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![]() The Star |
||
Hidden Influences![]() Queen of Wands |
External Influences![]() 3 of Wands |
|
The Present![]() 6 of Pentacles |
Suggestion![]() Queen of Pentacles |
|
The Past![]() 10 of Swords |
The Outcome![]() 3 of Cups |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
10 of Swords
Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
6 of Pentacles
Don't overlook a good solution just because it's obvious.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Queen of Wands
An homage to H.R. Giger's Alien Hieroglyphs and an insult to perspective. A wand that does nothing more than sap the life from you and squirt it down the drain.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
The Star
AKA The Star in traditional Tarot.
In this case it's Perseus slaying Medusa, a homage to Marqueste's sculpture.
Crowley explained every man and woman is a star. Astrologically, we all effect the fates with our rises and falls. We also congregate into bodies which are no mere illusion, but powerful forces in time. Other people have power over you, but you too have power over them.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
3 of Wands
Two wands to keep them rowing in circles past death, one wand to put an end to it.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
Queen of Pentacles
You can prefer quality over quantity or quantity over quality, but both are valid for different applications. Sometimes a lot of cheap crap does the job, sometimes fewer of the finest is better. Know which is which and don't mistake the two. When in doubt, go with tons of the best.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
3 of Cups
Based on Canova's Three Graces. And don't say there's nothing to do in the Doldrums. Time spent doing nothing isn't wasted if it was enjoyed, only if it was miserable boredom.