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 ![]() Page of Wands |
Triggering Causes |
![]() Eight of Wands |
Necessary Conclusions | ![]() Ace of Wands |
| Significator #1 | ![]() XVIII – The Moon |
Significator #2 |
![]() Knight of Swords |
Next Step | ![]() Ace of Cups |
![]() XII – The Hanged Man |
||
Surprising Experiences ![]() Eight of Pentacles |
||
Outcome ![]() Three of Wands |
Significator #1
Knight of Swords
The Knight of Swords indicates you are a generator of ideas. Well placed, you are putting ideas into action. Regardless of the opposition, large or small, conviction in your beliefs and ideas is indicated. Be prepared to defend your placement, your position. Full speed ahead Baby! You are working with a strong base.
* 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.
Significator #2
Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups indicates opening up to love, to new life beginning. Opening up to the psychic and spiritual realm is also indicated. Trust your intuition. Receive the blessing of your psychic messages. That's a voicemail code to remember! Only think the good ones into action. The rest. . .let them rest. Initiate your emotional and intuitive cycle of nurturing love and restoring joy. Your cup is filled with dreams, visions, and inspirations welling up from within. Share them. Take a walk and crank your iPod on the beach!
Early Causes
Eight of Wands
The 8 of Wands indicates a positive change of mind with health, new ideas, goals, projects in the works, love letters, communications. Also indicated is a journey by air travel, by love, or by a love of open spaces. Gardening. Field sports. The indication is that things are 'up in the air' in a positive way, more of an active interest than a wait, a powerful witness watching interestedly to see how things turn out.
Triggering Causes
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.
Higher Perceptions
Page of Wands
The Page of Wands indicates a powerful rush of excitement offering an adventure or a risk, and news or information that will continue your path with adventure. Indicates the necessity of a change in attitude about your environment as a whole, as your environment may have already changed. The Page of Wands is a young charioteer full of exuberance, creativity, and youthful character. Remember this powerful shift. . .risk TRANSFORMS into scope once you've poured forth into your adventurous path. . . and is consequently no longer risk, but scope. Dig deep!
With genuine interest and consideration at the level of this rush of excitement, risk is no longer a risk, it is your scope, your priorities of direction, attributes of your context that are very present.
Indicated is to move strongly though modestly. This does not preclude bold moves, but does indicate that broad brushstrokes are inappropriate at this time. With industrious efforts you can build a substantial base upon which you may then reach your aim.
Take care with the formwork of your actions. Formwork is stripped away as a foundation cures, and will remain in the strength and clarity of your performance. Formwork is to the foundation as the pond turning over is to the pond. The pond remembers its turning over only in its continued fertility. Fluidly build foundations for your most adventurous path, your dreams. Dig deep.
Necessary Conclusions
XVIII – The Moon
The Moon indicates inner connections so intense that they transcend space. Your intense intuition can seamlessly join a variety of unseen forces in harmony as they are reflected inside you. Creative connections with seemingly impossible things can also be indicated.
The moon's reflection on a watery path can be disorienting OR a fascinatingly beautiful and mesmerising image to behold. The Moon indicates to feel your actions. Planning is for another time. Your planning may have placed you right where you are now. Move with only your natural movements in mind. There can be a kind of magnetism in this reflection.
Believing and knowing are not enough at this time. It is indicated to trust your intuition.
* 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 Next Step
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.
Surprises
Eight of Pentacles
The 8 of Pentacles indicates supporting and directing growth in the context of being satisfied with ourselves and what we do. You do not need to perfect yourself to be loved. The meaning of your work occurring in the act AND abundantly gifting you fulfilment is at the core of this card. Within your means and resources expand your means and resources. Your work is best suited to you when it is a labour of love, always trying something new with solid foundations. With solid foundations feelings of depletion indicate misspent efforts. Feelings of abundance and fulfilment with strong foundations indicate effective progress.
The Outcome
Three of Wands
The Three of Wands card indicates your new world is in place, and success is implied. As enthusiastically as you made this place for yourself, look to your planning to drive success. Now is a grand time for partnerships in work or career. Travel may be indicated or communications with distant places as you have a good perspective from the new place you've created.
