How do you choose how to lay the cards? How do you pick the best spread for that particular question?

I thought we might look at some ways and then decide ourselves which way suits.

when i first started reading for friends.  i choose the celtic cross because it intrested me the most.  i didn't choose it for to fit the question.

i switch to the three card spread because it was less confusing and once agian not becuase of the querent or question.  

lately i been serious thinking about going back to the Celtic Cross again but this time laying more then one card per position.  

when i read for friends they tend not to have a question becuase they just want the reading becaused i can do it not because they do it all the time.  so i usually do a general reading because they can't focus or think of a question.

its a intresting question because i getting deeper in the readings, in my mind, and i want to streach out into all these good questions your asking!

can wait to see what everyone comes up with!    so ready to start learning again and reaching a goal with my Tarots.

hi gem!  

I am never satisfied with just a few cards in a spread. For general readings I use 3 cards to cover each area:
Me (or other person)
What's going on around me
what I might change (or should)
what I can't change (out of my hands)
advice
outcome (which way things are heading)

and I spread the cards out in an angel like pattern.
I've never had better "general" readings with any other spread. Also, I've changed the "me" spot to the "situation" and the rest of the areas just fell into place!
This stuff never stops amazing me!

I could write a page about each card and so I don't need many cards in each spread. Why do you feel that you need so many? How do you use them?

I've been working elements into my readings. I find when you have 3 cards to describe an event or situation you can get a better spin on things. I mean, how easy is it to describe something happening in your life using one short description? Not only that, but I don't read cards reversed. I use the elements to determine dignities and decide if the meaning is waning or approaching or missing all together. The more cards you can read for each section of the spread, the better the understanding. For me anyway. I've never been great at "spinning yarns" so I can't give a "Mystical" reading if I tried!! (LOL)