Horse Shoe Spread
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is a classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the three-card reading, yet simpler than most other spreads. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other spreads which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future spread, it contains these cards in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other tarot cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The cards are to be read as follows:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle![]() The Lilis |
||
Hidden Influences![]() The Owls |
External Influences![]() The Egg |
|
The Present![]() The Clover |
Suggestion![]() The Key |
|
The Past![]() The Sun |
The Outcome![]() The Snake |

The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
The Sun
Realm of Fire
This is the highest energy. Everything is free, on a new way, will get a new form soon. This is inspirational energy, what we for example feel when highly motivated start a new project. At this point we can ask ourself what energy actually is.
Creation, brilliance, success, heat, positivity, happiness, will-power, aura, the absolute, the centre of attention. The Sun suggests great honours.

The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
The Clover
Realm of Earth
The clover and the sun are a pair. The clover got all the energy of the sun. It is something like a medicinal plant. Highly compressed energy or good vibes (forced by you yourself), materialised (green) in a lot of little aspects or only in one, coming back to you at the right time and then giving you back that energy you need in that moment.
The Clover is a symbol of good luck, hope, simplicity, and nature. This card indicates sudden good luck.

Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
The Owls
Meditation, fantasy, further education, also two older people, perhaps a couple. Butterflies and nervous excitement. The Owls may indicate social fear and subsequent flight.

Obstacle - This is the challenge.
The Lilis
If the Sun shows us the full energy, the Lilies try to make a compromise. Fire is leading back to water, the fire is something like framed, it is not free. We use its energy but controlled. That´s why the Lilies look like a candleholder. Eroticism is used to build a family, for example, meanings like this.
Development of the spirit, success, conscience, holiness, and learning to accept good traits and bad. The Lilies signify a happy period accomplishment.

External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
The Egg
The process of cleansing one's self. The stork is a deliverer. It delivers the message of card that occurs before it to the card that appears after the Stork. The ever-evolving nature of love.

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
The Key
Understanding, truth, knowledge, advice, probabilities, and possibilities. The Key means that you have what it takes to move on to another level.

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
The Snake
Realm of Air
The snake has been searching and learning for a long time. Tried this, tried that, and so came nearer and nearer to the truth. It means the highest consciousness (yellow and white) following a long way of experiences.
Temptations, dark forces, cunning, deviousness, earthly intelligence, lower nature, and biological urges. The Serpent may represent someone trying to trick you. Be wary of people trying to take advantage of you, who may lead you down the wrong path. If the cards surrounding this card are favourable to you, this is a sign that you may be the one who is being devious.