When contemplating a tarot reading of more than one card, we need to think about the card positions. Or, rather, the arbitrary label we intend to assign each card. For example, the simple past, present, future spread. But does it matter how and where the cards are placed? Does position matter in tarot?

Simply put, no it doesn’t… usually. Using the past, present, future spread as illustration, you could lay it horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and it won’t affect the meaning of the cards, or affect the reading adversely.

However, there are times when the physical position is important. Why is that? Because an experienced tarot reader will look for interaction between the cards. Interaction can take place when figures on two adjacent cards are looking at each other. Or maybe when they share symbols — if they are too far apart those similarities won’t be apparent.

A particular favourite configuration of mine is when I do long complex relationship readings. I work out the questions that need to be answered and then draw the cards in pairs. This gives both partner 1 and partner two perspectives. I interpret them as a pair and then return them to the deck just in case they want to come up again. Obviously, you have to stick to the partner 1; partner two positions or it wouldn’t make sense.

You, as the reader, have to decide whether you are going to take this extra layer of information into account. A fun exercise is to do a simple three-card reading of your choosing, and then after your initial interpretation, try moving the cards around to see if you can get some of this interaction going. Try to find that other layer of meaning offered by repositioning.

If you would like a different perspective on this, here’s a previous article which examines the changes in interpretation by applying the same card in every position in the Celtic Cross.

The cards shown above are from the Light Seer’s Tarot. (Affiliate link).

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