I teach using a Weather-Wave-Anchor approach.
Basically checking in on the overall vibe first, then what’s coming up for people, and finally what keeps them grounded. Pretty straightforward for beginners.
For relationships or negotiations, teach ‘You, Them, Bridge.’
Insider tip: read the Bridge by suit, Wands = initiate contact, Cups = share feelings, Swords = have the clarifying conversation, Pentacles = make a concrete offer. If the Bridge is a Major, treat it as the main thing to focus on before any outreach. If it’s a Court, pick one behavioral move that court would make.
I also set a deadline based on the bridge: the pip’s number = how many days to take the step, then pull one clarifier only if the bridge clashes with either side. If your friend doesn’t feel comfortable with courts yet, you can swap ‘Them’ for ‘Their role’ to keep it less personal.
IMO the most useful 3 card spread for newbies is Root-Pattern-Pivot: what’s underneath, how it’s playing out, and the small action that changes the course.
I have students rotate the Pivot card 90° to mark ‘do this next,’ and we phrase questions as ‘How can I…?’ so the deck gives you steps to take, not predictions.
I’ve been using this spread a lot lately and it’s worked well for me and people I’ve taught:
Card 1: What gift is being presented to me?
Card 2: What’s holding me back from receiving it?
Card 3: What unfolds when I embrace it?
The middle card is helpful because it shows what’s blocking you without making you feel bad about it. New readers seem to like this spread since they can use it for daily pulls or bigger life stuff. Your friend might find it easier than memorizing a bunch of card meanings. The questions are pretty straightforward, so you can just go with what feels right when you look at the cards.