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 10 of Swords
Hidden Influences Ace of Wands		External Influences 4 of Swords
The Present 2 of Swords		Suggestion Knight of Wands
The Past 2 of Cups		The Outcome King of Cups

 

 

 

 

The Past represents past events that are affecting the question.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

The Present represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.

 

2 of Swords

There is nothing that can't be destroyed by a powerful enough weapon, but be sure you have the right weapon for the job.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obstacle - This is the challenge.

 

10 of Swords

Classic iconography. Classic significance: Absolute destruction.

 

 

 

 

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

 

4 of Swords

Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!

(Today is a good day to die!)

 

 

 

 

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.

 

Knight of Wands

Read 'The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha', preferably the edition with illustrations by Gustav Dore. At the very least see the play 'Man of La Mancha'.

Mock what lunatics you may, but at some point you've been the fool too, and fools, whatever else they are, are also the best dreamers.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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.