Tarot Card Readings - The Spread

When a tarot reading is done, the cards are laid out as a pattern in what is rncalled a spread. There are many different types of spreads, ranging from those that comprise rnof a single card to spreads that include all 78 cards of the deck. Some rnspreads are only done with the Major Arcana Cards. Which spread is applied is up to the reader and the particular type of rnquestion or reading. Some spreads focus more on a specific type of rninformation. An example of this is that a spread may be focused on a singular question, rnwhile others are broader in terms, such as in ones outlooks and prospects in rnregards to relationships, financial maters, etc... One of the most common tarot spreads is the Celtic cross, it is used more for rnthose specific questions. This is the one I am going to cover in this rnarticle. It depends on the person giving the reading, but usually, prior to the rnreading, the cards are shuffled by the person receiving it, also known as the rnquerent. The reason for this is that some say this carry-overs the person's rnenergy to the deck. The person, while shuffling, should also concentrate on rnthe answers they are after. Some readers do it differently, asking the querent to cut the cards for them rnafter they have shuffled. Or in more traditional circles, a more complicated rnsorting and separation of the cards is executed . Card 1: Represents the Present. Card 2: The immediate challenge confronting the querent. You will frequently rnpull a hard card here, which will suggest an obstacle that must be overcome. rnIf you pull a "good" card here, analyse it carefully because it will still rnrepresent a challenge. Card 3: Distant past, foundation. This card should indicate the root of the rnsubject matter of the question Card 4: More recent past, including events. This will indicate events taking rnplace, not necessarily directly associated to the question. For instance, if rna love affair going wrong Card 3 would show the root of why it is going wrong,rnwhereas Card 4 will show something that recently happened to reflect this. rnYou could see this as a "check comment" card - a way of seeing that the rnreading is valid. Card 5: The best that can be accomplished. This is directly associated to the rnquestion. Note that this may not necessarily gel against Card 10 - it depends rnwhether you are able to get the best. However, a negative card here in all rnprobability signifies that it is worthwhile cutting your losses rather than rnputting any more effort into the situation. Card 6: Immediate Future. This indicates events in the next few days or week(rns). This reading does not cover months. Card 7: Factors or internal feelings impacting the situation. Compare this rnagainst Card 1 in order to understand underlying forces/trends. If there is rnconflict between them this tends to indicate that the querent is going in the rnwrong direction. Card 8: Outside influences. People, energies or events which will affect the rnoutcome of the question and are beyond the querent's control. Card 9: Hopes or fears around the situation. This may bring forth a card that rnconfuses us badly. Always bear in mind that hopes and fears are closely rnentwined, therefore that which we hope for may also be that which we fear, rnand so may fail to happen. Occasionally it is useful to draw a second card rnfor clarification after the reading has been laid, and to read the two rntogether. rnCard 10: Final outcome. This is a fairly self explanatory card. However it is rnworth saying that if the card comes up fairly ambiguous, once more it may be rnworth drawing three extra cards to clarify. These should be interpreted rnthrough the lens of Card 10.