Comic Strip Spread

Difficulty: Easy
Note: This spread works best with decks like the Diary of a Broken Soul or Surrealist Tarot because they display scenes rather than pips and do not use reversals.
The Comic Strip Spread is a simple nine-card chronological spread that looks like a page of a comic book. This method should be used to get a glimpse of the future as it would pan out naturally. It may be insightful to use this spread in coordination with biorhythms. The spread is easy to read as a storyboard, just like a comic strip.
The main subject is apparent in the first card, while the story plays out through the following tarot cards.
It is important to pay particular attention to the cards and the relationships with their neighbours. Notice which directions the cards are facing, and how they interact.
Your Comic Strip Reading
The Owls![]() |
The Sun![]() |
The Ways![]() |
The House![]() |
The Ship![]() |
The Rocket![]() |
The Moon![]() |
The Key![]() |
The Fox![]() |
Card 1: The Owls
Meditation, fantasy, further education, also two older people, perhaps a couple. Butterflies and nervous excitement. The Owls may indicate social fear and subsequent flight.
Card 2: The Sun
Realm of Fire
This is the highest energy. Everything is free, on a new way, will get a new form soon. This is inspirational energy, what we for example feel when highly motivated start a new project. At this point we can ask ourself what energy actually is.
Creation, brilliance, success, heat, positivity, happiness, will-power, aura, the absolute, the centre of attention. The Sun suggests great honours.
Card 3: The Ways
A choice, probability, not knowing, doubts. The Crossroads indicate the need to make a choice. You can easily avoid your problems, but you may wish to address these issues before they grow so big that they will take far more energy to deal with.
Card 4: The House
It shows structure in a material form. A frame protecting its content. Blue and green are material colours. Yellow shows consciousness.
Stability, shelter, home life, family, and responsibility. The House also indicates success in creative projects.
Card 5: The Ship
The Ship is a 'child of the earth'. It's made from wood, but it dares to cross the water. This is a very risky journey. But the enormous size of the hull provides as much safety as possible.
On a spiritual level, the Ship symbolises desire, hope, dreams, spiritual growth, exploration, and expansion. On a material level the Ship indicates incoming wealth and material gain. However, it may indicate loss, depending on neighbouring cards. You may be making a trip soon.
Card 6: The Rocket
The rocket is the active part of the moon. This is the area of earth. The rocket breaks out.
Thoughts, good news, precognition, an augury. This is a messenger of good fortune, perhaps a young man. Your intentions will go well.
Card 7: The Moon
The moon is the passive part of the rocket. After the sun has burned out all its fire it needs energy from outside. This is a normal effect in a cycle.
Magic, spiritual rituals and traditions, the past, intuitiveness, career/success, recognition, fears, and the unknown. The Moon signifies a period of uncertainty. You may be in or entering a time when it is difficult to be certain about things.
Card 8: The Key
Understanding, truth, knowledge, advice, probabilities, and possibilities. The Key means that you have what it takes to move on to another level.
Card 9: The Fox
Deviousness, plotting, hypocrisy, lies, a warning that something is not what it seems, worldly logic, temptations, trickery. When facing away from the affected card, it means absolute honesty and survival instincts.