Hello! Welcome back to the course.
In our last lesson, we focused on the art of tarot storytelling—moving beyond individual card meanings to construct a detailed, flowing narrative from a spread. You learned how to connect cards using their keywords, visual cues, and the logic of their positions.
Today, we'll apply that skill to a very practical purpose. Our learning outcome is to use a spread to explore the root cause and potential outcome of a situation. This moves us from general storytelling to targeted, diagnostic reading. Just as in legal analysis where you must understand the history of a dispute to argue for a particular resolution, in tarot, understanding the root of a problem is key to finding the best path forward. We'll explore spreads specifically designed for this kind of focused inquiry.
1. From General Story to Specific Diagnosis
While a "Past-Present-Future" spread gives a great overview, sometimes you need a more focused tool to dissect a problem. For this, we use spreads where the positions are designed to act like a diagnostic checklist. They help you break down a complex issue into manageable parts: the core situation, the underlying cause or obstacle, and the recommended action or likely outcome.
Let's begin by looking at one of the most effective and popular spreads for this purpose.
This structure—Situation, Obstacle, Solution—is a powerful framework for personal reflection. It transforms a vague feeling of being "stuck" into a clear, three-part analysis.
To explore this concept further, let's watch a brief clip that introduces several variations of the three-card spread, including some specifically designed for action and problem-solving.
How to Do a 3-Card Tarot Reading
In this video from Biddy Tarot, pay attention to the descriptions of the 'Situation-Action-Outcome' and 'Internal-External-Path Forward' spreads. These are excellent examples of how positional meanings can be tailored to a specific inquiry.
Please watch from 02:48 to 04:20. Notice how these spreads are designed to be more action-oriented than a simple Past-Present-Future reading.
2. The "Situation / Obstacle / Advice" Spread
The "Situation / Obstacle / Advice" spread (a common variant of "Situation / Obstacle / Solution") is a fantastic tool for your personal practice. It provides clear, actionable guidance when you're feeling uncertain.
To get a deep understanding of how to use it, please read the following article. It breaks down the purpose of the spread, explains each card's role, and provides helpful questions to ask during your reading.
Problem Solving: Situation / Obstacle / Advice Tarot Spread
This article from Tarot with Gord provides a comprehensive guide to the 'Situation / Obstacle / Advice' spread. It's a great resource that you may want to bookmark for future reference.
Please read the following sections: Start at the top with the introduction under the main title. Continue through 'Why This Spread?' and the 'Breakdown' of the card positions. Read the 'Questions,' 'Mantras,' and 'Prompts' for problem-solving. Read the section 'Exploring Situation, Obstacle And Advice.' Finally, review the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section for answers to common queries about this spread. Focus on how this spread encourages you to move from simply observing a problem to actively seeking a solution.
3. A Practical Demonstration
Now that you understand the theory, let's see this spread in action. The following video demonstrates a similar spread: "What's going on," "The obstacles," and "The likely outcome." The presenter performs two example readings, one for a work question and one for a relationship question.
Beginner’s Tarot Spread - Easy 6 Cards
Watch this demonstration from The Tarot Shop UK. Observe how the reader first lays out the cards and then interprets each one according to its position, building a story that identifies the obstacle and points toward the outcome.
Watch the segment from 00:46 to 03:22. Pay close attention to how the 'Obstacles' card (Ace of Swords) is interpreted as a need for 'fresh ideas' or 'clarity,' and how this connects to the positive 'Outcome' card (Nine of Pentacles).
As you saw, the interpretation process involves:
- Stating the situation: What is the current energy?
- Identifying the root cause/obstacle: What is blocking progress? This is the core diagnostic step.
- Determining the advice/outcome: What action is recommended, or what is the likely result if that action is taken?
4. Walkthrough: A Sample Reading
Let's do a quick walkthrough together to solidify the process.
Question: "I feel uninspired and disconnected from my creative hobbies lately. What's the root cause, and how can I move forward?"
We'll use the Situation / Obstacle / Advice spread.
- Card 1: Situation - Four of Cups. This card shows a figure sitting under a tree, ignoring a cup being offered to him. It perfectly reflects the question: a state of apathy, boredom, and feeling disconnected from emotional or creative opportunities. The situation is one of passive dissatisfaction.
- Card 2: Obstacle - The Emperor. At first glance, this might seem odd. But as an obstacle, The Emperor can represent a rigid, overly structured approach. The root cause of the creative block might be too much control, a fear of being messy, or an insistence on sticking to the "rules." The creative flow is being stifled by an overly logical or authoritarian mindset.
- Card 3: Advice - The Fool. This is perfect advice. The Fool represents new beginnings, spontaneity, and taking a leap of faith. The advice is to let go of the rigid control of The Emperor, embrace the unknown, and try something completely new without worrying about the outcome. It's about reconnecting with a sense of play and adventure to break through the apathy of the Four of Cups.
The Story: "You are feeling apathetic and uninspired (Four of Cups) because you are being too rigid and controlling in your creative process (The Emperor). The way forward is to embrace spontaneity, release expectations, and take a leap into a new, unstructured approach (The Fool)."
Test your understanding!
Now it's your turn. A friend is considering a career change but is hesitant to take the leap. You do a reading for them using the "Situation / Obstacle / Outcome" spread.
- Situation: Ten of Wands
- Obstacle: Five of Pentacles
- Outcome: The Chariot
How would you interpret this spread to explain the root of their hesitation (the obstacle) and the potential outcome if they overcome it?
Show answer
Here's one possible interpretation:
- Situation (Ten of Wands): Their current job is a heavy burden. They feel overworked, stressed, and are just struggling to get through each day. This is the "why" behind their desire for a change.
- Obstacle (Five of Pentacles): The root cause of their hesitation is a fear of insecurity. This could be financial fear (losing a steady paycheck) or a fear of being "left out in the cold" without the security of their current role. This scarcity mindset is the primary obstacle holding them back.
- Outcome (The Chariot): If they can overcome this fear, the potential outcome is one of incredible success and forward momentum. The Chariot represents willpower, determination, and achieving victory. It suggests that if they can face their fears (Five of Pentacles) and take decisive action, they will be able to successfully steer their career in a new, more fulfilling direction.
5. Expanding the Analysis: A 5-Card Spread
For more complex situations, you can expand this principle to a five-card spread. This allows for a more nuanced analysis.
You don't need to master this spread today, but it's useful to see how the core logic of "Situation -> Cause -> Outcome" can be expanded to gather more "evidence" and build a more detailed "case" for understanding a personal challenge.
Conclusion
Today you have added a crucial, practical tool to your tarot toolkit. You now know how to select and use a spread specifically designed for problem-solving. By focusing on the roles of "Situation," "Obstacle/Root Cause," and "Advice/Outcome," you can move beyond general readings to gain targeted insights into the challenges you face.
Key Takeaways:
- Specialized spreads like "Situation / Obstacle / Advice" are designed for diagnostic readings.
- The "Obstacle" or "Root Cause" position helps you identify the core issue that needs to be addressed.
- The "Advice" or "Outcome" position provides a path forward or shows the potential result of your actions.
- Weaving these positions into a narrative (as learned in the last lesson) creates a powerful and practical piece of guidance.
Preview of the Next Lesson:
So far, we have focused exclusively on the upright meanings of the cards. However, cards can also appear reversed (upside-down) in a reading. In our next lesson, we will begin exploring this new layer of interpretation. You will learn the common frameworks for interpreting reversed cards, adding another level of nuance and depth to your personal practice.