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![]() 9 of Cups |
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Hidden Influences![]() King of Wands |
External Influences![]() 2 of Wands |
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The Present![]() Death |
Suggestion![]() 6 of Wands |
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The Past![]() 10 of Pentacles |
The Outcome![]() 10 of Swords |
The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.
10 of Pentacles
The tree of life doesn't play out flawlessly like it does in the diagrams. It's actually far more distorted than that. Don't mistake the map for the territory and follow books blindly.
The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Death
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
King of Wands
Money is the king of all motivators. There is nothing in this world enough money can't buy. The people who tell you otherwise clearly don't have enough of it.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
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.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
2 of Wands
This artist loves Thai food. Tom Yum soup and fried rice mostly. To be honest though I'm very poor at chopsticks.
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.
10 of Swords
Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.