Circle of the Dark Moon Coven & School of Wicca, Wytchcrafte & Magick

A Tarot Reading

The Tarot spread used in this reading is called the Celtic Cross

{ General Information about the Celtic Cross Spread

{ The Tarot layout known as the Celtic Cross is one of the most detailed and complex spreads used. It's a good one to use when you have a specific question that needs to be answered, because it takes you, step by step, through all the different aspects of the situation. Basically, it deals with one issue at a time, and by the end of the reading, when you reach that final card, you should have gotten through all the many facets of the problem at hand.

Lay the cards out following the number sequence in the picture. You can either place them face down, and turn them as you go, or you can place them all facing up from the beginning.

Note: In some schools of Tarot, Card 3 is placed to the immediate right of Card 1 and Card 2, in the place where Card 6 is displayed on this diagram. You can try different placements and see which works best for you.

{ The Celtic Cross Spread

2

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

The cards are numbered in the order that they are played

{ Individual Card Placement Meanings

{ Where each card has the following meanings:

The First Card is the Significator if used. Otherwise it represents the general tone of the issue at hand.

The Second Card goes on top of the first to indicate the basic problem, obstacle or antagonist.

The Third Card shows the foundation of the issue: worries, desires, influences etc.

The Fourth Card shows the immediate past, what led the querent to the current situation.

The Fifth Card "crowns" the situation. It is the goal, the dreams, the best outcome.

The Sixth Card is the immediate future. This is not the final outcome, simply the next step on the journey.

The Seventh Card represents the querent and how they approach the situation.

The Eighth Card represents the querent's immediate surroundings - house, workplace, people, etc.

The Ninth Card represents hopes and fears. It can be the best or the worst. It can represent aspiration or warning.

The Tenth Card is the final outcome. It must, of course, be read in conjunction with the other cards in the spread.

{ Now, on to our Reading

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{ 21 The World Reversed

{ This card represents the querent and you could say that in this position it indicates that the querent’s life has literally been turned upside down inside out.

The querent has reached an end state and a normally successful completion of a stage. They are almost there but not quite. The reversed nature of this card indicates that Air and Water are over Earth and Fire. Or rather, the querent is trying to use logic to solve a problem that should be solved with the heart and hard work.

This card also means that while the querent is on the cusp of success, they are feeling ambivalent about it.

{ 6 of Wands

{ This card represents what “crosses” the querent. Normally, the 6 of Wands represents a well-deserved victory. But in this case, the card represents a change/completion of stage and the querent refuses to acknowledge that it’s time to move. However, whether this card represents career advancement, a moving forward with a new relationship, or a good semester at school, the querent shall reap a just reward in spite of themselves.

{ 5 of Wands Reversed

{ This card represents the root of the querent’s question. The Five of Wands represents conflict or more correctly preparation for conflict but in the reversed position this card depicts an resolved issue that has escalated beyond the parties ability to resolve it rationally.

{ 4 of Cups Reversed

{ This four of cups card represents complacency with one’s situation leading to stagnation of emotional growth. However in this case, with the card being reversed, and in the recent past position, it seems the querent may remembering happier times (specifically friendships and relationships) and negatively comparing these past ‘glory days’ (remember this card represents the recent past—not ancient history) negatively with their current situation even if the current situation is more favorable.

These are not uncommon feelings during a time of change which the previous cards indicate is occurring.

{ 3 of Cups Reversed

{ This card is the hoped-for outcome or what the querent says they want for a most favorable outcome of the present situation.

The three of cups (I did thoroughly shuffle this deck—but this deck really does have a mind of its own) is another celebratory card (remember the 6 of Wands?). This card celebrates family and friends and special people in the querent’s life. In the best-outcome position, this card seems to say that everything lately has just been too much (hence the nostalgic leanings of the previous card). The querent has been sated and has had enough of the present and yearns for simplification. The querent is especially looking for a simplification in terms of their current interpersonal interactions.

{ 18 The Moon

{ The moon in this position signifies the querent’s immediate future.

The moon is all about dreams, intuitions, even fantasies. The querent would do well to park their logic beside the door and follow their heart or what their intuition tells them to do.

{ 13 The Queen of Wands

{ This card represents who the querent really is or who they’d like to become. Wands (at least as far as the Tarot is concerned represents the element of air and intellect. But in the personal of the Queen of Wands, pure logic is tempered with a supportive and caring nature. This person is never more than a call or email away from lending help when it is needed.

