Tarot Celtic Cross Spread

The Celtic cross is a traditional, powerful method of tarot reading. It is still widely used, due to its ability to offer a general overview of any issue the querent might have and to indicate the possible outcomes in the the querent’s current situation. This spread also may point toward the fears related to, and the people involved in the current situation.

The Celtic Cross of Tarot can be used also to get an answer to a very specific question, especially if there are two possible outcomes. Also, if a certain action is planned, this spread can be used to test the possible results – thus its other name – Alternate Future.

Some tarot readers use only the Major Arcana Cards, but it is much more easy to interpret this Spread and spot the potential keywords if one uses the full Tarot Deck. It is important to remember that the Major Arcanas in this Spread will represent the strong influences that the querent will have hard time changing. The Court Cards will represent the people interfering with the querent, while the Lesser Arcana Cards will indicate the factors directly affecting the development of the situation and the possibility to change the flow of events.

The Cards in the Celtic Cross design should be placed according to the scheme bellow:

Card No. 1. The foundation – The current situation. The querent’s current potential focused on the search for a solution. This card represents the core of the problem, the reason why the querent is there to seek solution.

Card No. 2. Challenge – What comes in your way. The energy of the opposing factors and obstacles on the road to the solution. That’s why we put this card to cross Card 1. The first two cards seen separately set the scene and make what’s usually called the “Small cross“.

Card No. 3.  Root Cause – The attitude of the querent from the standpoint of their ego. This card is often connected to the root cause of the problem and if no link can be found to Cards 1 and 2, further interpretation will have no meaning – it is better to start over. This card looks into more distant past, where the root cause of the problem is usually on the plane of thoughts or emotions.

Card No. 4. The Recent Past – The place where the problem was conceived. The events that are linked to the problem should be still quite fresh in the mind of the querent.

Card No. 5. The Future – The future goal. The possible outcome. The best results that can be achieved given the foundation and the challenge. Or alternatively,  the most likely outcome if no action is being undertaken. The past has paved the road of causes, and if nothing is done, the future will bring the result of those causes.

Card No. 6. The Near Future – The first impacts on the possible solution. Usually, the near future events, as immediate results of the querent’s past actions, will be unavoidable.  Effort should be made only to change the more distant future, as indicated by card No. 5.

Card No. 7.  The Deepest Essence of the Querent – What energy the querent brings into the situation – consciously or not. What they do, or fail to do. What they want to expose to the world, or what they want to keep for themselves. How they see themselves.

Card No. 8. Other People – The influence of the environment on the querent’s life in general. Hints as to whether the people around are working in favor of the positive outcome or not. What other surrounding factors might interfere.

Card No. 9.  Fears and Hopes – What keeps the querent from addressing the problem. Do they hope and wish to have a positive outcome or fear that they will get a negative result?

Card No. 10. The Outcome – the solution of the problem in the future, provided that one keeps the current plan of action.

In case the Tarot Reader feels he or she needs more information to clarify the reading, they may add another row beside the first one (besides the cards 7 through 10).