Celtic Cross Spread

Difficulty: Average

This is probably the most well-known tarot spread. A good, basic spread for beginners to practise with, the Celtic Cross is useful for questions of all types. In this spread, it can be helpful to notice the relationships between the pairings of cards #5 & #9, #1 & #2, #3 & #4, and #6 & #10.

1. The significator epitomizes what the reading deals with, the initial situation.
2. An added impulse that compounds the significator, which may be either complimentary or contradictory.
3. This is what is consciously known (thoughts).
4. Unconscious driving forces that may not be known fully (emotions).
5. The immediate past regarding the current situation.
6. The first future card indicates the immediate future.
7. This card represents the reader and their attitude towards cards #1 and #2.
8. The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.
9. This tarot card suggests expectations; what is secretly hoped for or feared.
10. The second future card reveals the long-term outcome.

Your Celtic Cross Reading

	The Crown The Hanged Man (Le Pendu)		The Outcome Eight of Cups Hopes and Fears Ten of Batons External Forces The Wheel of Fortune (La Roue de Fo The Querent The Emperor (L'Empereur)
The Recent Past Deuce of Swords	The Crossing Card The World (Le Monde) The Significator King of Cups	The Future Ten of Cups
	Foundation card Justice (La Justice)

Symbolism:
The Roy of Cups is seated on a throne, holding a cup with a calm and composed demeanour, surrounded by subtle water motifs that evoke emotional balance. This card represents emotional leadership, wisdom, and the ability to guide others with kindness and understanding.

Meaning:
The King of Cups signifies emotional balance, maturity, and leadership. He represents someone who leads with compassion, wisdom, and understanding, maintaining calm even in turbulent times. This card encourages you to take control of your emotions and use them to guide yourself and others.

In relationships, it reflects a stable and loving partner or dynamic. Spiritually, it emphasises the harmony between intellect and emotions.

Keywords:
Emotional balance, leadership, wisdom, compassion, stability, maturity, understanding, guidance, calm, harmony.

Symbolism:
Symbolism:
A dancing figure surrounded by a wreath occupies the center, representing completion and harmony. The four corners of the card feature symbols of the elements or the four cherubs, signifying unity. The figure holds wands or batons, symbolising mastery and balance.

Meaning:
The World signifies completion, fulfilment, and wholeness. It represents the successful culmination of a journey and the integration of all aspects of your life. This card invites you to celebrate your achievements while embracing the interconnectedness of existence. It heralds a time of balance, unity, and alignment with your purpose. The World also indicates readiness for new adventures following the conclusion of one phase.

In relationships, it signifies harmony and mutual understanding. Spiritually, it reflects enlightenment and integration with the cosmos.

Keywords:
Completion, fulfilment, harmony, unity, wholeness, success, integration, achievement, enlightenment, new beginnings.

Symbolism:
The Hanged Man is shown suspended upside-down by one foot from a live tree, with his free leg bent to form a cross-like shape. His serene expression suggests surrender rather than distress. This represents enlightenment gained through sacrifice or altered perspective. The tree may symbolise the axis mundi, a bridge between worlds.

Meaning:
The Hanged Man symbolises surrender, letting go, and viewing situations from a different perspective. It suggests a pause or suspension of action, encouraging reflection and patience. This card often appears when you need to relinquish control or embrace sacrifice to gain deeper understanding.

In relationships, it can signal a need for a fresh outlook or willingness to adapt. Spiritually, it points to awakening through non-resistance and the acceptance of higher truths.

Keywords:
Surrender, perspective, patience, sacrifice, reflection, letting go, enlightenment, suspension, adaptation, non-resistance.

Symbolism:
Justice sits on a throne, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other. The sword represents truth and decisiveness, while the scales signify balance and fairness. Her gaze is direct, indicating clarity and impartiality. The symmetrical composition of the card underscores equilibrium and order.

Meaning:
Justice represents truth, fairness, and the consequences of one's actions. It urges you to act with integrity and to weigh all factors before making decisions. This card often appears when a decision needs to be made or when karma is at play, reminding you that actions have lasting repercussions.

In relationships, Justice emphasises honesty and mutual respect. Spiritually, it calls for alignment between your actions and higher principles.

Keywords:
Truth, fairness, balance, integrity, accountability, karma, decisions, clarity, consequences, order.

