Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

The Classic Celtic Cross

The Celtic Cross is one of the oldest spreads practiced by Wiccans for decades and taught as a basic, foundational reading. There are 10 cards total that comprise this popular Tarot spread. For example: There is one card in the middle with one that crosses over the top. Then, a larger cross is formed around the two so there are 4 more cards: one at the top, one at the bottom and one on either side of the small inner cross. Then, there are 4 more cards that form a column on one side.

The negotiable cards in the caste is which side of the second outer cross you decide is past or future. Just two cards. The rest, must stay as they are. Some read the past as the card on the left side of the outer cross and the future as the right or vice versa.

This is the traditional description here, but you can rock these spreads any way you like. As a beginner that these spreads, especially this one, is a great learning tool. Use them to get familiar with reading and then you do what you feel like doing.

The Classic Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

• Perform the preparation for reading instructions
• Frame the question
• On the table place card one in the dead-middle.
• Card two goes over card one crossways as it falls naturally.
• Card three goes to the bottom under the cross.
• Card four goes at the top of the cross
• Card five goes to the left
• Card six goes to the right
• With card seven start to form the column to the right of the cross at the bottom.
• Cards eight, nine, ten and eleven get stacked to form the column one over the top of the other.

They are read as such:

• Card One: The basis or reason for the reading and the hidden or known influence of it.
• Card Two: What crosses the situation that helps or hinders the situation.
• Card Three: What lies at the bottom of the experience, the subconscious and hidden influence.
• Card Four: Placed at the top of the cross is what crowns the situation. The overarching influence that could make or break the situation.
• Card Five: Placed at the left of the cross represents the immediate past. This may tell 6 months to a year maximum unless there was trauma in the far past that carries over. This can be seen from the card itself.
• Card Six: Placed at the right of the cross represents the immediate future. This can cover up to three months into the future accurately.
• Card Seven: Begins the column to the left of the cross and represents the environment of the querent. This can mean their home, and the people around them.
• Card Eight: The card on top of card seven represents the way others see them and how the people around the querent affect them.
• Card Nine: Placed above card eight represents the hopes and fears of the querent.
• Card Ten: Placed at the very top of the column and final card represents the possible outcome. Yes, possible because the Tarot can only tell you what the most probable outcome is according to the present energies and past patterns.

A simple version of the classic Celtic Cross Tarot cards spread is used for a quick answer over-current situation. You may say it is a truncated Tarot spread but never the less it does its job giving us a more straightforward answer without overwhelming with a lot of confusing information.

The Celtic Cross (simple or truncated Tarot Card Spread)

For quick answers with more than just a simple yes, no, or maybe the Truncated Celtic Cross may be used. This is a six-card spread that allows you a birds eye view of the immediate influences and the possible outcome. The short spread will have an outcome but this covers a few days to a week accurately. You won’t have as much depth as the classic Celtic Cross to tie together a bigger picture.

This spread is great if you have a course of action already in mind or an issue that you want a tad more information about.

The Truncated Celtic Cross

• Card One: Is placed at the top and crowns the situation. This represents the crowning influence in the querents situation.
• Card Two: Is placed anti clockwise to the left and represents the immediate past.
• Card Three: Is placed anti clockwise to the bottom and represents the basis of the situation and what could make or break the situation.
• Card Four: Is placed anti clockwise to the right and represents the immediate future.

Special Tips:

For both the Classic, Truncated Cross and other long-form readings when there’s confusion, you may want to pull some clarification cards for the outcome and for whatever portion of the reading that you will gain more clarity into hidden influences.