Horse Shoe Spread

Difficulty: Easy

The Horse Shoe is a classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the three-card reading, yet simpler than most other spreads. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other spreads which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future spread, it contains these cards in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other tarot cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The cards are to be read as follows:

1. The Past: Past events affecting the question.
2. The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
3. Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
4. Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
5. External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
6. Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
7. Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.

Your Horse Shoe Reading

	Obstacle 6 of Wands
Hidden Influences 5 of Swords		External Influences Prince of Swords
The Present 4 of Coins		Suggestion Prince of Wands
The Past Ace of Swords		The Outcome 6 of Cups

The sword is rising out of the water. The blue colour in the picture symbolises clarity. The three different coloured butterflies indicate different thoughts and the perception of difference. One butterfly is sitting on the tip of the sword, a symbol of decision. The halo supports the impression of clarification and purification.

The safe symbolises the need for protection. Certain themes are referred to: money, possessions, love and relationships. The star stands for the vision, which is worth holding on to.

The blue-and-white checked-pattern portrays narrow-mindedness through misunderstood reliability. At the bottom of the picture the devil's horns and some hell-fire have found their place, illustrating dependence.

The middle sword divides the scene. It symbolises disconnection in itself and is the only one that has remained whole.

The 'winner's' sword, decorated with a laurel wreath, seems to be less bent than that of the 'loser', but it is also unusable. The pierced heart shows the 'loser's' certainty of having injured his enemy in the worst possible way.

The dark colours in the picture show that it is a matter of something unpleasant. The energetic connection, portrayed by the waves at the top and bottom, has been cut off.

Six trees have been felled in a forest, which couldn't be entered and be used, because the trees were growing in all directions. They are lying to the left-hand side of the path, which is now free to let in light, causing new leaves to sprout.

The wood from the forest has been used to melt down the iron for an axe, to turn a style and therefore to create a significant relationship between growth and order.

The strong helmet protects the prince, while, with eyes closed and head bent forward, he is demolishing the hard wall. Some bricks are falling down. A part of the wall looks like a bookcase.

This is all about ancient knowledge and opinions, the details of which are being asked about or, in the truest sense of the word, which are being blown into mid-air. However, with his eyes closed the prince cannot take into consideration what he is throwing around.

The prince appears unexpectedly in the picture. We are slightly alarmed. He looks as though he were made of fire and he seems to be setting his surroundings on fire.

He is lifting his wand as though to fight and moves everything out of his way. But the purple vase, which he has broken in his haste, might have perhaps been useful to him. He hardly notices it; the contents are now lost. In the background a volcano is erupting and pouring its lava over the picture.

The fluid in the tipped-up cups is combined with the fluid in the sixth cup to form a circle, the upper part of which seems brighter. The book with the title 'Memories' stands for achieved consciousness. The seed is germinating under the influence of other components and shows a new beginning.