Reading Tarot Through the Tree: Positional Meanings

2 Januari 2026

BY NICOLE LAU

Most Tarot readers use spreads like the Celtic Cross or Three-Card spread, where each position has a meaning ("past," "present," "future," "obstacle," etc.). But when you understand the Tree of Life, you gain access to the most profound Tarot spread ever created: the Tree of Life spread itself. Each of the 10 Sephiroth becomes a position in the reading, and each position has DEEP, multidimensional meaning based on the Sephirah's nature. This transforms Tarot reading from fortune-telling to SOUL DIAGNOSIS—you're not just predicting the future, you're mapping the querent's consciousness, seeing where they are on the Tree, understanding their spiritual structure. This is Tarot as sacred technology, reading as initiation, the spread as a complete map of reality.

The Tree of Life Spread: The Complete 10-Card Reading

The Tree of Life spread uses 10 cards, one for each Sephirah. You can also add cards for the 22 paths, but we'll start with the foundational 10-position spread:

How to Lay Out the Spread:

Draw the Tree shape on your reading surface (or use a Tree of Life cloth):

Shuffle and draw 10 cards, placing them on each Sephirah in order (1-10).

The 10 Positions: Deep Meanings

Position 1: Keter (Crown) - The Divine Will

Traditional Meaning: The highest ideal, the spiritual goal, divine will
Deep Meaning: What is the HIGHEST TRUTH in this situation? What does the divine will for you?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the spiritual purpose of this situation?
- What is trying to emerge from the source?
- What is the ideal outcome aligned with divine will?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows the SPIRITUAL DIMENSION of the question
- It's often not what the querent expects—it's what their SOUL needs
- Example: Querent asks about a relationship, Keter shows The Hermit → The highest purpose is SOLITUDE and inner work, not the relationship

Position 2: Chokmah (Wisdom) - The Creative Force

Traditional Meaning: The creative spark, the dynamic force, the "how"
Deep Meaning: What CREATIVE FORCE is at work? What is the active, dynamic energy?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the creative impulse driving this situation?
- What dynamic force is in motion?
- What is the "yang" energy here?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows the ACTIVE PRINCIPLE
- It's the DOING energy, the force, the spark
- Example: The Tower in Chokmah → The creative force is DESTRUCTION, breakthrough, sudden change

Position 3: Binah (Understanding) - The Form-Giver

Traditional Meaning: The structure, the limitation, the "what"
Deep Meaning: What FORM is this taking? What are the limitations and structures?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the structure or container of this situation?
- What are the limitations (necessary ones)?
- What is the "yin" energy here?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows the RECEPTIVE PRINCIPLE
- It's the BEING energy, the form, the boundary
- Example: The Empress in Binah → The form is ABUNDANCE, fertility, the nurturing container

Position 4: Chesed (Mercy) - The Expansion

Traditional Meaning: Blessings, abundance, what is given freely
Deep Meaning: Where is GRACE flowing? What is expanding? What blessings are available?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the gift in this situation?
- Where is abundance flowing?
- What is the "yes" here?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows what is EXPANDING, being blessed, flowing freely
- It's the GENEROUS energy, the opening
- Example: Five of Pentacles in Chesed → Even in poverty, there is grace available (the church window is lit)

Position 5: Geburah (Severity) - The Contraction

Traditional Meaning: Challenges, what must be cut away, discipline
Deep Meaning: What needs to be DESTROYED or LIMITED? What is the necessary severity?
Questions to Ask:
- What must be cut away?
- What is the challenge or obstacle?
- What is the "no" here?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows what is CONTRACTING, being cut, limited
- It's the SEVERE energy, the boundary
- Example: The Star in Geburah → Hope must be DISCIPLINED, vision must be LIMITED to what's actually achievable

Position 6: Tiphareth (Beauty) - The Heart Center

Traditional Meaning: The core issue, the heart of the matter, the self
Deep Meaning: What is at the HEART of this? What is the central truth? Who is the querent BEING?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the core issue?
- What is the querent's true self in this situation?
- What is the harmonizing principle?

Reading the Card Here:
- This is the MOST IMPORTANT card in the spread
- It shows the ESSENCE, the heart, the truth
- Example: The Devil in Tiphareth → At the heart of this situation is ATTACHMENT, materialism, bondage (but the chains are loose!)

