Tarot · Spread — Shooting Forward · 5 positions
Shooting Forward
Focus on your question and draw all 5 cards.
5 cards to go.
Five cards between you and your goal
You know what you want to achieve — but not what the path there looks like. This five-card spread is built for exactly that gap. It names the goal clearly, shows you the path, your own strengths, the support you have around you — and the one theme that currently needs attention so the path can stay open at all. It suits career goals just as well as personal, creative or spiritual ones. If your goal is clear, this spread is the most direct answer to how it becomes real.
How this spread takes you to the goal
This spread follows a straight-line logic. Card 1 — your goal — shows what you are aiming at, in its current form (often different from what you thought). Card 2 — the way forward — shows the next concrete step or the energy you have to move in. Card 3 — your qualities — shows what you yourself bring: not what you wish you were, but what actually lives in you as a resource. Card 4 — sources of help — shows who or what can actively support you (or already does, without you seeing it). Card 5 — needs attention — is the most honest card: the one theme currently lying there that you have to attend to so the path can stay open.
When this spread fits
The goal spread fits when:
- you have a clear goal and are looking for a concrete path
- you have been working on something for a while and cannot see the next step
- you want to realise a career, creative or life vision
- you need a check-in on what is already working and what you still have to clear
- you want a regular (e.g. monthly) check on progress toward a goal
How to actually read the five cards
Read the spread in three moves. Move 1: cards 1 and 2 (goal and path). Watch whether the two cards align. Sometimes the goal shows something different from what you have stated — the deck shows what you really want, not just what you say you want. Move 2: cards 3 and 4 (qualities and help). These two are your fuel. Ask honestly with card 3: am I living this quality right now, or is it sitting unused inside me? With card 4: do I know about this source of help, or do I still have to look for it? Move 3: card 5 (needs attention). This is the most important card. It does not show "everything that is going wrong" — it shows the one theme currently in the way that cannot be ignored. If you address that card honestly, the whole spread often shifts.
Layout: 5 positions at a glance
The “Shooting Forward” spread has 5 positions, from “Dream Job” to “Needs Attention”. Each position asks its own question; the table shows which one, and where the card sits in the layout.
| No. | Position | Guiding question | Place in the layout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Job | What would it look like? What would you do every day? What would your role be? What could you win? | top centre |
| 2 | Path Forward | What are the paths forward? How can you get there? | centre |
| 3 | Your Qualities | What do you have within you that would help you in your dream job? | bottom centre |
| 4 | Sources of Help | Who can help you? Which networks are available to you? | bottom left |
| 5 | Needs Attention | What did you miss that could impact your journey there? | bottom right |
Where this spread belongs
- Topic: Future tarot spreads, Decision tarot spreads, Career & Money tarot spreads
- Related spreads: Brick by Brick (6 cards) and Work Problems (6 cards)
- Every card you draw has its own page: all 78 tarot card meanings, upright and reversed.
- For a quick look at today: draw today's tarot card — or the Celtic Cross spread for a big question.
- All tarot spreads sorted by topic, and the tarot start page with the daily spread.
Goal spread — frequently asked questions
- What if my goal card looks different from the goal I stated?
- Then the deck is showing you that your real goal differs from the one you set consciously. That is a valuable message — ask which of the two is actually driving you right now.
- How specific does my goal need to be?
- Specific enough that you can name it in one sentence. "I want to be happier" is too vague — "I want to take this job" or "I want to finish my book" works.
- What if the "needs attention" card is heavy?
- Usually helpful. That card shows where you are currently dodging. A hard card here does not mean "the goal is unreachable" — it means "attend to this, or you will not move on".
- Can I use this spread for a relationship or family goal?
- Yes. It is not limited to career — it works for any goal where there is a path and progress. Relationships, creative work, spiritual aims — all fit.
Other tarot spreads to try
Reviewed by Alice Grist · Tarot Author & Reader