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![]() Knight of Swords |
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Hidden Influences![]() 5 of Cups |
External Influences![]() 6 of Swords |
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The Present![]() Ace of Wands |
Suggestion![]() The Moon |
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The Past![]() 5 of Wands |
The Outcome![]() 9 of Pentacles |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
5 of Wands
The means may be grotesque, but if they get you what you want you'd do well to use them.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
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.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
5 of Cups
The problem with a hand of glory is that wax melts and glory fades.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
Knight of Swords
The guillotine is the most effective method of killing ever invented. You can poison or shock or stab or shoot people but nothing is so certain to cause death as severing their head. Amazing how fast the world forgot that.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
6 of Swords
Something has to make the rain come down. It got up there but once there's enough of it, it falls back to Earth. It's not enough just to let it happen, if you want to understand you have to observe.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
The Moon
Tranquillity, calm, beauty, and for some reason I never understood, lobster. Don't ask me, blame antiquity.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
9 of Pentacles
Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Dzugdzugdzug.
Realistically, profit isn't hanging in the sky to be taken. If you take it, you're taking it from somebody. And you don't just get to smoosh them.