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  The Devil |
Triggering Causes |
 5 of Swords |
Necessary Conclusions |  Temperance |
| Significator #1 |  Prince of Cups |
Significator #2 |
 3 of Swords |
Next Step |  The Chariot |
 The Sun |
||
Surprising Experiences  Prince of Swords |
||
Outcome  Justice |
Significator #1
3 of Swords
The colours red, blue and gray are all mixed together in this scene. Clarity fills the whole picture, but the emotions also play a role. The ten wands in the background are all mixed up.
A cloud obscures or overshadows the scene. The two drops of water show condensation, as the cloud is being influenced by the sword. These drops also represent tears.
The three swords point to a spot on the heart. It is unclear whether they are damaging it, yet one can see a drop of blood.
Significator #2
The Chariot
The chariot itself is portrayed by the wheel. It has eight spokes, a symbol for the process of development. The shaft symbolises the centre and also the number nine, which completes the cycle. Hub and shaft are on fire and stand for sexual energy. Origin, the wheel's background, and destination, the celestial body's background, are the same colour, violet, which stands for the spiritual.
The dominating yellow in the picture depicts joy of living. The water at the bottom indicates frankness or naivety, but also emotions to be conquered, such as caution or fear. Black and white reins, held in the right and left hand, show different directions and ambivalences, which have to be brought into harmony to make the journey possible. The next part of the journey, which lies ahead of the coach driver, the material world, represented by green, square fields, opens up within all this.
Libra's symbol (justice) shows that one has to reckon with consequences for any mistakes. The section at the top leads into the night. The coach driver does not encounter the sun, as to be expected, but instead the moon and stars. He will meet intuition and the unconscious.
Early Causes
5 of Swords
The middle sword divides the scene. It symbolises disconnection in itself and is the only one that has remained whole.
The 'winner's' sword, decorated with a laurel wreath, seems to be less bent than that of the 'loser', but it is also unusable. The pierced heart shows the 'loser's' certainty of having injured his enemy in the worst possible way.
The dark colours in the picture show that it is a matter of something unpleasant. The energetic connection, portrayed by the waves at the top and bottom, has been cut off.
Triggering Causes
Temperance
The path through the underworld can be seen which eventually leads into light. The path is edged with lilies, the underworld flowers. The abstract archangel Michael is helping to find the right composition for the flow of energy, in other words is on the way through the subconscious (forgotten) to keep a minimal contact going with the conscious e.g., by transmission (documents...)
Higher Perceptions
The Devil
The colours black and white show the limits of a polarity, a disconnection, which cannot be outdone. The subconscious has no connection with the conscious. The burning fire points to the fact that the devil is linked with pain and torture.
The five-pointed star is upside down. The goat's horns are pointing downwards; classical symbols of the devil. The square oven symbolises the dependence on material things. Two clenched fists are chained together. Each can free the other whereby freeing itself, but only if it is brave enough to take the key from the fire. For this it has to open its hand.
Necessary Conclusions
Prince of Cups
By winking, the prince is trying to make the marshy spot more attractive for a bathe. The content of his cup doesn't look like water. The sun brightens the scene, although the first cloud has already appeared.
The Next Step
The Sun
The sun can be seen clearly and it dominates the picture. The last walls are being conquered and in between them flowers are already growing. This lets us suspect that the difficult path is at an end. The path, which continues, can already be seen beyond the wall.
Surprises
Prince of Swords
The strong helmet protects the prince, while, with eyes closed and head bent forward, he is demolishing the hard wall. Some bricks are falling down. A part of the wall looks like a bookcase.
This is all about ancient knowledge and opinions, the details of which are being asked about or, in the truest sense of the word, which are being blown into mid-air. However, with his eyes closed the prince cannot take into consideration what he is throwing around.
The Outcome
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.
