Simple 3-Card Tarot Spread to Discover Your Past Life

Do you ever feel like you're from somewhere you've never visited? Maybe you experience déjà vu? Do they feel so real that it’s almost like a distant memory?

These may be signs of a past life. If you are curious about who you were in a previous lifetime, tarot can help. A simple way to get started is to use a 3-card tarot reading spread. We’ve prepared an interactive deck for you to use, and this article to guide you through. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

What Is a Past Life Reading?

A past life reading is a spiritual experience in which you reflect on your previous incarnations. This can be a very insightful and personal experience. It can help you uncover experiences, relationships, and lessons your soul has learned throughout past lives.

The premise is that your soul can have lived many lifetimes before the current one. Each one contributes to who you are today. That’s why some turn to psychics, mediums, or regression therapy to learn about their lost experiences.

Others prefer using tools like tarot cards. Past life readings can reveal unresolved emotions, repeating patterns, karmic ties, or hidden talents. While it isn’t a literal history lesson, it can offer insight that will be valuable for your spiritual growth.

Why Use a 3-Card Tarot Spread?

Tarot is a flexible and intuitive — anyone can use it. You don't need a complicated layout or sophisticated skills to explore what you want to explore.

A 3-card spread is ideal for beginners. It gives you just enough information to make a story without being overwhelming. This type of spread helps you answer questions like:

• Who was I?
• What happened?
• How does it affect me today?

Doesn’t matter if you’re new to this or have experience; this simple spread will help you find valuable insights. It can be done in minutes and reveal a lot of interesting things.

The 3-Card Past Life Spread Explained

Here's what each card in the spread does.

Card 1: Who were you?

This card tells you who you were in a past life. It could be your ideal job, your personality, or maybe something else. For example:

• The Emperor can show that you were are a leader.
• The Hermit can show that you were a monk, teacher, or seeker.
• The Lovers can show that your identity was defined by a relationship or choice.

Those are just examples, but you can find all tarot cards explained in our glossary.

Card 2: What happened?

This card is the conclusion. It can show a major life event, emotional turmoil, or a life-changing experience in that past life.

Here are some examples of cards you might pull:

• Ten of Swords could show betrayal or hardship.
• The Star could represent healing or spiritual direction.
• The Wheel of Fortune could mean dramatic change or destiny.

You can find all interpretations on our website.

Card 3: How does it affect you today?

This card shows the karmic connection between your past and current life. It helps you see why certain patterns, fears, or strengths appear in your life today. For example:

• Nine of Wands could express trust issues brought forward.
• Ace of Pentacles can suggest you're ready to build something worthwhile again.
• Death can suggest you're finally closing the book on a chapter that began several decades ago.

These three cards together tell a short story from your soul's past and its impact on your current one.

How to Do a Past Life Reading with Tarot Cards?

You won’t need any other equipment other than your deck and an open mind. Here's how you do a past life reading with tarot cards using the 3-card spread:

1. Set an Intention

Breathe deeply before you begin. Ask your higher self or spirit guides to show you a past life that you should be aware of at this time. Keep your intention focused on healing and learning.

2. Create a Quiet Space

Choose a quiet spot where no one will disturb you. Light a candle, listen to calming music, or sit in meditation for a minute. This helps tune in to spiritual energy and get your mind clear.

3. Shuffle Your Cards

Think about your intent when shuffling and picking cards. You can say something over and over in your head, such as: "Show me a past life that's affecting my current life." When you feel ready, pull three cards.

4. Lay Out the Cards

Place the cards in a line from left to right:

• Card 1: Who were you?
• Card 2: What occurred?
• Card 3: How does it affect you today?

Refer to the explanations about cards if you need to.

5. Interpret Your Reading

Study each card. Note the imagery, symbolism, and your reaction to it. Combine your inner reactions with common meanings. Think about how the story in these cards might apply to problems, fears, or blessings in your life today.

6. Journal Your Experience

Put down your feelings, thoughts, and impressions. Sometimes the entire message surfaces later. Think about whether any themes feel familiar or happen in your career, relationships, or spiritual path.

An Example of a Reading Process

Let's walk through an example. Let’s imagine you pull the following cards:

1. The Empress. This means you were a caretaker, maybe a mother or healer.
2. Ten of Swords. This means you experienced betrayal or loss, possibly even unjust death.
3. Nine of Wands. This means trust is a concern here, either in terms of being unable to trust others or having to protect your heart.

A simple spread might reveal a past life where love and affection were predominant, but the trauma caused emotional pain that still echoes into your relationships now.

Tips for Past Life Card Reading

Listen to your feelings. Your emotional response is generally more helpful than the dictionary definition. Here are some tips:

• Don't force a story. Let the images speak to you naturally.
• Use clarifying cards if you find a position unclear or vague.
• Stay grounded. Not everything in previous lives was over-the-top dramatic. At times, even small details have huge meaning.

Generally speaking, don’t overthink it. Refer to guides and trust your intuition — the answers will come in time. All will be revealed.

Final Thoughts

Tarot is a great tool for spiritual exploration. Now that you know about what a past life reading is and how to give a past life reading with tarot cards, you can begin your own exploration into your soul's history. This simple 3-card spread is a great beginning to reveal past-life patterns, discover karmic teachings, and mend old wounds.

As you walk, keep yourself open to whatever presents itself. You'll find you know more than you think is in your own soul.