What The Fuck Tarot Spread - Interrobang Tarot Blog - Interrobang Tarot

What The Fuck Tarot Spread

12/19/2016

My Loves -

I've been quiet lately. It's been a tough season. I hope this post finds you all hanging in there and doing the best you can. I know a lot of you are hurting right now. I hope, even so, that you're warm and held and enjoying your holiday season.

I've been taking a break from tarot lately to disrupt a few bad habits and come back with fresh eyes for writing the Black Ink Tarot guidebook. (It's almost time to write the Black Ink Tarot guidebook!) BUT I couldn't resist throwing this new spread together when it came to me yesterday. I just tested it out and found the results apt AF.

This one pretty much speaks for itself.

For when shit is all fucked up:

1. - 2. WHAT THE: (Center Cross) The face of my current challenge. The crux of what hounds me.
3. ACTUAL: What is real about this situation?
4. FUCK: What is wrong about this situation?
5. ?: Where do I need more information? Where do I need to ask, research, and listen?
6. !: What can I do? What first steps can I take in action?

You are strong. You are loved. You are seen. You are not alone.

Commercial Use of Tarot Spreads (UPDATED 11/26/18)

I aim first and foremost to helping people learn and use tarot for themselves. Everything I post is free to use at home or share with friends for personal, educational, non-commercial ends. That said, I recognize that some people will use my tarot spreads with paying clients, and I couldn't stop them even if I wanted to.

If you use my original spreads for paid client work, please make a donation--whatever is fair and proportionate to your use--to support the site and help me keep releasing free tarot spreads for all my readers. If you share my work on your website, blog, or social media pages, give credit and link back (or tag @evviemarin on Instagram) so others can find these resources.

My work is not for re-sale or promotional give-away. Do not use my spread diagrams or illustrations as promotional materials in your own business or website. If you have any questions about use drop me a line.

I do not take any responsibility for the quality or content of others' readings. I do not endorse or recommend tarot readers or psychics. Some folks use my spreads in paid client work. None of them are affiliated with me, or recommended or endorsed by me.

You might also like:

The Holiday Survival Tarot Spread

A Simple Self-Love Tarot Spread

New Year Tarot Spread

Wooly Witchy link

12/21/2016 10:46:43 am

This is awesome. Thank you for sharing!!

Reply

Evvie

12/21/2016 01:17:16 pm

Thanks Wooly Witchy! Glad you like it!

Reply

Kaitlyn

12/25/2016 02:02:35 pm

I've missed reading from you on your blog - but I'm glad you've been taking some space for yourself. Still super excited for the Black Ink Tarot and I hope you have a lovely holiday!

Reply

Evvie

12/25/2016 11:39:19 pm

Thank you Kaitlyn! That's lovely to hear. Happy holidays to you too! <3

Reply

Turtle

12/31/2016 03:19:39 pm

I love the spread! I'm new to tarot so I'm confused over the center cross: What's the first card? Is it the significator, like with the Celtic Cross?

Reply

Evvie

1/1/2017 11:28:07 am

Hi Turtle! That's a great question. Unless otherwise explained, I use crosses in my spreads just to get more information and nuance at the heart of a spread. The two cards are read together as a whole. Sometimes the intersection of two stories or archetypes can tell you something deeper than a single one. I like to place crosses in positions that carry a little more weight or need more oomph. That said, tarot is adaptable, and you're welcome to tailor this to your own reading style. You can use a single card in the place of the cross - that might be easier to start with if you're new to tarot. You can still glean so much information from just one card. Or, if you like using significators (a card consciously chosen at the beginning of a reading to represent a person, usually the questioner), choose a card that best represents you. This could be a court card that corresponds to your star sign, or a major that you strongly identify with. I don't work with significators often, but when I do I like to use The Fool. Pull out your significator before you shuffle and draw your other cards. Place it as the bottom card of the cross, and read the crossing card as the situation that "crosses" or troubles you. Hope that helps! Let me know if it's still confusing.

Reply

Daniel

10/31/2017 11:59:24 pm

The cross is two ideas in opposition, "This, but That", which describe the forces acting at cross-purposes in a situation. Both cards are considered. Generally, the upright is the situation, the card crossing is the complication. However, both can be prevailing circumstances which complicate each other.

