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 Ace of Coins		The Outcome Five of Cups Hopes and Fears Ten of Batons External Forces Six of Cups The Querent The Wheel of Fortune (La Roue de Fo
The Recent Past Five of Batons	The Crossing Card The Magician (Le Bateleur) The Significator The Hanged Man (Le Pendu)	The Future Judgement (Le Jugement)
	Foundation card Ace of Swords

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:
The Magician is a youthful figure standing behind a table, holding a wand aloft while other tools lie before him—often a coin, a cup, and a sword. These tools represent mastery over the elements and the power to manifest intentions. His hat, shaped like a lemniscate, symbolises infinite potential, and his posture suggests readiness and action. The vibrant colours of his attire evoke creativity, energy, and a zest for life.

Meaning:
The Magician represents the power of initiative, skill, and resourcefulness. He embodies the ability to turn ideas into reality, combining intellect, action, and willpower. The card often signals the beginning of a new venture or opportunity, where focus and confidence are key. However, it also serves as a warning to avoid manipulation or overconfidence.

The Magician invites you to be aware of your tools and talents, urging you to act with intention. It also reminds you that success depends on your ability to harmonise thought and action.

Keywords:
Initiative, manifestation, skill, potential, confidence, willpower, beginnings, resourcefulness, action, focus.

Symbolism:
A single, ornate coin stands prominently in the center, often surrounded by floral or vine motifs, symbolising material prosperity and potential. The card represents new beginnings in wealth, stability, and tangible success.

Meaning:
The Ace of Coins represents new beginnings in the material world. It signifies prosperity, opportunity, and the manifestation of long-term goals. This card is a sign of a new venture, a new financial opportunity, or the beginning of a solid and stable phase in life. It encourages taking practical steps toward building a strong foundation for the future, grounded in security and resources.

In relationships, it suggests a new beginning based on stability or a grounded partnership. Spiritually, it encourages focusing on manifesting abundance through practical efforts and aligning with natural cycles.

Keywords:
Prosperity, opportunity, new beginnings, manifestation, stability, growth, material success, security, foundation, abundance.

Symbolism:
A single, upright sword dominates the design, often crowned with laurels or floral motifs, symbolising clarity and power. This card evokes themes of mental focus, decisive action, and the emergence of truth.

Meaning:
The Ace of Swords signifies a breakthrough, clarity of thought, or the beginning of intellectual endeavours. It heralds a new phase where truth, logic, and reason will guide your actions. This card encourages decisiveness, honesty, and a commitment to facing challenges with integrity.

In relationships, it may suggest open communication or a new understanding. Spiritually, it represents cutting through illusions to achieve enlightenment.

Keywords:
Clarity, breakthrough, truth, mental focus, logic, decisiveness, honesty, intellectual pursuit, triumph, communication.

Symbolism:
Five batons cross in a dynamic pattern, with leaves sprouting at their junctions, reflecting energy and complexity. The card hints at challenges, competition, or creative conflict that can lead to growth.

Meaning:
The Five of Batons represents conflict, competition, or the struggle for dominance. It may signify challenges, but also the opportunity for growth through constructive tension. This card encourages collaboration and finding productive ways to resolve disputes.

In relationships, it can point to disagreements or the need for compromise. Spiritually, it reflects inner conflict or the process of refining your will.

Keywords:
Conflict, competition, struggle, tension, challenge, collaboration, rivalry, resolution, growth, perseverance.

Symbolism:
The Magician is a youthful figure standing behind a table, holding a wand aloft while other tools lie before him—often a coin, a cup, and a sword. These tools represent mastery over the elements and the power to manifest intentions. His hat, shaped like a lemniscate, symbolises infinite potential, and his posture suggests readiness and action. The vibrant colours of his attire evoke creativity, energy, and a zest for life.

Meaning:
The Magician represents the power of initiative, skill, and resourcefulness. He embodies the ability to turn ideas into reality, combining intellect, action, and willpower. The card often signals the beginning of a new venture or opportunity, where focus and confidence are key. However, it also serves as a warning to avoid manipulation or overconfidence.

The Magician invites you to be aware of your tools and talents, urging you to act with intention. It also reminds you that success depends on your ability to harmonise thought and action.

Keywords:
Initiative, manifestation, skill, potential, confidence, willpower, beginnings, resourcefulness, action, focus.

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:
Six cups are symmetrically aligned, interwoven with flourishing leaves or flowers, signifying nostalgia and harmonious emotions. The imagery suggests a return to past joys, innocence, or the exchange of heartfelt kindness.

Meaning:
The Six of Cups symbolises nostalgia, innocence, and the joy of revisiting the past. It reflects happy memories, generosity, and the simplicity of pure emotional connections. This card encourages embracing the wisdom of your past while staying present.

In relationships, it may suggest a bond rooted in history or the rekindling of old connections. Spiritually, it calls for a return to childlike wonder and openness.

Keywords:
Nostalgia, innocence, joy, generosity, childhood, memories, emotional connection, simplicity, kindness, openness.

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:
Five cups create a loose arrangement, with floral and vine motifs adding a touch of complexity, symbolising emotional shifts. This card evokes themes of loss or disappointment but hints at remaining opportunities and growth.

Meaning:
The Five of Cups represents loss, regret, and the pain of emotional setbacks. However, it also emphasises the potential for healing and moving forward. It urges you to focus on what remains rather than what has been lost.

In relationships, it suggests unresolved issues or the need to address emotional wounds. Spiritually, it reflects the transformative power of grief and the journey toward acceptance and renewal.

Keywords:
Loss, regret, grief, healing, perspective, emotional setbacks, recovery, acceptance, moving forward, transformation.