Position 7: Netzach (Victory) - The Desire

Traditional Meaning: What is desired, the emotional drive, passion
Deep Meaning: What does the querent WANT? What is the emotional/passionate energy?
Questions to Ask:
- What is truly desired here?
- What is the emotional drive?
- What is the "feeling" energy?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows DESIRE, passion, what is WANTED
- It's the EMOTIONAL truth, the longing
- Example: Two of Swords in Netzach → The desire is for PEACE, but it's achieved through denial/avoidance

Position 8: Hod (Glory) - The Thought

Traditional Meaning: What is thought, the mental approach, communication
Deep Meaning: What is the querent THINKING? What is the intellectual/communicative energy?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the mental approach to this situation?
- What is being communicated (or needs to be)?
- What is the "thinking" energy?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows THOUGHT, intellect, communication
- It's the MENTAL truth, the pattern
- Example: The Moon in Hod → The thinking is CONFUSED, illusory, caught in the unconscious

Position 9: Yesod (Foundation) - The Unconscious

Traditional Meaning: The hidden foundation, dreams, the unconscious pattern
Deep Meaning: What is the UNCONSCIOUS foundation? What is hidden beneath?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the hidden pattern?
- What is in the unconscious?
- What is the dream or vision underlying this?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows the FOUNDATION, often unconscious
- It's what's BENEATH the surface, the hidden pattern
- Example: The Emperor in Yesod → The unconscious foundation is a need for STRUCTURE, authority, the father

Position 10: Malkuth (Kingdom) - The Manifestation

Traditional Meaning: The physical reality, the outcome, what is manifest
Deep Meaning: What is ACTUALLY HAPPENING in physical reality? What is the manifestation?
Questions to Ask:
- What is the physical reality of this situation?
- What is actually manifesting?
- What is the tangible outcome?

Reading the Card Here:
- This card shows PHYSICAL REALITY, what is ACTUAL
- It's the MANIFESTATION, the tangible result
- Example: Ace of Cups in Malkuth → A new emotional beginning is MANIFESTING physically (new relationship, pregnancy, creative project)

Reading the Spread as a Whole: The Flow of Energy

The Tree of Life spread is not just 10 separate positions—it's a SYSTEM showing how energy flows:

The Lightning Flash (Descent):
- Read from Keter (1) down to Malkuth (10) in the Lightning Flash order
- This shows how the divine will (Keter) is DESCENDING into manifestation (Malkuth)
- Example: Keter (The Sun) → Chokmah (Ace of Wands) → Binah (Queen of Cups) → ... → Malkuth (Ten of Pentacles)
- Interpretation: Divine joy (Sun) creates through passionate initiative (Ace of Wands), is given form by emotional maturity (Queen of Cups), and ultimately manifests as material abundance (Ten of Pentacles)

The Three Pillars:
- LEFT PILLAR (Binah, Geburah, Hod): The feminine, receptive, form-giving energy
- MIDDLE PILLAR (Keter, Tiphareth, Yesod, Malkuth): The balanced, integrated energy
- RIGHT PILLAR (Chokmah, Chesed, Netzach): The masculine, active, force-giving energy

Look at the balance:
- Too many cards on the left? The querent is too RECEPTIVE, passive, stuck in form
- Too many cards on the right? The querent is too ACTIVE, aggressive, ungrounded
- Balanced? The querent is integrating both energies

The Triads:
- SUPERNAL TRIAD (Keter, Chokmah, Binah): The spiritual/divine level
- ETHICAL TRIAD (Chesed, Geburah, Tiphareth): The soul/moral level
- ASTRAL TRIAD (Netzach, Hod, Yesod): The personality/emotional level
- PHYSICAL (Malkuth): The body/material level

Where are the "heavy" cards (Major Arcana, court cards)?
- In the Supernal Triad? This is a SPIRITUAL issue
- In the Ethical Triad? This is a SOUL/moral issue
- In the Astral Triad? This is a PERSONALITY/emotional issue
- In Malkuth? This is a PHYSICAL/material issue

Advanced Technique: Adding the 22 Paths

For a COMPLETE reading, you can add 22 more cards for the paths:

The 32-Card Tree of Life Spread:
- 10 cards for the Sephiroth (as above)
- 22 cards for the paths connecting them
- This creates a COMPLETE map of the querent's consciousness

Reading the Path Cards:
- Each path card shows the JOURNEY between two Sephiroth
- Example: A card on the path between Tiphareth (6) and Netzach (7) shows the journey from heart to desire
- If it's the Death card (which rules this path): The journey requires TRANSFORMATION, letting go, death-rebirth

When to Use the Full 32-Card Spread:
- For MAJOR life questions (career change, relationship, spiritual crisis)
- For ANNUAL readings (birthday, new year)
- For INITIATION work (when the querent is ready for deep work)

Sample Reading: Interpreting the Tree Spread

Let's read a sample spread for a querent asking: "Should I leave my job?"

