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![]() 3 of Swords |
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Hidden Influences![]() 7 of Cups |
External Influences![]() 7 of Wands |
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The Present![]() Page of Pentacles |
Suggestion![]() 10 of Swords |
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The Past![]() 3 of Wands |
The Outcome![]() The Emperor |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
3 of Wands
Two wands to keep them rowing in circles past death, one wand to put an end to it.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Page of Pentacles
An homage to Arthur Edward Waite, Aleister Crowley and George Sprague, the three revolutionary authors of Tarot systems that inspired this deck. Also, a very bad pun, apologies.
Life demands study, not worship. Study your problems, don't just pray for them to go away.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
7 of Cups
'It's hard to fill a cup that's already full'. –James Cameron, Avatar. What fills your cup? If you like what's there don't let the nightmares in. But if you want to learn more, you have to spill your past preconceptions.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
3 of Swords
The Vikings were once the most feared force on the northern seas, now they are remembered by statues, Swedish death metal, and Antonio Banderas movies. Do what you will to ensure your name, but once you're gone you have no control over what will become of it.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
7 of Wands
The BLOB! The blob has taken the streets! It's reproducing, the blob will kill us all!!! THE BLOOOOB!!!!!!!!!!
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
10 of Swords
Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
The Emperor
In this case King Sargon of Akkad. A great ruler in his own time rarely even makes the history books in ours.