that it’s a very successful and beneficial relationship where you both feel supported and connected.
Tarot card #10: What offerings are their preference
Perfect placement for an oracle card here; I would suggest a card from the Witches Kitchen deck or the Crystal Oracle deck. If you do not have an oracle deck it’s fine to use tarot (it truly is!!!) but I feel something very specific like crystals or kitchen herbs or themes of animals that are also accessible to you makes it all the less stressful for deciphering. This card will give you an indication of what will make them happier and feel more respected.
Tarot card #11: How to honour them in daily life
Another placement that could be lovely with an oracle card, but tarot still provides a clear structure which can be fantastic to build a foundation with your deity. This can be a daily action, or long-term introspective goals broken down into small steps.
It may be simple advice such as 6 of Swords (with themes of working on letting things go or being willing to move on from the past), or it could be more complicated such as Justice (with themes of truth, fairness, and justice being brought more into your life).
If you choose to use an oracle deck, maybe you choose an astrology deck (to work with the archetype traits of the planets or constellations etc) or you choose a self-care deck (affiliate link) with certain practices as a suggestion (like daily meditation or a weekly prayer).
Tarot card #12: Signs to look for or how to know they're nearby
Signs to look for that this deity is trying to get your attention could be sudden cravings for certain foods, a song that gets stuck in your head on repeat or finding feathers or other objects in strange places. If you start seeing their symbols around you (for example, if Herne the Hunter keeps appearing to you in deer form or deer symbolism) or their number (such as 4’s with Odin/Zeus/Jupiter/Anu), that’s a good indication they want to talk. Use your deck or spend time with astral work to engage with them.
This is just a small snapshot into who this deity might be, but I hope it’s helped give you some clarity. Remember to use your intuition as well, and go with your gut – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t force it. Be discerning, and trust that the right deity will make themself known to you when the time is right
Try this 12-card deity tarot reading with the below interactive layout
What to do after this deity tarot reading
After you’ve finished a tarot reading, there are a few things you can do in order to reflect on the experience and integrate the insights you gained. Here are some suggestions:
Use a tarot journal to record your findings
Jotting down your thoughts in a tarot journal after reading can be helpful in a few ways. First, it can help you remember the details of your reading later on, such as how you felt at the moment and perhaps your first impressions of what a card meant. Second, it can provide a space for you to process the information you’ve received and explore what it means for you. Third, it can be a way to keep track of your progress over time as you revisit your journal entries and reflect on your journey.
Take a picture of the cards
If you want to remember the position of the cards and what they meant in relation to your questions, take a picture of the spread. This will help you look back on the reading later and review the insights you received. Sometimes, clarity is better acquired after you’ve stepped back from the situation for a little while and had some time to process it.
Some people create Instagram accounts or Pinterest accounts specifically for this, and if you use any of our spreads please tag us @backyardbanshee if you feel comfortable!
Take some time to meditate and reflect
Immediately after a tarot reading, it’s important to take some time to sit with the insights you’ve received. This can be done through proper meditation, visualisation, or simply taking some time to reflect on the reading. It can be helpful to think about what the messages from the cards mean for your life and how you can apply the advice that was given to you. That time can also be used to replenish your energy level and cleanse your tarot deck.
Get a second opinion from a close friend
If you have close friends who also happen to be tarot practitioners, it can be helpful to get their take on your reading. They may be able to offer additional insights or perspectives that you hadn’t considered before. This is also a good way to get feedback on your own interpretation of the cards.
Ensure to ask permission before just blindly sending your cards across in a message and saying “what does this mean to you?” as your friends may not have the energy or have a boundary with this sort of thing – manners cost nothing, and this is especially to note if they are a professional tarot reader who normally gets paid to interpret readings.
Layer your reading with more divination
Why not try adding astrology dice or a pendulum reading to your tarot session? Your intuition will guide you on how to best use these tools, but they can be helpful in providing more clarity around the messages from your tarot reading. We have lots of methods for you to utilise here on the website.
Do the same reading a month later
This is a great way to check in on your progress and see how far you’ve come. It can also be helpful in understanding the cyclical nature of our lives and how our current situation is likely to change over time. This can be especially useful if you’re struggling with a decision or trying to figure out which path to take as to offer suggestions, provide perspective and encourage your confidence to move forward.
At the end of the day, tarot readings are meant to be a helpful tool, not a replacement for your own intuition. The best way to use tarot is to combine the insights you receive with your own understanding of the situation. Trust your gut and follow your heart—the answers you’re looking for will come.
Boundary Blessing - To Separate with Respect
Sometimes it’s just not the right time. Relationships are a two-way street, and just because a deity shows up, doesn’t mean we have to stop everything and work with them. It could be that you want to keep your witchcraft practice just for your own development and life, not something that you want to expand into working with something divine.
It could be that you’re not sure, that you’re never about it, and that it’s going at a pace you’re starting to be uncomfortable with. This is ok and completely valid to feel like you do not want to move forward.
Here’s a small blessing for boundaries that still treat whatever divine encounter you’re having with respect.
- “Thank you for your offer, but I respectfully decline.”
- “I’m not ready to work with you yet.”
- “Please understand that it’s nothing personal, I just need some time.”
- “Thank you for respecting my wishes. And so it is.”
I hope this has helped shed some light on agnostic witchcraft with deity encounters, a list of questions for your deity introduction tarot spread, and how to deal with divine experiences if they’re something you’re not ready for.
Until next time xox
Further readings:
- World Mythology An Anthology Of The Great Myths And Epics By Donna Rosenberg
- Warriors, Witches, Women: Mythology’s Fiercest Females Hardcover By Kate Hodges
- Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Saints, Angels, Fairies, Demons, and Ghosts (Witchcraft & Spells) By Judika Illes
- Classical Mythology A to Z: An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places By Annette Giesecke
Disclaimer: Should you choose to purchase one of the books via the links above, I may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting me!
I have been passionate about reading divination for more than 15 years. This gives me a unique perspective when it comes to creating fun, supportive and creative tarot spreads. I hope they help you find the clarity and insight you are looking for.
More tarot spreads for you to try ✨
This page is part of our collection of free tarot spread layouts. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.
In this article, I’ll share different tarot cards that are often associated with various deities from throughout mythology.