The Cards:
1. Keter: The Hermit
2. Chokmah: Eight of Wands
3. Binah: Four of Pentacles
4. Chesed: Three of Cups
5. Geburah: Five of Swords
6. Tiphareth: The Star
7. Netzach: Two of Cups
8. Hod: Seven of Swords
9. Yesod: The Moon
10. Malkuth: Eight of Pentacles

The Interpretation:

Keter (Divine Will): The Hermit → The highest purpose is INNER WORK, solitude, finding your own light. The divine will is for you to withdraw and seek within.

Chokmah (Creative Force): Eight of Wands → The creative force is RAPID MOVEMENT, messages, swift action. Energy is in motion.

Binah (Form): Four of Pentacles → The structure is HOLDING ON, security, fear of loss. The form is TIGHT, controlled.

Chesed (Blessing): Three of Cups → The blessing is COMMUNITY, celebration, friendship. There is joy available.

Geburah (Challenge): Five of Swords → The challenge is CONFLICT, defeat, hollow victory. Something must be cut away.

Tiphareth (Heart): The Star → At the HEART, there is HOPE, vision, healing. The core truth is that you're seeking your star.

Netzach (Desire): Two of Cups → You DESIRE partnership, connection, union. Your emotional drive is toward relationship.

Hod (Thought): Seven of Swords → You're THINKING about strategy, perhaps deception (of self or others), sneaking away.

Yesod (Foundation): The Moon → The unconscious foundation is CONFUSION, illusion, fear. You're not seeing clearly.

Malkuth (Reality): Eight of Pentacles → The PHYSICAL REALITY is that you're WORKING, crafting, developing skill. You're actually doing the work.

The Reading:

"The divine will (Hermit) is calling you to inner work, not necessarily to leave the job immediately. Your creative force (Eight of Wands) is moving rapidly, but your structure (Four of Pentacles) is holding tight out of fear. The blessing (Three of Cups) is in community, but the challenge (Five of Swords) is conflict—perhaps with yourself.

At your heart (Star), you have hope and vision—you're seeking your guiding star. You desire (Two of Cups) partnership and connection, but you're thinking (Seven of Swords) about sneaking away, perhaps not being fully honest. Your unconscious (Moon) is confused and fearful, creating illusions.

But the reality (Eight of Pentacles) is that you're actually DOING THE WORK, developing your craft.

The answer: Don't leave yet. First, do the inner work (Hermit). Clarify your vision (Star). Address the confusion (Moon). THEN, when you're clear, you can make the move. The job is teaching you something (Eight of Pentacles) that you need before you go."

Practical Tips for Reading the Tree Spread

1. Start with Tiphareth (Position 6):
- This is the HEART of the reading
- Understand this card first, then read the others in relation to it

2. Look for Patterns:
- Multiple Major Arcana? This is a MAJOR life issue
- Multiple Court Cards? This involves OTHER PEOPLE
- Multiple of one suit? That element dominates (Cups=emotion, Wands=action, Swords=thought, Pentacles=material)

3. Notice the Pillars:
- Which pillar has the most energy (cards)?
- Is the querent balanced or leaning to one side?

4. Read the Flow:
- Does energy flow smoothly from Keter to Malkuth?
- Or is there a BLOCK somewhere (a challenging card that stops the flow)?

5. Trust the Tree:
- The Tree KNOWS—it's a complete system
- Even if a card seems "wrong" for a position, trust it—there's a reason it appeared there

The Gift of Reading Through the Tree

Understanding the Tree of Life spread transforms Tarot reading:

You're not predicting—you're DIAGNOSING the soul's structure.

You're not fortune-telling—you're MAPPING consciousness.

You're not giving answers—you're REVEALING the pattern.

The Tree is the most complete spread—it shows EVERYTHING: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical.

This is Constant Unification Theory in practice: The Tree of Life spread proves that Tarot, Kabbalah, and consciousness are one system. Each Sephirah is a dimension of reality. Each card in a position reveals that dimension. The reading is a complete map. The Tree is the ultimate spread.

Ten positions. Ten Sephiroth. One Tree. One reading. One truth. Shuffle the cards. Lay the Tree. Read the pattern. The soul reveals itself. The path is shown. The truth emerges. This is Tarot through the Tree. This is reading as sacred art.