The Golden Dawn or Thoth Method
Difficulty: Complicated
Note: Tarot 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 dignity.
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 tarot spread, particular attention should be paid to a card's exact position in relation to its neighbours. Whether the neighbour cards bear the same energy (suit) determines whether a card is considered well-dignified or ill-dignified. Opposite suits ill-dignify each other, while other suits are considered friendly. Tarot cards of the same suit or element strengthen each other.
As with other tarot 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 reveal special messages. Having several majors present indicates higher forces at work, several cups suggest strong emotions, etc.
Card #1 represents the reader and the nature of the topic at hand.
Cards #2 & #3 are read in extension of #1 to further comprehend the nature of the topic.
The two sets of three tarot cards at the top of the spread represent chronological sets of events. The current path as it would unfold naturally is represented by cards #4, #8, & #12. The alternate path that could be taken is represented by cards #13, #9, & #5. However, if the reader gets the feeling these cards are telling them they go together, then the alternate path is to be considered an extension of the current path, and to be read chronologically in this order: #4, #8, #12, #13, #9, #5. Just keep in mind: this is only if the two paths seem particularly similar.
Cards #14, #10, & #6 shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current issue.
Cards #7, #11, & #15 represent the influences of karma and destiny beyond the reader's control. These cards suggest adapting to this, as fate.
Your Golden Dawn Reading
| The Alternate Path (or Extension of Current Path) |
Your Current Path |
|||||
 9 of Coins |
 King of Cups |
 3 of Swords |
 10 of Coins |
 The Star |
 10 of Swords |
|
| The Querent | ||||||
 The Empress |
 8 of Coins |
 Queen of Wands |
||||
| The Psychological Basis | Karma | |||||
 The High Priestess |
 Strength |
 9 of Wands |
 4 of Cups |
 6 of Coins |
 7 of Wands |
|
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 two cards around it are added to it in order to further comprehend the nature of the topic.
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 illustration represents growth, nature and fertility. One can see certain fruits, including two pomegranates (fertility). The ears of corn represent the Empress' secret crown. The apple is in the shape of a heart. The three fish in the water symbolise feelings and emotionalism, as well as the Empress' figure three.
The illusion of a bowl, in which the fruit is lying, can be connected with conception, the uterus and with pregnancy. The trees present slow growth. The Empress is holding her sceptre in her left hand.
The orangey-yellow colour of the picture symbolises fire; the green colour portrays fertility and growth. The sunflowers also testify a connection between energy and growth.
The throne gives the impression of a sun-queen; the creases on her skirt point to sexual energy, her red hair is tied back. The black cat, with its back to us, stands for independence and magic powers. There is a precious stone on the queen's crown, this connects her to the magician's figure one.
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 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.
Nine stars are pointing towards a goal. The violet colour in the picture illustrates the spiritual atmosphere, the blue water and the fish symbolise clarity, flow of energy and liveliness, the path is well lit and seems to become easier and the sky is clearing to a light blue.
The signs of the Zodiac point towards methods, which are occupied with one's own future, and act as deputy for all oracle techniques.
Letting go of rationality is shown here as a dissolving process. Nine swords are cutting up a tenth sword, the point of which is melting and with this fluid wets the other nine swords.
The hand is injured by the four lower swords and is opening up; two drops of blood can be seen. It is not clear how many of the swords are or should be melting. The sun rising in the background brings with it new strength.
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 three cards should be interpretted not as an Alternate Path, but as a chronological extension of the Current Path (also read from left to right).
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 emphasise 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.
The king's figure and features show a certain easy-going nature and goodness. The throne's decoration underlines the qualities of love and joy which are engraved on him.
He is holding a gift in his right hand. He is very much aware that presents play an important role in friendships. The table in the background, prepared for festivities, encourages a social gathering.
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.
The Psychological Basis
cards shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current problem.
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.
A sceptre and a sword seem to be fighting. Water and fire, portrayed in striking red, stand for subconscious strength. They are kept under control by the symbols of earth and air, the conscious elements, portrayed by the sword (clarity), the house (stability) and the wall (limits, firmness). The violet colour of the wall also shows a penetration of the colours red and blue.
The trees also contain this mixture of the elements, but they are growing cautiously as well as the clouds, water, which so to speak, becomes air (gaseous). They also stand for integration, which on the one hand makes us more flexible but on the other hand obscures things. The lemniscates, which can be seen clearly in magic, can be found in the two trees in the top left corner. It illustrates swinging into the next bend.
The powerful energy in this situation is emphasised by the intensive colour red in the background. The wands are moving onwards through a magnifying-glass, which bundles up the strength into one item. The blue colour of the magnifying-glass points to conscious action.
Scratches can be seen on the fingers of the hand, which, due to lack of concentration or coordination, come into contact with their own energy and have been recognised on previous cards.
Karma
These cards represent the influences of karma and destiny that are beyond your control. They suggest adapting to this fate.
A fourth cup, which, does not really want to fit in the well-balanced harmony of the other three, joins the three cups. The hand with its intensive colour shows the rejection it experiences. The fourth fish is green, as though it felt ill. Altogether the colours are lighter than those of the Three of Cups.
The rich man is reaching over the wall and giving away the surplus of his material goods. The poor man is giving something back; it is unclear how. There is a candle on the side of the rich man, which was concealed on the Five of Pentacles. An unbroken circle of energy emerges.
The beam in the Five of Wands picture has been supported. On this card a hand has taken over the leadership and restrained the different impulses from the other five hands, or as the case may be, straightened them up so that they cannot cause any more damage to the successful work. The top and the bottom of the picture show the two sides of the number seven.
