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 8 of Wands
Hidden Influences Queen of Swords		External Influences 8 of Cups
The Present Balance		Suggestion 5 of Pentacles
The Past King of Cups		The Outcome Ace of Wands

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

King of Cups

An homage to H.P. Lovecraft and the culture that's grown around his works in the modern world. Charlemagne has been replaced by Cthulhu. Past insanity has been replaced with new insanity, but it's still madness all the same. Don't believe that just because it's changed means it's been fixed.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Queen of Swords

Homage to Wagner. Brünnhilde lays asleep on the mountain surrounded by magic fire, waiting for Siegfried. Only he who wasn't afraid of Wotan's spear could pass the fire. And when that romance didn't work out, she burned down Valhalla and left Earth to the mortals.

Not everyone can have what they want. A man who can't sing isn't going to be the world's greatest singer. Know yourself, know what you can do, and don't squander what you have trying to win something you won't. But also know when to try, and what's worth never giving up on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

8 of Wands

The means by which you arrive are not necessarily the means by which you'll stay.

 

 

 

 

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

 

8 of Cups

D cups in this case. Don't be ashamed to enjoy your vices, and never regret the sins you enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

5 of Pentacles

Air conditioning is not a luxury, it's one of the most important things humankind ever invented. Comfort too is not to be taken lightly, if you aren't comfortable you can't enjoy what's before you, and if you can't enjoy what you've got, what's the point in living?

 

 

 

 

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.