This is how it is laid out.
--2-----3--
-----1-----
--4-----5--

card #1 represents the spirit, a little info about who they are
card # 2 represents why they are with you right now
card # 3 represents what they want you to know
card # 4 represents what actions you can take and/or how you can help them
card # 5 is a summary/outcome of the entire reading

I used the Shapeshifter deck for this.

For the first card I got:
Major Arcana: 2 Sorceress
Here is what it looks like: http://www.tarotwisdomreadings.com/TarotDecks/hp2shape2.JPG
The description talks about a powerful sorceress.

So I'm thinking this is close to what my spirit guide is, a powerful woman. (Not thinking she has 'special' powers like a sorceress though)

The Traditional card is The High Priestess though if that helps out.

The second card was Growth. It is an Earth Element (Pentacles for traditional, and it's the Seven of Pentacles.)
It doesn't matter for the Shapeshifter deck if the cards are upright or reversed so I'm not sure if I have to pay attention or not but it was reversed.
According to the description it's about new beginnings. So maybe she is giving me a message that there will be a change. The prophecy for Shapeshifter says it is a good change.
I can't find a picture and I don't have a scanner.
But it has a picture of a half woman half horse (they appear to share the horses body since both heads are there) in what appears to be a field with two jutted rocks sticking out of the ground. They are surrounded by flowers. In the background there are two more horses and the background there is also the colours purple, blue, orange, yellow and white.

The third card is Strength. It is an Air Element (Wands and the Nine of wands.)
It was also reversed but again the Shapeshifter says nothing about what it means when it's reversed.
These are the keywords: Preparedness, vision, divine help and perception.
The prophecy says that I need to be watchful of natures rhythm, I need to be prepared to defend my personal patterns, this is a time of spiritual vision and physical strength  against any opposition. Subconscious and conscious work in Sync. May Receive help from the Goddess or the God, or a Higher power.

Those were right from the book, the ones I felt the most important. I couldn't find a picture of it either, but it's a beautiful picture of a creek with a little waterfall in it and quite a few faces in it, but not in a disturbing way, a nice way.

So I think it might mean that there is a bit of difficulty coming but if I move with it I should be fine.

4 is a Abundance which is a water element (Cups, the Three of Cups)
The Prophecy sounds good. A healing will come as I communicate my positive emotions and feeling so someone close. Then it says I should open up and share my thoughts with like-minded people. It is a time of finding abundance in my life with things I love and feel positive about- a time to use my communication skills and abilities to connect with people and energies.

And according to #4 it says what actions I need to take, so it probably says I need to communicate more (Which i don't at all) probably with close friends and family and maybe to new people as well.

5 is Decadence. Water Element ( Cups, the Four of Cups.)
This is where I am stumped by the way.
A period of false security is near. Changes are needed in life style and outlook to avoid setbacks and prolonged periods of negative energy and action. Take a good look, honest look at my motives, plans and make changes or I could be disappointed or have strong failures.

I am stumped but I am thinking that if I don't make positive changes to my lifestyle, things are going to continue to be the way they are.

Right now I am not happy with life at all, I am lonely and depressed most of the time. I hate myself because I am not good-looking (people tell me all the time that I have an ugly face) and am slightly chubby but not over weight according to the BMI. My friends have all moved away so I have no one to talk to anymore except my sister who doesn't exactly want to be taking me out to parties with her friends.

So I am thinking my Spirit Guide is telling me that good things will happen if I try to change the negatives in my life. ALthough I have no idea how... I could be wrong.

I'm not sure if that is accurate so I was wondering if I could have a second opinion. I wish I had a scanner so I could show you what the cards look like, for those who aren't familiar with Shapeshifter.
I put what the traditional cards are because I wanted to know if I should pay attention to those meanings as well. (like the reversed ones for instant)

Hi,  I am NOT a Tarot expert, in fact I'm a beginner, although I am a numerologist.  I don't think you need an expert to figure out your spread.  I think for the most part you got it right - you need to change.  I have a 20 year old daughter and even though she is very beautiful, she still feels afraid that she will screw her life up and that her life somehow sucks.  Being unattractive is a matter of opinion and really not related to happiness at all.

