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The Celtic Cross Spread: Its Applications
MeeWah Reynolds
1 - Introduction
The Tarot card spread known as the Celtic Cross Spread
has a reputation that precedes it. Reinforced by
its ubiquitous appearance in the LWBs--that Little White
Book accompanying most Tarot decks--also given its inclusion
in many Tarot books, it is known to most anyone who ventures
into Tarot by at least its name if not its use. The frequency
of reference, however, is not an indication of its popularity
but perhaps derives from its long association with Tarot.
Arthur Edward Waite--co-creator of the Rider-Waite-Smith
(RWS, published in December, 1909 by William Rider And
Son of London) with Pamela Colman Smith - referred to the
spread as "an ancient Celtic method of divination";
however, there is no known evidence to support the claim.
The Celtic reference may be attributed to its shape of
a cross over a circle that echoes the Celtic cross symbol
found in Ireland, Scotland and Wales since antiquity.
The Celtic Cross's claim to fame is a complexity that
baffles and frustrates from the beginner to the more experienced
reader. Its numerous variations further contribute to the
confusion and perception. In my view, however, its apparent
complexity endows it with a depth and a capacity few spreads
can command. Those qualities distinguish it and form the
basis for this presentation. In explaining my understanding
of it acquired through years of its use in both the personal
readings and in the readings for others, I hope to share
that understanding towards its applications and a greater
appreciation.
To that end, we shall discuss the spread in terms of its
components to clarify its position meanings; its use for
a general reading; a layered reading and other considerations.
Emphasis will be on the hands-on to illustrate. Handouts
to be used as reference and workshop aids.
2 - Demystifying the Spread Components
[Handout: Celtic Cross Spread from presentation: 2.1
- 2.2]
This particular Celtic Cross version developed to encompass
various approaches as a reading vehicle.
The spread's structure is composed of two parts. The first
6 cards form the cross portion of the spread. The next
4 cards form the staff portion. The cross portion may be
seen as reflective of the feminine energy; the staff portion,
of the masculine energy. Thus, the portions represent the
dual nature of human existence where one part complements
or plays off the other. Variations of the spread usually
occur in the positions of the cards numbered 3, 4, 5, and
6. The staff is read from the bottom card upwards.
In examining the spread components, the meanings assigned
to each position serve as guides or keys to their possible
interpretations, in relation to the surrounding cards and
within the context of the inquiry.
2.1 - The cross portion:
Card 1 describes the present situation;
the heart of the matter. Main or present influence; the
environment, the setting or the lay of the land. Occupies
the center position of the cross as a focus or core of
the inquiry. Traditionally known as the "cover" card
because it covers a significator card representing the
querent. (I prefer not to use a significator card to avoid
eliminating a card from the deck that could be used in
a throw.)
Card 2 the challenge or the opposing
influence. Additional information paired with Card 1. A
supportive or a clarification card. Traditionally known
as the crossing or opposition card because it is usually
positioned across Card 1.
Card 3 the conscious awareness; perception.
The present. Aspiration; goal. Possible outcome; resolution.
Traditionally called the "above" / "crown" because
it is positioned at the top. Alludes to the concept of "as
above [so below]": macrocosm vs. microcosm; asin heaven
so in earth;nothing exists in materiality without its counterpart
(first, source) in spirit.
Card 4 the unconscious awareness. The
basis, foundation or reason for the situation. Unconscious
or unknown influences. The "shadow" or hidden
influences. May pertain to the immediate or recent past;
far past; past life or karmic influences. Traditionally
known as the "below" card of the concept ["as
above], so below" or the root.
Card 5 the immediate or recent past.
Departing influences. A transition period. Time. Traditionally
known as the "behind" card to refer to that being
left behind or that which precedes the present condition.
Card 6 describes a new situation developing
or future influences. A transition period. Time. Traditionally
called the "before" card to refer to that lying
before one or just ahead.
2.2 - The staff portion:
Card 7 describes the querent or self.
Those concerns, hopes and/or fears harboured. Self at the
present; the moment of the throw. Self as one aspires to
be. As one appears or presents to others. Traditionally
relates to the self-image or self-esteem.
Card 8 the relationships and/or the environment.
To relate to the personal and / or the business relationships.
The atmosphere of those environments. The expectations
of others. Traditionally, how others see querent / self.
Card 9 the hopes and dreams; that desired.
Guidance. An unknown factor. What needs to recognized or
accomplished. Traditionally described as the hopes and
fears.
Card 10 describes the possible outcome
or result. A possible conclusion, usually based on the
preceding cards. Action or event based on the trends indicated
by the prior cards. A resolution or solution. What needs
to be done.
