This tarot spread for communication uses four positions: what I want to express, what I may be assuming, what I can listen for, and one next step within my control. Use it to reflect on a conversation with someone you know. The cards cannot tell you what that person secretly thinks or replace asking them directly.
Set one conversational purpose
Labyrinthos explains that a spread gives structure to the cards in a reading. For this exercise, choose a specific conversation rather than “everything about my relationship.” An example is: “How can I discuss our weekend plans clearly?”
Write your purpose down, shuffle in the way you normally do, and place four cards in a row. Keep the positions fixed for this reading. This four-position exercise is for your own reflection.
Read the four positions
Position one — My message: What does this image prompt me to say more clearly? Position two — My assumptions: What am I treating as settled when I have not asked? Position three — My listening: What question could leave room for their actual answer? Position four — My next step: What could I do that does not require controlling their response?
Use your deck's accompanying meanings as an interpretive starting point. If an image suggests something dramatic, return to the position and the facts you actually know. Read our facts and assumptions note.
Turn an interpretation into ordinary words
Here is a hypothetical journaling example without prescribing any card meaning. The writer notes: “I want advance notice. I am assuming the change was deliberate. I could ask what happened. My next step is to request an update when plans change.”
That becomes: “I was disappointed when our plan changed. What happened on your side? In future, could you let me know as soon as you can?” The value of the exercise is the clearer question, not proof that the first interpretation was correct.
Let the real conversation update your understanding
A spread can help you prepare what you want to say, but the other person still gets to speak for themselves. If their answer differs from your interpretation, do not use the cards to overrule them. Ask a follow-up if something is unclear.
Read our asking for listening instead of advice page. After the conversation, record what was actually said separately from the reading. You can also decide not to contact someone when doing so would disregard an existing boundary. This layout is not a reason to break a no-contact agreement.
Explore your question in a personal reading
For a symbolic perspective on your connection with this person, you can ask a custom question in a Signature Video Reading: “What could help me approach a conversation with this person more thoughtfully?” Koko personally records the reading, starting at $99 for 15+ minutes. Standard delivery is 7–10 days; optional 24-hour Express adds $49.
Read our guide to choosing a love reading. Readings are for entertainment and reflection. They do not establish another person’s thoughts or promise an outcome.