Celtic Cross
The Celtic Cross is the old standard when it comes to Tarot spreads. It can be overkill in most reading situations and a LOT of Tarot cards to synthesize. Early Tarot study, with email readings for one card, the write up would be entire page with a Celtic Cross at eighteen pages of text. Waaaay more information than any question truly warranted!
Focus on Lenormand influences Tarot style, tendind toward shorter and sweeter answers these days. Ccut to the quick and see the immediate issues underlying any question. This makes readings harder to swallow and probably a bit edgier, sure. But it means handling a LOT of cards on the table. And like Lenormand, see how they all work together in a tableau.
The Celtic Cross is similar to a Grand Tableau when it comes to influence lines. In fact, that’s a comparison many Lenormand students make the first time they tackle that enormous spread, reading all 36 cards in one sitting. The Celtic Crossis a great general reading spread that you can throw for querents who don’t have questions.
We’re going to be talking about the Celtic Cross in two parts and for this first part, we’re only going to focus on the first six cards that make up what I call the Small Cross, or inner half of the reading. The first card, the center of the cross, is the card that indicates the current situation, for better or worse. The card that covers is is the immediate challenge or opportunity that the querent is facing.
The King of Pentacles speaks of authority, tradition, and success in money matters. When he appears in a reading, it's a sign that now is not a time to be a maverick, now is a time to follow the establish way of doing things. When he stands in for a literal man in your life, it generally refers to a very masculine fellow with hair and eyes on the darker end of the spectrum. In general the King of Pentacles urges us to be good stewards: of our lives, of our energies, and the concrete resources that are available to us. If he's referring to a man in your life, know that this is a man who you can believe in and trust absolutely.
An older, established man plays a major role in your working environment (even if on the surface, it seems that you work with all women.) This man is wise, fair, but somewhat quick to pass judgment. This man may become a staunch supporter of yours even if you've not met him thus far. Be prepared for scrutiny at all times – you'll be glad that you were.
4 of Pentacles can point to anxiety/fear about money and/or a clinging to whatever it is that makes the querent feel secure. The key here is to try to realize that being anxious and grasping does NOT bring security. If any card in the Tarot relates to the old saying about "If you love something set it free…" this is the one.
4 of Pentacles says that you may be doing something you don't like just because it's putting food on the table. Jobs and situations such as this have their place, but to better your situation, you must elevate your spiritual understanding and belief in yourself. What would it take to be in a situation work wise that fulfills you? What steps would have to be made to get yourself there? Believe that such a thing is possible, then start making it happen.
Read the cross center, then the past/present/future dynamic, and then the underlying currents and possibilities presented by the top (5S) and bottom (Strength) cards.
Past King of Swords Present King of Pentacles Future Knight Swords
When the King of Swords is in the past position it represents you in a formative time that made you who you are today, mastering the use if words to get what you wanted.
The King of Pentacles in the present position offers you a unique opportunity to take stock of where you have been and what you want to do with your life.
This card is quite powerful for you when it is dealt in the future position. The Knight of Swords is at his most powerful when his visit is a surprise. When his arrival has been announced and prepared for, you, the receiver of his visit, are in charge. This card here lets you know that a critique is coming. It warns you of unreasonable demands in a negotiation that will soon commence. It lets you know that those closest to you will not finesse words when their interests are challenged. Use the knowledge of this coming communication to protect yourself from the damage that ordinarily arrives with the Knight of Swords: damage we cause to ourselves by being unprepared.
The underlying current involves Strength another person, a King of the querent’s past that held great emotional significance. One thing I notice, in the cards where we talk about Strength, the querent’s past (KS) and what crosses her (4S), the figures are literally looking at each other and forward . Whereas the backwards-thinking 5S, KtS are looking in the past.
Try your hand at the Small Cross. Tell a story with it.
The story is one of having to learn your way around things and mastering them. You've established a rote and remunerative way to walk the walk and you're holding on and clinging to what makes you feel secure, drawing upon your inner confidence and strength to deal with the existing obstacles.
Swords are the suit of intellect, thought and reason, concerned with justice, truth and ethical principles. Swords are associated with the element Air. A cloudless sky, open and light-filled, is a symbol of the mental clarity that is the Swords ideal. This suit is associated with states that lead to disharmony and unhappiness. Our intellect is an asset, but as an agent of ego, it can lead us astray if it is not infused with the wisdom of our Inner Guide. Pentacles are the suit of practicality, security and material concerns, associated with the element Earth and the concrete requirements of working with matter. In Pentacles, we celebrate the beauty of nature, our interactions with plants and animals and our physical experiences in the body. Pentacles also represent prosperity and wealth of all kinds, of the exchange of goods and services in the physical world.
The top card indicates potential, and along with the near future card on the right, shows your querent what *may* happen on this present course of events. Sometimes if there is a big decision to be made, these cards indicate different paths. In this circumstance, it appears to me that our querent understands that there is a confrontation ahead and to be prepared for that.
Note is the relationship between the challenge- holding on, the current situation- following the establish way of doing things, and underlying- drawing upon your inner confidence and strength to deal with the existing obstacles and past events having to learn your way around things and mastering them. Regardless of the potential for future growth, these three cards usually give you more about your querent’s decision making than any other cards in the spread.
Note the relationship between cards #2, 3, and 4. 4P- holding on, Strength- drawing upon your inner confidence and strength to deal with the existing obstacles, KS- having to learn your way around things and mastering them.
