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:

1. The Past: Past events affecting the question.
2. The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
3. Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
4. Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
5. External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
6. Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
7. Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Horse Shoe Reading

	Obstacle Judgement
Hidden Influences The Hermit		External Influences The Lovers
The Present The Wheel of Fortune		Suggestion The World
The Past Justice		The Outcome The High Priestess

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

Justice

The striking red background of the picture shows that justice has to be very often looked for in emotional situations. Libra's sword and suspension are blue. This stands for rational action. The sword with its double cross the card's eight. The violet colour of the bowls shows the necessity for openness and entirety.

Both hands are equally involved in the weighing process. Rationality and intuition are both important. The eye is half open, it is looking both outwardly and inwardly. The fruits symbolise maturity, which has to reach a good decision for justice.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

The Wheel of Fortune

In the middle of the diagram three discs can be seen. I often use the number three in the descriptions as a basic universal number. The inner disc is blank. On the second disc we can make out the hourly Roman numerals. They appear anticlockwise to show that time's direction is relative.

The signs of the zodiac on the outer disc show a further meaning for the course of time. Around these discs or rings, as though one could present them how one liked, the four elements are arranged. They seem to be rotating and moving in a circle from light into dark and back again.

 

 

 

 

Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.

 

The Hermit

The picture is kept fairly dark. The only light can be found in the star and the house. The moon, which does not shine itself, shows the occupation with the subconscious and the concealed which have to be discovered. The star shines itself, but is still too far away. It is the star the Hermit will follow as soon as he leaves the house. It is five-pointed, which forms a connection with the Hierophant's theme.

The picture's spirals in the trees, path and window turn in different directions and refer to the inward course. This can be consciously taken, turning to the right, or intuitively, turning to the left. The Hermit finds his light in the safety of the house. The fish (newly discovered emotions) are waiting outside for him. The direction of the path, which again follows outwardly, is not clearly evident. One can suspect strong emotions in the background, portrayed by moving water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

Judgement

Classical symbols are also used here. Five graves are opening up, out of which stretches a hand to awaken a new life. The implication of the archangel Gabriel is blowing the trumpet of the Resurrection. One of the hands shows three fingers, which portrays a release from the grave's number four. It is also a gesture of the Hierophant.

The number five, shown by the number of hands and flowers, points to entirety. The aim is to see material things as being divine, so as to unite them and not to damn them and so create a new division. The flowers are about to bloom and through their colours the subjects of integration and entirety are emphasised again.

 

 

 

 

External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.

 

The Lovers

The picture shows the connection with the opposite theme represented by two circles (blue = conscious) which combine to form an oval. The oval represents striving for unity on a higher level. The two hands stand for polarity and the confrontation with the tree of eternity and the tree of knowledge (of good and evil) with heart-shaped fruit. The serpent is coiled up at the foot of the tree of knowledge.

The yellow background emphasises the energy of the moment. Fish and water show the duality again and the produced flow of energy. The archangel Raphael watches over everyone with his blessing, indicated by God's eye.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

The World

The eye is the same as that on the Magician's card, but the wish to develop is not portrayed any more. The oval wreath suggests the unification of polarities, as with the Lovers, but here the unification actually takes place.

The symbols for the four elements are collected around the oval and are reconcilably united together. The blue colour of the background symbolises consciousness and clarity.

 

 

 

 

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.

 

The High Priestess

The two eyes indicate that the High Priestess perceives the polarity in their dualism but doesn't take any valuation into account. The light and the dark side can be seen, as well as the waning and waxing moon and the full-moon, which unites and contains both sides.

The water and the two fish also symbolise the connection, the flow of energy and the dualism. The feather stands for the High Priestess' sensitiveness, the pomegranate for her fertility.