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 5 of Swords |
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Hidden Influences Page of Swords |
External Influences Ace of Wands |
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The Present 5 of Wands |
Suggestion 2 of Swords |
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The Past 8 of Wands |
The Outcome 7 of Cups |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
8 of Wands
The means by which you arrive are not necessarily the means by which you'll stay.
The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
5 of Wands
The means may be grotesque, but if they get you what you want you'd do well to use them.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Page of Swords
Chaos is dangerous to both belligerents. If you have all the arms and all the thorns in the world, you're just as much a danger to yourself if you don't keep track of them.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
5 of Swords
An homage to Bosch and Bruegel, and a card symbolic of victory to the well-armed and pain to the unprepared or unwilling to defend.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
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.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
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.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
7 of Cups
'It's hard to fill a cup that's already full'. –James Cameron, Avatar. What fills your cup? If you like what's there don't let the nightmares in. But if you want to learn more, you have to spill your past preconceptions.
