The Celtic cross tarot spread consists of ten card placements, each of which stands for a distinct question. When put together, they form the shape of a cross, and to its right is a vertical row of four cards. Astrologer and tarot reader Clarisse Monahan claims that this spread enables you to delve far deeper into a subject than, for example, a straightforward one- or three-card spread, in order to obtain clarity and solutions. It also dates long back.
In This Article...
How is a Celtic Cross spread read?
Things start to get interesting at this point! A lot of new Tarot readers start out by analyzing each card. But the magic happens when we take a closer look at the relationships between the Tarot cards and go further into the reading’s narrative!
Consider the Celtic Cross divided into two main sections: the Circle/Cross segment on the left (Cards 16), and the Staff section on the right (Cards 7 to 10).
What is happening in the querent’s life at the time of the reading is depicted in the Circle/Cross. Two crosses make up this section: a little cross in the middle (Cards 1 and 2), nestled inside a larger cross (Cards 3 to 6). The smaller cross stands for the subject matter that is more important to the reader at that moment.
Two lines make up the larger cross, which sits on top of the smaller cross. Time moves from the past on the left to the future on the right as depicted by the horizontal line (Cards 1, 3, and 4). Cards 1, 5, and 6 form a vertical line that represents the querent’s consciousness as it moves from unconsciousness at the bottom to consciousness at the top.
These six cards taken as a whole provide an overview of the internal and external environments at the time of a reading.
A greater sense of what is happening in the larger context may be found in the Staff section, which depicts the link between the querent and the environment in which they function.
Second, to develop the “narrative,” start examining the following Tarot card combinations:
- Compare the cards on the top and bottom (Cards 5 and 6). Do the conscious and subconscious levels work in concert? Are the person’s motivations and their goals in line with one another? It will be much simpler to fix the problem if there is alignment. If not, let the asker comprehend what’s going on subconsciously and how it can affect how they respond to the problem.
- Compare the outcome and above cards (Cards 5 and 10). Once more, is there agreement between what the customer wants and what will actually happen? Does the respondent aid or hinder the situation? If Cards 5 and 10 are found to be in opposition, the questioner will need to carefully consider how to bring about the results they desire. For more advice, consult the Advice card (Card 7).
- Compare the cards for the future and results (Cards 4 and 10). How are the impending events affecting or impacting the final result? Will the respondent need to handle these occurrences in a certain way to produce the desired results? Once more, extra information can be found on the Advice card (Card 7).
- Compare the Hopes/Fears and Below cards (Cards 6 and 9). Look at what is going on in the subject’s subconscious if you are having trouble deciphering their hopes and fears (Card 6). Is there something stirring up either fear or hope in their subconscious? The querent is probably unaware of their subconscious drivers and how this is affecting them in the “real world” if you see reversed cards in these situations.
- Compare the cards for advice and results (Cards 7 and 10). Does the respondent dislike the result? Check out the Advice card to discover what the questioner can do to influence a better outcome. Assist the client in managing these events by taking into account what occurrences are expected to happen soon (Card 4).
Then, combine everything for a comprehensive understanding of the current scenario.
Are you prepared to learn even more tricks and resources for deciphering the Celtic Cross like a pro? Check out my Masterclass on How to Master the Celtic Cross!
How does my tarot spread make me feel?
This section is for you if you’ve ever wondered what a “three-card spread is. Tarot readings can be done in a variety of ways, and frequently the instructions that come with the cards will show images of the most common spreads. You’ll soon discover that there is a spread for any circumstance, and you can always come up with your own, too. These include the straightforward three-card spread, the Celtic cross, and a seven-day spread.
After the deck has been shuffled and divided in half by the client, a reader will pull three cards from it for a three-card spread (more on that in a moment). The past, present, and future are typically represented by the first call pulled, second call pulled, and third call pulled, respectively. Depending on the reading and the question being posed, the timeframes can be understood to indicate either tomorrow or ten years from now.
A daily card reading is another popular way to use tarot cards. In this practice, one card is chosen at random from the top of the shuffled deck and used as a reminder or a direction for the day. Anyone wishing to become more acquainted with the tarot deck and the meanings of the cards can find this to be a very beneficial practice.
As vital as it is to think about the specific meaning of each card, it is also crucial to think about the atmosphere and symbolism of the spread as a whole. There is just as much information to be learned from the whole picture as there is from its component parts, especially in bigger spreads. This is an opportunity to collaborate with them if you are reading for someone else. This will be more difficult the more pressure you put on yourself to mind-read. Tarot reading does not make you psychic, which is a relief: It’s acceptable to inquire about the cards with the audience and come up with ideas for how the cards might relate to their initial query collectively. When a customer asks about money, you might pick two cups cards and “the lovers,” but sometimes the cards won’t match up at all. This could imply that their love life was what they truly wanted to talk to you about. Doesn’t everyone?
