The Golden Dawn or Thoth Method
Difficulty: Complicated
Note: Decks that use reversed cards such as the Rider-Waite do not work well with this spread, which was designed to be read using elemental dignities.
The Golden Dawn spread is best suited for use with the bifrost Tarot and especially the Book of Thoth, as these decks are meant to be read a certain way with the Court cards. Princes and Queens represent actual men and women connected with the matter, while Princesses generally represent ideas; thoughts or opinions, and Knights represent arrival or departure of a matter depending on the direction faced.
In this spread, particular attention should be payed to a card’s exact position in relation to its neighbors. Whether the neighbor cards bear the same energy (suit) determines whether a card is considered well- or ill-dignified. Opposite suits ill-dignify each other, while other suits are considered friendly. Cards of the same suit strengthen each other.
As with other spreads, it is important to count the cards’ tendencies, such as whether there is a lot of one particular suit or number pattern. The patterns will reveal special messages. Lots of Majors indicates higher forces at work, lots of cups suggest strong emotions, etc.
Card #1 represents the querent and the nature of the topic at hand.
Cards #2 & #3 are used in conjunction with #1 to further comprehend the nature of the topic.
Your Golden Dawn Reading
| The Alternate Path (or Extension of Current Path) |
Your Current Path |
|||||
 5 of Cups - Disappointment |
 6 of Disks - Success |
 7 of Wands - Valour |
 The Tower |
 10 of Cups - Satiety |
 2 of Disks - Change |
|
| The Querent | ||||||
 Knight of Wands |
 Ace of Swords |
 Adjustment |
||||
| The Psychological Basis | Karma | |||||
 4 of Swords - Truce |
 Knight of Disks |
 3 of Wands - Virtue |
 The Star |
 2 of Cups - Love |
 The Aeon |
|
This spread is set up to read a certain way with the Court cards. Princes and Queens represent actual men and women connected with the matter, while Princesses generally represent ideas; thoughts or opinions, and Knights represent arrival or departure of a matter depending on the direction faced.
In this spread particular attention should be payed to a card's exact position in relation to its neighbors. Whether the neighbor cards bear the same energy (suit) determines whether a card is considered well- or ill-dignified. Opposite suits ill-dignify each other, while other suits are considered friendly. Cards of the same suit strengthen each other.
Also it is important to count the cards' tendencies, such as whether there is a lot of one particular suit or number pattern. Patterns reveal special messages. Lots of trumps means higher forces at work, lots of cups means strong emotions, etc.
The Querent
Cards represent the querent and the nature of the topic at hand. The first card (in the center of the spread) represents the very core of the matter, and the other 2 cards around it are added to it in order to further comprehend the nature of the topic.
The Root of Air
The initial embodiment of the spirit of air is the bearer of light. The sword penetrates the crown of Kether. In the background ten rays pour out of the spiritual sun, indicating the full potential contained within the seed of the Ace. The beginning of a new way of thinking.
Meaning:
Invoked force, conquest, strength through tribulation, triumph of force. A spiritual understanding with heaven.
Saggitarius
The Knight of Wands rides a white horse charging forward. The white horse symbolizes the conscious side of awareness. It also symbolizes the purity of fire, the vital energy and passion that boldly drives the organism. The Knight has his torch in his right hand and arrows on his back; bow and arrow being the weapon of Saggitarius.
Meaning:
A man of action, generosity, pride, and impetuousness.
When ill-dignified: A cruel, bigoted man without mercy.
Libra
Justice. Balance is achieved through adaptation. You may need to take a look at the book.
Meaning:
Justice, balance, equilibrium. A pause in the action to reachieve balance.
Your Current Path
Cards represent your current path as it would unfold naturally. These cards are read in chronological order from left to right.
Mars
This is the dark side of The Magus; the lower self. The Demiurge has come out to play. Many are struck down on their quest to the top. Only the chosen one can climb the stairway to heaven. He must first acquire the proper understandings and tools or his climb will certainly be disastrous. Now is the time to use what you've been building up inside. Often a card of war.
