Horse Shoe Spread

Difficulty: Easy

The Horse Shoe is a classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the three-card reading, yet simpler than most other spreads. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other spreads which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future spread, it contains these cards in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other tarot cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The cards are to be read as follows:

1. The Past: Past events affecting the question.
2. The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
3. Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
4. Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
5. External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
6. Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
7. Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.

Your Horse Shoe Reading

	Obstacle IV – The Emperor
Hidden Influences Nine of Swords		External Influences XVI – The Tower
The Present Ace of Swords		Suggestion King of Wands
The Past VIII – Justice		The Outcome IX – The Hermit

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 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 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!!!

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!

* 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 Tower indicates your pond turning over, a major change. Resistance to change has already been torn down and renewal is at hand. It is indicated that the smoke is clearing on this your new playing field! False structures and beliefs are dramatically tumbling down! Tumbling down suddenly, violently, and all at once.

Grief may be present but be mindful not to re-hydrate old fears as they fall of their own accord. Breathe in the change. Enjoy and take in what remains first. You may have just dismissed single-mindedness!

No-one said this one's gonna be easy, but smile. This is you. . .only 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.

The King of Wands indicates charismatic leadership within and flowing from yourself or invigorating your flow. Now is the time to get done what needs to be done, and it will get done! And, once complete, everyone will be wonderfully pleased with the results.

* 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 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.