Which 5-card spread do you need today?

There are many 5-card spreads! Just like 4-card spreads, they can be quickly created by adding onto a 3-card spread. One of my most used 5-card spreads is to start with a past/present/future spread and add: higher self's advice, plus either a 2nd future card, or a 'instincts' card. The instincts card shows the querent's natural tendencies (for better or for worse!)

Alternatively, you can add clarification cards. Remember with clarification cards, they are not a new piece of advice or a prediction, per se. They work in conjunction with the card they're clarifying. (For more on this, see my post on Clarification & Jumper cards). Here are some of my favourite 5-card spreads:

Rose Spread this is a great spread for developing an idea or understanding an issue or relationship development. Lay the cards out in a rose formation: card 1 is the root. Card 2 is the stem. Card 3 is a thorn. Card 4 is the bud, and card 5 is the blossom.

Root/Stem/Thorn/Bud/Blossom

Root: core belief, root cause of the issue, foundation of the idea or relationship. Depending on whether this is for developing a project or understanding an issue/relationship, you will assign the cards accordingly.

Stem: the backbone of the idea or relationship. This is what keeps it/you strong or challenges you.

Thorn: this is an obstacle or issue to overcome. This card could also represent unrealistic expectations.

Bud: the present or next development stage of the idea or relationship.

Blossom: the likely outcome within the next 6 months if you continue on the current trajectory. If the outcome cards warns of a need to change course to avoid a certain outcome, shuffle the cards to draw a 6th card and ask the deck: if I do things differently, how could it turn out?

Medicine Wheel Spread This is an overall check-in of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. It is the similar to the compass spread with the addition of a centre card (significator). I prefer to draw significator cards from the major arcana. If you're reading professionally and have limited time per client, it's a great idea to keep one deck with the major arcana separated. You can also opt to draw the body card from pentacles, mind card from swords, emotions card from cups, and spirit card from wands. For this, keep a minor arcana divided into suits so it's ready for this spread. I keep one deck organized like this at all times.

Significator(centre)/Emotions (west)/Body (north)/Mind(east)/Spirit (south)

Significator/Theme: ideally draw this from the major arcana, but it's not mandatory. This card sets the overall tone or their wellbeing from a holistic perspective.

West/Emotions: Emotional realm (option: draw from the cups). This card represents their emotional state right now, their subconscious mind, deep connections with loved ones, and hidden wisdom.

North/Body: Body and the physical realm (option: draw from pentacles). This card represents their physical state right now. While I avoid any predictions about health, it can symbolize their approach to their health regimen.

East/Mind: Mind and mental realm. (option to draw from the swords). This card shows their mental state right now and where their mind is. It also represents intellect, ideas, the conscious mind, decisions, psychology, logic, and conflict.

South/Spirit: Spirit and spiritual realm (option to draw from the wands). This card represents their spiritual state and relationship with the Divine at the time of the reading. It could also give insight into their current spiritual practice or attitude towards this.

5 Alive This is a past life spread which looks at your former incarnation, what kind of life it was and how it ended. This is an interesting one to do because sometimes it shows a lot of similarities between last life and this one. Understanding our last life can help us to understand our karma and tendencies in this life.

Personality/Love life/Purpose/Financial status/End of last incarnation

Personality: This card will reflect your overall character in your last incarnation.

Love Life: Did you meet your soulmate in your last life? Did you spend decades together? Or did one of die young? Were you wronged by them?

Purpose/Dharma: What was your life purpose?

Financial Status: Were you royalty? Impoverished?

End of life: Did you pass away young? Tragically? Or, peacefully at a ripe old age?