Telling Stories with tarot

Tarot is often taught as a system of positions, keywords, and definitions. That approach has its place. What first drew me to Tarot, and what keeps me coming back, is how naturally it tells a story.

When I read Tarot, I’m not translating cards one by one based on their specific position. I’m listening for the story. Asking myself how do the images interact? How does energy shifts from card to card? A spread becomes a narrative rather than a list of meanings.

That is why additional cards are so useful, and why I often choose at least three card spreads when I want to see the story unfold.

A Simple Example

I’m going to pull one card from my Anima Mundi deck with a simple intention: reflect on my day.

I pulled the Four of Swords, which speaks to restoration, rebuilding, and finding peace within.

Now I’ll keep that card in the present position and pull two more cards, one for the past and one for the future.

Here’s what I pulled:

Past: Six of Swords
Transition, recovery, moving on

Present: Four of Swords
Restoration, rebuilding

Future: Eight of Wands
Movement, energy

Even with three cards, this reads like a story. I’m moving out of a transition. I’m still rebuilding. The energy is returning, and something is ready to move.

Pulling Meaning From Patterns

Another layer shows up when I look at the elements.

Two of these cards are Swords, connected to thought and mental processing. One is a Wand, connected to energy and action. This points to a stretch of reflection, recovery, and working things through, followed by forward momentum.

In my own life, that fits. I have been in my head, trying to understand what happened, what it meant, and what I want next. Now the momentum is gathering.

Let the Images Tell the Story

This is where Tarot is fun for me.

In the imagery, I see movement and mood:

• Crows flying over swords at dusk or dawn, a threshold moment

• A dark, quiet space with a hawk tucked in, held close and protected

• A roadrunner moving fast with the wands, energy returning

That feels like a cycle. Transition, then inward restoration, then forward motion. The spread speaks to an unfolding process.

What This Spread Is Saying Beneath the Keywords

If I put it into plain language, this is what I hear:

I tried to make something work. I realized it was not working. I had to process that. I went inward to rethink and to reconnect with what matters. From there, I rebuild. Then movement returns.

What’s Missing Matters

I also look at what’s not present.

There is no Major Arcana here, and there are no Cups or Pentacles.

When I don’t see any Major Arcana, I often read it as something familiar. It can be an ongoing situation, something already understood on some level, something that is being worked through.

The absence of Cups and Pentacles suggests this pull is not centered on emotional or material concerns. The focus is on thought and momentum. With my intention being to reflect on the day, the message still feels complete.

Why I’m Sharing This

Many newer Tarot readers feel pressure to memorize every card and translate meanings directly. That approach is a good start.

I read Tarot as a story. I look for flow, patterns, imagery, and the way the cards speak to each other. I let intuition have a seat at the table. If something stands out, I follow it, even if it isn’t in the guidebook.

Tarot is a conversation. The story is where it comes alive.