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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

3 of Pentacles

The Outcome

The Fool


Hopes and Fears

4 of Wands


External Forces

5 of Wands


The Querent

6 of Swords

The Recent Past

7 of Cups

The Crossing Card

2 of Wands


The Significator

Knight of Pentacles

The Future

Strength


Foundation card


The Sun

 

 

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

 

 

Knight of Pentacles

He rides a slow but steady horse, which is just like him. He holds the pentacle, but does not look therein.

Reversed Meaning:

Inertia, idleness, stagnation, placidity, discouragement, carelessness, blame, irresponsibility, affliction, hardship, trial, burden, stress.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

3 of Pentacles

A sculptor at his work in a monastery. Compare the design which illustrates the Eight of Pentacles. The apprentice or amateur therein has received his reward and is now at work in earnest.

Upright Meaning:

Artifice, trade, skilled labour; regarded as a card of nobility, aristocracy, renown, glory.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Sun

A nude child rides a white pony in the foreground. Behind him the sun boldly enlightens the world, acting as a source of life and role model to several sun flowers.

Upright Meaning:

Material happiness, good marriage, contentment, blessings, lucky break, opportunity, praise, magnificence, brilliance, miracle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

7 of Cups

Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit.

Upright Meaning:

Faerie favours, images of reflection, sentiment, imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation – skrying; some attainment in these desires, but nothing permanent or substantial.

 

 

 

 

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

Strength

A woman holds a young lion at bay with her female strength of grace. She is crowned by the lemniscate as the Magician is, revealing herself as his counterpart.

Reversed Meaning:

Manipulation, despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord, disgrace, deception, trickery, lies, cheap tactics, malevolence.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.

Reversed Meaning:

Declaration, confession, publicity; possibly a proposal of love.

 

 

 

 

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

 

5 of Wands

A posse of youths, who are brandishing staves, as if in sport or strife. It is mimic warfare.

Upright Meaning:

Imitation, as, for example, sham fight, strenuous competition, struggle, the search for fame and fortune, gold, gain, opulence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

4 of Wands

From the four great staves planted in the foreground there is a great garland suspended; two female figures uplift nosegays; at their side is a bridge over a moat, leading to an old manorial house.

Reversed Meaning:

Prosperity, increase, felicity, beauty, embellishment.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

The Fool

A watchdog warns a foolish youth that he is about to carelessly walk off a cliff. The Fool seems totally ignorant of his surrounding and the danger he is in.

Upright Meaning:

Folly, mania, extravagance, delirium, frenzy, intoxication, bewrayment, going nuts, inexperience, pettiness, immaturity, idiocy.