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![]() Eight of Swords
External Forces ![]() Nine of Cups
|
||
The Recent Past![]() Five of Swords |
The Crossing Card
|
The Future![]() King of Pentacles |
|
|
|||
The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.
XVII – The Star
The Star indicates continually finding your cosmic groove and going for it! Eternal hope in the diamond-like seat of your mind-body-beautiful is indicated to be sparkling brightly! The Star card indicates the immutable and vibrant presence of your memories, your hope, and your knowledge.
The Star encourages you to shift your focus and re-direct your scale without moving the gaze upon your focus. Even the smallest star provides a glimmer of hope.
This is a bright time for feeling your possibilities expanding!
The Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles card indicates power in your assets or seeds, your own value, and that you matter. You needn't perfect yourself to be liked or loved.
Nurturing and tending your own garden of purpose, you bring new life into the world. You do not need to perfect yourself to be loved.
Conditions are rife with possibilities. Strengthen your connection to explore your sexuality. Share tokens or symbols of love and affection. And don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, or to be messy. Have fun in this burgeoning new time.
The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
Four of Swords
The 4 of Swords indicates coming to fruition or the manifestation of an idea, along with a foundation or 'space' where things can grow.
Also indicated is a preparation time. Grow YOUR diamond in YOUR rough times. Here. . .never hurry, never rest. Pace. Enhance your preparedness without locking your muscles into play. Direct a calm flow.
Reversed, the 4 of Swords indicates renewed activities, your batteries recharged, your metaphorical oil changed. Good opportunities are ahead, but use discretion in your dealings at present. Literally, hand yourself over to yourself as you say “take care.”
Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
King of Cups
The King of Cups indicates that you are a protective figure with abundance and prosperity. Rather than a guide showing the path, you are supportive and protective, a friend and companion on the track of life. Your abilities to inspire in simple conversation shine as those around you sip from the cup of your abundant energy. At this time rather than being half empty or half full, your cup is simply a wonderful place to put a flower. Shine in the joyousness of your milieu. Now is a great time to have a get-together.
Be it small or be it big, flow with those you care about, flow in your context. The cup of your abundant energy indicates you can have a party anywhere you go.
* 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 Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
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.
The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles card indicates power in your assets or seeds, your own value, and that you matter. You needn't perfect yourself to be liked or loved.
Nurturing and tending your own garden of purpose, you bring new life into the world. You do not need to perfect yourself to be loved.
Conditions are rife with possibilities. Strengthen your connection to explore your sexuality. Share tokens or symbols of love and affection. And don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, or to be messy. Have fun in this burgeoning new time.
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!
External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
Nine of Cups
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!
Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
Ten of Cups
The 10 of Cups indicates joyfully reflecting on one's family and home. Great happiness, contentment, peace, and love are indicated. Count your blessings, for if there is trouble in your family or home, this joy can be realised if you work toward that goal together. The strength of family weathers any storm, the strength of a healthy family inside and out shines such that all benefit. Express your joy with a surprise hidden in plain sight, a token sent in an altogether different way. Odds are it's already there. Courier a gift certificate for a massage to your honey to arrive while you're out to eat together. Advise to use a professional in that case, massage AND courier.
Get creative. Odds are you have a flow that is priceless right now. Share it. If you're single and far from family, treat the family of your experiences with the same powerful and grand love you would for someone special that you love. Family is forever as you are forever in it. As many a wise 14 year old sage has said, “we're all immortal until we die.” Wondrously and wonderfully step up to explore that in a love of your experiences.
* 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.
Eight of Swords
The 8 of Swords indicates a positive change of mind towards your troubles, a positive change of mind manifesting. Enhance it boldly. Justice, material progress, and health are indicated with this new way. You're releasing yourself from the prison of transparent belief. Act in the moment. Your positive change of mind is indicated to turn your troubles into effective communications that you can utilise to balance yourself forward.
* 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.

