Rev. Colleen Irwin

Finding Your Way Through the Cards: Tarot Spreads for Real Life Moments

Real life moments with Tarot are often never discussed.  I write a lot about Tarot lately in my deep dives, but this is different.  I have several friends who read Tarot for themselves, and one dear friend and I pull a daily card and share our reflections. Some days, a single card is enough—a whisper of insight or a gentle nudge. Other times, I need to go deeper.

What I love about Tarot is its honesty. The cards are what they are. They hold a kind of sacred objectivity that helps me step back from emotion and see what’s really at play. Tarot cards don’t sugarcoat, but they also don’t judge. They simply reveal.

Tarot as a Mirror for the Moment

Tarot isn’t just for answering big questions—it’s also a powerful tool for self-awareness and healing. One of the most meaningful ways I work with the cards is by choosing a specific card that represents what I’m feeling or moving through, then reading the cards around it. These “Find the Card” spreads are simple, intuitive, and incredibly revealing.

Below are some of my favorites—each includes a reflection and a journal prompt to help you go deeper into your own wisdom.

Let Yourself Be Seen

Find the Star
The Star reminds us of our truest light—the one that shines even after hardship. It’s a card of vulnerability, authenticity, and quiet hope. When you feel the need to return to who you really are, this spread helps you explore both the cost and the gift of letting yourself be seen.

• Card before: How your authenticity serves others
• Card after: How embracing your authenticity serves you

Journal Prompt:
Where in my life am I being called to shine more honestly, even if it feels vulnerable?

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Break the Chains

Find the Devil
The Devil can point to what keeps us stuck—habits, beliefs, or even relationships that we’ve outgrown. This spread helps you name what’s holding you back and glimpse the freedom waiting on the other side.

• Card before: A habit or belief that no longer serves you
• Card after: What becomes possible when you let it go

Journal Prompt:
What am I holding onto that I know deep down it’s time to release?

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Standing at the Edge

Find the Fool
The Fool is the card of beginnings—and the nerves that come with them. If you’re facing uncertainty or feeling anxious, this spread offers insight into what’s fueling your fear and how to meet the unknown with trust.

• Card before: What your fear wants you to know
• Card after: How to approach the unknown with courage

Journal Prompt:
What would I do if I trusted the path ahead, even if I can’t yet see it clearly?

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Answers in the Quiet

Find the Hermit
The Hermit invites us to seek answers within. This card represents introspection, solitude, and spiritual growth. When life feels overwhelming, this spread allows you to reflect on what you may be turning away from and what deeper wisdom is calling you to listen.

• Card before: What you’re turning away from
• Card after: What your inner wisdom is leading you toward

Journal Prompt:
What truth have I been quietly carrying that’s ready to be honored?

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The Door is Closing—And Opening

Find the World
The World signals completion and fulfillment. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. This spread can help you gain perspective on the closing of one door and see the new opportunities waiting for you on the other side.

• Card before: What you’re closing the door on
• Card after: What’s ready to open

Journal Prompt:
What chapter is ending, and what would it mean to bless its closure?

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The Gift of Stillness

Find the Hanged Man
The Hanged Man invites us to pause and see things from a different angle. It’s often a moment of surrender, where we release control and allow ourselves to be present in the discomfort of not knowing. This spread can guide you in embracing stillness and finding the wisdom hidden in the wait.

• Card before: The reason for your pause
• Card after: The perspective that can set you free

Journal Prompt:
What if this moment of stillness is preparing me for something I can’t yet imagine?

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Tending the Wound

Find the Three of Swords
The Three of Swords brings up heartache, loss, or emotional pain. But this card also carries the possibility of healing. This spread allows you to reflect on the source of your hurt and how to begin mending the wound with compassion and understanding.

• Card before: The heart of the wound
• Card after: The start of your healing

Journal Prompt:
What do I need to feel or express to begin mending this part of me?

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Answering the Call

Find Judgment
Judgment is a card of awakening, of answering a call to something greater. It invites us to rise, face our past, and embrace the changes that lead to growth. This spread can help you understand the call you’ve been avoiding and the transformation waiting for you when you answer it.

• Card before: The call you haven’t yet answered
• Card after: The transformation waiting on the other side

Journal Prompt:
What quiet calling keeps returning, even when I try to ignore it?

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Reignite Your Spark

Find the Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands sparks creativity, passion, and new beginnings. It’s the card of a fresh start and a burst of inspiration. This spread invites you to reflect on what may have dimmed your inner fire and how you can reignite your passion for life.

• Card before: What’s dimmed your flame
• Card after: What can reignite it

Journal Prompt:
What makes me feel alive—and when was the last time I let myself follow that?

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Walking Through the Fog

Find the Moon
The Moon represents mystery, illusion, and intuition. It’s often a card of uncertainty, where the path is not clear. This spread can guide you through times of confusion, helping you trust your inner knowing and navigate through the fog with faith.

• Card before: The fear or illusion clouding your path
• Card after: The truth your intuition already knows

Journal Prompt:
What part of me already knows the answer—but is waiting for permission to believe it?

Tarot offers us so much more than answers—it provides insight, clarity, and, perhaps most importantly, a safe space for self-reflection. The cards invite us to be present, to look within, and to face the challenges of life with courage and grace.

Try one of these spreads the next time you need guidance. Trust yourself as you explore what the cards have to show you. And remember—every answer is already within you.