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.
- The significator epitomizes what the reading deals with, the initial situation.
- An added impulse that compounds the significator, which may be either complimentary or contradictory.
- This is what is consciously known (thoughts).
- Unconscious driving forces that may not be known fully (emotions).
- The immediate past regarding the current situation.
- The first future card indicates the immediate future.
- This card represents the reader and their attitude towards cards #1 and #2.
- The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.
- This tarot card suggests expectations; what is secretly hoped for or feared.
- The second future card reveals the long-term outcome.
Your Celtic Cross Reading
The Crown |
The Outcome![]() XXI – The World
External Forces ![]() XII – The Hanged Man
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The Recent Past![]() XVII – The Star |
The Crossing Card
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The Future![]() XVI – The Tower |
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The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.
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XI – Strength
Strength indicates mastering self-control and taming fears or impulses. Feel infinite fortitude and self-restraint while incorporating your voice at this time. Visualize a sprinter sitting, a tiger napping. Strength is not indicated to tame your beast, but to harness your voice. A simple way is indicated. A simple gesture will establish your direction as your strength is naturally present. Anything more than necessary may cause decay.
Understand you are very powerful at this time. Be mindful of others as you are playing with more power than you may know. Step as only you need at this time.
Develop an understanding that the strength of your presence is felt without threat, backlash, or skepticism. * A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasize rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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The Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
IX – The Hermit
The Hermit indicates inner activity and the clarity you see in the mysteries and seeming lack of form in darkness, indicates walking the cloister of your mind. You may be acutely aware of cycles of experience completed at this time. Identify them clearly and meditate on them from within. Be inwardly active. Others may not see what you see or feel what you feel. The Hermit is not stationary. Do not maintain or hold static perspectives. Now is a poignant time to sense YOUR perspective, and believe what you feel. * A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasise rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
III – The Empress
The Empress indicates you carrying your ideas and projects to full term, abundantly bringing them to fruition. Feel the stability in the depth of your character as you orchestrate the crucial last gestures and finishing touches.
This is a wonderful time to fully bring things to life!
A creative or physical birth of some kind is indicated.
* A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasise rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
XX – Judgement
Judgment indicates a weightlessness of memory in mind that exacts a heavy toll or provides one with a breadth of self-born experience. It is indicated to not dig in your dirt at this time in respect for your own dead. In respectful remembrance forget them to sprouting and flowering naturally as you simply amend your soil.
It is indicated that you alone carry your memories into the present, no more at the mercy of your past, than you are of old photo albums. Take more pictures! Judgment indicates the respectful remembrance of perennials poking their noses up in newly amended soil.
Now is indicated to be a time where the cycles of your memories will flourish.
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The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
XVII – The Star
The Star indicates continually finding your cosmic groove and going for it! Eternal hope in the diamond-like seat of your mind-body-beautiful is indicated to be sparkling brightly! The Star card indicates the immutable and vibrant presence of your memories, your hope, and your knowledge.
The Star encourages you to shift your focus and re-direct your scale without moving the gaze upon your focus. Even the smallest star provides a glimmer of hope.
This is a bright time for feeling your possibilities expanding!
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The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
IX – The Hermit
The Hermit indicates inner activity and the clarity you see in the mysteries and seeming lack of form in darkness, indicates walking the cloister of your mind. You may be acutely aware of cycles of experience completed at this time. Identify them clearly and meditate on them from within. Be inwardly active. Others may not see what you see or feel what you feel. The Hermit is not stationary. Do not maintain or hold static perspectives. Now is a poignant time to sense YOUR perspective, and believe what you feel. * A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasise rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.
XIV – Temperance
Temperance indicates seeming impossible opposites mixing and working together. See the man and beast joined in the centaur is a uniquely complete being. See a bow and arrow. One is moving, one stationary. Feel the mixing of things working together to point your way.
A strong sequence is indicated where... unity incorporates into your identity, your identity transforms to point the direction, and your direction transforms to support you with agile balance. The elements of your actions are powerfully expansive and pulsing. Striking a balance is indicated. Take everything in moderation at this time... including moderation. Moderation may simply be a well-balanced and harmonious blending appropriate to the time.
Enjoy this strong time, where your biggest ideas and dreams and your daily grind and rush-rush activities may feel just right together! * A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasize rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
XII – The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man indicates you may be afloat in clarity with your spirituality and dreams and psychic abilities being wholly present. Ever peaceful, never suffering. Suspension, not life or death, is indicated.
The Hanged Man indicates to stop resisting and make yourself vulnerable to the positive things, and in doing so glimpse illumination. An insight so deep is indicated that, even if but for a moment, nothing but that insight will feel to exist. And, as timeless as that moment seems, there is also an acute awareness of its temporary nature. Remember this time as you may never see things quite the same.
Note your insights at this time, however great or small they are. You may feel forever changed by them, and by the memory of their presence. * A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasize rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
IV – The Emperor
The Emperor indicates you have the power and vision to see the big picture. Established context or developed place is also indicated. Plan and explore your ideas with deliberate action. Going step by step, even in surprise, you can re-align the pace and direction of the whole system as you go along. You are the genius of your location. Mind your placement with attentive and patient presence.
Feel the manifestations of your bigger dreams building on a strong foundation!
* A manner of reading a reversal is to emphasise rather than a reversed meaning, an internal meaning relating more to one's inner self than indicating the outer world. Read the card with your inner context, what it says to you about your inner person.
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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.
XXI – The World
The World indicates that you are right back where you started and the journey is complete. A complete cycle is indicated. Look to new dreams, bigger ones. See the world IN The World card! View up through the looking glass of the obelisk from its base as if you are inside the obelisk looking up. See the point of its top right in front of you. Visualise the vanishing point of the top as a portal to infinity. Step smoothly through the doorway of your next iteration remembering this one.
The World indicates a powerful completion! Indicates a powerful completion cycle in The Fool's journey, YOUR journey!
Enjoy this time as you seamlessly segue into the next.