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![]() 7 of Pentacles |
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Hidden Influences![]() The Empress |
External Influences![]() 9 of Wands |
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The Present![]() 3 of Wands |
Suggestion![]() 6 of Wands |
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The Past![]() The Sorceress |
The Outcome![]() 9 of Pentacles |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
The Sorceress
12:00 – Card 11
AKA The Priestess in traditional Tarot. Female, Fire, Leo.
The master of events, the shaper of destiny, the will in action. The opposite of the fool, the Sorceress is active, in control. Aware instead of ignorant, wise instead of apathetic. A goddess, for the only gods that exist are men and women who make deities of themselves.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
3 of Wands
Two wands to keep them rowing in circles past death, one wand to put an end to it.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
The Empress
Regime change in action, it happens more in the sewers than the senates. One goes out, another comes in.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
7 of Pentacles
'And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof'. –Rev 5:5
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
9 of Wands
Thank you Mario, but your princess is in another castle. Besides, this one's blocked by a cypress tree fence. Lofty goals are nothing if you can't get to them.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
6 of Wands
If you're stuck, the first step to freedom is to examine what's holding you in place.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
9 of Pentacles
Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Da-Dling! Dzugdzugdzug.
Realistically, profit isn't hanging in the sky to be taken. If you take it, you're taking it from somebody. And you don't just get to smoosh them.