How to Connect the Cards in a Reading

When you start out reading tarot cards, you're focused on remembering the key words and meanings of each card. You interpret each card separately. The next stage is to learn to connect all the cards in the spread. How does one card inform or influence another?

First, look for patterns in the overall spread:

1. Does one suit dominate the spread?

2. Does one number dominate the spread?

3. Is there a repeating symbol on the cards?

Next, see it as a story line. Imagine a sequence of events in the cards, much like a comic strip. This is easy if you're doing a past-present-future spread. It's literally chronological.

Let's try it! Look at the 5-card spread above. Notice repeating suits, numbers, and images.

We see 3 cups cards. Two 4s. And 3 fish images (the hermit card showing a mermaid fin).

1. Cups are deeper emotions and intuition and love.

2. 4s are stability, discipline, logic.

3. Fish have many interpretations. Biblically, they represent salvation. Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, identified fish as a symbol of nourishing influences from the subconscious. In Celtic lore, fish are associated with wisdom, language and nurturing. Personally, I associate them with the deeper subconscious, as they are deep in the water. In the Page of cups, it's emerging from a cup of water, like the subconscious telling you something. Pages are also messengers, so it's fitting. Go with the meaning that resonates with you.
   

Key words: Emotions (cups). Stability (4s). Subconscious (fish).

Let's connect them into a storyline. This is a past-present-future, higher self's advice, and obstacle spread.

(Card 1 on the left): In the recent past, she spent a lot of time alone. It was a quiet period of being an introvert in the world--like a mermaid who lives both in sea and out of the sea. Mermaids are also symbols of transformation. She meditated and connected to her subconscious (fish). This solitary period was a stage of metamorphosis.

(Middle card): Now, she's emerging from the solitude and craving connection but she's stuck in her solitary/loner mindset. She's not seeing someone reaching out, or offering her something. But this offer could bring her stability (4s).

(Card on the right): If she accepts this offer, or gives this person a chance, she could end up very happy and emotionally fulfilled (cups). Her subconscious (fish) will guide her.

(Card on the top): Her higher self's advice is to make stability (4s) a priority. Maybe now isn't the time to take wild chances. Remain disciplined.

(Bottom card): The obstacle is the failure to listen to the messages (page) that her subconscious (fish) sends her could make her feel emotionally (cups) unfulfilled.

Summary

She's ready to emerge from time spent alone. She grew emotionally from this stage of connecting to her subconscious messages. She's ready for a new relationship that can bring stability. She needs to stay connected to her inner self. She should still honour time alone and practice meditation to remain emotionally stable.