Comic Strip Spread

Difficulty: Easy

Note: This spread works best with decks like the Diary of a Broken Soul or Surrealist Tarot because they display scenes rather than pips and do not use reversals.

The Comic Strip Spread is a simple nine-card chronological spread that looks like a page of a comic book. This method should be used to get a glimpse of the future as it would pan out naturally. It may be insightful to use this spread in coordination with biorhythms. The spread is easy to read as a storyboard, just like a comic strip.

The main subject is apparent in the first card, while the story plays out through the following tarot cards.

It is important to pay particular attention to the cards and the relationships with their neighbours. Notice which directions the cards are facing, and how they interact.

Your Comic Strip Reading

The Moon (La Lune)	Six of Coins	Eight of Swords
Eight of Batons	Knight of Swords	The Lovers (L'Amoureux)
The World (Le Monde)	King of Cups	Death (La Mort)

Symbolism:
The Moon hangs high in the sky, casting a dim, mysterious light over a landscape. A dog and a wolf howl at the moon, representing instincts and the untamed subconscious. A pool sits between two towers, suggesting the unknown. A crayfish crawls out of it, symbolising hidden emotions emerging.

Meaning:
The Moon represents intuition, mystery, and the subconscious. It suggests a time of uncertainty where not everything is as it seems. This card invites you to trust your instincts and explore hidden depths. It also warns against illusion or confusion, urging clarity.

In relationships, it can indicate emotional complexity or hidden dynamics. Spiritually, it calls for embracing intuition and the mysteries of the psyche.

Keywords:
Intuition, mystery, subconscious, illusion, uncertainty, emotions, dreams, instincts, exploration, hidden truths.

Card 2: Six of Coins

Symbolism:
Six coins are symmetrically arranged, often accompanied by flourishing floral motifs, suggesting harmony and generosity. The design reflects themes of giving and receiving, balance in material matters, and acts of kindness.

Meaning:
The Six of Coins represents generosity, charity, and the balance of give and take. It speaks to the distribution of wealth, whether material or spiritual, and suggests that sharing one's resources can bring rewards. This card also highlights the importance of fairness and balance, indicating that help will be returned when it is needed.

In relationships, it emphasises mutual support, equity, and the importance of both giving and receiving. Spiritually, it encourages a generous heart and the understanding that true wealth comes from shared abundance.

Keywords:
Generosity, charity, balance, fairness, reciprocity, wealth, giving, receiving, support, compassion.

Card 3: Eight of Swords

Symbolism:
Eight swords form a restrictive and intricate pattern, evoking a sense of entrapment or limitation. The imagery reflects mental constraints, self-imposed boundaries, and the need for clarity to break free.

Meaning:
The Eight of Swords symbolises mental entrapment, self-doubt, or feeling stuck. It suggests that limitations are often self-imposed and can be overcome with clarity and courage. This card encourages you to reclaim your power and break free.

In relationships, it may reflect feelings of being trapped or misunderstood. Spiritually, it invites introspection to break free from limiting beliefs.

Keywords:
Restriction, self-doubt, entrapment, mental barriers, fear, powerlessness, clarity, courage, breaking free, introspection.

Card 4: Eight of Batons

Symbolism:
Eight batons form a dynamic and structured alignment, their leafy growth symbolising swift movement and momentum. This card reflects rapid progress, communication, and decisive action.

Meaning:
The Eight of Batons symbolises swift movement, progress, and the culmination of efforts. It often signals that events are accelerating and reaching a conclusion. This card encourages focus and decisiveness, as opportunities may arise suddenly and require quick action.

In relationships, it suggests rapid developments or communication. Spiritually, it reflects clarity and momentum toward your purpose.

Keywords:
Speed, movement, progress, acceleration, momentum, action, opportunity, focus, resolution, decisiveness.

Card 5: Knight of Swords

Symbolism:
The Cavalier of Swords pulls his horse up onto two legs, with a raised sword indicating action and decisiveness. The dynamic imagery evokes themes of boldness, quick thinking, and the pursuit of challenges with mental and physical agility.

Meaning:
The Knight of Swords represents action, ambition, and the pursuit of goals with determination. It encourages boldness but warns against recklessness or being too impulsive. This card suggests moving quickly to overcome obstacles but maintaining focus.

In relationships, it may signal a fast-moving connection or conflict resolution. Spiritually, it reflects the quest for truth and higher understanding.

Keywords:
Ambition, determination, action, boldness, impulsiveness, focus, pursuit, courage, urgency, resolution.

Card 6: The Lovers
(L'Amoureux)

Symbolism:
The Lovers card depicts a man standing between two women, with Cupid above aiming an arrow. The scene suggests a choice or a union, with the women often representing opposing influences. In some interpretations, the figures are Adam and Eve, symbolising the duality of earthly and spiritual love.

Meaning:
The Lovers represent connection, harmony, and the power of choice. This card speaks to deep relationships, whether romantic or platonic, and the alignment of values and goals. However, it also highlights the necessity of making meaningful decisions, often at a crossroads where the heart and mind must collaborate.

In relationships, the Lovers symbolise love, commitment, and mutual respect. Spiritually, they encourage balancing the dualities within yourself and finding unity in diversity.

Keywords:
Love, harmony, connection, choice, duality, relationships, unity, attraction, alignment, crossroads.

Card 7: The World
(Le Monde)

Symbolism:
Symbolism:
A dancing figure surrounded by a wreath occupies the center, representing completion and harmony. The four corners of the card feature symbols of the elements or the four cherubs, signifying unity. The figure holds wands or batons, symbolising mastery and balance.

Meaning:
The World signifies completion, fulfilment, and wholeness. It represents the successful culmination of a journey and the integration of all aspects of your life. This card invites you to celebrate your achievements while embracing the interconnectedness of existence. It heralds a time of balance, unity, and alignment with your purpose. The World also indicates readiness for new adventures following the conclusion of one phase.

In relationships, it signifies harmony and mutual understanding. Spiritually, it reflects enlightenment and integration with the cosmos.

Keywords:
Completion, fulfilment, harmony, unity, wholeness, success, integration, achievement, enlightenment, new beginnings.

Card 8: King of Cups

Symbolism:
The Roy of Cups is seated on a throne, holding a cup with a calm and composed demeanour, surrounded by subtle water motifs that evoke emotional balance. This card represents emotional leadership, wisdom, and the ability to guide others with kindness and understanding.

Meaning:
The King of Cups signifies emotional balance, maturity, and leadership. He represents someone who leads with compassion, wisdom, and understanding, maintaining calm even in turbulent times. This card encourages you to take control of your emotions and use them to guide yourself and others.

In relationships, it reflects a stable and loving partner or dynamic. Spiritually, it emphasises the harmony between intellect and emotions.

Keywords:
Emotional balance, leadership, wisdom, compassion, stability, maturity, understanding, guidance, calm, harmony.

Card 9: Death
(La Mort)

Symbolism:
A skeletal figure wielding a scythe moves through a barren landscape. Heads, hands, and flowers lie beneath the scythe, symbolising the inevitable end of all things. Despite its grim imagery, the card signifies renewal and the promise of rebirth.

Meaning:
Death represents transformation, endings, and the clearing away of the old to make space for the new. This card doesn't predict physical death but rather signifies a profound shift or transition. It invites you to release attachments and embrace the inevitability of change.

In relationships, Death can mark the end of a phase, whether through growth or closure. Spiritually, it emphasises rebirth, renewal, and the cycles of life.

Keywords:
Transformation, endings, rebirth, change, renewal, transition, letting go, closure, release, metamorphosis.