Celtic Cross Spread

Celtic Cross

 

 

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

XXI – The World

  The Outcome

Two of Swords


Hopes and Fears

Youth of Coins


External Forces

Five of Wands


The Querent

Seven of Coins

The Recent Past

Ten of Swords

The Crossing Card

Three of Cups


The Significator

V – The Hierophant

The Future

Eight of Swords


Foundation card

Five of Cups

 

 

 

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

 

 

V – The Hierophant

Conformity; sticking with conventional wisdom. A traditional rite, ritual, or ceremony. Religious teachings or education in general. Peer pressure. Listening to your conscience. Being devout; having faith in something.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Three of Cups

Be careful of overindulgence; too much of a good thing can cause problems. The cancelation of a celebration or party. Hanging with a bad crowd. Betrayal of friends. 'Misery loves company'.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

XXI – The World

An unwillingness or inability to finish a job. Unfinished business in your life needs to be attended to. A need to tie up loose ends and finally put something to rest. Feelings of boredom or powerlessness. Bridling at constraints that have been imposed on you. 'Living in your own little world'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Five of Cups

The end of a painful time is drawing near. Seeing the glass as half full instead of as half empty. Getting over grief and sorrow. Seeing a loss as the beginning of a new stage in life. Consoling someone who has experienced a loss.

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

Ten of Swords

Desperate actions in desperate times. A mess that no one wants to take responsibility for. Hitting rock bottom. Plans fall apart. Continuing to obsess about a situation even though it is finished already. Overkill. Feeling like you've been stabbed in the back. 'He who lives by the sword dies by the sword'.

 

 

 

 

 

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

Three of Cups

Be careful of overindulgence; too much of a good thing can cause problems. The cancelation of a celebration or party. Hanging with a bad crowd. Betrayal of friends. 'Misery loves company'.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Seven of Coins

Drudgery. Working for 'peanuts'. Doubting long-term benefits of current efforts. Demoralisation, giving up. Feeling oppressed by your work. Wasted effort or a waste of time.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Five of Wands

Finding a way to make a chaotic situation be productive instead. Rising above the chaos and turmoil around you. 'You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs'. Complications or problems in your life can be overcome with some effort. The end of struggles. You are being held back by your conflicted feelings about something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Youth of Coins

Good news related to finances and material goods. A new opportunity to make money, or a fresh new approach to business. Starting at the ground floor and working your way up. Meeting someone who is able to provide material benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Two of Swords

A dilemma with no clear answer in sight. An ugly conflict, perhaps where one party is being deceitful or underhanded. A stalemate. A no win situation. A forced or unsatisfactory decision or resolution to a problem. Avoiding making a decision until you're forced to.

 

 

 

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