3 - The Lifetime Cards
[Handouts - from Tarot Constellations: Patterns of
Personal Destiny by Mary K. Greer / from presentation:
3.]
In my view, in order to see and understand what the querent
brings to a reading, it helps to know the energetic pattern
and the possible lessons. The purpose to provide reference
points towards a more holistic view of the cards as they
appear in the spread; to aid in seeing their relevance
to the querent.
For those reasons, this includes a discussion of the Lifetime
Cards originally delineated by Angeles Arrien as "life
time symbols" in The Tarot Handbook (ISBN: 0874778956).
Subsequently developed more extensively by Mary K. Greer
in Tarot for Your Self : A Workbook for Personal Transformation
Second Edition (ISBN 1564145883); also in Tarot
Constellations: Patterns of Personal Destiny (ISBN087877128X).
Lifetime Cards are defined as the Major
Arcana cards representing the Personality and
the Soul aspects. They describe the energetic pattern
or themes of the life. They are determined by the birth
date and may be used towards developing self-knowledge
and insight. Depending on the birth date, configurations
are composed of 2 to 3 cards with the majority of 2-card
patterns.
3.1 - Personality and Soul Cards
Example, February 26, 1949:
|
| 02 |
| 26 |
| 1949 |
| ---------------- |
| 1977 |
| |
| = 1 + 9 + 7 + 7 = 24 = 6 |
|
Personality Card is 6-The Lovers.
All two-digit sums totalling more than 22 (the total number
of Major Arcana) is reduced by adding the two digits. Here
the sum of those numbers equals 6 or 6
- The Lovers. Since 6 may not be further reduced,
it is also the Soul Number. Hence the Personality
/ Soul of 6-The Lovers.
All 6 minor arcana cards expressive of those elemental
aspects of 6-The Lovers:
6 of Wands (Staves, Rods), 6 of Cups (Chalices), 6 of Swords, 6 of Pentacles
(Coins).
Another example, January 11, 1979:
|
| 01 |
| 11 |
| 1979 |
| ---------------- |
| 1991 |
| |
| = 1 + 9 + 9 + 1 = 20 |
|
Personality Card is 20-Judgement.
20 can be reduced to its lowest common denominator or
primary number to derive the Soul Card.
20 = 2 + 0 = 2
Soul Card is 2-The High Priestess.
All 2 minor arcana cards expressive of those elemental
aspects of 2-The High Priestess:
2 of Wands (Staves, Rods), 2 of Cups (Chalices), 2 of Swords, 2 of Pentacles
(Coins).
3.2 - Shadow Card
Some configurations also contain a Shadow Card representing
the hidden, repressed or unknown aspects of self. Carl
Jung referred to these aspects as the "shadow".
Shadow qualities reflect the weaknesses or strengths. The "dark" and
the "light" sides of self. The former represents
that which is misunderstood, not trusted, projected onto
others; the "demons" or "sins". The
latter, that admired; not readily apparent; not perceived
or recognized in self.
The card determined by extrapolating from the Personality
and / or Soul Card, reducing their numerical components
to primary, root numbers.
Returning to the first example of 02-26-1949:
|
| 02 |
| 26 |
| 1949 |
| ---------------- |
| 1977 |
| |
| = 1 + 9 + 7 + 7 = 24 = 6 =
15 |
|
6 composed of 1 + 5 or 15. Thus, the card "hidden" in
6 is 15-The Devil. 6 - The Lovers' Shadow Card
is 15 - The Devil.
Second example of 01-11-1979:
|
| 01 |
| 11 |
| 1979 |
| ---------------- |
| 1991 |
| |
| = 1 + 9 + 9 + 1 = 20 = 2 |
|
20 = 2 + 0 = 2 = 1 + 1; 11
2 = 1 + 1; 11
Therefore, the Shadow Card is 11-Justice: that "hidden" within
20-Judgement and 2-The High Priestess.This configuration
has a 3-card pattern.
Other triple card patterns are:
19 - The Sun/ 10 - Wheel of Fortune/ 1 - The Magician
21 - The World/ 3 - The Empress/ 12 - The Hanged Man
22/ 0 - The Fool/ 4 - The Emperor/ 13 - Death
3.3 - Year Card
Additional clarification can be derived by determining
the current Year Card as of the last birthday:
|
| 02 |
| 26 |
| 2005 |
| ---------------- |
| 2033 |
| |
| = 2 + 0 + 3 + 3 = 8 |
|
Year 2005 of 8 - Strength.
