Interview Your Deck Tarot Spread
Last Updated: October 26, 2022
Hello my lovely. I’m bringing to you today a very simple tarot deck interview spread. We don’t need to make it difficult, especially when you’re excited about getting to work with your new tarot. It’s a four card tarot spread, ensuring there is a structure and a good foundation that covers all the details we really need to know when working with a new tarot deck.
Most decks come with a guidebook of the card meanings, any imagery meanings, but usually spreads too, so I feel this is a perfect introduction to your tarot deck spread before trialling the card spreads in guidebooks. I can confirm that this is a tried and tested tarot spread for beginners or experienced readers alike.
When it comes to laying out cards in a tarot spread, as a beginner or experienced reader you can lay them any way that intuitively feels right to you with that new deck of yours, and you can choose to read the reversal meanings of the cards with the upright – or not! It’s all about what brings you the most pleasure, the genuine vibes that comes with instinctively-picked readings. That is always my advice when it comes to how to read tarot for yourself, or how to do a tarot reading as a beginner.
Deck interview tarot spread layout & questions to ask
This quick 4-card deck interview tarot spread is used to help you get to know your tarot deck. Each tarot deck is different, so it is important to ask your deck some questions to get to know its “personality”. By pulling a few tarot cards and asking the right questions, you may get a better sense of what the decks’ strengths are. This will inform your future readings and help you to use the deck in the most beneficial way possible. For example, you may realize that a specific deck is more suited for relationship-related readings rather than health-related ones. In the long term, this will help you perform more accurate readings for yourself and others.
Take some time to reflect on what 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.
To get started, shuffle your deck, pull 4 tarot cards, and place them in the below positions.
Tarot card #1: What will our relationship be like?
The first question for your new deck is “What will our relationship be like?” and this can be described as a person (e.g. Queen of Cups, a nurturing loving caring position of authority), an astrological profile (e.g. Scorpio vibes would be death/transformation/rebirth/really getting into the taboo of it all etc) or it can describe itself as a form of energy (Pentacles, slow-moving and patient, inviting you to connect with Earth elements to ground more etc).
Tarot card #2: What are your strengths as a deck that'll help me moving forward?
Secondly, we want to know “What are your strengths as a deck that’ll help me moving forward?” because we absolutely don’t want a deck that struggles to connect with you, that struggles to articulate itself to you through imagery, and we want them to provide meaningful experiences that promote self-care and healthy wellbeing. We want to see what this deck can add to your life, what types of scenarios you’ll receive clear messaging on, and where they can benefit you immensely.
Tarot card #3: What are your limitations, or what scenarios are you not happy to be working with?
Third, we look at the opposite here and “What are your limitations, or what scenarios are you not happy to be working with?” as a strong indicator that the deck doesn’t enjoy or cannot provide clear answers on. For example, its strength card for you may be career or money orientated, and then its limitations come when it comes to romance or relationships. This would indicate that you have a clear message of “this deck is not for..” and you’ll be able to plan future readings accordingly!
Tarot card #4: What type of messages can I expect to receive from working with you?
Finally, “What type of messages can I expect to receive from working with you?” will give you a lovely wrap up with the cards. It’ll share with you anything you need to know now, for moving forward or the tone of messages you’ll receive in the future. This answer will support the first question answer too or may articulate it further for you to share further understanding. Even if a card such as the Tower shows up here, which to me would be unexpected energy and abrupt change-bringer, make sure you spend time with the imagery of the card too as there may be additional meaning there that traditional tarot meanings don’t share with you.
Try this 4-card tarot deck interview spread below
What to do after this deck interview 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.
It is my hope that these tarot spreads on my website help you with clarity and articulate whatever is going on. Let me know what you think of this tarot spread in the comments below and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to 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 fun tarot spread layouts. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.
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