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  The Hanged Man |
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Hidden Influences  6 of Pentacles |
External Influences  5 of Pentacles |
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The Present  5 of Swords |
Suggestion  Judgement |
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The Past  10 of Swords |
The Outcome  The Sun |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
10 of Swords
A murder victim, pierced by ten swords showing the act of excessive force.
Reversed Meaning:
Advantage, profit, success, favour, power, authority, triumph over your enemies.
5 of Swords
A disdainful man looks after two retreating and dejected figures. Their swords lie upon the ground. He carries two others on his left shoulder, and a third sword is in his right hand, point to earth. He is the master in possession of the field.
Upright Meaning:
Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, disdain, notoriety.
6 of Pentacles
A person in the guise of a merchant weighs money in a pair of scales and distributes it to the needy and distressed. It is a testimony to his own success in life, as well as to his goodness of heart.
Upright Meaning:
Presents, gifts, gratification, attention, vigilance, prudence, prosperity, generosity, aid, kindness.
The Hanged Man
A man hangs upside down from the Tau cross. This is a card of self-sacrifice and enlightenment.
Reversed Meaning:
Selfishness, the crowd, politics, corruption, self-deception, misunderstanding, ignorance, denseness, blindness.
5 of Pentacles
Two injured people in a snow storm pass a well-lit church.
Reversed Meaning:
Disorder, chaos, ruin, discord, profligacy, injury, hurt, harm, jealousy, vagrancy, underdevelopment.
Judgement
An angel in the heavens blows a trumpet, calling the dead to rise from their graves.
Upright Meaning:
Change of position, renewal, finality, recompense, solution, promotion, redemption, validation, graduation, spiritual growth, final outcome.
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.
Reversed Meaning:
Kindness, favour, gain, abundance, good tidings, windfall, praise, benediction.