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 Page of Wands
Hidden Influences Knight of Wands		External Influences 10 of Swords
The Present Page of Cups		Suggestion The Empress
The Past 8 of Wands		The Outcome Page of Swords

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

8 of Wands

The means by which you arrive are not necessarily the means by which you'll stay.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

Page of Cups

AKA Jack of Hearts in traditional playing cards. One eyed as a result. If the world seems backwards, it's not.

The world is right where it's always been, it's more likely yourself that's gotten turned around. Nah just kidding, the world's gone nuts. Deal with it as best you can and don't forget which way is up – It's the opposite of the way your tears fall.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Knight of Wands

Read 'The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha', preferably the edition with illustrations by Gustav Dore. At the very least see the play 'Man of La Mancha'.

Mock what lunatics you may, but at some point you've been the fool too, and fools, whatever else they are, are also the best dreamers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

Page of Wands

If you're going to use a pool stick, first be sure that you aren't one of the balls.

 

 

 

 

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

 

10 of Swords

Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

The Empress

Regime change in action, it happens more in the sewers than the senates. One goes out, another comes in.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Page of Swords

Chaos is dangerous to both belligerents. If you have all the arms and all the thorns in the world, you're just as much a danger to yourself if you don't keep track of them.