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:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle![]() V – The Hierophant |
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Hidden Influences![]() Ten of Swords |
External Influences![]() Two of Swords |
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The Present![]() Seven of Swords |
Suggestion![]() Four of Swords |
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The Past![]() X – The Wheel of Fortune |
The Outcome![]() Three of Swords |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
X – The Wheel of Fortune
Delay in new beginnings or missing out on new opportunities. Having resistance to change. Unexpected problems and obstacles. Fate is not smiling at you right now. 'Shit happens' but 'this too shall pass'. Getting caught up in the dramas of life.
The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Seven of Swords
Trickery or dishonesty; clandestine behaviour. Involvement in underhanded or illegal acts. A risky undertaking. Cunning actions, especially when used to 'level the playing field'. 'Thinking outside of the box'. Working 'smarter, not harder'.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
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'.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
V – The Hierophant
Taking a non-conformist or unconventional approach. Blindly following someone else's advice. Being closed-minded. Someone who is obsessive compulsive or does doing everything by the book. Being sacrilegious or irreligious.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
Two of Swords
Decisiveness, objectivity. It's time to make an important decision in order to move forward. A wise or clever decision or compromise. Seeing both sides of an argument. Settling an argument. Arriving at a truce.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
Four of Swords
Taking a vacation or some needed 'downtime'. Rest and recuperation. A reminder to take care of yourself. Finding peace or a break from the stress of life. Escaping the 'rat race'. Introspection.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
Three of Swords
Avoiding painful truths. Unscrupulous actions. Having no regrets for your actions. Moving on and leaving the past behind you. Struggling to recover from psychological wounds.