The meaning I got from your spread is this - you have a lot of opportunity right in front of you, but unless you stop feeling sorry for yourself, you will miss it (sorry, didn't mean to be too harsh).  Plesae, please, don't say that you hate yourself.  Find something to love and concentrate on that.

By the way... from your nic name it is obvious that you want to change - you are HOPEFUL.  86 also shows that you do know that you are powerful and responsible (and very loving and nurturing of others).

Make a couple small changes and see what happens (and start affirming that you are loved and lovable).  Good luck to you!

Hi Hopeful ,

I don't have the Shapeshifter deck, its one of the few I don't lol, but what I will say is this.  The cards were attuned to you and drawn for you to read, not me or anyone else. The deck is a very powerful and mystical one and not a Rider Waite Clone, so please don't try and use those meanings as interpretations for your cards either, or you are likely to get a totally different and wrong message.  I am not sure why you say the Shapeshifter has no reversals? But as I dont use that deck I cannot be expected to understand, but reversals usually are there for emphasis, when reading for another they are the first cards they are drawn to and notice, the cards which to us are reversed to them are upright and easy to notice.

I don't want to sound harsh but it seems to me that before you do any more in depth readings for yourself you do need to re-bond with your deck? Let me explain so that you understand and don't take offence please.  Rider Waite is the deck that most people teach with and from because there are pictures and clear meanings on each card. As we learn more the meanings and interpretations evolve and we 'see' and read more from each card as we build up a kind of dictionary. So with another deck especially a non-traditional deck like the Shapeshifter that has very different meanings and energy, when using it we need to tune in and bond with each card, binding the meaning we see and feel from each card to that card itself. Once this has been done, and it can be done very simply by sitting a closely looking or meditating with each card on its meaning, then the cards each have a known meaning for us and when we are faced with them in a reading for ourself we can draw on that meaning, we know exactly what message the card is telling us. You might like to take our free tarot course using your deck, we have many experienced readers that use it too and its fun as well as being a good support structure

From your reading you sound very sad and lost, and I really want to be able to help you to interpret the layout but I can't.  You might find that for such an important reading you should restrict the cards to the major arcana 22 only. Perhaps start re-bonding with those first then redraw the spread and see what you get?

I am sorry, I hope my words don't offend or upset you but instead you understand what I am trying to say?  Let me know if you want any further help and what the new spread is like  xxxx


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[quote="Gem"]Hi Hopeful ,

The only reason I showed them this time was because the last time I did a reading and asked someone for help at another forum, they wanted to know what they meant in the traditional deck because they weren't familiar with the Shapeshifter. So I did it again this time just in case.




In the book it doesn't say anything about reversals. It gives a description on the Tarot Card and what the picture means. Then it gives a Prophecy or advice. But again the reason I mentioned if I should worry if it's reversed for the traditonal card was because of what I said above.


No it's not harsh. I'm a beginner and didn't know that you shouldn't try and see what it means with the other card decks. I actually did spend a lot more time with this spread because it was important to get the answer. And going by the advice and prophecy that's what I got out of it but I wasn't sure. I've never drawn the Goddess before and thought it meant something when it was the first card I pulled up and going by the meaning of the first card in the spread it looked good.



It's fine, thanks for trying. I have a feeling I might be right though because reading over my situation and looking at my interpretation it sounds like advice anyone would give. It's basically saying: Lying around depressed isn't going to help so do something about it...
I might try the reading again with your suggestion and see if I get similar results though. Right now I'm still working in a relationship reading which I can't seem to get an answer from at all.

Reversals.... sometimes there's just no room in the LWB ( little white book or leaflet) they are so small and cant fit much in and try and get you to purchase the full book that goes with many decks. It is perfectly normal not to have reversal meanings included in these tiny books, so it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

I know other tarot readers will have their own opinions but to me its wrong to try and interpret one card from one deck to another from the Rider Waite, it just doesnt work. The cards do have different meanings, and especially the Shapeshifter deck, it is much more mystical than the RW and uses the powers of the animals and magic too in their meanings.

I think you were right in your interpretation, sorry, meant to post that bit too,

Tell me more about the relationship spread, why can't you get an answer? Is the reading for you?