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 |
 |
 |
P#1 |  |
 |
||
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1: Person #1
Sagittarius
The Knight of Wands rides a white horse charging forward. The white horse symbolises the conscious side of awareness. It also symbolises the purity of fire, the vital energy and passion that boldly drives the organism. The Knight has his torch in his right hand and arrows on his back; bow and arrow being the weapon of Sagittarius.
Meaning:
A man of action, generosity, pride, and impetuousness.
When ill-dignified: A cruel, bigoted man without mercy.
2: Person #2
Sun in Aries
This card represents the pioneer motivated by the spirit of goodwill. You do what is right in your eyes. There is also a tendency toward egotism in this card.
Meaning:
Realisation of hope. Noble cause. Pride and arrogance.
When ill-dignified: conceit.
3: Person #3
Mars in Aries
What is the difference between passion and obsession?
Possession. Whether it manifests as anguish, lust, rage, or bliss, this is the fire of passion that drives your being. This card represents the vitality of pure will.
Meaning:
Fire in its strongest form. Influence, courage, boldness, fierceness.
When ill-dignified: turbulence, wasting anxious energy.
4: Person #1's view of #2
18-Moon.jpg|Pisces
The Moon reflects the overbearing light of the sun. Sunlight is a hot commodity at night. Where does the long, dark road lead? Let your inner light guide your path through the unconscious dreamscape.
Meaning:
Illusion, dreaminess, voluntary change, bewilderment, hysteria. An important change that is difficult to foresee.
When ill-dignified: egotism, self-deception, delusions of grandeur, counter-productive pride, demiurgos, ignorance, denial of the master.
5: Person #2's view of #3
Leo
Also known as Lust or Strength. The carnal experience. The whore rides the great beast of the apocalypse. She knows one way to tame the beast.
Meaning:
Strength, courage, energy, control of vital forces, resorting to magic, love affair.
6: Person #3's view of #1
Sagittarius
Temperance or Alchemy. Creation by way of the marriage of opposites. You are what you create. An androgenous figure stirs the pot. The unity of opposite alchemical symbols (lion + eagle) has produced alchemical GOLD.
Meaning:
Realisation of objectives and goals. Successful combination of energies. A string of successful magickal manoeuvres culminating in solidification. Calculated action. Management.
7: Person #2's view of #1
The Root of Earth
A coin toss. This card represents the very first beginnings of the process that leads to material gain.
Meaning:
Materialistic concerns, contentment, earthly power and success. A calculated risk with good chances.
8: Person #3's view of #2
Mars
This is the dark side of The Magus; the lower self. The Demiurge has come out to play. Many are struck down on their quest to the top. Only the chosen one can climb the stairway to heaven. He must first acquire the proper understandings and tools or his climb will certainly be disastrous. Now is the time to use what you've been building up inside. Often a card of war.
Meaning:
Danger, destruction, quarrel, combat, ambition. Escape from prison. Rise to the top at the expense of others.
9: Person #1's view of #3
Saturn in Leo
Conflict. Five male lion heads together represent opposition and a battle of wills. The nature of each lion is to dominate his territory, so five in one place is not good. They butt heads in the struggle for supremacy.
Meaning:
Struggle, competition, opposition, violence, quarrelling, lust and carnal desire.
10: Overall relationship between persons #1 and #2
Venus in Aquarius
The pale blue background of this card symbolises airy weakness. A chipped sword attempts to battle four bent swords in the shape of a pentagram. A hopeless struggle, this solitary sword is the weakest of the five.
Meaning:
Weakness, loss, spite, malice, trouble, dishonour, degradation, infamy, revocation, loss, humiliation, anxiety. A driver of wedges.
11: Overall relationship between persons #2 and #3
Capricorn
The Devil is your opposite, <%custom1%>, your Anima or Animus, your Demonic Self. (s)He is your dark side and your inner child. The traits that we lack in our own selves causes us to seek completion in many of our relationships. Most of our earthly relationships are based on fulfilling this Devil inside of us. In certain people such as the very well-rounded or spiritually developed, this part of the personality may already be fulfilled. The children walk with The Devil hand in hand.
Meaning:
Temptation, obsession, impulsiveness, ambition, materialism, self-fulfilment, fate.
12: Overall relationship between persons #1 and #3
5:00 – 7:00 Male
Scorpio
The Prince of Cups rides a vapoury chariot of water. His draft animal is the eagle, but the scorpion is his familiar. His cup is represented by the trident of Neptune. He is receptive to outer influences, which he twists and manipulates to his own ends. He is a ruthless man of great ambition, but he moves in secrecy.
Meaning:
A man who moves in shadows, who ambitiously lusts for great wisdom and power. His calm appearance masks an ocean of passion.
When ill-dignified: a merciless man of insatiable ambition.
13: Overall 3-way Relationship
Saturn in Taurus
Seven seals linked by the rainbow bridge descend enlightenment to the bull. Ignorant and arrogant, he blocks his own path. The darkness of his own delusions repels his gift from above, scattering the light.
Meaning:
Sloth, abandoned labour, hopes deceived, promises unfulfilled, disappointment. Great effort producing little gain.
When well-dignified: charity work for no profit, growth after delay.
