Playing with Spreads!

So I recently did a reading with a spread I was semi-familiar with... It isn't one that I'm overly comfortable with though, so for the first time, I somewhat created my own spread. I based it off of the 3 Past, 3 Present, 3 Future deal, but with a twist (I think ><>

The cards were laid out in three rows:

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

I had her shuffle until she felt done, cut the deck into three piles to the left, and then stack them back up (starting with the rightmost pile on top), and then I used my left hand to deal. I asked Fem*, and her thoughts had centered around her emotions in life right now/life in general.


I designated the cards as follows:

1. General or distant past
2. Recent past
3. Influences that have just passed or are about to pass (bringing past to present)
4. Hopes concerning the matter
5. General present
6. Fears concerning the matter
7. Influences that are about to arrive (bringing present to meet future)
8. Near future
9. General or distant future

Surprisingly (although, I suppose not), going with my gut worked pretty well (woohoo!). The cards:

1. Eight of Rods, Reversed

So we started the session off with a fairly intense card; I wasn't sure how to handle it at first, since I didn't know Fem overly well; interpretations were fairly spot on, though! : ) This card represents family or domestic conflict, a broken home, etc.


2. The Empress

This card represents, to me, the ultimate "feminine"- fertility, creativity, imagination, productivity, and protectiveness. The first things I thought of were the organizations I knew she was connected to; she's very involved with female's rights, etc.


3. The Sun, Reversed

This card represents unhappiness and loneliness, a breakup (which just recently occured) and lack of friends (her main <3 person was going to be away all weekend, and she was worried about being too lonely)


4. Five of Rods, Reversed

Harmony and new opportunities. She's currently hoping to get a new job, and she's finally settling in at Clark and into her routines.


5. Nine of Pentacles

Financial success, coming into employment. She's actually supposed to be hearing back about a job she applied for soon: Good luck! Keep me posted, Fem, if you get the job (which you totally will!!!)


6. Eight of Swords

Feeling trapped, withdrawn, and introverted. Again, she was worried about falling too far into her schedule, not having the confidence to throw herself out there, and semi-dreading the weekend alone.


7. Two of Pentacles

Fem has an often crazy busy schedule, and this card represents harmony within that. It's not easy, but she can handle it, however crazy busy it is.


8. Queen of Cups, Reversed

There's something bittersweet about this card reversed. This card is often one that is hard for me to interpret; most of the Page-Knight-Queen-King cards are tricky, because my main resource refers to these cards as a certain person. In this case, it's supposed to represent someone who is very charming but also deceptive, or scheming. The best advice I had for this card was to jump into things, not completely closed off, but somewhat guarded- she agreed, saying she was normally very UNguarded.


9. Page of Swords

Someone cunning, an imposter, ill health, bad news. Similar to the last card, and I offered the same advice.

*Fem- for female, feminine power, feminist, femme fatale. If (and you know who you are!) you want a different codename, let me know <3