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![]() Five of Clubs |
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Hidden Influences![]() Jack of Clubs |
External Influences![]() Five of Diamonds |
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The Present![]() Jack of Diamonds |
Suggestion![]() King of Hearts |
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The Past![]() Four of Hearts |
The Outcome![]() Seven of Spades |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
Four of Hearts
Luxury (Moon in Cancer): This card delves into the realm of desire, exploring the allure of sensory indulgence and the seductive pull of excess. Under the soft glow of the Moon in Cancer, the Four of Hearts cautions against the overconsumption of pleasure, urging you to seek balance. It challenges you to distinguish between genuine emotional nourishment and the fleeting satisfaction of indulgence, guiding you towards a more meaningful fulfilment.
Giving in to desire. Excess, luxury, insatiability.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Jack of Diamonds
Taurus: The Jack of Diamonds embodies youthful practicality and a keen sense for the material world. Representing a person skilled in pragmatic affairs, he is dependable, resourceful, and attuned to the tangible aspects of life. This card may indicate a youthful figure—perhaps a messenger or a guide—who values stability and efficiency, yet may find himself at odds with more spiritual or abstract perspectives.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Jack of Clubs
Leo: A vibrant young figure bursting with the fire of youth and noble intent, he embodies a courageous spirit and a generous heart. His impulsive nature and quick humour mask a deep inner strength and creative passion. He invites you to seize the moment and trust that your innate vitality can spark new beginnings.
A young man, just, noble, generous, impulsive, humorous, strong.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
Five of Clubs
Strife (Saturn in Leo): The Five of Clubs confronts you with the inevitable friction that accompanies any great endeavour. Under the stern influence of Saturn in Leo, this card signals conflicts—be they internal struggles, competitive battles, or clashes of will—that test your resolve. It serves as a reminder that growth often comes through adversity. It challenges you to confront your obstacles with discipline and fortitude, transforming strife into a catalyst for personal evolution.
Struggle, competition, opposition, violence, quarrelling, lust and carnal desire.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
Five of Diamonds
Worry (Mercury in Taurus): The Five of Diamonds channels the cautionary energy of Mercury in Taurus, highlighting the strain that accompanies periods of stagnation or disruption in material pursuits. It speaks to the anxiety and potential loss that may arise from inertia or poorly timed ventures. This card advises you to address your concerns through practical reflection and clear communication—acknowledging that even moments of worry hold lessons that, once learned, can fortify your future efforts.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
King of Hearts
Pisces: A tender, sensitive figure attuned to the subtle pull of attraction, he embodies the empathetic allure of Piscean energy. Though quick to respond to emotional calls, there is a risk of superficiality if depth is neglected. His influence reminds you to cultivate heartfelt connections, balancing your sensitivity with self-awareness to protect and enrich your inner world.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
Seven of Spades
Futility (Moon in Aquarius): The Seven of Spades carries the haunting echo of battles fought in vain. Under the enigmatic Moon in Aquarius, it reveals the sense of exhaustion that arises when energy is expended on endeavours destined to yield only partial or delayed victories. This card serves as a reminder to assess whether continued struggle is worth the cost, or if redirecting your efforts might lead to a more meaningful, albeit different, path to success.