Consistency & Hobgoblins
Who was it that waxed pithily about consistency and hobgoblins and small minds? Well, I’m sure someone else came up with a snappy comeback about inconsistency and flightiness.
In my twenty years of playing with tarot, I cannot claim any sort of consistency in any area. Not one. And that includes my practices regarding spreads. I started off, as a mentioned previously, of collecting and using any published spread I could find. Then I spent many happy years creating new spreads for each and every question. There was the short-lived and non-productive “I don’t need no stinkin spreads!” phase, where I just tossed cards on the table and stared at them.
For a while I detested the Celtic Cross. Yeah, I know. In fact, I’m ashamed to say that I bash it pretty thoroughly in one of my books. But I have since come to recognize the value of the Celtic Cross and other basic spreads. I like knowing a spread as well as I know my cards. My brain can process things quicker that way and it allows me to see patterns and relationships between the cards easier, because I’m not busy trying to keep track of what the positions mean.
These days I tend to rely on a handful of spreads that are easily adapted to meet many situations as well as occasionally inventing new spreads on the spot. The Horseshoe Spread, which from what I understand has been around for a while but I learned about here, has become a favorite.
What are some of your go-to spreads? Or do you prefer to not rely on go-to spreads?
PS In the comments of the last post, Mitch asked about spreads: “Does the shape really matter or is it just fun?” He got a few answers in the comments. Look them over and share your responses. It is an interesting question.
Here is where I am absolutely boring and without any creative merit. I rely on a few standards and rarely stray the course. I use the Celtic Cross, Horseshoe, 3 Card Spread, Horoscope, and that is about it. I don’t invent spreads but will on occasion add a few cards here and there to one of the ones mentioned above. I wish I was more creative but sadly, tis not my forte.
Theresa, I don’t think people need to be creative just for the sake of being creative. Unless it yields some practical results or improves the readings, what’s the point of it all?
But let’s see what others have to say about that!
I usually find a spread that suits the question, by that I mean addresses the needs of the questioner, or design one or rehash one from several others. If there is no question and it’s a general reading I will turn to the CC I think that suits general readings very well.
Like you Babs I use to hate the CC and think it not very appropriate, but over the years I too have come to see its merits.
I was a little saddened by this … I mean I’m sure your a good and thoughtful reader, so why diminish yourself.
After all, at the end of the day our responsibility as a reader is to the Q. (Even if the Q is ourselves) to provide them with the best, most insightful reading we have to offer. I certainly have more intuitive, more empathic, more gifted friends; who often come to me for readings; but when I am called upon to read, I simply have to give the Q. the best reading I can in the moment, and count on there being some intention in the universe, some sense that our paths crossed because they were meant too.
We began with the Quote: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines Ralph Waldo Emerson; but I don’t think Emerson at all meant to belittle consistancy that serves a demonstrable purpose. So for our purpose here consider this …
I links to 3 spreads in the last post, and if you came to me for a reading chances are 19/20 that I would use one or more of those spreads; because I agree with Barbara, I think you want to know your spread so well you dont think about it at all. Like a chess player who having reached the first level of competance no longer thinks the knight moves 2up and 1 over, and simply ponders the moves with thinking about the rules; the less we have to THINK the more space we leave to intuition no?
Nuff said for tonight.
Very well said!