Tarot reading can be done in many different methods, but they all require practice. It takes effort to learn 78 different cards, especially when many of them have numerous possible interpretations. However, the more you study and handle the cards, the more comfortable you’ll feel using them as a tool to better understand both yourself and others.
There are several books you can buy and classes (online and off) you can take to hone your interpretation abilities if you want to move up in the tarot world. Online courses are occasionally made available by Tarot for Change author and well-known tarot reader Jessica Dore. On a sliding rate, Little Red Tarot also provides an eight-week course. Free courses from teachers like John Ballantrae, who has a very relaxing accent, and spiritual advisor Mystic Rainn are also widely available on YouTube.
What do you mean by crowns?
One of the most well-known tarot spreads is the Celtic Cross.
It is used by many readers, but it also intimidates many more.
The Celtic Cross is particularly great in my opinion because it lends itself well to overall outlooks or closing spreads as well as providing a plethora of information about a specific circumstance.
This series aims to help you learn tips and tweaks so you may master it once and for all. It also aims to help you get over your fear of it.
As I continue to add tutorials to this series once a month, keep checking back.
The Marseilles deck was the first tarot deck I ever possessed, and the Celtic Cross spread was the first spread I ever learnt. This was a difficult start for a young want tobe tarot reader. The Marseilles was difficult enough without illustrated pip cards, but that enormous Celtic Cross? Before I could even recall how to put it out and what the positions represented, it took me a lot of practice. (PS There was no internet back then, and living in a rural area prevented me from having access to many tarot cards or books. I was by myself!)
I mastered it over time. I eventually obtained The Rider Waite deck as well, and it immediately resonated with me. I suddenly began to recognize the patterns, how the many configurations might affect a circumstance, and how adaptable the Celtic Cross might be. Since then, there has been a 35-year love affair!
In this series, I hope to make you fall in love with the Celtic Cross and show you a variety of interesting perspectives.
However, we must begin with the most fundamental lesson of all:
Ten cards make up the Celtic Cross; six of them are arranged in a cross arrangement, while the other four are arranged in a vertical row on the right side of the cross (see image below).
I’ve seen various different arrangements of the cards, frequently with positions 3 and 5 reversed, but I like the arrangement I learned because I think it makes perfect sense.
Here is how to arrange it and an explanation of what each location entails:
1This is the current situation; here is where you are right now; this is the crux of the subject.
This is what offends you, whether it’s good or bad. Position two depicts potential barriers or sources of help.
This serves as the situation’s basis, or the historical circumstances that led to the present.
It reflects your point of origin. the origin.
This represents the recent past or events that are just now receding into the background.
This card’s energy may still be present, but it is beginning to fade.
scenarios that are likely to occur in the future or what might be, or the possibilities.
According to some, “this is what crowns you.
It can be a reflection of your goals.
The current inquirer is 7this.
This may reflect the respondent’s present position or attitude toward the circumstance.
This refers to the surrounds, environment, or other factors.
The atmosphere at home or at work, as well as any additional parties that might be affecting the scenario, can play this role.
This represents the inquirer’s wishes and anxieties.
It may also represent the necessary shadow effort.
This is the result or the direction you’re going.
Once you have interpreted this card, you can move on to considering other spreads or cards to make decisions, especially if the conclusion is bad (more on that in a future lesson).
When you think about this approach, you’ll notice that using position 3 as the middle cross’s foundation position and then working clockwise around it makes senseyou’re looking at the foundation, or how we arrived to where we are now, while still making smooth, flowing progress.
Before they even shuffle the cards and spread them out, some readers will choose a significator to stand in for the questioner. Personal taste will play a role here. I refrain from doing this because I think the reading will reflect the energy the subject is manifesting at the time. The Celtic Cross significators will be covered in a later session, so don’t worry about it right now.
Instead, practice arranging it and keeping track of what each position represents as your assignment.
What does the Celtic Cross stand for?
The Celtic Cross, a beautiful symbol of religion, initially appeared on the island of Ireland in the early Middle Ages. These wonderful symbols became common throughout Ireland’s environment after the advent of the Celts in 500 BC, and many of them are still there today.
The Celtic Cross is made up of a conventional cross with a circle accentuating the intersection of the arms and stem. The Celtic Cross, which is open to many diverse interpretations, is thought to be a symbol of wisdom, strength, and compassion needed to handle life’s ups and downs. The four arms of the Celtic cross are believed to represent our mind, soul, body, and heart as well as the four directions of the compassions, the four elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.
The Celtic sign for limitless love is supposed to be represented by the cross’s central ring. More exactly, it is a representation of god’s unending love. Many people believe think it is a picture of Christ’s halo because it has no beginning and no end.