Reply

Beastnessa

1/13/2017 01:05:34 pm

Ahhhh thank you!! During the dismal time when this was posted I was seeing a lot of spreads that were very nurture and action oriented and I like that this spread acknowledges and guides you through tumultuous emotions before getting to the "what can I do" part of it. And I definitely still need this, as I'm sure we all do, as things keep getting more WTF every day.

That's great news about the Black Ink tarot! Completing a deck is a huge achievement. Hope all your projects are going well.

Reply

Evvie

1/14/2017 12:42:52 pm

Hi Beastnessa. Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad you like this spread. Things do just seem to get more and more WTF each day. It's gonna be a bumpy ride! I hope you and yours stay well throughout. Cheers!

Reply

Risuna

6/19/2017 07:53:56 pm

I freakin love this spread >w<

Reply

Tab

10/30/2017 09:32:46 pm

This is just what I needed at this point of my life, and it come up randomly. I don't believe in coincidence either. Thank you for this WTF spread. Blessed Be.

Reply

Evvie

10/31/2017 01:19:58 pm

Thank you Tab! I love when that happens, and we find what we need right when we need it. Glad to be a part of that. Love! <3

Reply

Patrice

1/28/2018 08:49:27 pm

Hi Evvie, I came across this and the other 7 spreads in your 8 spread booklet at the Tarot Nerds Facebook group. First let me say, thank you for providing these spreads! They are so profound, and I know will lead to some very insightful readings.

I do have a question about the middle two cards - the What's real about it? and What's wrong about it? positions. I did a reading for myself concerning a financial issue, and the card in the What's real about it? position seemed to be saying that it's something that I need to stop doing; whereas the What's wrong about it? card seemed to be saying that it's something I should be doing. It feels like the placements, based on the names of the positions, should be telling me the opposite. So I'm not completely sure I understand what these positions mean.

Btw, five out of the six cards in my spread are majors. I pulled a clarifying card and got another major! Pretty powerful stuff!

Any insights you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Reply

Evvie

1/28/2018 10:45:45 pm

Hi Patrice,

First off, thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad you like the collection.

And second, this is an excellent question! This can happen with any tarot spread. Sometimes we draw cards that seem to clash with their positions in the spread. There are a couple ways to approach this in a reading.

First, it's important to remember that all the cards have multiple meanings and multiple layers of a card's archetype can "activate" for you in a single reading. Often when there's a tension like that, it's because multiple meanings are active. Honor your initial gut reaction. If it feels to you like the cards are advising for and against certain actions, and that checks out with your own intuition and wisdom, that's a valid part of the message for you, whether or not it seems to match the spread. So note that down, and then come back to the same cards and see if there's another message there, too.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the cards like to speak in double negatives, like "don't not do xyz." (Mine sure do at least!) They don't care about grammar. :D

With this spread specifically, a card that seems to say "don't do this" in the "real" position could emphasize the weight in that area for you, like "REALLY don't do this." Or if it's something you've been questioning or feeling uncertain about, it could be affirming that yes, this is a valid issue to watch out for, and it's okay to put some time and care there, even if it's time and care towards avoiding something. With a positive or encouraging card in the "wrong" position, it could indicate that you've got some external resistance, obstacles, or challenges to overcome moving forward in that direction, even it's the right thing to do. Or it could warn that, even though this looks like something you need to do, it might be more complicated or difficult in practice than it seems on the surface.

I hope that helps and makes sense! It's hard to give you more clarity without knowing the specific cards involved. I'm sure I'd read different ones differently. If you're comfortable sharing more details we can chat more about that here, or you can write to me through the contact form and we can chat by email. 5 Out of 6 majors is a whopper of a reading! Sounds like there's a lot to sink your teeth into. Definitely write some notes down on this and stick with it. So often the most confusing readings on the surface have the most to say when you dig deep.

Thanks, and be well! Cheers!

Reply

Patrice

1/28/2018 11:34:48 pm

Evvie, thanks so much! Your advice makes so much sense. I'll give you more details in the contact form and looking forward to chatting with you about it.

