This is an unusual form of spread for reading cards because it sort of "sets up" the deck towards the inclination you choose. The significator is ignored in favor of separating the deck into suits and then choosing one suit to work with.
This requires, of course, that you sort the entire deck into five piles; the four suits, and the Major Arcana. Place the Major Arcana pile to the side and select one suit which best fits the basic element about which you are reading.
Then place the rest of the suits to the side.
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The key to selecting a suit with which to work is the element involved in each suit. Wands are the suit of work and intelligence. Cups are the suit of emotions and matters of family and the heart. Swords are the suit of action, dispute and legal matters, and Pentacles are the suit of financial situation and success.
Shuffle the cards of the suit you have selected, then cut the pack and turn over three cards across the table. Card number one represents the past, in other words, what has brought about the situation in question or has enabled it to occur. This can refer to seemingly unrelated situations which have actually contributed to the current dilemma.
The second card represents the present, meaning not only a description of what is happening with the situation in question, but may also reveal hidden forces at work in regards to this matter, or things you haven't seen till now.
Card number three represents the direction this situation is going. It is important to bear in mind that all outcomes depend on the path the individual follows and so this means not a definite future but a possible direction this situation may continue in, or may resolve itself in.
Next, take the pack of Major Arcana cards and shuffle and cut that pack also. Next, turn over three cards below the first three which were dealt from the suit. These represent influences over the other three cards. They are to be interpreted in context with the other cards.
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Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace