Bright Blessings and welcome to Candle Cross Coven’s Tarot Spread Series! Today we’re diving in to one of the most notorious tarot spreads out there: the Celtic Cross. Even if you’ve never picked up a deck yourself, you’ve probably seen this famous spread dipicted in a TV show or movie. Regardless of your personal history with this spread, we’ll be covering this 10 card layout in detail. Let’s go!
WHAT MAKES THIS SPREAD SO SPECIAL?
The Celtic Cross is special for a few different reasons. First, it’s a flexible spread that gives you the option of being less specific when asking your question. It has a way of extrapolating more detail about your situation without having to explicitly define parameters of said situation. Second,it provides layered, comprehensive answers that offer incredible insight. And third, this spread allows you to see every facet of a situation so that you can move forward confidently.
WHAT’S THE CATCH?
For some beginners, it can be really intimidating to tackle a 10 card spread. Sure, it can be complicated to work with at first, but like anything, it takes practice to get the hang of it. Outside of learning the positions, you must also learn how to connect everything together. This will allow you to render a narrative that gives insight and inspiration.
CELTIC CROSS SPREAD CARD POSITIONS
- CARD ONE
This position represents the Self in the Present. The card laid here offers insight into the current situation and what’s going on right now in the moment. Alternatively, it can represent the present-day mental state of the querent and a glimpse into who they are at the time of the reading. It can also represent the question being asked.
- CARD TWO
This position represents the Problem or what crosses you. The card laid here depicts the issues or challenges being faced by the querent at this time. This is something that needs to be faced and eventually resolved in order to step forward.
- CARD THREE
This position represent the basis of the question or what lies behind it. These are the hidden or unseen forces behind the question. This also tells us why the querent wants to know what is going on.
- CARD FOUR
This position represents the Past. The card laid here represents past events and how they have formed the present-day situation. This can offer information on past influences that have preceded the current state of affairs.
- CARD FIVE
This position represents the Future or what could be. The card laid here depicts the most likely outcome and relies on circumstance and action, considering nothing changes. These are typically short-term and do not represent the final ruling of said events.
- CARD SIX
This position represents what will come next. The card laid here represents what you must cross before you get to the final ending. It’s good practice to compare this card with cards 4 and then 3 to look for any correspondences or patterns.
- CARD SEVEN
This position represents the negative facet to the question. The card laid here depicts what the querent is afraid of, what’s being ignored, or what the querent doesn’t want to happen. This card has the ability to reveal fears, what cannot be seen, or things we wish to be absent from the current situation.
- CARD EIGHT
This position represents what others around us are feeling. The card laid here represents either a direct impact from someone close to the querent or a more universal feeling from a large group of people. Alternatively, it could be why the querent is asking their question to begin with. This card gives a glimpse to the influence others can have on us.
- CARD NINE
This position represents the querent’s hopes and dreams. The card laid here depicts the querent’s desires, goals, and their positive correspondence to their question. Oftentimes this card will reveal what has been omitted by the querent, much like a secret wish they keep close.
- CARD TEN
This position represents the Final Outcome. The card laid here represents the most likely outcome based on current decisions and actions made by everyone involved. This is not absolute!
THE CELTIC CROSS SPREAD LAYOUT
UNDERSTANDING SECTIONS OF THE CELTIC CROSS
THE CROSS AND THE STAFF
The Celtic Cross is best understood when broken down into two sections: the Cross and the Staff. The Cross consists of six cards on the left-hand side. This represents a picture of everything happening in the querent’s life, both internally and externally. The Staff consists of four cards on the right-hand side. This represents the querent’s life as seen from outside of the situation. From this we can see how circumstances can influence it and if they want, how to change their situation.
THE WHEEL AND THE WHEEL’S AXIS
The Cross can be broken down further into another two sections: the Wheel and the Wheel’s Axis. The Wheel is depicted by the four cards that surround the Wheel’s Axis, depicted by card positions one and two. The Wheel’s Axis corresponds to the heart of the matter, while the Wheel corresponds to the events in the querent’s life that encompass it. Think of this like a wheel of four cards spinning around an axis of two cards.
TIME AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Yet another way this spread can be split in two is by viewing the cards as time and consciousness. By viewing the horizontal cards as time and vertical cards as conciousness, we’re essentially given two spreads that represent the past, present, and future AND the unconscious, self, and conscious.
A NOTE
Please follow your intuition when reading the Tarot. The examples above are not required of you to be able to read the Celtic Cross. Perhaps when you are more experienced you will try your hand at these interpretations – and perhaps not. Do what feels right for your practice!
IN CONCLUSION…
Well, there you have it Witches! Do you read the Celtic Cross spread? Will you attempt it after reading this post? Let me know in the comments, and as always, Bright Blessings and Happy Crafting!