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 ![]() Six of Cups |
Triggering Causes |
![]() Five of Cups |
Necessary Conclusions | ![]() Ten of Wands |
| Significator #1 | ![]() XVIII – The Moon |
Significator #2 |
![]() Page of Cups |
Next Step | ![]() XIII – Death |
![]() Four of Wands |
||
Surprising Experiences ![]() Knight of Pentacles |
||
Outcome ![]() VII – The Chariot |
Significator #1
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.
Significator #2
XIII – Death
Death indicates transformation. It is indicated to sacrifice unnecessary preconceptions you hold. The old you is evolving. A Phoenix is rising as a birth's introduction. Visualize a winter garden where things are resting for renewal. Patience is in fact a virtue of the Death card. Your perennial ideas and actions may naturalize to come back in different places more vibrantly.
If you are distressed at this time, mind your timing and placement. Do not trample on the new things in your life that appear small. Renewal and awakening may begin subtly. More is present than meets the eye.
Haste is not indicated. Slow your pace to be patiently present.
Early Causes
Five of Cups
The 5 of Cups indicates rough, turbulent, or confusing times. Possible loss, or loss already occurred are also indicated. Cups indicate that all is not lost, though. Like the seagull seeing something positive in the tumultuous sea, hope for the future and treasure discovered in your emotions is indicated.
Reversal often indicates the presence of a similar but inner, aspect streaming in the unconscious.
Triggering Causes
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.
Higher Perceptions
Six of Cups
The 6 of Cups indicates adjustments in thoughts, attitudes, conditions, and the ability to transcend difficulties. Equilibrium. Balance. Sentimental values. A connection or reconnection to something in your past – either meeting an old acquaintance, pleasant memories of the past, perhaps even a message from someone you had lost contact with. New surroundings, new opportunities. Familiar surroundings viewed differently also bring new opportunities. Inheritances come in many forms on a daily basis.
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
Four of Wands
The Four of Wands indicates the joy of coming together for a purpose and the growth and happiness that can result. A surprise or thrill out of the blue may be in store for you. You may meet someone unexpectedly. Planned celebrations or the freedom of building something together with someone are also indicated. Build it together and you will reap abundance.
Surprises
Knight of Pentacles
The Knight of Pentacles indicates making earthbound goals come into being. Consistently and steadily applying their highest aspects. Related to the Hierophant as a more mundane, every day devotion, one may call to their mate as they shuffle through the leaves in the forest, may work diligently but more so fully in feeling their task AS the meaning. This is the card of the joy of getting “lost” on a walk or run, in / on a kayak in the middle of a bay or the ocean. . . lost while traveling intently, conscious only of your traveling, exploration. Loss as freedom rather than deficient.
This is not necessarily a card about being physical per se, but of being present in one's body in context. This feeling of being lost, or of stillness. . .this is the loss where one is fully present, a meditation where reasons have wonderfully gone missing. Reason is lost. This is the card indicating a full mind-body-beautiful presence with the justice of strength simply present. Imagine your own tiger cubs frolic-stumble-rolling over your paws. . . and your secret glance and smile. This is the card of the youthful silverback.
The Outcome
VII – The Chariot
The Chariot indicates you are bringing powerfully diverse, internal forces into harmony. Indicates agility at speed in your process. Take note of your strategies as chariots typically engage from the side rather than head on. Look to the powerful forces in your life to feel where strain needs to be tuned back in to balance. The embodiment of stand-alone, self-nourishing connections is indicated in the agility of your actions. Shift and corner! This is a great time to feel the agility of your responsiveness!
