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 Ace of Wands
Hidden Influences 7 of Swords		External Influences The Star
The Present 9 of Cups		Suggestion 10 of Swords
The Past King of Cups		The Outcome 8 of Wands

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

King of Cups

An homage to H.P. Lovecraft and the culture that's grown around his works in the modern world. Charlemagne has been replaced by Cthulhu. Past insanity has been replaced with new insanity, but it's still madness all the same. Don't believe that just because it's changed means it's been fixed.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

9 of Cups

A whole lot of cargo looks minimal when it's loaded onto a gigantic ship. This applies to more than one might expect.

 

 

 

 

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

 

7 of Swords

An Homage to Kurosawa. Seven swords belonging to seven Samurai.

In a realistic movie, even masters can die, and life has a tendency to move like the most implausible plot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

Ace of Wands

A wand is a means to a magical end. If you don't like what you're seeing, use yours to change the channel.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

8 of Wands

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