Inspiration and Purpose
9 cardsCategory: Career & Profession
A spread for finding inspiration and defining your professional purpose.
Overview
Sarah Bartlett's spread for choosing the right direction in your actions. When you feel you have lost your bearings, don't know where to move next, or are searching for a source of inspiration -- this spread will help you find clarity. Nine cards are laid out in an expanding funnel shape from top to bottom: from the current situation through talents, traps, and support -- to actions, inner and outer resources, and the final result. The spread helps to see not only the goal but also the path to it.
Spread Diagram
Card Positions
Current situation
The card describes the current state of affairs -- where you are right now. It shows the starting point from which the search for direction begins. It is important to honestly assess this card, as a correct understanding of the present is the key to making the right choice for the future.
Talents and mastery
The card reveals your talents, abilities, and skills that are already in your arsenal. These are the resources you can rely on as you move toward your goal. Sometimes we are unaware of our own strengths -- this card helps to see them.
Traps
The card warns about traps and pitfalls on your path. These may be self-deception, false goals, distractions, destructive habits, or people who lead you astray. Forewarned is forearmed.
Support
The card shows what support you can count on. This may be close people, mentors, like-minded individuals, favorable circumstances, or spiritual practices. This card reminds you that you are not alone on your path.
What needs to be done?
The key card of the spread -- a direct call to action. It suggests specific steps that need to be taken to achieve the goal. This is not abstract advice but a practical guide to action.
Inner strength
The card reveals your inner strength -- a deep resource that can be activated. This may be hidden motivation, a forgotten dream, unwavering self-belief, or spiritual energy that will help overcome any obstacles.
Help
The card points to external help that will come to you. Unlike 'Support' (card 4), this position speaks of concrete help in action -- someone or something will actively help you on your path to the goal. This may be unexpected luck, meeting the right person, or a favorable turn of events.
The force that will be with you
The card describes the energy or force that will accompany you throughout the entire journey. This may be a certain character quality, spiritual protection, creative flow, or vital energy that will not run out as long as you are moving toward your goal.
Result
The final card of the spread, showing the result your actions will lead to if you follow the guidance of the other cards. It describes not only the end point but also the overall feeling you will experience upon reaching your goal -- satisfaction, joy, a new understanding of yourself.
How to Read
Shuffle the deck while focusing on finding inspiration and the right direction. Draw 9 cards and lay them out: card 1 -- top center. Cards 8 and 9 -- second row, wide apart. Cards 3 and 2 -- third row, closer to center. Cards 4 and 5 -- fourth row, wider again. Cards 6 and 7 -- bottom row, widest apart. The shape resembles an expanding funnel. Read from top to bottom: situation (1), final energies (8, 9), talents and traps (2, 3), support and actions (4, 5), deep resources (6, 7).
Tips & Advice
The spread is built as a funnel expanding from top to bottom -- from a single point of focus to multiple resources. Card 1 sets the context, while cards 8 and 9 on either side show the final energy and result -- compare them to see what force will guide you and where it will lead. Cards 3 and 2 in the center are your 'toolkit': talents (2) help, traps (3) hinder. Cards 4 and 5 balance external and internal: outside support (4) and specific actions (5). Bottom cards 6 and 7 are the deepest: inner strength (6) and external help (7). If both are strong -- you have a powerful foundation for achieving your goal.
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