The three-card spread
The most useful spread — and not as past-present-future.
The three-card spread is usually taught as past-present-future. That is its weakest use: you already know the past, and the future is the thing cards cannot tell you.
Three layouts that work
- SITUATION — OBSTACLE — WAY THROUGH. The most useful set. Where I am, what blocks it, what I can do.
- WHAT I SEE — WHAT I MISS — WHAT TO DO. Good for blind spots.
- ME — THEM — WHAT IS BETWEEN US. For relationship questions; the third card carries the real information.
Decide the positions BEFORE you draw. Decide after and you will invent positions to fit the cards you got — which makes the reading worthless.
When should positions be decided?
Decide afterwards and you read what you wanted, not what came up.