The Celtic cross is full with potent imagery and serves as an ideal expression of the Celts’ aspirations. Because of this, Celtic Jewelry artisans of all generations are committed to making sure that every piece of jewelry featuring the Celtic cross is made to absolute perfection. At Blarney Woollen Mills, we strive to offer our clients this lovely Celtic custom with a contemporary touch. The Celtic Cross is a common motif in both traditional Irish presents and Celtic pendants.
What faith are Tarot cards based on?
Tarot cards also include four suits, but they are different depending on the region: French suits are found in Northern Europe, Latin suits are found in Southern Europe, and German suits are found in Central Europe. Each suit contains 14 cards: four face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page) and ten pip cards, numbered from one (or Ace) to ten. In addition, the tarot features a unique 21-card trump suit and a solitary card known as the Fool; this 22-card group of cards is referred to as the Major Arcana in the world of divination. The Fool may serve as the top trump or alternatively may be played to avoid doing so, depending on the game. In parts of Europe, these tarot cards are still used to play traditional card games without any occult connotations.
Tarot cards are mostly employed for amusement and divination in English-speaking nations where these activities are less popular, typically with the aid of specially created packs. Although academic research has shown that tarot cards were partially invented in northern Italy in the 15th century (16 of the modern 22 Major Arcana cards) and combined with a deck of four suits, “the Mamluk deck,” some people who use tarot for cartomancy believe the cards have esoteric links to ancient Egypt, Iran, the Kabbalah, Indian Tantra, or the I Ching. The Mamluk deck of cards was created in or before the 14th century and arrived in Western Europe after paper was produced in Asia (see Playing Card – Egypt and following sections). By the end of the thirteenth century, Europeans were making the Mamluk deck with customized “court cards” and suit symbols.
Although some people think that tarot cards were not used for divination until the late 18th century, there is evidence of an early tarot deck that was “used in divination to determine the querent’s prospects in love” (Fernando de la Torre’s “Juego de Naypes” deck of Spain, 1450), each card having an image and verse.
What should the price be for a tarot reading?
Tarot, tea leaf, or palm readings are all available for $35. You can receive a 30-minute reading for $70, and the Tarot reading currently includes a free set of their anniversary Tarot cards. a year plus ago. When trying to recall, I believe the prices were 10 minutes for $35 and 30 minutes for $65.
What does the Celtic cross’s Crown signify?
Position 5, labeled “potential outcome,” is located at the top of the mini-cross.
This card represents potential future events, potential future developments, or potential futures.
This role is described as “what crowns you” in some publications.
Based on the moment of the reading, I frequently interpret this card as the location you will most likely end up.
Therefore, if a card like the Three of Swords appears there, the inquirer might be in for disappointment or loss.
I can see what is setting up that possibility by going back and looking at the first two cards. If the Three of Cups represented the past and the Devil reversed represented the recent past, this would suggest that the querent may have met a new person, started an extramarital relationship, and is now considering ending their marriage. Or you may read this as a fun-at-first romance that went horribly wrong and is most certainly going to an end.
Always keep an eye on the previous cards since they provide information about how the story is developing and what factors led to this “potential result.”
The question, “What about that outcome card then?” may come to mind.
Why bother with an outcome card if this demonstrates the possibilities?
These two, in my perspective, support one another, and I frequently see them as a triad with the card in position 6.
However, we’re moving on already.
I’ll be demonstrating a variety of card pairing techniques as well as what to do when we encounter contradictions as we move forward with these classes.
Let’s just use this card by itself for the time being.
The Two of Swords is crossed by Strength and the Tower in the past position, and the Three of Swords is reversed in the recent past in our last lesson on the recent past position.
If we position the Sun in the Possible Outcome position, what might happen?
That could indicate that the person asking the question has through a very trying change in their life that requires a lot of inner work and healing. They are currently overcoming the difficulty and making progress toward a nicer period. This demonstrates the client’s strength and that the decisions they are making will result in a better, more fruitful chapter. even a rebirth
This could be seen as the client becoming more grounded and solid after adversity, like the King of Pentacles.
They may have grown up and developed a sense of what matters most as a result of the change.
Or it can be a sign that a helpful person will soon enter their lives, someone who will have a stabilizing and positive influence on them.
How do Celtic crosses appear?
One of Ireland’s and Irish culture’s most beloved icons is the Celtic cross. Few symbols are as well-known as the Celtic cross, which represents Christianity in the Celtic world. The Latin cross is essentially what the Celtic cross looks like when it has a halo or circle of light crossing it. This cross, commonly referred to as the Irish cross or the cross of Iona, is a well-known Christian emblem with pagan origins. Before Christianity, the cross with a circle of light first appeared in France and Britain in the medieval ages. Irish missionaries used it from the ninth through the twelfth centuries.