Symbolism:
Two crossed swords create a balanced yet tense composition, often adorned with small floral elements to soften the imagery. The card suggests duality, decision-making, and the need to find equilibrium amidst opposing forces.

Meaning:
The Two of Swords represents a choice or dilemma requiring balance and thought. It suggests being caught between opposing forces or avoiding a decision. This card encourages you to confront the truth and rely on logic and intuition to find resolution.

In relationships, it highlights communication blockages or an emotional impasse. Spiritually, it urges you to find balance within opposing energies.

Keywords:
Indecision, stalemate, balance, choice, reflection, mental conflict, neutrality, avoidance, logic, resolution.

Symbolism:
Symbolism:
A dancing figure surrounded by a wreath occupies the center, representing completion and harmony. The four corners of the card feature symbols of the elements or the four cherubs, signifying unity. The figure holds wands or batons, symbolising mastery and balance.

Meaning:
The World signifies completion, fulfilment, and wholeness. It represents the successful culmination of a journey and the integration of all aspects of your life. This card invites you to celebrate your achievements while embracing the interconnectedness of existence. It heralds a time of balance, unity, and alignment with your purpose. The World also indicates readiness for new adventures following the conclusion of one phase.

In relationships, it signifies harmony and mutual understanding. Spiritually, it reflects enlightenment and integration with the cosmos.

Keywords:
Completion, fulfilment, harmony, unity, wholeness, success, integration, achievement, enlightenment, new beginnings.

Symbolism:
The Emperor sits firmly on a throne adorned with symbols of strength and authority. His scepter and orb signify dominion over the material world, while his armour beneath the robes suggests readiness to defend his position. The rocky landscape at his feet symbolises stability and enduring power.

Meaning:
The Emperor represents structure, discipline, and the establishment of order. He embodies the qualities of leadership and protection, encouraging you to take charge of your circumstances with clarity and determination. This card often points to the need for planning, responsibility, and stability.

In relationships, the Emperor stresses respect, loyalty, and shared goals. Spiritually, he reminds you that boundaries and structure are essential for growth.

Keywords:
Authority, structure, discipline, stability, leadership, protection, responsibility, planning, boundaries, foundation.

Symbolism:
The Wheel of Fortune depicts a large wheel with figures ascending and descending its sides. It symbolises fate, luck, and the cycles of life. The turning motion suggests impermanence and change.

Meaning:
The Wheel of Fortune represents the ever-turning cycles of life, where fortune can rise or fall unexpectedly. This card signals change, opportunity, and the need to adapt. It reminds you to embrace the flow of events and trust in the greater pattern.

In relationships, it can indicate changes or new phases. Spiritually, it highlights the interconnectedness of life and the importance of surrendering to destiny's rhythms while remaining attuned to opportunities that arise.

Keywords:
Change, cycles, destiny, luck, opportunity, karma, adaptability, transition, impermanence, evolution.

Symbolism:
Ten batons create a complex, interwoven pattern, with leaves pushing through to signify growth under pressure. The imagery conveys burdens, responsibilities, and the weight of achievement, balanced by the promise of fulfilment.

Meaning:
The Ten of Batons represents burdens, responsibility, and the weight of obligations. It signifies a period of hard work or feeling overburdened by tasks and commitments. While this card warns against burnout, it also reminds you that the effort is leading toward a goal or resolution.

In relationships, it reflects shared responsibilities or the strain of unbalanced dynamics. Spiritually, it suggests the need to let go of unnecessary baggage to continue forward.

Keywords:
Burden, responsibility, obligation, hard work, completion, exhaustion, effort, duty, strain, perseverance.

Symbolism:
Eight cups form a balanced yet slightly sparse arrangement, with minimal embellishments suggesting a turning point. This card reflects themes of emotional detachment, moving on, and seeking deeper fulfilment.

Meaning:
The Eight of Cups represents leaving behind something once fulfilling but no longer serving your emotional or spiritual growth. It signifies a turning point—a time to seek deeper meaning and embark on a journey of self-discovery. This card encourages courage in releasing attachments and pursuing higher aspirations.

In relationships, it may indicate the need to move on from stagnation or an unsatisfying situation. Spiritually, it represents a quest for truth and enlightenment.

Keywords:
Departure, self-discovery, transition, letting go, seeking truth, emotional growth, solitude, moving on, courage, higher aspirations.