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![]() Seven of Cups
External Forces ![]() Ten of Wands
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The Recent Past![]() Ace of Wands |
The Crossing Card
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The Future![]() VII – The Chariot |
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The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.
Three of Pentacles
The 3 of pentacles indicates your Industry, hard work, and talent paying off as you work on some sort of project utilising all the aspects of yourself – Mind, Body, Spirit. A project or idea that has greater significance than you realise.
Use creativity to discover what you should be doing with your life, or to enhance and reinforce what you already ARE doing. A project done with careful planning and joy that has the potential to touch lives and leave a lasting impression. HECK!!! Downshift and enjoy the turns, BABY! Drive your thang as you make smiles!
* 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 Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
Three of Cups
The 3 of Cups indicate seeking fulfilment through working with someone or group, personal growth experienced by developing friendships and partnerships. Trees help each other when they grow in clumps.
The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
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.
* 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.
Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
VIII – Justice
Justice indicates that your life is coming back into balance with a strong sense of fairness. This fairness indicates not to concentrate so much on right and wrong. Odds are you are a good person. Consequences and outcomes are more important at this time. Suggested to work to be considerate rather than being agreeable at this time. Consideration is a fitting use of the energies of Justice. Be mindful of yourself as you are, and mindful of others as they are. Your life decisions and the fabric of your unfolding patterns is indicated to be informed by your inner scale of weights and measures.
The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
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.
The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
Three of Cups
The 3 of Cups indicate seeking fulfilment through working with someone or group, personal growth experienced by developing friendships and partnerships. Trees help each other when they grow in clumps.
The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.
I – The Magician
The Magician indicates the house of your creativity. You are receiving those first sparks, the first inklings of your inspiration. Your insight is flashing in a pure vessel. Visualise your first exciting strokes across a blank page! You have both an intense focus and a vibrant enthusiasm available to you at this time.
Now is a great time to begin something new!
* 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.
External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
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.
Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
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.
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.
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.

