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 |
|||||
 9 of Cups |
 4 of Coins |
 8 of Coins |
 Ace of Swords |
 5 of Wands |
 4 of Wands |
|
| The Querent | ||||||
 7 of Swords |
 Death |
 10 of Coins |
||||
| The Psychological Basis | Karma | |||||
 Princess of Wands |
 The Devil |
 5 of Coins |
 Queen of Swords |
 9 of Swords |
 9 of Coins |
|
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 circuit of coming and going is symbolized by the serpent, which frames the picture and bites its own tail. The red background portrays sunset, or as the case may be, sunrise. The house and the tree, representatives for the element earth, have fallen into decay and are bare. The three tombstones show the headgear of the pope, the king and the farmer. At death there is no difference.
The skeleton's hand comes from the left and holds a blue scythe, which seems to be a mixture between a sceptre and a sword. The leaf, which is growing out of it, shows that death, due to its quality allowing old things to fade away, makes new growth possible.
The water symbolizes the river Styx, which has to be crossed at death so as to reach the next world. The colour blue in the picture stands for disconnection and purification. Like its younger brother sleep, death also has a cleansing property, which is particularly emphasized by the whiteness of the skeleton's hand and the blade of the scythe. What is interesting (I only realized later) is that the scythe's blade itself gives the hint of a crescent moon.
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 pentacles can be found inside and outside the town, as fruits on trees, as an exchange object, as a value which can bring us beauty, knowledge, nutrition or culture, by us exchanging these values, if necessary, with the help of payment (money).
The wise man knows that only by exchanging our goods amongst ourselves can we make a rich community. One pentacle shows an upside-down pentagram.
Your Current Path
Cards represent your current path as it would unfold naturally. These cards are read in chronological order from left to right.
The sword is rising out of the water. The blue colour in the picture symbolizes clarity. The three different coloured butterflies indicate different thoughts and the perception of difference. One butterfly is sitting on the tip of the sword, a symbol of decision. The halo supports the impression of clarification and purification.
The beam of a building or some construction shows a definite crack and looks as if it will soon break; therefore there is need for action. Five different coloured hands are trying to mend it by supporting the beam with stakes. But they are lacking in coordination and a united aim. One has the impression that the stakes could form an upside-down five-pointed star.
The colours portray richness of energy as well as naturalness and balance. The trees are young, which shows the garden has just been laid out. The small fir tree, put up for the topping-out ceremony, is still standing on the roof of the house.
The garden-gate is open and the hand is making an inviting gesture. The wall, however, gives a certain amount of protection and the door can also be closed.
The number four, noticeable in the clouds, in the number of trees and the style of the building stones, emphasize materialism. The mountains in the background indicate that this is most probably not the last project of its sort.
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).
The content of the nine cups is being poured over the picture and meets in a whirlpool in the middle. Three colours refer to the number three, out of which the number nine (3x3) exists. Notes (music/art), grapes (food/drink) and a heart (love/friendship) stand for areas which contain pleasure and well-being.
The colour red points to warmth, blue symbolizes refreshment. The colour green can be understood as referring to a negative aspect on the card e.g. exaggerated personal pleasure.
The safe symbolizes 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.
Four pentacles are already completed and are standing under the table. They are the pentacles from the first four Pentacle cards.
The hour-glass shows that time is still needed for the work. The handle of the tool looks like a wand and indicates that, with the necessary commitment (small flame), success will slowly develop (leaf). The storm announces the future success.
The Psychological Basis
Cards shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current problem.
The princess is apparently in a holiday situation with palm-trees, a beach and the sea. Fire (sun) and water (sea) come together here. Heat and refreshment alternate. There are enough references to the erotic theme in the picture.
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 symbolizes 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.
Wealth and poverty are separated by a wall. The rich man is wearing white gloves. He doesn't want to get his fingers dirty. The poor man has a missing middle-finger, the centre has been lost. His stick is brittle.
The colour blue separates the colours red and yellow from brown and green. The yellow is similar to gold. Red used to belong to the most expensive colours. Green is also the colour of mould and brown is the colour which at first appears to be inert.
The candle is helping the poor man to find sense and the distant path, as far as he is aware of them.
Karma
- These cards represent the influences of karma and destiny that are beyond your control. They suggest adapting to this fate.
The queen is holding the butterfly carefully on her lap. At the same time she is showing the detached chain and is banishing the black butterfly to the guillotine.
The blood on the ground shows clearly that the apparatus has already been used. She does not look callous; instead, she looks grievous and resolute. Her collar, studded with 15 precious stones, indicates she is sometimes struck dumb by little devils, the result of painful experiences.
The swords look like teeth, which at any moment could bite. The hands are held up for protection. The eye wants to open, but its vision is obstructed.
The waning moon emphasizes the existing fear. The sunrise is at hand. Roses promise development, joy of life and the coming forth of emotions in the near future.
A pile of pentacles is being held by two hands. The scene looks like a rich garden, protected by a wall. Grapes in the foreground and valuable rings on both of the hands emphasize the impression of wealth.
The bird of prey has many different faces. It is protecting what it has seized. Its figure alone makes a good impression. However it is also a bird which captures its prey, as its name indicates.
