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:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle![]() Page of Wands |
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Hidden Influences![]() 2 of Wands |
External Influences![]() 9 of Cups |
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The Present![]() 7 of Swords |
Suggestion![]() 5 of Wands |
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The Past![]() 10 of Swords |
The Outcome![]() Ace of Wands |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
10 of Swords
Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
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.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
2 of Wands
This artist loves Thai food. Tom Yum soup and fried rice mostly. To be honest though I'm very poor at chopsticks.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
Page of Wands
If you're going to use a pool stick, first be sure that you aren't one of the balls.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
9 of Cups
A whole lot of cargo looks minimal when it's loaded onto a gigantic ship. This applies to more than one might expect.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
5 of Wands
The means may be grotesque, but if they get you what you want you'd do well to use them.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
Ace of Wands
A wand is a means to a magical end. If you don't like what you're seeing, use yours to change the channel.