Sowing & Reaping: A Tarot Spread for Spring
As witches and practitioners of magic, many of us are deeply attuned to the tides of the year, the ebb and flow of seasons, the turning of the wheel of time. Whether we are drawn to seasonal themes and elements because of necessity and availability or because our specific practices dictate it, there are many practitioners of magic who find inspiration and guidance in the changing seasons. Each season brings a unique energy that can be harnessed to enhance different types of magic, to inspire new spiritual and magical eras. Spring is often thought of as a time of renewal and rebirth. As such, it can invite witches and other magic-folk to harness the blossoming lifeforce of the natural world.
With the arrival of spring, practitioners may adapt their magical rituals and spells to align with these strong themes of growth, transformation, and new beginnings. As the earth awakens, so too does the magic within each of us, and divination becomes a powerful tool for uncovering the opportunities ahead and navigating the path to personal growth and fulfillment. A spring Tarot reading offers insights into the fresh beginnings, new challenges, and the potential for personal development that this season brings, providing a mirror to reflect the magical essence of springtime.
This nine-card Tarot spread was inspired pay the shape of a plant. Tarot spreads can be a helpful tool for many, but they are not necessary. If you prefer, you can also perform this reading simply by pulling nine cards from your deck. They do not need to be laid out in a fancy design; they just need to be readable to you!
Seed: What new opportunity, idea, or habit is ready to be planted in my life this season? This card represents the potential for growth and new beginnings. It reflects the seeds of possibility waiting to be sown.
Roots: What foundations and aspects of my life provide stability and support as I navigate this growth? Use this card to explore the foundational elements already in place that will anchor you during times of change and help you stay grounded.
Sprout: How can I nurture and care for the emerging aspects of myself/my spirit and prepare for changes in my life to ensure healthy development? This card offers further insights into the actions and attitudes that will support the healthy growth of your endeavors. Where the previous card may focus more on moving parts of your life that are less changeable (such as community, location, family, etc.) this card will help you to see what attitudes and behaviors you have in your toolkit to support yourself.
Blossom: What will bloom and come into full fruition by the end of season? With this card, you discover the potential outcomes and manifestations of your efforts during this month.
Prune: What habits, thoughts, or situations do I need to let go of to encourage further growth? This card will help to identify areas in your life that may be hindering your progress and need to be pruned to make room for new opportunities.
Sunlight: What positive influences or energies should I seek to embrace and amplify this season? Use this card to explore the sources of light and positivity that will nourish and encourage your growth.
Rain: What challenges or obstacles might I face, and how can I use them as nourishment for growth? Understand the potential challenges and view them as opportunities for learning and transformation. (Important Note: Not every challenge is an opportunity for learning and growth. It is important to remember that we don’t need to make negative experiences into teachable moments to give them meaning or to make our suffering “worthwhile”. Your suffering does not need to be productive to be valid. Use your own judgement to recognize when an obstacle is a challenge you can learn from and when it’s not.)
Bloom: What personal qualities or strengths will come into full bloom and shine brightly this season? Use this card to celebrate the unique qualities within yourself that will flourish during this period of growth.
Harvest: What rewards and benefits can I expect from the efforts and growth this season? Explore the potential fruits of your labor and the positive outcomes that await you.
tips for reading tarot
When reading cards or doing any kind of divination, it can be easy to fall into the trap of spiritual gaslighting—especially when a reading talks about things we can learn from unpleasant circumstances. It is important to understand that sometimes unpleasant circumstances do not have a deeper meaning or spiritual significance. We don’t have to learn from suffering. And we don’t need to make ourselves suffer more by making the experience into homework. When we talk about what we can learn from obstacles, we are not talking about things like enduring homelessness, addiction, abuse, war, etc. These cards are intended to focus on things we can learn from and improve, such as our own outlooks, habits, and patterns of behavior. Use your discernment here.
It’s okay if one card per placement is not enough to give you clarity. Sometimes, it takes more than one card. You can plan ahead for questions in the spread that you feel you will need to pull more cards for. Or, if you are mid-reading and realize that you need more information on a particular part of the reading, simply shuffle the deck with that question in mind and pull a “clarifier card.”
This is a spring-themed reading. However, it can be done in any season. Feel free to modify this reading to suit your needs and adjust the time frame the reading covers as needed.
Johanna (she/her) | Johanna is one of Crowsbone’s staff writers. She is a Cottage Witch who specializes in hearth & home-centered magic, herbalism and divination. She has been studying and practicing magic since middle school. Her non-magical interests include slightly smutty fantasy literature, hiking, and spending time with her two cats.