{ 9 of Pentacles

{ This card represents who the querent’s environment and whether they realize it or not they are in a good place as far as finances go.

Material security is only part of what this card is about. What this card really represents is not necessarily the amassment of wealth but the freedom to choose what the querent wants to do in their heart-of-hearts. In this case, lack of money may not be the issue but rather the reluctance to choose a path that others may not be able to follow—hence the reticence indicated by the previous cards.

{ 10 of Cups Reversed

{ This card represents the hopes and worst fears of the querent and may the most telling card in the reading so far.

Generally, the 10 of Cup is about familial bliss. In this position and reversed, the card represents the most depressing machinations the querent’s mind can manufacture. The querent is convinced that unless they follow a more conventional (see cards 3 and 5) path, happiness will forever elude them. See the next card in the reading.

{ 14 King of Cups Reversed

{ This card represents what will come “…if these shadows remain unaltered by the future.”

Could this be a father figure or that critical voice in the back of your head that says you don’t deserve to be happy? I wonder.

The King of Cups is a resourceful and creative man whose hunches usually land him in the right place at the right time. It’s all about following your intuition or gut feelings. If something feels right/wrong it usually is.

However, put this guy on his head in the reversed position and you have an individual bereft hope, trapped by his own emotions. To escape his misery, this person often overindulges in food, alcohol, or drugs (see card 5—which can be also be interpreted as indicator the querent has engaged in excesses.)

{ Conclusions Reading the Story

{ This reading, despite appearances, is quite straight forward in it’s message. Much less convoluted than some other readings I’ve done for this client in the past. Even though the reversed King of Cups card in the outcome position to some might presage doom and gloom I don’t see it that way.

With the first two cards, the querent certainly seems like the proverbial horse that was led to water but couldn’t be made to drink. Even though two “victory cards” were played, the querent is “crossed” by their seeming good fortune. Even though the querent seems to have it all with the reversed World card, it seems the World is not enough.

While there was some sort of discord in the querent’s past, they seem to still be living in the good ‘ol days of the recent past; this may be the reason for the querent’s discontent.

Despite a thorough shuffling, there were several runs in this reading which means that this analysis is seemingly on track. The fourth and fifth card deal with dissatisfaction and disenchantment and being fed up with their presence and not being able to accept the gifts which they already have.

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{ Conclusions Continued

{ The next series of cards laid, are by far the strongest cards played for this reading. In the near future spot is The Moon which means use of the querent’s intuitive powers will play a major part in their near future. Next the Queen of Wands and Nine of Pentacles attest to the querent’s ability to make right choices using both logic and their heart and that despite what they are feeling the querent’s position really isn’t that bad.

The next two cards could be interpreted as being ominous, ten of cups (reversed) and King of Cups (reversed) indicate severe blockages regarding healthy decisions and untenable fears regarding future or current familial and romantic relationships. The reversed King of Cups might indicate a bleak future indeed.

However, therein lies the querent’s answer. If the reversed King of Cups signifies one who has lost hope and is trapped by his worst fears of an unknown future both romantic and/or familial then the querent’s hope lies in the Moon and it’s permission to follow your fancy, use your intuitionto follow your gut feelings. These gut feelings will be supported by the wisdom of the Queen of Wands who will not allow the querent to stray from their True Will.

As I said earlier, the Nine of Pentacles in the current environment position and the lack of very many Major Arcana cards indicate that while these problems seem big to the querent, there are no major forces working against them.

(continued on next slide)

{ Conclusions Continued

{ The biggest thing the querent has to worry about are the blockages (emotional and otherwise as depicted by the excessive number (6) of reversed cards in the layout) preventing them from seeing what must be done. In fact, I believe that the querent under the guidance of the strong influences of the Moon and Queen of Wands card, already knows the answer to their problem and the choice(s) which must be made.

The querent needs to let go of the past, get past their doubts, and with a healthy dose of both intuition and self assurance they need to be like the Queen of Wands, creative, imaginative, self-assured and full of energy. They need to dump their fears and doubts and follow their heart and step off bravely down this new path before them. If not, they most likely will end up like the reversed King of Cups. Trapped in self-doubt and self-pity, they will lose themselves in self-destructive escapist indulgences.

{ The Reading is finished. Merry Part