Celtic Cross Spread
Difficulty: Average
This is probably the most well-known tarot spread. A good, basic spread for beginners to practise with, the Celtic Cross is useful for questions of all types. In this spread, it can be helpful to notice the relationships between the pairings of cards #5 & #9, #1 & #2, #3 & #4, and #6 & #10.
- The significator epitomizes what the reading deals with, the initial situation.
- An added impulse that compounds the significator, which may be either complimentary or contradictory.
- This is what is consciously known (thoughts).
- Unconscious driving forces that may not be known fully (emotions).
- The immediate past regarding the current situation.
- The first future card indicates the immediate future.
- This card represents the reader and their attitude towards cards #1 and #2.
- The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.
- This tarot card suggests expectations; what is secretly hoped for or feared.
- The second future card reveals the long-term outcome.
Your Celtic Cross Reading
The Crown |
The Outcome The Lovers
External Forces  7 of Coins
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The Recent Past 4 of Coins |
This Crosses the Significator
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The Future Strength |
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The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.
The Fool
The bright colours symbolise many possibilities. The Fool is holding the pilgrim's staff in his hand. Water and fish indicate openness and vivacity. The butterflies also indicate different ideas and a joy of living.
The golden yellow background gives the scene energy of life. One can see the tip of the Fool's cap. The cross, or rather the handle of the sword in the background, gives an awareness of danger, which is lurking along the path the Fool is going to take.
This Crosses the Significator denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
8 of Wands
The sketch quotes the picture from the Raider-Waite deck. Eight wands are flying through the air.
The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
7 of Swords
The left hand points to the new path towards intuition and the subconscious. The colours correspond with those of the Cups. The right hand tends to turn towards the swords. This area is dominated by the colour blue. The question is how many swords should be taken on the journey.
The Foundation reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
The Hierophant
The pentahedral star in the picture shows how the four elements, which appear in the four lower rays, come into contact with spiritualism. This is represented in the uppermost point by God's eye, in the iris of which the Wheel of Fortune is alluded to. The violet background underlines the principle of spiritualism.
The labyrinth in the middle of the star points to the search for the meaning, which by way of the heart is also a search for the centre. The two hands at the top represent the obvious (exoteric) and the concealed (esoteric). The praying hands at the bottom symbolise the pupil.
The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
4 of Coins
The safe symbolises the need for protection. Certain themes are referred to: money, possessions, love and relationships. The star stands for the vision, which is worth holding on to.
The blue-and-white checked-pattern portrays narrow-mindedness through misunderstood reliability. At the bottom of the picture the devil's horns and some hell-fire have found their place, illustrating dependence.
The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
8 of Wands
The sketch quotes the picture from the Raider-Waite deck. Eight wands are flying through the air.
The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.
King of Coins
The king is sitting in front of his magnificent castle with its well-kept but simple park. He is proud of it and feels confident. He is aware of what he has achieved and he knows how to manage his estate.
External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
7 of Coins
Seven pentacles are lying on a heap of leaves which is being swept up. They look like unusable fruit. Two tears show that the sweeper is grieving over his lost harvest. The star in the background suggests that the loss is small in comparison with the high goal which is being aimed at.
Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
6 of Cups
The fluid in the tipped-up cups is combined with the fluid in the sixth cup to form a circle, the upper part of which seems brighter. The book with the title 'Memories' stands for achieved consciousness. The seed is germinating under the influence of other components and shows a new beginning.
The Outcome of your question. Interpret this card in the context of the entire reading and as an indicator of the path you are currently on, but not necessarily bound to.
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.
