april 2026 spreads for all: d&d edition

hello, friends. you may or may not know that i am a certified nerd and that not only do i love watching ttrpg actual play shows like critical role, dimension 20, and private nightmares — i also love to play d&d with my friends. i've been lucky enough to play in some remarkable games with some extraordinarily talented people, but my current 5e campaign (that happens to be made up of four very witchy players and a deeply creative, beautifully sensitive DM) has a lot of extra magic infused into every session.

the four of us sat down last month to chat about our game for call your coven, and in addition to d&d also talked about witchcraft, vulnerability, spirit relationships, protection, magic, community-building, aftercare, and so much more. if you missed it, you can listen or watch right now.

i've been toying with the idea of writing each of our characters tarot spreads for awhile now — so i thought for this month's spreads for all, i'd do just that. while each spread connects to something that these specific characters are wrestling with, sorting through, or trying to find, i hope they also feel resonant for your own journey through this treacherous, beautiful world of ours. and of course i also wrote a fifth tarot spread for our DM ryan, and for gamemasters everywhere, as they help make the literal world go round.

happy reading and playing, friends.

you are my sunshine: a lucy tarot spread for finding your light. my wife jeanna kadlec plays lucy sunshine, a human light cleric who keeps us physically on our feet and mentally on our toes. disarming, earnest, and unafraid to be vulnerable, lucy shines brightly in spite of a shadowed past, teaching us to believe in each other even as she struggles with her own faith.

card one / your inner radiance: something uniquely magical about you; a light that lives within; something your heart carries
card two / your outer glow: something others can see and love about you; a way that you shine brightly; something you offer
card three / your special spark: something that sets you apart; a unique and powerful way that you move through the world; something you simply are

dead dove (do not eat): a riven spread for finding what you're looking for. my beloved friend maeg keane plays riven pyre, a fire genasi ranger/rogue who guides us through forests and disappears seamlessly into shadows. quick, clever, and always ready to offer a teasing quip or a flame for your cigarette, riven keeps her eyes on everyone, even as she also navigates private hunts of her own.

card one / something you've lost: something that has ended or disappeared; something you're grieving; something you're learning to live without
card two / something you're trying to find: something that you're searching for; something you long for; something you want to recover
card three / something you've already found: something firmly in your grasp; something you may not realize you have; something you can't lose

locked doors: a greer spread for finding a place you belong. i play greer zavi, a fallen aasimar unarmed fighter with a quiet demeanor and a mean right hook. observant, steady, and protective, greer keeps her bruised heart and her dangerous secrets locked up tight — even if she sometimes wishes she could open them up a bit.

card one / something you need: something you could use; something that would be impactful and necessary; something you can't do without
card two / something you want: something you long for; something you dream about; something you're willing to strive for or pursue
card three / something you're afraid to ask for: something you're hiding from yourself; a desire or dream that feels too big to name or chase

spades & diamonds: a black jack tarot spread for finding your way home. my dear friend sasha ravitch plays black jack slewfoot, an elven bardlock with a silver tongue and a mysterious magical benefactor. intentional, secretive, and always thinking ten steps ahead, black jack holds his cards close and his heart closer, even as he dreams of a future with his beloved.

card one / something you long for: a longing and a craving; something you're thinking of constantly; something you would turn the world upside-down for
card two / something you're afraid to name: a truth that feels too big for words; something you don't want to acknowledge; a reality too heavy to hold
card three / something that never left: something you have always had; something you perhaps have forgotten how to see clearly or connect with

glimmerpunks: a ryan/GM spread for finding magic in the unexpected. what's a game without a gamemaster? ryan, our long-suffering genius of a GM, has built us an incredible world with the city of glimmergast at its center — and has navigated the challenges of creating an original story, layers of place, and rotating casts of characters with seemingly effortless grace. but no matter how much we plan, every gamer knows that the story weaves its own unexpected magic — and this tarot spread can help you celebrate those strange and joyful surprises.

card one / the path you expected: the route you thought you were taking; something you thought was straightforward
card two / the surprises that emerged: the strange or shocking twist; something you didn't know would happen; the magic of the story itself
card three / the joys you couldn't have planned: the fun and delight that comes from the things you can't possibly anticipate; a beautiful result

sending you magic, stories, and the pleasure of play, friends. (and if you have a ttrpg game or a beloved character that you wanna yap about, please feel free to tell me about them in the comments!)