Meaning:
Danger, destruction, quarrel, combat, ambition. Escape from prison. Rise to the top at the expense of others.
Mars in Pisces
The nine lower cups are filled with the shining light of Kether from above, just as in the blueprint contained within the Ace all along. Overwhelming emotions here risk crossing the boundaries of sanity.
Meaning:
Pleasure fulfilled yet incomplete.
When ill-dignified: waste, stagnation, debauchery.
Jupiter in Capricorn
Ouroboros eats its tail as the symbol of eternal change. The snake wears a crown of the moon to symbolize constant change. Two yin-yangs spin opposite directions.
Meaning:
Constant change, likely a pleasant change, visit to friends, wandering.
The Alternate Path
Cards represent the alternate path that you could choose to take in lieu of the Current Path. However, if the cards that come up seem to indicate that they go along with the Current Path, these 3 cards should be interpretted not as an Alternate Path, but as a chronological extension of the Current Path (also read from left to right).
Mars in Scorpio
In this card the water has turned to muck and the sky has gone pink. A scorpion is in the center of the pentagram formed by the five cups, which are represented here as tridents. Hostility or aggression turned inwards.
Meaning:
Disturbance ending pleasure. Grief, misfortune, sadness, loss, treachery, bitterness, frustration, bad marriage, expectations unfulfilled.
Moon in Taurus
Understanding is represented in this card by the coloration of the stained glass in the form of a rainbow spiral. The six moons revolve around the swastika-sun, each also representing a day of the week. Everything is in order here, as you achieve what you set out to do.
Meaning:
Success, accomplishment, gain. Influence, philanthropy, nobility.
When ill-dignified: conceit in success, insolence.
Mars in Leo
This card shows an uphill battle. The snake-rods have come alive. Six of them are doing battle against one.
The central snake however is the strongest, as god is with him.
Meaning:
Struggles, obstacles, difficulties met with courage. Small victories.
When ill-dignified: quarreling.
The Psychological Basis
Cards shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current problem.
Jupiter in Libra
Four swords come together in union. The square formed in the center is a white flag. This card represents reconciliation. The Process.
Meaning:
Recovery from a period of trouble. An oasis. Authority in the realm of intellect. Establishment of dogma.
Virgo
The Knight of Disks rides the pale horse. His horse is in fact an unicorn, a symbol of Virgo. Bearing the sickle, he has come to reap the harvest. The shield radiates waves of energy that symbolize his connection with the sphere of earth. He is concerned primarily with material values.
Meaning:
Agricultural proficiency, skills regarding material concerns, perhaps preoccupied with material concerns and therefore dull.
When ill-dignified: a petty, jealous, small-minded man.
Sun in Aries
This card represents the pioneer motivated by the spirit of goodwill. You do what is right in your eyes. There is also a tendency toward egotism in this card.
Meaning:
Realization of hope. Noble cause. Pride and arrogance.
When ill-dignified: conceit.
Karma
- These cards represent the influences of karma and destiny that are beyond your control. They suggest adapting to this fate.
Aquarius
Everyone is a Star. This card suggests using your talents.
Meaning:
Clear vision, spiritual insight, hope, charity.
When ill-dignified: error in judgement, disillusion, delusions, lack of understanding.
Venus in Cancer
One heart fills both the gold and silver cups. Two vessels bound by one soul are the perfect match.
Meaning:
Perfect harmony between male and female radiates warmth and ecstacy. Love, union, friendship, warmth, comfort, passion, affinity, intercourse.
Spirit
In a place beyond the Universe there exists a single solitary spirit. This is the perfection that we all strive for.
Meaning:
Dawn of a new era. Perfect self-knowledge. Wisdom. Union with god. The force of nature, raw spirit, barbelo, center of the universe, perfection, message from heaven, sign from above, god.
