Hi, welcome to the web site of Toni Allen
Surrey UK based Tarot Reader, Astrologer and Creative Artist.
Learn Tarot Online
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If you’ve been along and read the About Toni section of my site then you’ll already know that I came to Tarot via the backdoor and my avid interest in art. Once I had decided to read tarot professionally I studied copious amounts of material on all aspects of the subject. The part which left me most flummoxed was how to set up a spread.
The two main problems which I encountered were
1) Remembering which position meant what.
2) Finding that a set spread gave me limited information and lacked flexibility.
I therefore threw away the books and devised my own spread which I have been using ever since. It is this unique tarot layout that I would like to share and explain to you.
First the client/questioner shuffles the card and cuts them with their left hand. The bottom section is placed back on the top and the client is asked to pass them to me. I then lay them out in the following order.
Positions 1 & 2
These represent the central pivot point of the questioners life at the moment. No 2 bears down on No 1. It may prove to be a help or a hindrance.
Position 3
This card represents the mind and the questioner’s current ideas, aspirations and thoughts.
Position 4
This card represents that part of the past which is currently influencing the questioner and has helped create today, working on the principle of cause and effect.
Position 5
This card represents the physical world and whether or not the questioner is acting on the ideas suggested at position 3
Position 6
This card represents the next step in the future.
Once the questioner has assimilated these cards further cards are taken to continue into the future, as detailed below.
I turn over the cards 1 to 5 so that the client can appreciate that these represent their current life circumstances and past influences.
I then lay out the cards from 7 to 14, the top line continuing to represent the mind and inner world and the bottom line the physical world.
Once all of these 14 cards have been taken I will spread the pack out face down so that at any time I can request the client to take more cards to add further information to given areas.
The beauty of this spread is not only its simplicity but also its ability to build up complex pictures of a client’s inner motivations and outer actions.
Let me guide you through the sample spread below.
In the past we have the King of swords depicting a strong authoritarian figure.
In the central pivot point we find the 3 of Coins reversed crossed by the Devil symbolising a habit of being weak willed which is exacerbated by feelings of guilt if one tries to stand up for oneself.
Positions 1&2
Central pivot