Horse Shoe Spread

 

 

Difficulty: Easy

The Horse Shoe is a classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the three-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 four other tarot cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The cards are to be read as follows:

1. The Past: Past events affecting the question.
2. The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
3. Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
4. Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
5. External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
6. Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
7. Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Horse Shoe Reading

	Obstacle 4 of Swords
Hidden Influences Ace of Pentacles		External Influences 5 of Cups
The Present 9 of Pentacles		Suggestion Ace of Swords
The Past 8 of Wands		The Outcome 4 of Cups

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

8 of Wands

The card represents motion through the immovable – a flight of wands through an open country; but they draw to the term of their course. That which they signify is at hand; it may be even on the threshold.

Divinatory Meaning:

Activity in undertakings, the path of such activity, swiftness, as that of an express messenger; great haste, great hope, speed towards an end which promises assured felicity; generally, that which is on the move; also the arrows of love.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

9 of Pentacles

A woman, with a bird upon her wrist, stands amidst a great abundance of grapevines in the garden of a manorial house. It is a wide domain, suggesting plenty in all things. Possibly it is her own possession and testifies to material well-being.

Reversed Meaning:

Roguery, deception, voided project, bad faith.

 

 

 

 

Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.

 

Ace of Pentacles

A hand – issuing, as usual, from a cloud – holds up a pentacle.

Reversed Meaning:

The evil side of wealth, bad intelligence; also, great riches. In any case it shews prosperity, comfortable material conditions, but whether these are of advantage to the possessor will depend on whether the card is reversed or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

4 of Swords

The effigy of a knight in the attitude of prayer, at full length upon his tomb.

Reversed Meaning:

Wise administration, circumspection, economy, avarice, precaution, testament.

 

 

 

 

External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.

 

5 of Cups

A dark, cloaked figure, looking sideways at three prone cups two others stand upright behind him; a bridge is in the background, leading to a small keep or holding.

Divinatory Meaning:

It is a card of loss, but something remains over; three have been taken, but two are left; it is a card of inheritance, patrimony, transmission, but not corresponding to expectations; with some interpreters it is a card of marriage, but not without bitterness or frustration.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

Ace of Swords

A hand issues from a cloud, grasping as word, the point of which is encircled by a crown.

Divinatory Meaning:

Triumph, the excessive degree in everything, conquest, triumph of force. It is a card of great force, in love as well as in hatred. The crown may carry a much higher significance than comes usually within the sphere of fortune-telling.

 

 

 

 

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.

 

4 of Cups

A young man is seated under a tree and contemplates three cups set on the grass before him; an arm issuing from a cloud offers him another cup. His expression notwithstanding is one of discontent with his environment.

Reversed Meaning:

Novelty, presage, new instruction, new relations.