Note the relationship between cards #1, 5, and 6. KP- established a rote and remunerative way to walk the walk, 5S- pick your battles wisely, KtS- don't rush in or cut corners, use your head
other important relationship is that now card/future card/possibility card. These cards hold your querent’s moving patterns + the direction that the energy is flowing for better or worse, around them. Now KP- established a rote and remunerative way to walk the walk, Future KtS- don't rush in or cut corners, use your head Possibility 5S- pick your battles wisely.
Continuing on with the Celtic Cross, the last four cards of the spread. These cards are pulled and placed horizontally along the right hand side of the cross, from the bottom up. Here are the cards and their positions for our Celtic Cross:
1. The first card, the center of the cross, is the card that indicates the current situation, for better or worse- KP.
2. The card that covers is the immediate challenge or opportunity that the querent is facing. 4P The 4 energy seeks security and 'home' is their haven. People under the influence of the 4 are usually very cerebral, and need to find ways to express their knowledge and wisdom. 4 symbolizes the principle of putting ideas into form. It signifies work and productivity. The 4 energy is constructive, realistic, traditional and cautious. 4 is the number of system, order and management.
3. underlying currents - Strength
4. Past- KS
5. Possibilities - 5S The 5 vibration needs to cultivate patience and tolerance, as they have a tendency to act and speak with haste and impatience. All too often, the 5 seeks their freedom by moving away and turning their backs on all situations and people from which they can learn the most.
6. Near Future - Kt S
We know that our querent has been through a learning and solidifying experience that required her strength and will come up against a challenge of personal self interest and that of others while keeping her head without rushing forward into discord.
These last four cards are advice cards that enhance and influence the cards of the cross. The future card is already position 5 in the cross. So the function of these last four cards is to add to that and flesh out the picture already painted.
Whoa Cups!
7. Our inner strengths//inner perceptions - KC emotionally balanced and in control
8. Outer strengths//outer perceptions//how others perceive us - 9C you are about to finally achieve what you set out to achieve
9. What we think will happen - 10C you are very clear on where your personal beliefs and values lie and you have successfully created a life that is aligned to those values
10. What we should focus our energy on - Hanged
2. The card that covers is the immediate challenge or opportunity that the querent is facing. 4P The 4 energy seeks security and 'home' is their haven. People under the influence of the 4 are usually very cerebral, and need to find ways to express their knowledge and wisdom. 4 symbolizes the principle of putting ideas into form. It signifies work and productivity. The 4 energy is constructive, realistic, traditional and cautious. 4 is the number of system, order and management.
3. underlying currents - Strength
4. Past- KS
5. Possibilities - 5S The 5 vibration needs to cultivate patience and tolerance, as they have a tendency to act and speak with haste and impatience. All too often, the 5 seeks their freedom by moving away and turning their backs on all situations and people from which they can learn the most.
6. Near Future - Kt S
We know that our querent has been through a learning and solidifying experience that required her strength and will come up against a challenge of personal self interest and that of others while keeping her head without rushing forward into discord.
These last four cards are advice cards that enhance and influence the cards of the cross. The future card is already position 5 in the cross. So the function of these last four cards is to add to that and flesh out the picture already painted.
Whoa Cups!
7. Our inner strengths//inner perceptions - KC emotionally balanced and in control
8. Outer strengths//outer perceptions//how others perceive us - 9C you are about to finally achieve what you set out to achieve
9. What we think will happen - 10C you are very clear on where your personal beliefs and values lie and you have successfully created a life that is aligned to those values
10. What we should focus our energy on - Hanged
The Hanged Man reflects a need to suspend action, and as a result, a period of indecision may be indicated. Decisions or actions that need to be implemented will be postponed, even if, at the time, there is a sense of urgency to act. In fact, you may be much better off if you can stall on any decision-making and action-taking at this time in order to provide yourself with more time to reflect on the situation at hand and to consider the greater good. If you can buy yourself some more time or hold off on any further activities for a short period, then you may actually create a different, and better, outcome. This is a card that is all about suspension and waiting, and suggests that this may be just what you need to do in order to allow new possibilities to arise. Sometimes not acting will help to shed more light on what other options are available to you and will allow more attractive opportunities to emerge.
Three Kings indicate public recognition, honor, small promotion, celebration. a win is ahead. Three Kings means a great honor or prize is likely. Kings are the apex of their suit, so drawing lots of kings can also mean that there is something powerful going on in your life - they don’t come in the humdrum easy days… If you draw lots of kings there is something you are in the process of mastering, something you are seeking to control.
How many Majors are there?
A LOT of Majors (more than 3) indicates this reading is about BIG life themes. Just a few Majors indicates that the querent is in a growth/processing stage. NO Majors may indicate that the querent should be asking bigger questions OR is overwhelmingly stressed with life and better support systems are usually advised.
What suits?
A bunch of Cups? Emotional issues. Here the Cups cards are 9, 10 and the King, building from high cards on up to the pinnacle. Pentacles? The querent is digging into work/life/finance issues. Swords tend to be those times we’re completely stuck in our heads for better or worse. Wands show us a querent who is preoccupied with ideas and passions.
More than two of a certain number?
Check numerology, the querent may be stuck there on the karmic level or there is a message here.
Your challenge is to think about the relationship between these four cards and the Small Cross. Remember, no Tarot reading happens in a vacuum. The cards blend and mix together to tell the stories, the same way a Lenormand can--they just do so more subtly.
posted by theShizzKnit @ 6:51 AM
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