The seven-card Horse Shoe is a convenient, basic layout that can be used to answer different types of questions, especially concerning questions where insight would be helpful. Like several other spreads, it has cards representing the past, present, and future.
The pinnacle of the Horse Shoe, looking like the top of the mountain, shows the obstacle or challenge that needs to be addressed and overcome. Card #6 suggests a course of action to meet this challenge. The final card shows the outcome or future, should this advice be followed.
Other clues are provided in Cards #3 and #5, which indicate hidden or outside influences that come into play, affecting the journey to your goal.
Obstacle  5 of Spades |
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Hidden Influences  3 of Diamonds |
External Influences  10 of Spades |
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The Present  5 of Clubs |
Suggestion  10 of Clubs |
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The Past  9 of Clubs |
The Outcome  Ace of Diamonds |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
9 of Clubs
This suggests great strength and endurance will be necessary. If you face the challenge you will certainly triumph. Health and recovery may also come into play.
5 of Clubs
This is a sign of disconnection with the spiritual source. Discontentment with oneself leads to friction in relationships. There may be opposition from friends or associates, quarrelling, strife, and failure of projects, but you would be well served to look within as to the source of this.
3 of Diamonds
Working towards a specific goal is indicated by this card. The creative process here leads to success in general – personal growth, material gain, accomplishment, skilled labour, and the increase of your value to the marketplace.
5 of Spades
This represents a situation where you can't win. There is a sense of weakness and loss attached to this symbol. Setbacks, interference, and anxiety are common interpretations of this card.
10 of Spades
This is regarded as probably the worst symbol in the deck of playing cards. This card means absolute rock bottom, a period of mental breakdown and insanity. There will be an end to misery once the walls of your delusion fall to ruins. On the bright side, there will be a moment of clarity leading to rebirth.
10 of Clubs
This suggests you may have good fortune but at a cost greater than your gain. Be careful of the possibility of abuse. Do not allow malice or cruelty to take root in your soul. This card can mean entrapment, even imprisonment.
Ace of Diamonds
The first card of the Diamonds suit often foretells the arrival of a valuable message or especially meaningful gift. More specifically this can often represent a ring, or more generally can refer to gifts of sustenance or money.