Tarot as Storytelling

Storytelling is the bridge between intuition and understanding. When we read Tarot as story, we give shape to the unseen—turning symbols into sentences and cards into clarity. Each spread becomes a map: where we’ve been, where we are, and where we might go.

Story Exercise – Observing the Cards

This practice is intended to help deepen your relationship with the cards by encouraging you to read them as part of a conversation, rather than as isolated messages. While pulling a single card can offer meaningful insight, learning to let the cards speak to one another opens up a richer, more nuanced way of reading.

The goal here is to build your storytelling muscles—so that instead of interpreting each card in a vacuum, you begin to notice how they relate, respond, and evolve together. This kind of relational reading not only helps make sense of larger spreads, but also mirrors how we experience life: not in disconnected moments, but in unfolding narratives.

Think of each card as a character or moment in a scene. When you read them as part of a shared storyline, you invite greater depth, flow, and clarity into your interpretations. This approach supports both intuitive and reflective reading, giving you tools to move beyond prediction and into meaning-making.

And yes—this works just as beautifully with oracle cards, too. The key is curiosity: what are these images trying to say to one another, and what story are they revealing to you?

A Simple Story Prompt

Try this simple storytelling practice with your deck.
Pull three cards and lay them out from left to right.

Before you “tell” the story, you may ask yourself:

• What colors stand out? What do they evoke?

• Which symbols or imagery draw your attention?

• How do the cards make you feel? What memories or thoughts do they stir?

• If the card could speak, what would it say?

• Where are the figures looking or moving? What might that suggest?

• What do you notice about the numbers, suits, or patterns?

Now try using this sentence as a framework for your three-card pull:

When ______________, I ______________, so ______________.

Let each card represent one part of the sentence. For example:

When (Card #1 – 9 of Swords)
I (Card #2 – 4 of Pentacles)
So (Card #3 – Ace of Cups)

You might interpret this as:
When I worry about things beyond my control, I remind myself that I am safe in my body and the guardian of my thoughts—so I can make space for life’s sweet gifts that might otherwise pass me by.

There’s no one “right” way to tell the story. This is meant as a tool to help your understand how the cards connect with each other : ) Below, you’ll find a few spread examples that use this format. Try them out—or create your own!

📖 Tarot Spreads as Story Maps

Here are some simple spreads paired with story prompts to guide your reading using the above framework. Each one invites you into a new perspective:

🌙 1. Turning Point Spread
Cards:

1. Before

2. Turning point

3. After

Story Prompt:
When I look at my past experiences,
I see what is needed now,
so I may step into what’s unfolding for me

Use this spread to reflect on a life shift or a moment of personal growth. It’s great for understanding the arc of a situation or transition.

🔥 2. Desire & Challenge Spread

Cards:

1. What I want

2. The obstacle

3. The way forward

Story Prompt:
When I focus on what I would like to achieve,
I observe what blocks me,
so I may understand the best approach needed to move forward

Use this spread when you’re craving direction or feel stuck. It helps clarify your goal and the next right action.

✨ 3. Rewriting My Story Spread

Cards:

1. An old belief or pattern

2. What I see differently now

3. What I choose moving forward

Story Prompt:
When I reflect on the story I’ve been living,
I realize what no longer serves me,
so I can choose a new truth.

Use this spread for self-reflection, shadow work, or journaling. It’s great when you're ready to shift how you see yourself or your path.

✨ Practice Highlight✨

The Daily Spread & Evening Reflection

This simple three-card spread—Vibe / Notice / Advice—has been my personal anchor in learning and deepening my Tarot practice. It became a ritual: part grounding, part guidance, and part self-study.

1. Vibe / Energy

2. Notice / Obstacle

3. Advice / Invitation

   
   In the morning, I’d pull three cards and ask:

• What’s the vibe or energy of today?

• What should I notice/pay attention to or what obstacles may I encounter?

• What advice can guide me forward?

I’d leave the cards out where I could see them throughout the day and often journal briefly, noting any immediate impressions. Then I’d go about my day—not trying to force meaning, but simply watching how the themes showed up:

• Were they loud and obvious? 

• Subtle and quiet? Something in between? 

• Did something show up in a way that altered the way I understood this card or expanded my view?

It became a practice of witnessing: letting the cards live with me, not just speak to me.

In the evening, I’d return to the spread and draw two more cards, asking:

• “What do I take from today?”

• “What can I leave behind?”

Sometimes I journaled. Other times, I let the card speak quietly—like a spiritual echo that helped me close the day with mindfulness and trust. This ritual gently deepened my intuition and my relationship with the deck, day by day. It taught me to trust the cards, trust myself, and see meaning in the everyday.

Whether you're just beginning your Tarot journey or looking to bring new dimension to your readings, storytelling offers a way to make meaning that’s both personal and powerful. I hope these prompts and spreads inspire you to sit with your cards in a fresh way—to listen, to imagine, and to weave the threads of your own wisdom into the stories you tell.

Trying on any of these spreads? Have questions? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below 💖