Horse Shoe Spread

Horse Shoe Spread #1

 

 

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

2 of Swords
 
Hidden Influences

5 of Wands
  External Influences

Death
The Present

8 of Pentacles
  Suggestion

The Chamber
The Past

3 of Wands
  The Outcome

4 of Wands

 

 

 

 

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.

 

8 of Pentacles

Things grow from other dead things. Don't overlook them for their dark origins, and don't dismiss the dead as a total erasure of what was.

 

 

 

 

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

 

5 of Wands

The means may be grotesque, but if they get you what you want you'd do well to use them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

2 of Swords

There is nothing that can't be destroyed by a powerful enough weapon, but be sure you have the right weapon for the job.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Death


 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

The Chamber

AKA The World in traditional Tarot.

The walls and windows are all bricked up, there appears to be no way out, but you got in somehow, so there must be a way. Have you tried looking behind you? Even if you're trapped forever (As you are in this world) there's likely something fun do while you're here.

 

 

 

 

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

 

4 of Wands

If you lost the means to do what you will, try retracing your steps. You had them before, you should be able to find them again. Unless they fell into the sewer, that would totally suck.

 

 

 

 

Home   Tarot Reading   Meanings   Spreads   Decks   Artists   FAQ   Zone31   Shadow Alchemy   About   Terms   Privacy     Facebook   X   LinkedIn


Copyright © 2025 Tarotsmith. All rights reserved.