Sometimes it just feels good to let the tower explode! - Mary K. Greer

This spread is inspired by Mary K. Greer's 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card.

In Step 11 of her book, Greer explores the concept of extremes and discusses the range of meanings within the cards. She examines the two extremes through a set of conceptualized opposites with words such as benefit - liability, pro – con, and good – bad. The concept of this spread is to look at a problem from both extremes to determine if there is a reasonable compromise.

Sometimes there is a resonable compromise or soultion, sometimes there is not, but as Greer writes, “Sometimes dealing with the negative meaning can be daunting. But rather than avoiding it, try to move into it by considering the worst-case scenario--at least in your mind. You might find that it’s not as bad as you thought.”

This spread is designed to look at three sets of extremes, but theoretically the reader can take any set of extremes and use it. The three sets can be used on their own for three card readings as well. This is a diverse spread which can and should be modified, just as we should allow ourselves to be diverse and modified as necessary. Enjoy.

Step 1: Choose the Significator. Be sure to clarify with the querent why they chose this card because it defines the problem.

Step 2: With the Significator in face up in the middle, lay all the cards as shown in the diagram below face down. The purpose is to look at each extreme individually, so don’t turn the card face up until you are ready to look at it.

Step 3: First Set: Benefit - Liability

What is the benefit to facing this problem?
What is the liability if I don’t face this problem?
How can I compromise?
Step 4: Second Set: Pleasant – Painful

What is pleasant about the situation?
What is the painful aspect of this situation?
What is the compromise to these feelings?
Step 5: Safe – Dangerous

What is safe about this situation?
What is the potential danger?
Considering the danger, should there be a compromise?
Step 6: This is optional, but one way to bring some closure to this reading is to take the three compromise cards and shuffle them a bit.  Then, spread them on the side and perform a Yes – No – Maybe spread to the question, ‘Should I compromise?’.