Amy link

4/3/2018 02:29:10 pm

Hi Evvie,
I love your site! I found it through google images looking at different tarot spreads and couldn't help but be delighted at the WTF spread.
I'm wondering if you'd allow me to use some of your spreads either directly, or as inspiration for some of my readings I do professionally? I create my own custom spreads, as looks like is your style too. It's nice also to get outside ideas when they resonate!
My Etsy Tarot shop is at https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaterbirdWellness

Thank you!
Amy

Reply

Evvie

4/3/2018 10:42:01 pm

Hi Amy! Thanks for your question. I'm glad you like the spread! You're welcome to use it as inspiration to craft your own spread. The topic is fair game, as long as you put your own spin on it. This spread is included in the Eight Useful Tarot Spreads eBook, which I released under a creative-commons attribution, non-commercial, non-derivative license. It's the internet, so I acknowledge some folks will use the spreads here for client readings. I ask for anyone doing that to make a donation to the blog--whatever's fair and proportional--so I can keep putting up free tarot resources for all. (I take no responsibility for the quality or content of others' readings. I can neither critique nor endorse readers I don't know personally.) Please don't use the images in promotional materials on your own sites. So for your Etsy shop, use your own titles and images in your listings. But it's fine to put a link, quote, or image from this project in something like a blog post, as long as you attribute. You can find the full copyright statement here: http://www.interrobangtarot.com/8u-how-to.html For non-commercial work, like unpaid personal readings and discussion groups, this spread is free to use however you like. If you do share it, I appreciate a link back so folks can find the whole project and work with the spreads on their own, too. I hope that all makes sense! Let me know if you have any more questions. Cheers!

Reply

Trinity

8/31/2019 06:02:48 pm

Thanks for the amazing spread! Just tried it out like a MINUTE ago (haha), and I got some good clarification on a doubt & thought thats been growing in the back of my mind for a while now.. Well. Now I know what I need to know, thanks !

Reply

Evvie

8/31/2019 08:00:12 pm

Hi Trinity, Thanks for your comment! I'm delighted to hear this spread worked well for you! <3

Reply

Rebecca link

9/29/2020 02:21:17 am

Thank you so much. I searched for this and it’s just perfect.

Reply

Evvie

9/29/2020 10:14:43 am

Thanks, Rebecca! So glad this is useful for you! Be well.

Reply

Carrie

10/20/2020 11:49:59 am

Thank you for this spread! I've had it saved for a while, and I've finally had to use it to get a grip on a problem at work. I feel much clearer about what's going on and how to handle it now!

Reply

Evvie

10/20/2020 04:08:39 pm

Hi Carrie! Thanks for sharing your experience--so glad this worked well for you!

Reply

Judy R link

12/29/2020 02:06:24 pm

Thankk you for this

Reply

Leave a Reply.

Author

Hi, I'm Evvie. I'm an animist, artist, lyricist, chronically ill queer, and huge nerd for divination & folkloric craft. I've been playing with tarot, art, and illustration for over twenty years each. I also go by the nickname Evvin.

New Book!

Fortune's Inkwell: An Interrobang Tarot Guidebook out now! Pair with the Black Ink & Interrobang decks, or any other deck in your collection.

Kickstarter

The Black Ink & Interrobang Tarot Decks are coming out this summer 2024 thanks to your support on Kickstarter!

Newsletter

Subscribe for updates on new projects and events, plus fun recommendations, tips, & process from behind the scenes.

Contents

Full blog index. Includes links to each post, by topic, with hand-picked highlights.

Categories

Support

With money: you can join the art & tarot club on Patreon, shop the shop, or donate through Paypal. For free: comment on posts, share links with friends, and follow, like, and comment on Instagram. Thanks so much! You're a gem!

HOME

Book

BLOG

SPREADS

CONTENTS

EBOOKS

ABOUT

SHOP

Unless otherwise credited, all works on this site are by multimedia artist Evvie "Evvin" Marin (they/them). Check out my sibling site, www.evviemarin.com, for interdisciplinary art inspired by folklore, natural history, and subconscious fantasy. Join me on Patreon to support my work and receive rad, exclusive content! © 2024 Evvie Marin. All Rights Reserved.