Horse Shoe Spread
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is an old classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the 3-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 4 other cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the Future better. The cards are to be read as follows:
- The Past: This card represents past events that are affecting the question.
- The Present: This card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
- Obstacles: This is the challenge. Obstacles might be avoided, or you may have to deal with them.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts about this situation from people around the querent.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- The Final Outcome: This card represents what would happen if the suggestion is followed.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle  5 of Pentacles |
||
Hidden Influences  4 of Pentacles |
External Influences  7 of Cups |
|
The Present  5 of Swords |
Suggestion  2 of Wands |
|
The Past  10 of Swords |
The Outcome  8 of Cups |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
10 of Swords
A prostrate figure, pierced by all the swords belonging to the card.
Divinatory Meaning:
Whatsoever is intimated by the design; also pain, affliction, tears, sadness, desolation. It is not especially a card of violent death.
The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
5 of Swords
A disdainful man looks after two retreating and dejected figures. Their swords lie upon the ground. He carries two others on his left shoulder, and a third sword is in his right hand, point to earth. He is the master in possession of the field.
Divinatory Meaning:
Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, with the variants and analogues of these.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
4 of Pentacles
A crowned figure, having a pentacle over his crown, clasps another with hands and arms; two pentacles are under his feet. He holds to that which he has.
Reversed Meaning:
Suspense, delay, opposition.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
5 of Pentacles
Two mendicants in a snow-storm pass a lighted casement.
Reversed Meaning:
Disorder, chaos, ruin, discord, profligacy.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
7 of Cups
Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit.
Reversed Meaning:
Desire, will, determination, project.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
2 of Wands
A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he holds a globe in his right hand, while a staff in his left rests on the battlement; another is fixed in a ring. The Rose and Cross and Lily should be noticed on the left side.
Divinatory Meaning:
Between the alternative readings there is no marriage possible; on the one hand, riches, fortune, magnificence; on the other, physical suffering, disease, chagrin, sadness, mortification. The design gives one suggestion; here is a lord overlooking his dominion and alternately contemplating a globe; it looks like the malady, the mortification, the sadness of Alexander amidst the grandeur of this world's wealth.
A young lady may expect trivial disappointments.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
8 of Cups
A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking or previous concern.
Divinatory Meaning:
The card speaks for itself on the surface, but other readings are entirely antithetical - giving joy, mildness, timidity, honour, modesty. In practice, it is usually found that the card shews the decline of a matter, or that a matter which has been thought to be important is really of slight consequence - either for good or evil.
