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  Jack of Clubs |
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Hidden Influences  Queen of Diamonds |
External Influences  Queen of Spades |
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The Present  7 of Spades |
Suggestion  9 of Spades |
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The Past  3 of Diamonds |
The Outcome  2 of Diamonds |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
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.
7 of Spades
This signifies a battle where your prospects are not good. The best you could hope for in this circumstance is a narrow victory costing at least as much as anything gained. More likely this battle is hopeless, though this is often difficult to accept.
Queen of Diamonds
This card symbolises a fair-haired woman who may like to gossip or meddle in other people's business. She is intelligent, charismatic, and practical, and perhaps flirtatious.
Jack of Clubs
This can be a reliable friend, often considered generous, charismatic, and funny. On the other hand, he can be brash, proud, and overbearing. Most likely he is impatient.
Queen of Spades
This symbolises a dark-haired woman who may be attractive, seductive, and/or unscrupulous. You should be on your toes because deception is in the air. Is it possible that you are deceiving yourself?
9 of Spades
General orneriness and maliciousness are the vibes of this card. This symbolises a period of pain and suffering. There is a possibility of abuse. Be careful to avoid cruelty – both from yourself and others.
2 of Diamonds
This can mean a major change is coming. It is possible that a great love affair may be indicated. If so, it is growing stronger, but opposition from outside sources may be growing just as quickly.