Tarot Spreads: Celtic Cross

One of the most widely used tarot spreads, the celtic cross spread is an excellent all-purpose layout. The general position of the cards in any celtic cross reading may be the same, but the interpretations of the positions changes depending on the reader.

The first card laid is usually the Significator, or Querent. Representing the person asking the question, or that person’s situation, the first card sits in the middle of the reading and is built upon for the rest of the reading. It can represent the person or persons involved, the situation as a whole or any of the factors in the situation being read for. This card can sometimes reflect subjective reality rather than objective reality; it shows how the questioner sees the situation, rather than how it actually is.

The second card is sometimes laid below the Significator, sometime across it. I’ve also seen it laid directly to the right of the Significator. This card is the Cross or Challenge card; it represents what is opposing the querent or what is hindering them. This card points out what you need to be aware of in the situation, something that requires attention. Other interpretations for this position are that this card points out what needs to be or is being released in the self; it can also be interpreted as some factor that diminishes or obscures the issue; alternatively, it can be seen as something enhancing or clarifying the issue.

In readings in which the first card is interpreted as the Querent, the second card can be interpreted as the situation the Querent finds themselves in.

The third card can be interpreted many different ways, depending on the reader. This card can be read as pointing to the distant past, as in more than six months ago. It can be seen as the foundation for the problem, issues from the past influencing the current situation, unconscious desires or as things that are buried or emotionally volatile. In general, this card speaks of the past, of unconscious or hidden factors and of issues influencing the present that have not been in conscious play recently.

Some readers place the fourth card to the left of the Significator card, some lay it at the top of the reading. The card placed to the left of the Significator can be interpreted as follows: in traditional celtic cross readings, this is the card of the recent past. It indicates events and influences that have come into the querents’ life in the past six months. In less traditional readings, this card can be either old patterns, things that slip away or are moving away or yin-like influences. This card can be thought of as being ‘in the shadow’; it represents things that are being moved away from, things or influences that are in the past and becoming more distant and influences that are gentle, soft, dark or ‘feminine.’

In the diagram above, the fifth card is placed above the Significator. In this position, cards are interpreted as a possible outcome if the situation changes or is altered. It can also be read as a short term outlook on the situation. Variations on this card include reading it as conscious influences in the reading, situation or querent; it can be seen as influences that are attractive to the querent, things which are desired or wanted, an outcome that is wished for. At the top of the reading, this card can be thought of as being ‘on top of’ the questioners mind.

Placed to the right of the Querent card, the sixth card can be interpreted as an outcome should nothing in the situation change. This card can also be read as the ‘opposite’ to the fourth card. This position reflects the fourth card and comments on it, providing the other side to the coin, so to speak. In this position, the card can be interpreted as representing things or influences which are sought after, yearned after, things which remain or are coming into being. The companion to the yin position, this is the yang position, and represents a more active and energetic component to the situation. Where yin looks to the past, to things that are hidden and passing away, the yang card looks ahead and comments on desired outcomes, things that are yet to come, things that are manifesting.

The four cards placed to the right of the reading form the ‘staff of awareness’. These four cards speak about the querent directly, rather than commenting on the situation. In order from the bottom, they are Self Image, Resources, Hopes and Fears and New Direction.

The Self Image card speaks on exactly what it’s name is. This card tells the reader how the querent sees themselves. This card tells us about the questioner’s personality, self image, how they think of themselves. With disconcerting insight, this card delves into the querent, and can tell the reader more about how to approach the querent, how to phrase advice, and whether or not the querent is likely to take the proffered advice.

Resources tells the querent where to look in their life for the support and assistance they may need. It may speak of self sufficiency or of the need to reach out to others for help. Resources points out directly where to go next, what to do and whom to speak with.

Hopes and Fears highlights the querents’ wildest dreams and deepest terrors. By being aware of where your fear lies, you can work to circumvent it’s sabotaging nature. Fear is the mindkiller: know where your fear lies so that you can work against it. Immense hope can be just as paralyzing as fear is. When you have a great hope, you can be held hostage to it; realizing where you hope and your fear lie can free the querent to act.

The New Direction card, placed last in the reading, looks back on the reading and comments on it. This card points out to the querent where to go next, what to look at, and sometimes this card points out a completely unregarded possibility. Just as occasionally the answer to a problem lies in a totally unforseen direction, this card can point the way to an ‘outside the box’ solution. Look to the New Direction to get fresh insight into the reading. This card also sometimes acts as the most forward looking card, looking into the future and providing insight to what may come. This card can be read as the key to the reading, speaking to the future outcome of the situation. If this card feels vague or doesn’t seem to be coherent with the rest of the reading, it is appropriate to draw more cards to comment on this position.

At the end of a reading, I like to look at the bottom of the deck of undrawn cards. Often, this bottom card also provides insight. The bottom of the deck speaks of buried, hidden, unseen, totally unconscious influences. Sometimes, the bottom of the deck warns of events or situations totally unrelated to the subject of the reading as a whole. And sometimes, the bottom of the deck provides an amusing footnote or side comment.

The celtic cross spread is one of the most useful tools in the tarot reader’s arsenal. The multiplicity of interpretations for it’s cards, the near universal applicableness of the insights it provides all come together to make the celtic cross the workhorse of the tarot world. Go to any reader, and the odds are good that they’ll either read with the celtic cross, or at the very least they’ll know it. The positions are so useful, so well known, so universal that they inform most readings, even if they don’t fall into the celtic cross layout exactly.

If you’re interested in reading the cards, it’s very hard to go wrong with a celtic cross. Remember to pick just one version of how to interpret each placement; don’t try to read all the variations into one reading, especially if you’re just starting out. Pick one set of variations, try to make sure that each placement interpretation flows into and from the surrounding cards and don’t forget to breathe.

For a very traditional look at the Celtic Cross reading, check out this page.

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