A layout
is a pattern of card positions. Each position in a layout has
it's own part to play in answering the querent's question. In
fact, each position in a layout can be seen as asking its own
question, the answer to which is part of the larger question
asked by the querent.
A "recent
past" position answers the question of "Where did this
current situation come from?" A "hopes and fears"
position answers the question "What are my hopes and fears
surrounding this situation?" These smaller, specific questions
add together to form the answer to the general question asked
by the querent.
A key part
of reading for position, is to have a clear idea of what a position
means. If you, the reader, are unclear what the position is asking,
the cards will be unclear in their response.
The following
tips may sound a little simplistic, but they really do help you
to focus on what each card is trying to tell you.