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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

9 of Wands

The Outcome

Knight of Pentacles


Hopes and Fears

The Moon


External Forces

King of Swords


The Querent

The Hermit

The Recent Past

4 of Wands

The Crossing Card

2 of Pentacles


The Significator

Knight of Wands

The Future

Page of Wands


Foundation card


8 of Cups

 

 

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

 

 

Knight of Wands

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

 

2 of Pentacles

A dancing young man has a pentacle in either hand, and they are joined by the lemniscate, the sign of eternity.

Reversed Meaning:

Enforced gaiety, simulated enjoyment, literal sense, handwriting, composition, exchanging letters.

 

 

 

 

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

 

9 of Wands

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

8 of Cups

A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking or previous concern.

Reversed Meaning:

Great joy, happiness, feasting, jubilee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.

 

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 Future depicts that which lies ahead.

 

Page of Wands

A young man stands in the act of proclamation. He is unknown but faithful, and his tidings are strange.

Upright Meaning:

Dark young man, faithful, a lover, family intelligence, a messenger, favourable testimony. A dangerous rival, if followed by the Page of Cups.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Hermit

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.

Reversed Meaning:

Cruelty, perversity, barbarity, perfidy, bad intentions, a sharp tongue, insulting, insecurity, arrogance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Moon

A dog and a wolf join in howling at a brilliant full moon situated between two towers. A lobster emerges from the lake, ready to embark on the journey of evolution.

Upright Meaning:

Hidden enemies, lurkers, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, occult forces, error, the unknown, thief in the night, denigration, slander.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Knight of Pentacles

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

Upright Meaning:

Utility, service, interest, responsibility, rectitude, authority, obligation, accountability, work, trust.