Note the 8 minor arcana cards to be reflective aspects
of the Year:
8 of Wands (Staves, Rods); 8 of Cups (Chalices); 8 of Swords; 8 of Pentacles.
|
| 01 |
| 11 |
| 2005 |
| ---------------- |
| 2017 |
| |
| = 2 + 0 + 1 + 7 = 10 |
|
Year 2005 of 10-Wheel of Fortune.
Note the 10 minor arcana cards reflective of the Year:
10 of Wands (Staves, Rods), 10 of Cups (Chalices), 10 of Swords, 10 of Pentacles
(Coins).
4 - The general or broad overview spread
As a general reading or a broad overview regarding various
life aspects delineated by those designated card positions.
Attention is given to its use as a synopsis of the immediate
and / or prevailing influences. Supported by the phrasing
of the query, such as "What do I need to know now?"
The position meanings approached from the present view; applied towards the
cards on a face-value basis akin to a snapshot of the immediate moment of the
throw.
To that end, Cards 3, 4, 5 and 6 together tend
to represent the general and surrounding aspects.
Cards 5 and 6 in particular relate to
time, joined by the center Cards 1 and 2.
In the concept of "all time is now", they can
be read as simultaneous influences comprising a
larger or holistic picture at a given moment.
Approach the cards as pairs; in combination. Strung together
as a sentence with noun, verb, predicate.
Note the cards reflective of the Lifetime Cards:
the Personality, Soul and Shadow (if any); also the Year
Card. These serve to clarify or delineate the prevailing
or present influences, the personal status, the principles
involved by concept or individuals, situations.
[To be followed by the hands-on: "What do I need
to know (now; regarding ...)?"]
5 - The layered reading
A layered reading offers information on more than one
level; insights and knowledge to pertain to states of being
and can include health or the unknown.
5.1 - Body/ Physical/ Conscious - Mind/ Mental/ Subconscious
- Spiritual/ Soul/ Superconscious.
As a reading encompassing the three main levels of human
existence: body/ physical/ conscious, mind/ mental/ subconscious,
spiritual/ soul/ superconscious, we look at the cards which
appear to determine the theme or dominate the spread.
Major Arcana; their numbers.
May reflect the Lifetime Cards by Personality,
Soul, Shadow, Year. Thus offer advice, guidance,
an overview, a warning.
Minor arcana: their numbers and
elements. May represent aspects of Major Arcana
in terms of activities, concerns, feelings, thoughts,
warnings, and so on.
Court cards: representative of those
qualities to develop or emulate. The various people who
represent particular qualities and /or serve as interacting
agents in the life. That which triggers reactions
or responses to situations.
[To be followed by the hands-on: "What do I need
to know of my (body, mind, and /or spiritual)?"; "What
is my goal / purpose /nature of ...?" or words to
that effect.]
5.2 - Past - Present - Future
As a reading encompassing developments and /or events
framed in the past, present and future, the key cards to
examine are those which pertain to time: Cards
1 through 6.
Cards 1 to 2 or Cards 1 through
4 to indicate the present conditions. The current
trend.
Cards 4 and 5 refer to the immediate
past, the far past influences or karmic influences.
Cards 5 and 6 respectively the past and
future influences.
Card 6, a new development; future probabilities
and / or possibilities.
Cards 7 - 10 further developments;
events. Information on the nature of the developments or
events. May relate to others; relationships; time.
[To be followed by the hands-on: "What do I need
to know of (my past / present / future; and / or regarding …)?".]
6 - As a Chakra reading
[Handout: Chakra Celtic Cross Spread]
As a chakra reading to examine the state of being. To
identify or determine the blockages and their nature. Any
messages or a pattern not immediately discernible. This
can be used as a health spread.
[To be followed by the hands-on: "What do I need
to know of my chakras?"; "What do I need to know
with regard to...?". ]
6.1 - The 6-Card Celtic Cross Here&Now Spread
The disadvantages to the use of the Celtic Cross is that
it can offer too much information. Its complexity and number
of cards may be excessive for a reading better served by
a different spread and of a less number of cards. More
not necessarily better.
Eliminate the staff portion and the cross portion can
lend itself well to the "short" readings. Approach
as if a general or present reading.
In addition, the Celtic Cross is not recommended for the
beginning reader due to the number of cards involved. For
practical reasons, better to ease into the art of reading
with smaller spreads. A single card or a 3-card can offer
a lot of pertinent information and more directly respond
to a query.
The most important exercise of all is to practice reading.
This tends to hone the instincts, the intuitive leaps towards
the inspired takes or understandings necessary to produce
a viable reading.
Recommended Tarot Sites
www.aeclectic.net or www.tarotforum.net
celtic_knowledge_spread.shtml
pdf edition:
> pdf
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