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.

1. The significator epitomizes what the reading deals with, the initial situation.
2. An added impulse that compounds the significator, which may be either complimentary or contradictory.
3. This is what is consciously known (thoughts).
4. Unconscious driving forces that may not be known fully (emotions).
5. The immediate past regarding the current situation.
6. The first future card indicates the immediate future.
7. This card represents the reader and their attitude towards cards #1 and #2.
8. The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.
9. This tarot card suggests expectations; what is secretly hoped for or feared.
10. The second future card reveals the long-term outcome.

Your Celtic Cross Reading

	The Crown Three of Swords		The Outcome Nine of Wands Hopes and Fears Nine of Swords External Forces Three of Pentacles The Querent Six of Wands
The Recent Past Nine of Cups	The Crossing Card Ace of Swords The Significator XIII – Death	The Future Ace of Cups
	Foundation card Five of Pentacles

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. * 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.

The Ace of Swords card indicates to stick to the point, make yourself clear. Prepared, stand up for yourself. Meditate options objectively before taking the next logical step. Understand or identify the cause by feeling it. You get what you want by trusting your own personal convictions and inner voice implicitly.

Be mindful of impersonal, indifferent, or even bossy expressions. Cut through the bull while protecting your privacy. Do not let down your guard, and visualise your guard and armour as your health. Keep your wits about you. Feelings rule here over reasons or explanations.

Ideas are present with the Ace of Swords, but with no certainty towards placement. The Ace of Swords presents your present opportunity to cut through the confusion, and shed some new light on the situation that is causing difficulties. Change the light in your home. Wide open blinds! Blast-wash with light. Your ideas are there. Let them cut in to your dance! This is the daily sword-sharpening devotion. Let its roots flower in patience. There is a discipline of the ritual in plants. First year roots. Second year foliage. Third year fruits and flowers.

Swords often represent some type of communications. A problem that you've created for yourself in your own mind, involvement in a situation where a clear decision isn't present, or you've been looping, record-skipping, can't see an end in sight. It is indicated to cut through and look at the core of what is being communicated to you.

The 3 of Swords indicates distortion of your feelings, the illusion of a twig into water, heartfelt refraction. Your expectations are big blind spots. Think a heart tattooed with pain, a vicious dark spot. Take a walk. Then take a bath. Don't operate heavy machinery at this time. You are the heavy machinery. Flow through the change born of forgetting. Lighten up. There is strength in forgetting. Forgetting is sometimes for getting!

It may feel as if this pain will never end . . . take a walk in the park. Look more than both ways when crossing the street as you are not moving in a way you are used to or comfortable 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.

The 5 of Pentacles indicates emotional, physical, material and /or spiritual crises that manifest as loss and lack on the physical plane. Look within. Determine what must be changed to improve your situation. Healing the inside. Weed. Amend your soil. Forgiveness of yourself, others. Transform negative thought patterns while not feeling sorry for yourself, not being a separatist, or blind to the blessings all around. Anger is a fabulous reminder that there are still some things misunderstood, and if you're mad at yourself, change gears with a nap, a warm bath, or meditation. Feel the hope and bright warmth hiding in oppressive circumstances.

Creatively using oppressive circumstances, rise above your own limitations. Recognise your own appreciation. . .Drop the things that are expected but unnecessary and you get more valuable all the time!

Beware of daydreams that substitute patterns that keep you from manifesting your dreams. Think self-limitation, your soul becoming more conscious, isolation for the purpose of gathering strength and gaining focus to develop your own uniqueness. Shamanic work is also indicated. Simply value your life. . .and do not act on reactive impulses. As soon as you decide, then take at least ONE more step. It may feel like rock bottom, but perspective can also place that as something strong on which to stand. Look for the glow!

* 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 9 of Cups indicates the manifestation of happiness that starts within the mind and emotions of an individual and how they are carried forth into the world. Inner happiness moving into the physical realm is indicated, your own, personalised Hierophant abilities. Take wonderfully respectful and invigorated note of your blossoms and blooms. Celebrate them!

The Ace of Swords card indicates to stick to the point, make yourself clear. Prepared, stand up for yourself. Meditate options objectively before taking the next logical step. Understand or identify the cause by feeling it. You get what you want by trusting your own personal convictions and inner voice implicitly.

Be mindful of impersonal, indifferent, or even bossy expressions. Cut through the bull while protecting your privacy. Do not let down your guard, and visualise your guard and armour as your health. Keep your wits about you. Feelings rule here over reasons or explanations.

Ideas are present with the Ace of Swords, but with no certainty towards placement. The Ace of Swords presents your present opportunity to cut through the confusion, and shed some new light on the situation that is causing difficulties. Change the light in your home. Wide open blinds! Blast-wash with light. Your ideas are there. Let them cut in to your dance! This is the daily sword-sharpening devotion. Let its roots flower in patience. There is a discipline of the ritual in plants. First year roots. Second year foliage. Third year fruits and flowers.

Swords often represent some type of communications. A problem that you've created for yourself in your own mind, involvement in a situation where a clear decision isn't present, or you've been looping, record-skipping, can't see an end in sight. It is indicated to cut through and look at the core of what is being communicated to you.

The 6 of Wands indicates receiving victory and glory, where through teamwork obstacles will be overcome.

* 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 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!

The 9 of Swords indicates that situations or events are nearing completion, or have just been completed and another plateau waits. This is a card about the pain in the false summit of mental anguish. Though misery, suffering, desolation, and illness may be present, the path is indicated to be clear.

Understand the false summit of a mountain climb as a trail-marker of progress and an immediate horizon rather than a destination. Pass through this time, through your false summit without judgment on yourself as you will only pick up things that weigh yourself down. Sprint through! And simply find enjoyment in the scenery as you continue.

There's maybe a diamond in your rough experience right before you. Right before you so big and so there you aren't seeing it. It is your experience. Feel it. Experience, and no more. Contemplate or meditate at this time in your thoughtfully aware actions. It's indicated to be one of those places where the farmer's wisdom shines. If you realise you're in a hole, stop digging. A shovel is an indelicate tool for this time. Visualise your experience AS the situation. Own up and try a new perspective. . .YOURS!!!

* 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 9 of Wands indicates that your preparation is complete. This is a pause, a commencement period before the first guests arrive. Sit back and breathe deep. Look into your distance and smile. A wonderful feeling of contentedness may fill your being. Ding-dong. Let the celebration begin!

* 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.