This in-depth eight-card layout shows various aspects of your personal journey. It is good for exploring generalised personal questions, but can also be used to explore relationships if the couple is viewed as a whole.
This spread progresses through eight stages similar to the tarot deck's Major Arcana, beginning with birth and the realm of fertility. After birth comes the initial growth which leads to a period of adaptation, change, and re-balancing oneself. Once the process has grown enough, security comes into focus, as it is necessary to protect what has been earned. After this, once again growth is important, but concerning the mind and creativitity this time, leading to another phase of personal changes. Finally upon completion of the journey, the rewards become evident, and beyond that, one's spiritual development level will have noticeably risen.
| Matters of Completion, Rewards and Luck.  The Fool |
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Matters of Change and Metamorphosis. Ace of Pentacles |
Matters of Inner Strength and Spiritual Guidance. Justice |
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Matters of Learning, Art and Creativity. 3 of Pentacles |
Matters of Beginnings, fertility and birth. The Hermit |
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Matters of Protection and Defense. 6 of Pentacles |
Matters of Growth, Flow and Energy. Knight of Wands |
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Matters of Changes, Polarities and Balance. 9 of Wands |
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Matters of Beginnings, fertility and birth.
An old man with a walking stick holds up a lantern to enlighten his path.
Reversed Meaning:
Concealment, disguise, policy, fear, phobia, treason, dissimulation, roguery, corruption, betrayal.
A man on a journey, armed with a short wand, and although armoured it is not on an errand of war. He is passing mounds or pyramids. The motion of the horse is a key to the character of its rider, suggesting his mission.
Upright Meaning:
Departure, absence, flight, emigration. A dark young man, friendly. Change of residence.
The figure leans upon his staff and has an expectant look, as if awaiting an enemy. Behind are eight other staves – erect, in orderly disposition, like a palisade.
Reversed Meaning:
Obstacles, adversity, calamity, troubles.
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.
Reversed Meaning:
Desire, cupidity, envy, jealousy, illusion, resentment, rivalry, grudge.
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.
Reversed Meaning:
Mediocrity, puerility, pettiness, weakness, pathetic-ness, lameness, a quack.
A hand reaching out from a cloud holds up a pentacle.
Reversed Meaning:
The negative side of wealth, malicious intelligence; also great riches, prosperity, comfortable material conditions, but this is to your disadvantage when the card appears reversed.
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.
A female judge holds the sword of Justice in her right hand and the scales of Justice in her left. This is symbolic of fairness and the knowledge of the law, as well as the power to execute judgement.
Upright Meaning:
Equity, rightness, probity, fair, honest, reasonable, uprightness, nonpartisan, balance, justness, integrity.