Retro Spread - The Romany Spread
There are a batch of spreads that are, accurately or inaccurately, associated with Romany techniques, or perhaps are just 'down and dirty' with the old school 'gypsy' fortune telling style of Tarot reading.
Another of these spreads is the Romany Spread, and, like many of its peer spreads, it has an unusual layout. It's a larger spread, coming in at 21 cards total, but offers two reading approaches, whether it's laid out in 3 rows of 7...or 7 columns of 3...or the two techniques can be combined into one...
The first option, to lay out 3 rows of 7, is the simplest form, where row 1 indicates the Past, row 2 indicates the Present, and row 3 indicates the Future. The cards should be ready 'storyboard' style, with elements picked out of each card to combine into an overall picture, and with 7 cards in each row, it gives significant room for interpretation and detail!
The second layout option, is to go for 7 columns of 3 cards.
Column 1 indicates the Self.
Column 2 covers 'What is closest to the querent?'.
Column 3 shows the querents hopes and fears.
Column 4 talks about 'What the querent expects'.
Column 5 identifies 'What the querent does not expect'.
Column 6 brings to light the Near Future.
Column 7 gives an indication about further ahead, the Distant Future.
With 3 cards in each column, again, it offers a level of detail to examine each area!
By combining the two techniques, laying out 3 rows of 7, then the first card in the first row would talk about the Self in the Past, while the first card in the third row would talk about the Self in the Future. Row 2, Column 5 would identify what the querent is does not expect in the Present. Row 3, Column 3 would shine light on the querents hopes and fears for the Future, and so on and so on.
It gives a unique combination of a basic 3-card past-present-future spread, but overlaid on a more in-depth 7-card reading. Whilst the combined technique can feel a little overwhelming at first, each column, top to bottom, can indicate a flow, development over time, and the changing situation around the querent and their situation, that can make for some exceptionally detailed and nuanced readings!
Have you tried the Romany Spread before? If not, why not take it for a test drive, and let me know what you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
