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
Ace of Pentacles![]() |
Ace of Wands![]() |
Queen of Wands![]() |
5 of Pentacles![]() |
The Empress![]() |
4 of Pentacles![]() |
9 of Pentacles![]() |
The Slave![]() |
8 of Cups![]() |
Card 1: Ace of Pentacles
A fencing mask on a skeleton with a cadeceus over a black sun before fire. Refer to the symbolic meaning of each to find the answers you seek.
Card 2: Ace of Wands
A wand is a means to a magical end. If you don't like what you're seeing, use yours to change the channel.
Card 3: Queen of Wands
An homage to H.R. Giger's Alien Hieroglyphs and an insult to perspective. A wand that does nothing more than sap the life from you and squirt it down the drain.
Card 4: 5 of Pentacles
Air conditioning is not a luxury, it's one of the most important things humankind ever invented. Comfort too is not to be taken lightly, if you aren't comfortable you can't enjoy what's before you, and if you can't enjoy what you've got, what's the point in living?
Card 5: The Empress
Regime change in action, it happens more in the sewers than the senates. One goes out, another comes in.
Card 6: 4 of Pentacles
It doesn't always come out the way you wanted. That doesn't mean you can't still enjoy it.
Card 7: 9 of Pentacles
Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Dzugdzugdzug.
Realistically, profit isn't hanging in the sky to be taken. If you take it, you're taking it from somebody. And you don't just get to smoosh them.
Card 8: The Slave
7:00 – Card 3
AKA The Chariot in traditional Tarot. Female, Water, Aquarius.
To be used, controlled, or even simply employed. It's hard to work for the will of another, especially when the other is undeserving of their power over you. At the same time, the effort makes one strong.
Card 9: 8 of Cups
D cups in this case. Don't be ashamed to enjoy your vices, and never regret the sins you enjoy.