Ankh Spread

Difficulty: Kind of tough
The Ankh Spread is for questions about the causes behind trends. It is similar to the Celtic Cross and Secret of the High Priestess spreads, but it covers the reasons behind the circumstances in question differently, perhaps giving a better explanation of why things are the way they are.
The loop of the upper section of the ankh reveals the spiritual background and causes of the situation, while the stem of the base focuses on prospects for the outcome.
The first two tarot cards represent the two parent causes of the situation. They will either complement each other or show two opposing sides of a conflict, depending on how they relate. These are the significator cards of the Ankh spread.
3. This tarot card shines light upon the early causes of the trend in question.
4. Pinpoints the causes that triggered the current situation.
5. Reveals the spiritual perspective of the subject at hand.
6. This card examines the reasons why this course of action had to unfold, as a means to this end.
At this point, it is good to pause to soak in the meaning of the first six cards before moving forward to the last three cards. The last three reveal prospects for the future.
7. The Next Step gives clues about the immediate future.
8. Surprising Experiences encountered en route to the result.
9. This represents the result.
Your Ankh Reading
| Early Causes | Higher Perceptions ![]() Seven of Cups |
Triggering Causes |
![]() Page of Cups |
Necessary Conclusions | ![]() Ten of Pentacles |
| Significator #1 | ![]() Six of Wands |
Significator #2 |
![]() V – The Hierophant |
Next Step | ![]() IX – The Hermit |
![]() Ace of Wands |
||
Surprising Experiences ![]() Five of Swords |
||
Outcome ![]() Ten of Wands |
Significator #1
V – The Hierophant
The Hierophant indicates infusing you, your mind-body-beautiful, with the divine, bringing your dreams clearly down to earth. Your spirit is radiating. Bring your dreams to reality from within you!
This time is well-suited for enhancing meaningful things in your life.
Significator #2
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.
Early Causes
Page of Cups
The Page of Cups indicates caring for someone, playful and fun thoughts of loved ones. Musical or artistic talent are indicated, playing with your cup. Being loved and feeling that you are being loved even if you are on your own. There is strength of character present with the Page of Cups to skilfully and playfully follow your dreams.
* 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.
Triggering Causes
Ten of Pentacles
The 10 of Pentacles indicates prosperity, close relationships, inheritance. Practical stability and the tangible material physical world are signified by the Pentacle symbol, but the true meaning of this card is found intuitively each time it appears in the context of the reading. Meld close relationships, prosperity, and inheritance in context to tenor the overall reading.
Also indicated is to appreciate ties and enrichment. Sometimes a surprise inheritance is something you were born with.
* 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.
Higher Perceptions
Seven of Cups
The 7 of Cups indicates having your head in the clouds. Your dreams are flourishing, but encroaching on you at the expense of your actions. Dreams are wonderful, but not so much when by contrast their inspiration is lessened causing disconnect in actions.
Also indicated is to watch that you don't get caught up in your dream world at the expense of reality. Balance and centre and you will be clear.
As with gardening, it is not recommended to cut things back too hard. In fact, do not cut them at all. Increase your actions. Start with a big breath. All dreams and no action may be pie in the sky, and as well may be more markedly that you are in a new place. Do not be afraid to act. Simply renew and think of a great wind. The smoke and chaff will begin to clear as the wheat of your dreams nourishes your newfound zeal.
Necessary Conclusions
Six of Wands
The 6 of Wands indicates receiving victory and glory, where through teamwork obstacles will be overcome.
The Next Step
Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands indicates new life, place-making, as with setting the sacred staff, the omphalos, locating a building, a space, a place. Courage is indicated in the act of placement, creativity in the placement itself, and enthusiasm in the impending energy of place being made.
* 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.
Surprises
Five of Swords
The 5 of Swords indicates feeling an overwhelming sense of defeat. Everything is out to get you or there is no way out. Beware of truth- against-the-world thinking as it is only ego-echoes tantrum-ing through what may be depression or low energy. Your ego's socio-pathing you so to speak, and remember that some studies have shown that it can only tantrum for 2 minutes at a time. Right now, its endurance may be dealing you successive strikes. Weather this storm as your inner storm making your outer one. Cease pitying yourself! Cease pitying yourself! DO NOT return the ego-echo's call! You DO NOT need to perfect yourself to be loved! Feel that!
The 5 of Swords indicates that with some careful reassessment, or simply a good bout of forgetting transparent beliefs, you will be free to accomplish your visualised outcomes again before too long. Go get the oil changed in your car if it's time, and empathise with that process. Google it. You might just feel like you've exploded. There WAS calm before the storm. You will MAKE calm as it becomes AFTER the storm. Do it differently this time, though. The landscape may be a little different after a storm.
Also, think about it this way: as with splitting wood with an adze which is stuck and all work is stopped. Stop pulling. Stop whacking. Tap your adze. Get yourself out of your heart knot and wipe your brow.
* 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.
The Outcome
Ten of Wands
The 10 of Wands indicates courage shown along the road of your path, wonderfully strong balance of all you carry. Towing EVERYTHING with the grace of your own body. Each twilight sky prefigures the coming of the night, presages the promise of the coming dawn. New days bring wonderful new challenges. There is courage in owning what you carry, invigorating it and being invigorated by it. Blind faith in fulfilling your purpose expresses the balance indicated. Transformation here is catalysed by the passion and direction in your principles.
The agility with wonderfully strong balance indicates you may juggle so well and naturally that it appears to be a solar system.
* 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.
