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Celtic Cross Spread

 

The Celtic Cross is the most well-known tarot spread and also the largest available here, involving ten cards. This spread begins with a pair of crossing cards at the center of the issue, essentially being two significators. When two significators are involved, they may strengthen or oppose each other, which speaks of the nature of the situation. Above and below the initial cross, we have two cards which are symbolic of the intellectual (top) and emotional (bottom) basis of the issue. The Before and After cards show the past and immediate future.

At the right, four cards are laid out, going upward. At the bottom you have a card representing yourself, and the next card shows how others may affect the situation. Card #9 indicates what you may be hoping for, or possibly, what you hope will not happen. Finally at the top is the outcome, meaning the distant or ultimate future.

Spread Positions

  1. This is it (what you asked about)
  2. This crosses it (strengthens or opposes)
  3. This crowns it (higher influences)
  4. It rests upon this (lower influences)
  5. This came before
  6. This comes next
  7. This is you
  8. The external world around you
  9. Your hopes, fears, and secret desires
  10. The result or outcome

 

 

 

Celtic Cross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Celtic Cross Reading

The Crown

6 of Wands

The Outcome

10 of Wands


Hopes and Fears

5 of Swords


External Forces

3 of Cups


The Querent

Knight of Pentacles

The Recent Past

The Star

The Crossing Card

7 of Swords


The Significator

The Fool

The Future

7 of Wands


Foundation card


The Empress

 

 

The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.

 

 

The Fool

A watchdog warns a foolish youth that he is about to carelessly walk off a cliff. The Fool seems totally ignorant of his surrounding and the danger he is in.

Upright Meaning:

Folly, mania, extravagance, delirium, frenzy, intoxication, bewrayment, going nuts, inexperience, pettiness, immaturity, idiocy.

 

 

 

 

The Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.

 

7 of Swords

A man in the act of carrying away five swords hastily; missing two which remain stuck in the ground. A camp is close at hand. He is a thief.

Upright Meaning:

Good advice, counsel, instruction, attempt, wish, hope, confidence, bravery, a dirty job that needs to get done.

 

 

 

 

The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.

 

6 of Wands

A laurelled horseman bears one staff adorned with a laurel crown; footmen with staves are at his side.

Upright Meaning:

A victor triumphing, but it is also great news, such as might be carried in state by the King's courier; it is expectation crowned with its own desire, the crown of hope, and so forth.

 

 

 

 

Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.

 

The Empress

Seated on her throne, the Empress holds up the golden sceptre. She represents the archetypal female.

Reversed Meaning:

The unravelling of important matters, vacillation, difficulty, doubt, ignorance, over-possessiveness, smothering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

The Star

Under the stars, a nude woman pours out two vials of water, one onto the land, the other into a pond. Opposite the angel of Temperance, her left foot is on the land, her right on the water.

Upright Meaning:

Youth, beauty, gifts, hope, bright prospects, ingenuity, genius, adept, mastery, gratitude, support, thanks, savvy.

 

 

 

 

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

7 of Wands

A young man on a craggy eminence brandishing a staff; six other staves are raised towards him from below.

Reversed Meaning:

Perplexity, embarrassments, anxiety. It is also a caution against indecision.

 

 

 

 

The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.

 

Knight of Pentacles

He rides a slow but steady horse, which is just like him. He holds the pentacle, but does not look therein.

Upright Meaning:

Utility, service, interest, responsibility, rectitude, authority, obligation, accountability, work, trust.

 

 

 

 

External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.

 

3 of Cups

Maidens in a garden-ground with cups uplifted, as if pledging one another.

Upright Meaning:

The conclusion of the matter in plenty, perfection and merriment; happy issue, victory, fulfilment, solace, healing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.

 

5 of Swords

A disdainful man looks after two retreating and dejected figures. Their swords lie upon the ground. He carries two others on his left shoulder, and a third sword is in his right hand, point to earth. He is the master in possession of the field.

Upright Meaning:

Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, disdain, notoriety.

 

 

 

 

The Outcome of your question. Interpret this card in the context of the entire reading and as an indicator of the path you are currently on, but not necessarily bound to.

 

10 of Wands

A man oppressed by the weight of the ten staves which he is carrying.

Reversed Meaning:

Oppression, difficulties, intrigues, heavy-handedness, bad luck.