When you first start reading tarot, it can be tempting to try and dive into all the different complex tarot spreads that there are out there (for example, the celtic cross).
The truth is, tarot spreads like these aren’t exactly beginner friendly, and are likely to overwhelm you.
That’s why I’d recommend starting out with simple and easy three card tarot spreads for beginners instead, until you become more confident reading tarot.
While they might sound uninteresting when all you want to do is advance your tarot practice, there is so much you can do with a three card spread and so much you can discover!
In all honesty, you can gain just as much value from spreads like these as some of the bigger spreads if you’re strongly connected to your tarot deck.
So there really is no need to rush into huge spreads before laying the foundations, and three card spreads are a great place to start for beginner tarot readers.
So keep reading to learn some of the best three card tarot spreads for beginners to save for your own tarot practice.
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What are three card tarot spreads?
Before we dive into some of my favourite easy tarot spreads for beginners, what actually are three card tarot spreads?
Put simply, three card tarot spreads are readings which involve drawing three cards from your tarot deck.
They’re typically read left to right, and each card represents its own individual meaning, though they all tie together in some way.
Three card tarot spreads are a great way to move on from single card readings and start exploring the tarot in more depth.
I find that they’re an ideal number to give you a more detailed reading, without getting too complicated and difficult to interpret. This makes them one of the best tarot spreads for beginners.
How do you do a 3 card tarot spread?
Performing a 3 card tarot spread is really simple.
Here are some easy steps to follow to break it down so you can be reading tarot in no time:
1. Select a deck
Choose a tarot deck that’s good for beginners, or one that you know you feel connected to.
A deck that I always recommend for beginner tarot readers is the Rider-Waite tarot deck because it’s full of rich imagery and symbolism which makes it easy to learn with.
The Rider-Waite is a great deck to do a 3 card tarot spread for beginners with, but these decks are also great for beginners too!
2. Select a spread
Choose a 3 card spread for beginners, depending on what it is you want to gain from this particular reading.
I’m about to share with you 15 easy three card tarot spreads that are perfect for beginners, so you shouldn’t find this part too much of a struggle!
3. Get focused and clear the deck
Perhaps consider setting your space with things that make you feel focused, and take some deep breaths to get in the right frame of mind for your 3 card tarot pull.
I also like to knock on the deck three times to clear it’s energy. You can read more about clearing your deck here.
4. shuffle and pull
Begin to shuffle your tarot cards with your three card tarot spread in mind.
Draw a card when you reach a moment when it feels right to do so. You can either draw all three cards at once or take a moment after each individual card to pause and shuffle the deck again.
If a card falls out of the deck, let it! Take this as a sign that the card was meant to come up (unless you drop half the deck of course!)
5. Interpret your 3 card tarot spread
Look at the cards that have come up and take some time to try and intuitively decipher what they mean for you and your particular circumstances.
This can be difficult as a beginner tarot reader at first, but your intuition will grow stronger the more and more you exercise it.
But if you struggle to relate to the cards intuitively, a tool like my Tarot Card Meaning Cheat Sheets can help you out!
15 easy three card tarot spreads
Now you know how to do a 3 card tarot spread, let’s look at some of the best three card tarot spreads for beginners!
These 15 easy three card tarot spreads are a great place to start when learning how to read tarot spreads.
Pick one that you feel would offer insight in your life right now and then follow the steps on reading the cards.
Three card tarot spreads for guidance
Guidance tarot spread 1
- Your strengths
- Your weaknesses
- How you can progress
Guidance tarot spread 2
- Your current situation
- A current obstacle
- Advice to move forward
Guidance tarot spread 3
- Your current situation
- Action you need to take
- The outcome
Three card tarot spreads for self discovery
Self discovery tarot spread 1
- Past
- Present
- Future
Self discovery tarot spread 2
- Mind
- Body
- Spirit
Self discovery tarot spread 3
- Your conscious mind
- Your subconscious mind
- Your superconscious mind
Three card tarot spreads for future
Future tarot spread 1
- Where am I now?
- What do I aspire to become?
- How do I get there?
Future tarot spread 2
- What do I aspire to become?
- What is holding me back?
- How can I overcome this?
Future tarot spread 3
- What will help me get to where I want to be?
- What will hinder me?
- What is my unrealised potential?
Three card tarot spreads for love and relationships
Love tarot spread 1
- Your role in the relationship
- Their role in the relationship
- Your relationship with eachother
Love tarot spread 2
- What you want from the relationship
- What they want from the relationship
- Where the relationship is heading
Love tarot spread 3
- What brings you together
- What pulls you apart
- What needs your attention
Three card tarot spreads for career
Career tarot spread 1
- My financial challenges
- My financial strengths
- Where I will find abundance
Career tarot spread 2
- Where am I at now?
- What is my career path?
- How will I get there?
Career tarot spread 3
- What holds me back in my career?
- What are my unique qualities?
- How can I utilise my qualities?
Get your FREE tarot numerology cheat sheet to learn intuitive tarot reading!
These easy three card tarot spreads should give you a good start to reading tarot.
But remember that your tarot practice is completely unique to you and you’re free to explore your own spreads too!
Play around with creating your own combination of three card spreads and see what you come up with.
And let me know your favourite three card spread from this list!
Liked these spreads? Check out some of these related posts:
- The 11 Best Tarot Card Decks for Beginners in 2022
- How to Use Tarot for Self Discovery and Personal Growth
- How to Cleanse Tarot Cards: 8 Ways to Clear Your Deck
- Tarot Reading Tips: 11 Tarot Practice Exercises for Beginners
- How to Use Tarot for Manifestation (and 12 Powerful Cards!)
Esther is the founder of Through the Phases, a wellbeing and healthy lifestyle blog dedicated to sharing mind/body/soul practices for self-exploration, healing, and fulfilment. She has a degree in Psychology, is yoga teacher trained (200hr), and is currently pursuing a Neuroscience MSc to further study the mind-body connection. Read more about her story here.