The Golden Dawn or Thoth Method

Difficulty: Complicated

Note: Tarot decks that use reversed cards such as the Rider-Waite do not work well with this spread, which was designed to be read using elemental dignity.

The Golden Dawn spread is best suited for use with the bifrost Tarot and especially the Book of Thoth, as these decks are meant to be read a certain way with the court cards. Princes and queens represent actual men and women connected with the matter, while princesses generally represent ideas; thoughts or opinions, and knights represent arrival or departure of a matter depending on the direction faced.

In this tarot spread, particular attention should be paid to a card's exact position in relation to its neighbours. Whether the neighbour cards bear the same energy (suit) determines whether a card is considered well-dignified or ill-dignified. Opposite suits ill-dignify each other, while other suits are considered friendly. Tarot cards of the same suit or element strengthen each other.

As with other tarot spreads, it is important to count the cards' tendencies, such as whether there is a lot of one particular suit or number pattern. The patterns reveal special messages. Having several majors present indicates higher forces at work, several cups suggest strong emotions, etc.

Card #1 represents the reader and the nature of the topic at hand.

Cards #2 & #3 are read in extension of #1 to further comprehend the nature of the topic.

The two sets of three tarot cards at the top of the spread represent chronological sets of events. The current path as it would unfold naturally is represented by cards #4, #8, & #12. The alternate path that could be taken is represented by cards #13, #9, & #5. However, if the reader gets the feeling these cards are telling them they go together, then the alternate path is to be considered an extension of the current path, and to be read chronologically in this order: #4, #8, #12, #13, #9, #5. Just keep in mind: this is only if the two paths seem particularly similar.

Cards #14, #10, & #6 shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current issue.

Cards #7, #11, & #15 represent the influences of karma and destiny beyond the reader's control. These cards suggest adapting to this, as fate.

Your Golden Dawn Reading

The Alternate Path (or Extension of Current Path)				Your Current Path
Six of Wands	Ten of Cups	IV – The Emperor		Seven of Cups	Two of Cups	Five of Wands
		The Querent
		Eight of Pentacles	Four of Wands	Nine of Wands
The Psychological Basis				Karma
Knight of Wands	Three of Swords	VI – The Lovers		Queen of Swords	XIII – Death	Two of Wands

The Querent

cards represent the querent and the nature of the topic at hand. The first card (in the center of the spread) represents the very core of the matter, and the other two cards around it are added to it in order to further comprehend the nature of the topic.

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.

Reversed you may find an obstacle blocking you from happiness. A surprise may bring both happiness and sorrow or dissatisfaction. Look to the surprise for its surprise, and amend your soil with the newness alone, letting the sorrow and dissatisfaction fall away at most as compost, more probably as chaff.

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 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.

Your Current Path

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.

* 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 2 of Cups indicates love, friendship, healing, contentment, satisfying relationships, harmony, and cooperation. Two joined are more than just two ones. Distinction made between joined / united versus union. Two identities feeling mutual respect, powerful witness, and participation with one another. With attraction present your heart's desire, feelings, and expressions trump being right.

* 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 Wands card indicates stiff competition, not necessarily fair, with no clear winner implied. All are separate entities. Challenge with an unclear outcome, enterprise, and glory rule the wands. Like revving the engine but the clutch is in, strong competition often indicates obstacles. Do not stop the fight. Add new perspective that the competition is missing. Anger is a fabulous reminder that there are still a few things still misunderstood. At one and the same time feel the wonders of the contexts outside you, of your actions in context, and contexts inside you.

The Alternate Path

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

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.

The Emperor indicates you have the power and vision to see the big picture. Established context or developed place is also indicated. Plan and explore your ideas with deliberate action. Going step by step, even in surprise, you can re-align the pace and direction of the whole system as you go along. You are the genius of your location. Mind your placement with attentive and patient presence.

Feel the manifestations of your bigger dreams building on a strong foundation!

The Psychological Basis

The knight of Wands indicates too great an emphasis on spiritual matters, thoughtless action, new and unfamiliar actions and feelings. The house cracked so to speak. . .hard to mend damage. . .or an awakening. Spiritual matters are indicated as being overly focused upon. . .or you are experiencing more spirit, adding / growing from your spiritual core rather than from / at the edges. A means of introspection is indicated. Your house is in some form of flux, transition, healing, renewal, awakening.

* 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 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.

The Lovers indicate vibrant joineries embedded in a mutual harmony. Indicates a coming together of lovers, of ideas, of energies. Feel the vibrancy of your confidence and purpose. Feel your wholehearted respect in powerful witness with your love. There is vitality at every scale for you at this time! Now is a grand time for enhancing and strengthening partnerships in your personal and business realms. * 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.

Karma

The Queen of Swords indicates shrewdness, holding back opinion until saying exactly what feels to be said. This demeanour of constitution makes opinions distinctly clear. Intelligence. Professionalism. You can see right through any lies that are presented to you at this time. Further, the ability to incorporate the truth of the situation clearly and directly in context in the moment is indicated.

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.

The 2 of Wands card indicates a warning of potential disaster by overload and imbalance. Do not blindly go. Look for your natural path. Do not perceive many little things as one big thing. It is often one reflected through all. You may be daydreaming, hoping in vain, perceiving your preconceptions or fixations. Listen. Wait. Be on the move like The Hermit.

Also indicated that reflections can be delusions, mirages. Reflect through them, past them and look for what feels to be your natural path, and / or simply your natural path of action.

* 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.