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 9 of Wands
External Forces  7 of Swords
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The Recent Past The Theocrat |
This Crosses the Significator
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The Future 2 of Wands |
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The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.
The Lovers
9:00 – Card 6
Male, Air, Sagittarius.
Ceration is the alchemical act of adding a liquid to the substance while heated, yielding a softer substance with a wax-like texture. Not to be confused with alchemical union, but an important step toward it.
This Crosses the Significator denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
Page of Wands
If you're going to use a pool stick, first be sure that you aren't one of the balls.
The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
9 of Swords
Drawn on July 4th to the sound of fireworks. Weapons and explosives are now components of ritual as often as components of battle. I suppose they always were.
The Foundation reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
Balance
AKA Justice in traditional Tarot.
Not the scales of a common religious moralist and no longer a cardinal virtue, but the raw, heartless justice of nature.
The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
The Theocrat
1:00 – Card 8
AKA The Hierophant in traditional Tarot. Male, Fire, Taurus.
The master, the controller, the employer. To force one's will upon others and make them work for your own benefits. Not always a cruel thing if it's done right. But it's so rarely done right.
The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
Page of Wands
If you're going to use a pool stick, first be sure that you aren't one of the balls.
The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.
8 of Wands
The means by which you arrive are not necessarily the means by which you'll stay.
External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
7 of Swords
An Homage to Kurosawa. Seven swords belonging to seven Samurai.
In a realistic movie, even masters can die, and life has a tendency to move like the most implausible plot.
Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
The Empress
Regime change in action, it happens more in the sewers than the senates. One goes out, another comes in.
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.
9 of Wands
Thank you Mario, but your princess is in another castle. Besides, this one's blocked by a cypress tree fence. Lofty goals are nothing if you can't get to them.
