What are you hoping to gain insight into? Whether it's love, career, personal growth, or a specific situation, defining your purpose will guide the creation of your spread.
Consider how many cards you want to use. Simple spreads can involve just one or two cards, while more complex spreads can use ten cards or more. The number of cards should reflect the level of detail you want to go into.
Each card in your spread should represent a particular aspect of your question. For instance, in a three-card spread for a relationship reading, the first card could represent you, the second card your partner, and the third card the dynamics of the relationship.
Think about how you want to lay out your cards. Your layout can be as simple or as intricate as you like. Some people choose to lay out their cards in a particular shape that has symbolic meaning for them.
The cards in your spread should tell a story. Consider how the cards relate to each other and how they build upon each other to form a coherent narrative.
Do a few readings with your new spread to see how it works. Don't be afraid to tweak the positions or the meanings if something doesn't feel right.
Write down your spread, including the purpose, the number and position of the cards, and the meaning of each position. This way, you can refer back to it in the future and remember exactly how it works.