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 3 of Wands
Hidden Influences The Moon		External Influences 6 of Wands
The Present Balance		Suggestion 4 of Swords
The Past 5 of Swords		The Outcome 6 of Swords

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

5 of Swords

An homage to Bosch and Bruegel, and a card symbolic of victory to the well-armed and pain to the unprepared or unwilling to defend.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

The Moon

Tranquillity, calm, beauty, and for some reason I never understood, lobster. Don't ask me, blame antiquity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

3 of Wands

Two wands to keep them rowing in circles past death, one wand to put an end to it.

 

 

 

 

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

 

6 of Wands

If you're stuck, the first step to freedom is to examine what's holding you in place.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

4 of Swords

Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!

(Today is a good day to die!)

 

 

 

 

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.

 

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.