Sometimes, decisions don’t just weigh on us—they reshape our path. These are the choices where we pause, knowing that once we commit, life will never be quite the same again.

I remember a client once asking whether she should leave her corporate job to pursue her dream of becoming a healer. She wasn’t just weighing “stay” versus “go”—she was wrestling with her identity, her values, and her vision for the future. For moments like these, I turn to the Major Arcana Decision Tree Spread.

Unlike smaller spreads that provide quick clarity, this one dives deep into the why, the how, and the what next of your decision. Using only the Major Arcana cards—the archetypes of transformation and universal life themes—it illuminates not just choices but destinies.

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Preparing for the Spread

Since this spread uses only the 22 Major Arcana cards, take them out of your deck first. As you shuffle, breathe deeply and focus on the decision before you. Ask for insight not only into what you should do, but also into the deeper forces shaping your dilemma.

It helps to create a reflective space—light a candle, hold a crystal, or place a symbol of the choice you’re considering nearby. This is not a reading to rush; it’s a conversation with your higher self and the archetypes that guide human experience. For more advance work you may want to refresh your memory of what tarot cards are assigned to your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs to look for them appearing in your spreads with important messages.

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The Spread Layout

The Major Arcana Decision Tree is a three-tier structure:

Root Cause (1 card) – The foundation, the hidden issue or deeper energy at the heart of your dilemma.

Action Options (3 cards) – Three possible paths or strategies you could take.

Consequences (3 cards) – The long-term ripple effects of each action option, placed above the corresponding action card.

This creates three vertical “branches,” each showing how an action grows from the root and blossoms into an outcome.

Root – Action – Consequence

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Interpreting the Spread

Root Tier: The first card is your ground. It reveals the core energy driving the dilemma—whether it’s fear, ambition, destiny, or transformation.

Action Tier: The three cards above suggest possible responses. You may see one clear path or a spectrum of approaches, from bold to cautious.

Consequence Tier: Each card above shows where that action leads in the long term. This helps you weigh not only immediate gratification but also the enduring impact.

Take time to read vertically—root, action, consequence—as though you are following a tree trunk into its branches. Which branch feels strongest? Which bears fruit worth harvesting?

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Journaling Prompts

After completing the spread, deepen your reflection with journaling:

What deeper issue did the root card uncover that I may have overlooked?

Which action card feels most aligned with my true self, and which feels least aligned?

What do the consequence cards teach me about patience, timing, or long-term vision?

If I chose no action today, how might the root issue continue to grow?

Which branch of the tree do I want to nurture into reality?

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What You Can Achieve With This Spread

The Major Arcana Decision Tree isn’t just about decision-making—it’s about transformation.

Deep Psychological Insight – It uncovers root causes you may not have consciously considered.

Strategic Decision-Making – It lays out options and their probable futures side by side.

Transformative Growth – By using only the Major Arcana, it ensures your reading speaks to soul-level lessons and opportunities.

This spread is especially powerful for decisions involving identity, vocation, relationships, and life direction—moments where your next step becomes a defining chapter.

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✨ When you step back and look at the full tree, you see more than choices—you see your soul’s map unfolding before you.