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Celtic Cross Spread

 

The Celtic Cross is the most well-known tarot spread and also the largest available here, involving ten cards. This spread begins with a pair of crossing cards at the center of the issue, essentially being two significators. When two significators are involved, they may strengthen or oppose each other, which speaks of the nature of the situation. Above and below the initial cross, we have two cards which are symbolic of the intellectual (top) and emotional (bottom) basis of the issue. The Before and After cards show the past and immediate future.

At the right, four cards are laid out, going upward. At the bottom you have a card representing yourself, and the next card shows how others may affect the situation. Card #9 indicates what you may be hoping for, or possibly, what you hope will not happen. Finally at the top is the outcome, meaning the distant or ultimate future.

Spread Positions

  1. This is it (what you asked about)
  2. This crosses it (strengthens or opposes)
  3. This crowns it (higher influences)
  4. It rests upon this (lower influences)
  5. This came before
  6. This comes next
  7. This is you
  8. The external world around you
  9. Your hopes, fears, and secret desires
  10. The result or outcome

 

 

 

Celtic Cross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Celtic Cross Reading

The Crown

4 of Cups

The Outcome

King of Swords


Hopes and Fears

7 of Swords


External Forces

9 of Swords


The Querent

10 of Cups

The Recent Past

4 of Pentacles

The Crossing Card

2 of Wands


The Significator

2 of Swords

The Future

6 of Swords


Foundation card


Ace of Swords

 

 

The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.

 

 

2 of Swords

A hoodwinked female figure balances two swords upon her shoulders.

Reversed Meaning:

Imposture, falsehood, duplicity, disloyalty, treason, back-stabbing.

 

 

 

 

The Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.

 

2 of Wands

A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he holds a globe in his right hand, while a staff in his left rests on the battlement; another is fixed in a ring. The Rose and Cross and Lilly should be noticed on the left side.

Reversed Meaning:

Trouble, fear, physical suffering, disease, chagrin, sadness, mortification, trivial disappointments.

 

 

 

 

The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.

 

4 of Cups

A young man is seated under a tree and contemplates three cups set on the grass before him; an arm reaching out from a cloud offers him another cup. His expression notwithstanding is one of discontent with his surroundings.

Reversed Meaning:

Novelty, presage, new instruction, new relations.

 

 

 

 

Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.

 

Ace of Swords

A hand reaches out from a cloud, grasping a sword, the point of which is encircled by a crown.

Reversed Meaning:

Conception, childbirth, augmentation, multiplicity, creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

4 of Pentacles

A crowned figure, having a pentacle over his crown, clasps another with hands and arms; two pentacles are under his feet. He clings to what he has.

Reversed Meaning:

Suspense, delay, opposition, bad economy, repression, stubbornness, penny wise – pound foolish.

 

 

 

 

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

6 of Swords

A ferryman delivering passengers to the further shore. The course is smooth, and seeing that the freight is light, as the workload is not beyond his ability.

Upright Meaning:

Journey by water, route, way, envoy, commissionary, expedient, travelling, a short trip.

 

 

 

 

The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.

 

10 of Cups

Appearance of Cups in a rainbow; it is contemplated in wonder and ecstasy by a man and woman below, evidently husband and wife. His right arm is about her; his left is raised upward; she raises her right arm. The two children dancing near them have not observed the prodigy but are happy after their own manner. There is a home-scene beyond.

Reversed Meaning:

False heart, indignation, violence, deception, in-satiety.

 

 

 

 

External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.

 

9 of Swords

One seated on her couch in lamentation, with the swords over her. She is as one who knows no sorrow which is like unto hers. It is a card of utter desolation.

Reversed Meaning:

Imprisonment, suspicion, doubt, reasonable fear, shame, bad vibes, negativity, evil thoughts, despair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.

 

7 of Swords

A man in the act of carrying away five swords hastily; missing two which remain stuck in the ground. A camp is close at hand. He is a thief.

Upright Meaning:

Good advice, counsel, instruction, attempt, wish, hope, confidence, bravery, a dirty job that needs to get done.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

King of Swords

He sits in judgement, holding the unsheathed sword. He recalls the conventional symbol of justice in the Major Arcana, and he may represent this virtue, but he is rather the power of life and death.

Upright Meaning:

Power, command, authority, militant intelligence, law, defensiveness, security, high office, duty, public service.