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![]() 3 of Wands |
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Hidden Influences![]() Page of Pentacles |
External Influences![]() 4 of Cups |
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The Present![]() 2 of Cups |
Suggestion![]() Queen of Pentacles |
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The Past![]() The Theocrat |
The Outcome![]() Ace of Cups |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
The Theocrat
1:00 – Card 8
AKA The Hierophant in traditional Tarot. Male, Fire, Taurus.
The master, the controller, the employer. To force one's will upon others and make them work for your own benefits. Not always a cruel thing if it's done right. But it's so rarely done right.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
2 of Cups
And two for my homies. Never forget past orthodoxies, past people or past events. Those who don't know their history aren't doomed to repeat it, they're doomed to fail history class and look like idiots. One feels no shame in repeating something they never saw in the first place, but stupidity is the greatest sin.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Page of Pentacles
An homage to Arthur Edward Waite, Aleister Crowley and George Sprague, the three revolutionary authors of Tarot systems that inspired this deck. Also, a very bad pun, apologies.
Life demands study, not worship. Study your problems, don't just pray for them to go away.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
3 of Wands
Two wands to keep them rowing in circles past death, one wand to put an end to it.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
4 of Cups
When you order people to do something, be certain that your orders are clear.
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.
Ace of Cups
AKA 2angels1grail in traditional 4chan. If you're offended, figure out why you're offended and excise the weakness.