With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time to celebrate love in all its forms.
The day brings promise of romance, passion, and hope — no matter what your relationship status is. It’s an excellent opportunity to open yourself up to new opportunities and possibilities in the love department during the height of winter.
To help you align yourself to receive and give love, we’ve pulled together a handy guide to practicing tarot on Valentine’s Day, special tarot spreads for love, and ways that you can connect to love and relationships in your practice.
The True Origin of Valentine’s Day
There are many theories as to the origins of Valentine’s Day. One story says the day marks the Christian church’s attempt to convert the pagan celebration of Lupercalia on February 15.
According to Roman legend, King Amulius ordered his twin nephews — Romulus and Remus — to be thrown in the river when their mother broke a vow of celibacy. They were rescued by a she-wolf and called the cave where they lived Lupercal. Since then, it was thought that Lupercalia took place once a year to honor her and celebrate Roman fertility.
In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I combined what was known as St. Valentine’s Day (after the execution of 2 men named Valentine) and Lupercalia in an attempt to get rid of Pagan rituals. As the year went on, the holiday was romanticized by Chaucer and Shakespeare, and began to gain popularity in Britain and the rest of Europe.
People began to make handmade paper cards to their “Valentines” or forbidden lovers — the medieval version of a Hallmark Card!
Whether or not you’re up to speed on your pagan fables, this time of year has shifted and changed meaning throughout modern history to symbolize love, sacrifice, and the ways we share with others.
Tarot Spreads for Relationships
Love and relationship tarot readings can be incredibly personal and vulnerable, so be sure to set up your space to feel comfortable and safe before you begin.
You may choose to do these relationship tarot spreads on your own or with a partner or loved one. If you’re reading with a partner, be sure you set up expectations ahead of time about how you might discuss and deal with emotions or tough card pulls.
For manifesting love in this season with a current or future partner, choose from any of these tarot spreads for love. Be sure to record your thoughts and reflections in your tarot journal and feel free to share your card pulls with us in The Writual Society discussion board!
Relationship Tarot Spread – For Single People
Valentine’s Day can feel lonely for single people. Take this time to get excited about the possibility of new love — and feel appreciation for the love that already surrounds you.
If you’re ready to open your heart to a relationship, make sure you pull these 6 cards before you start swiping or consider going on a date with someone new!
Card 1: Current Situation
- This card will tell you where you heart lies at this moment.
- Whether you’re just getting through a tough breakup or you’ve been single for a while, this card will help you clarify if you’re ready to jump in the dating pool again — or if you need some more time to work inwards.
Card 2: Ideal Partner
- You might have a “checklist” in your head about who you want to be with, but chances are the person that’s meant for you may surprise you in ways you can’t anticipate now.
- This card will provide insight about the person you truly need to be with, who may not fit your ideal “checklist” of a partner, but is going to be the best option for you.
Card 3: What You Bring into The Relationship
- While you dream up your ideal match, be sure to reflect on what you can bring to a loving and nurturing relationship.
- Why are you going to be a good fit for your future partner?
- What strengths* do you bring to the table to create a balanced and healthy relationship for both of you?
*Tip: This is also something to keep in mind if you’re making a new dating profile right now!
Card 4: External Conflicts
- As much as we don’t like to admit it, many things are out of our control in life — especially when it comes to love and relationships.
- But once you know which obstacles are in front of you, you can better prepare for them!
Card 5: Internal Conflicts
- It’s wise to do a check in with yourself before you set about dating or getting intimate with someone, but that can be easier said than done.
- Chances are, you’re getting in your own way of finding love and might not realize it.
- This card will tell you how you may be self-sabotaging yourself as well as how you can go about releasing past trauma to make way for new love.
Card 6: Outcome
- You’ve arrived! This card is what’s coming next for your love life.
- Take note about the themes and motifs in this card, as they might give you insight about what to focus on within yourself to get ready for new love.
Couples Tarot Spread
Valentine’s Day is a time to shower your beau with love, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the relationship and how both of you play an important role in maintaining it.
Regardless of how long you’ve been in a relationship, this 5-card spread will help you focus on the positives while helping you find ways to improve as a couple.
Card 1: You
- This card is all about what you bring to your relationship with your partner.
- This can also be an insight into what your partner may see in you.
Card 2: Your Partner
- This card is the essence of your partner and what they bring to your relationship.
- This card will help you see your card without bias or judgement.
Card 3: The Positive
- This card helps you see what’s working in the relationship right now.
- This card may give insight into how you and your partner fell in love, or all the warm memories you’ve shared.
- When things get hard, be sure to keep this card in mind to help you see the light in the darkness.
Card 4: The Negative
- No relationship is perfect. This card represents the things in your relationship that you’d like to work on, or things that have been painful for the both of you in the past.
- For new relationships, pay attention to this card as it may foreshadow troubles to come.
Card 5: Outcome
- If you’re wondering where your current relationship is headed, this card will shine the light on the future.
- But should this outcome feel negative in nature, don’t feel like you need to split with your partner right away — you may just need to lean into your intuition to guide you about which decisions to make next.
Tarot Spread for Self-Love
No matter which relationships you maintain in your life (romantic or friendships), it’s important to get in tune with your relationship with yourself.
This is easier said than done sometimes, as digging into your history and inner dialogue can feel uncomfortable at times.
To connect with your inner and most vulnerable self, try this 4-card spread to remind you that your relationship with yourself is just as important as the rest.
Card 1: What You Love About Yourself
- Who says you can’t love on yourself on Valentine’s Day? This card serves as an essential reminder about the incredible things about you!
- Don’t forget to acknowledge this card, and feel free to make a list of other attributes you love about yourself afterwards.
Card 2: What Others Love About You
- You might not always realize what other people love about you, especially if they keep it to themselves.
- It’s normal to focus on the things you don’t like about yourself and forget about all the traits that people admire about you.
Card 3: How You Can Be Kinder to Yourself
- This gets overlook so often as we live in a culture that constantly demands that we do, be, and achieve more and more.
- How can you show yourself self-compassion when you’re going through hard times (and on a daily basis)?
Card 4: Advice from Future You
- It would be amazing if we had time machines where our future selves kept our present ones from making terrible mistakes.
- Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t picture a wiser future version of yourself taking time to guide where you are now.
- This card is your advice from a future self, so make sure to pay attention to any warnings or red flags they bring to you.
Dive Deeper into Your Tarot Practice
As with most spiritual self-care rituals, tarot can take time to get good at or feel right. We love making tarot accessible for beginners and seasoned experts, while providing insight on how to grow your practice in ways that work for you.
A key element to deepening your relationship with tarot is by incorporating zodiac signs and elements. These add nuanced layers of interpretation that can help you better understand yourself and the world around you.
Ready to add the zodiac to your tarot practice?
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