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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

3 of Wands

The Outcome

The Emperor


Hopes and Fears

The Empress


External Forces

Ace of Pentacles


The Querent

5 of Pentacles

The Recent Past

The Hierophant

The Crossing Card

10 of Wands


The Significator

Judgement

The Future

The Moon


Foundation card


9 of Cups

 

 

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

 

 

Judgement

An angel in the heavens blows a trumpet, calling the dead to rise from their graves.

Reversed Meaning:

Weakness, simplicity, deliberation, decision, sentence, lawsuit, loss, condemnation.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

3 of Wands

A calm, stately personage, with his back turned, looking from a cliff's edge at ships passing over the sea. Three staves are planted in the ground, and he leans slightly on one of them.

Upright Meaning:

He symbolises established strength, enterprise, effort, trade, commerce, discovery; those are his ships, bearing his merchandise, which are sailing over the sea. The card also signifies able co-operation in business, as if the successful merchant prince were looking from his side towards yours with a view to help you.

 

 

 

 

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

 

9 of Cups

A goodly personage has feasted to his heart's content, and abundant refreshment of wine is on the arched counter behind him, seeming to indicate that the future is also assured. The picture offers the material side only, but there are other aspects.

Reversed Meaning:

Truth, loyalty, liberty; but with some mistakes, imperfections, or miscalculations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

The Hierophant

Seated on his throne, the Pope symbolises the male understanding of the spiritual workings of the world and traditional values. Two monks flank him on either side.

Upright Meaning:

Tradition, custom, light, truth, marriage, alliance, captivity, servitude, mercy, inspiration, understanding, spiritual awareness.

 

 

 

 

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

The Moon

A dog and a wolf join in howling at a brilliant full moon situated between two towers. A lobster emerges from the lake, ready to embark on the journey of evolution.

Upright Meaning:

Hidden enemies, lurkers, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, occult forces, error, the unknown, thief in the night, denigration, slander.

 

 

 

 

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

 

5 of Pentacles

Two injured people in a snow storm pass a well-lit church.

Reversed Meaning:

Disorder, chaos, ruin, discord, profligacy, injury, hurt, harm, jealousy, vagrancy, underdevelopment.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Ace of Pentacles

A hand reaching out from a cloud holds up a pentacle.

Reversed Meaning:

The negative side of wealth, malicious intelligence; also great riches, prosperity, comfortable material conditions, but this is to your disadvantage when the card appears reversed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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 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.

 

The Emperor

The Emperor sits on his throne holding his sceptre. He represents a male figure of power and authority.

Reversed Meaning:

Creditor, borrowing, confusion to enemies, obstruction, immaturity, annoyance, irritation.