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 Nine of Cups
Hidden Influences Five of Cups		External Influences Youth of Cups
The Present XVII – The Star		Suggestion XV – The Devil
The Past II – The Priestess		The Outcome Ten of Cups

Intuitively understanding underlying factors or unconscious motivations. Follow the guidance of your dreams. Meditation and contemplation is important now. Inner peace and tranquillity. Spirituality.

Pessimism. Taking a 'glass is half empty' approach instead of viewing it as half full. Not being able to recognise the value of a situation or opportunity. Holding on to desperate or unrealistic hopes. Having your head in the clouds when you need to keep your feet on the ground instead.

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.

A success turns sour or has hidden problems. Too much of a good thing. Overindulgence or debauchery. Smugness, vanity, or selfishness that comes as a result of success. Beware of friends who take advantage of your good fortune or generosity.

The possibility or beginning of a romance. Making a new or renewed commitment to another person. Discovering new feelings about a situation or person. Opening your heart to someone; the need to be more open-hearted about a situation. Using your imagination.

'Facing your demons'. Overcoming an addiction. Pushing past obsessions and working to limit the number of toxic situations and friendships in your life. Getting help for your problems with addictions, anger management issues, etc. Resisting temptation. 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't'.

A good situation is disrupted. The end of a good time in life. Family problems or disruptions in your home life. Having an overly idealistic view of what a relationship should be like. Happiness that proves to be as fleeting as a rainbow. An unhappy childhood or a dysfunctional family life.