Ankh Spread
Difficulty: Kind of tough
The Ankh Spread is for questions about the causes behind trends. It is similar to the Celtic Cross and Secret of the High Priestess spreads, but it covers the reasons behind the circumstances in question differently, perhaps giving a better explanation of why things are the way they are.
The loop of the upper section of the ankh reveals the spiritual background and causes of the situation, while the stem of the base focuses on prospects for the outcome.
The first two tarot cards represent the two parent causes of the situation. They will either complement each other or show two opposing sides of a conflict, depending on how they relate. These are the significator cards of the Ankh spread.
3. This tarot card shines light upon the early causes of the trend in question.
4. Pinpoints the causes that triggered the current situation.
5. Reveals the spiritual perspective of the subject at hand.
6. This card examines the reasons why this course of action had to unfold, as a means to this end.
At this point, it is good to pause to soak in the meaning of the first six cards before moving forward to the last three cards. The last three reveal prospects for the future.
7. The Next Step gives clues about the immediate future.
8. Surprising Experiences encountered en route to the result.
9. This represents the result.
Your Ankh Reading
| Early Causes | Higher Perceptions  3 of Disks – Work |
Triggering Causes |
 Princess of Wands |
Necessary Conclusions |  The Hermit |
| Significator #1 |  The Emperor |
Significator #2 |
 The Wheel of Fortune |
Next Step |  10 of Wands – Oppression |
 9 of Swords – Cruelty |
||
Surprising Experiences  Prince of Cups |
||
Outcome  Prince of Swords |
Significator #1
The Wheel of Fortune
Jupiter
Who knows what the Wheel of Providence has in store for you? Deep down inside, you do.
Meaning:
Providence, fate, karma. A change in fortune, generally a good change.
Significator #2
10 of Wands – Oppression
Saturn in Sagittarius
The wands have now become bars. We live in prisons of flesh. We are each our own warden and we all do our own time.
Meaning:
Brute force with no apparent spiritual source. Lies, repression, cruelty, malice. The element of fire in its most destructive form.
Early Causes
Princess of Wands
A robust young woman stands on the mountain firing arrows. Her arrows represent the other Wands courts, Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo. She is a passionate, brilliant, and independent young woman. The tiger is a symbol of the lower animal nature that grounds her.
Meaning:
An individualistic energetic glowing young woman, impulsive in matters of love.
When ill-dignified: superficial, shallow, gossiping, unreliable, cruel, domineering.
Triggering Causes
The Hermit
Virgo
Solitary time. Father Time retreats from society to be alone. The mirror represents reflection and inner self-discovery. Cerberus follows the lantern as the Hermit enlightens his dark side. Turned sideways, the hourglass represents a moment of timelessness, and at this juncture the Hermit realises the nature of eternity.
Meaning:
Divine inspiration, wisdom, finding one's guiding light, a period of time being out of touch with society, circumspection, self-knowledge.
When ill-dignified: loneliness, despair, loss of sanity, paranoia.
Higher Perceptions
3 of Disks – Work
Mars in Capricorn
Three spinning wheels and the right eye of god symbolise the act of creation. A solid structure is being built.
Meaning:
Construction, business, commerce, employment, material gain, growth.
When ill-dignified: selfish, closed-minded, greedy individual who seeks the impossible.
Necessary Conclusions
The Emperor
Aries
The king of the world represents power, authority, and male vitality. The ruler sitting on his throne bears the male symbols of earthly authority. The lamb at his feet represents not only the sheepishness of his servants, but the self-sacrifice required of a great leader.
Meaning:
Ambition, conquest, originality, leadership, stability, realisation, power, fortitude, powerful man, authority, conviction.
Ill-dignified: bad temper, counterproductive pride, rashness, even megalomania.
The Next Step
9 of Swords – Cruelty
Mars in Gemini
Nine rusty chipped blades dripping blood symbolise pain and suffering. There is probably a profound lack of empathy associated with this card, and if not that, definitely sadism or malice. Too much thinking has now progressed the matter into the realm of madness.
Meaning:
Suffering, pain, malice, loss, lies, despair, slander.
When well-dignified: obedience, patience, faithfulness, selflessness.
Surprises
Prince of Cups
5:00 – 7:00 Male
Scorpio
The Prince of Cups rides a vapoury chariot of water. His draft animal is the eagle, but the scorpion is his familiar. His cup is represented by the trident of Neptune. He is receptive to outer influences, which he twists and manipulates to his own ends. He is a ruthless man of great ambition, but he moves in secrecy.
Meaning:
A man who moves in shadows, who ambitiously lusts for great wisdom and power. His calm appearance masks an ocean of passion.
When ill-dignified: a merciless man of insatiable ambition.
The Outcome
Prince of Swords
2:00 – 4:00 Male
Aquarius
The Prince of Swords rides the sky in his cloudy chariot of air, pulled by three young men representing his thoughts and ideas. He symbolises purity of the intellect, but also instability. As he pushes forward with his sword, he is frustrated. His thoughts are all over the place. In his left hand he holds a sickle, symbolising his tendency to destroy his creations as quickly as he makes them, perhaps overly critical of his own ideas.
Meaning:
A pure intellectual, clever but unstable of purpose, a mind full of various contradictory ideas and opinions.
