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 Balance
Hidden Influences 4 of Pentacles		External Influences The Norn
The Present Ace of Wands		Suggestion 5 of Wands
The Past Ace of Swords		The Outcome The Emperor

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

Ace of Swords

'At the east of the garden of Eden he placed the Angel and a flaming sword that turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life'. –Genesis 3:24

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

4 of Pentacles

It doesn't always come out the way you wanted. That doesn't mean you can't still enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

Balance

AKA Justice in traditional Tarot.

Not the scales of a common religious moralist and no longer a cardinal virtue, but the raw, heartless justice of nature.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Norn

2:00 – Card 10

AKA The Wheel of Fortune in traditional Tarot. Female, Air, Gemini.

Symbolic of fate, and what is fate but change? Everything changes in time; change is the only constant. What one cannot control one must predict, and act in accordance with. Opposition to the inevitable yields only pain.

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

5 of Wands

The means may be grotesque, but if they get you what you want you'd do well to use them.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Emperor

In this case King Sargon of Akkad. A great ruler in his own time rarely even makes the history books in ours.