The Love Triangle Spread
Difficulty: Complicated
Casually referred to as the Love Triangle, this spread can be used to determine the dynamics of the relationship between three people, regardless of whether romance is involved. This spread is arranged in the form of a hexagram, consisting of several large and small triangles. This tarot spread may seem somewhat complicated, but it is not entirely that difficult.
The first step is to interpret the card for each individual position in the spread. Generally, one might ask about a relationship they are involved in, but this does not have to be the case. Ordinarily, the reader's representative card is #1, their main person of interest is #2, and the other person would be #3.
The second step fills in the downward triangle and involves further examination of the individuals through their views of the other people. Each person has two more cards showing the way they see and relate to the other members of the triangle. For example, Card #6 indicates how Person #3 relates to Person #1, while Card #9 stands for Person #1's attitude toward Person #3.
The next step completes the upward triangle and the hexagram, focusing on cards #10–13. It also completes the many smaller triangles and hints at the potential for each relationship. The final card, #13 can be considered the significator of the reading, which suggests the overall potential for this three-way relationship.
Your Love Triangle Reading
| P#3 | 3to2 | 2+3 |
2to3 | P#2 | ||
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3to1 |  |
Overall |  |
2to1 |  |
| 1+3 |  |
1to3 |  |
1to2 |  |
1+2 |
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P#1 |  |
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||
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1: Person #1
Virtue (Sun in Aries): Radiating with the intense light of the Sun in Aries, the Three of Clubs celebrates the realisation of a noble vision. It heralds the flourishing of creative ambition, where hope transforms into achievement. Yet, while it honours pride in one's pursuits, it also cautions against the perils of arrogance. This card invites you to honour your successes with humility—using your newfound strength to inspire rather than dominate.
2: Person #2
Gain (Venus in Virgo): The Nine of Diamonds radiates the graceful influence of Venus in Virgo, symbolising the fruition of material efforts through enhanced wealth and fortune. It points to gains that come through careful cultivation and practical acumen—such as inheritances or steady financial growth. This card encourages you to appreciate and build upon the material blessings in your life, transforming small victories into enduring prosperity.
Inheritance, increase in wealth, material fortune, accomplishment.
3: Person #3
Failure (Saturn in Taurus): Saturn in Taurus casts a sobering light on the Seven of Diamonds, which speaks to the perils of wasted effort and unfulfilled promises. This card reflects moments when hard work yields little gain, or when hopes are dashed by unforeseen obstacles. It urges you to reassess your strategies, learn from setbacks, and recognise that even failure carries the seeds of wisdom—encouraging you to recalibrate your approach for more fruitful outcomes.
Sloth, abandoned labour, hopes deceived, promises unfulfilled, disappointment.
4: Person #1's view of #2
Science (Mercury in Aquarius): In the precise, methodical energy of Mercury in Aquarius, the Six of Spades represents the culmination of intellectual endeavours. This card heralds the successful alignment of thought, analysis, and innovative insight—where every faculty converges on a clear, singular truth. It symbolises that through reason and collective understanding, even the most challenging problems can be dissected and resolved, paving the way for progress grounded in rationality.
5: Person #2's view of #3
Victory (Jupiter in Leo): After the trials of conflict comes the sweet taste of victory. The Six of Clubs, buoyed by the expansive energy of Jupiter in Leo, heralds triumph and the fulfilment of long-held aspirations. It suggests that your perseverance has set the stage for success and that good news is on the horizon. This card encourages you to embrace your achievements with generosity and let your victorious spirit uplift those around you.
Success, gain, good news, expectations fulfilled.
6: Person #3's view of #1
Debauch (Venus in Scorpio): The Seven of Hearts warns of the dangers of unbridled passion when it tips into excess. With Venus in Scorpio intensifying its energy, this card highlights a descent into moral ambiguity—where the allure of indulgence may lead to deception and loss of integrity. It calls for reflection on your desires, encouraging you to cultivate a balance between passion and ethical grounding, lest you become entangled in fleeting, self-destructive pursuits.
Deception, shameless indulgence, lust, fornication, intoxication, delusion, promises unfulfilled.
7: Person #2's view of #1
Indolence (Saturn in Pisces): Here, the Eight of Hearts reflects a state of emotional stagnation—a weariness that comes from either a deliberate renunciation of worldly pursuits or a surrender to melancholic inertia. Under Saturn's disciplined influence in Pisces, it signals a pause, a moment of introspection where success is abandoned or delayed. This card prompts you to assess whether you're disengaging from life out of necessary spiritual recalibration or simply succumbing to apathy, urging you to find the courage to reawaken your heart's ambitions.
Success abandoned, apathy, misery, transience, instability, a small victory. Sometimes means abandonment of materialistic pursuits in favour of the spiritual.
8: Person #3's view of #2
Leo: A vibrant young figure bursting with the fire of youth and noble intent, he embodies a courageous spirit and a generous heart. His impulsive nature and quick humour mask a deep inner strength and creative passion. He invites you to seize the moment and trust that your innate vitality can spark new beginnings.
A young man, just, noble, generous, impulsive, humorous, strong.
9: Person #1's view of #3
Capricorn: The Queen of Diamonds exudes a grounded, nurturing power that is both practical and affectionate. Her influence is marked by a sense of duty and well-cultivated charm that brings warmth to even the most restrictive environments. She symbolises a person—or an energy—who combines the rigour of material success with kindness, nurturing the prosperity of those around her while maintaining a firm grasp on reality.
A practical, kind, domesticated, affectionate, charming woman
10: Overall relationship between persons #1 and #2
Scorpio: Moving gracefully in the shadows, this enigmatic figure is driven by a fierce, insatiable ambition for hidden wisdom and power. His calm exterior belies an ocean of turbulent passion. His presence urges you to delve into the depths of your own emotions, confronting buried truths and harnessing transformative intensity, even when it challenges the status quo.
11: Overall relationship between persons #2 and #3
Disappointment (Mars in Scorpio): Turbulent waters mark the Five of Hearts—a card that speaks to the pain of unfulfilled expectations and the sting of betrayal. Its energy, charged by Mars in Scorpio, often manifests as intense grief, regret, or the aftermath of a broken bond. It serves as a sombre reminder that emotional setbacks are part of the transformative process, urging you to confront and heal your wounds so new growth may eventually emerge.
Grief, misfortune, sadness, regret, loss, treachery, bitterness, frustration, bad marriage, expectations unfulfilled.
12: Overall relationship between persons #1 and #3
The Joker embodies a sense of limitless possibility and quiet transformation. It suggests the path ahead may be more fluid than it seems, urging you to consider that every moment holds the potential for re-invention. Its energy is subtle yet profound, encouraging you to remain receptive and adaptable in the face of change.
13: Overall 3-way Relationship
Swiftness (Mercury in Sagittarius): The Eight of Clubs bursts with the energy of Mercury in Sagittarius, urging quick decisions and dynamic movement. It represents the acceleration of thought and action—where ideas spark into motion almost as swiftly as lightning. This card signals a period when opportunities and information arrive at breakneck speed. Embrace adaptability and be prepared for sudden changes; your ability to respond with agility will propel you towards success.
Action, explosive energy, electricity, fast communication, gain of rapid speed, light, quickness.
