The Celtic Cross
This is my take on one of the most classic tarot spreads...
A guide (mostly) for the Celtic Cross virgins.
The ultimate classic tarot spread.
This is such a feared spread for the beginner. It was for me too. But let me tell you, that it doesn’t have to be. It’s just a tarot spread that will take a bit longer than your usual 3 card readings. There is absolutly nothing to be scared of. Follow this little guide and just have fun with it. And make sure you have the time for sitting around doing this, could easily take 1 hour or longer, at least the first time around.
Good for:
Exploring a specific life area or theme and a way to get a deeper understanding of an issue. "What do I need to know about..."
Not for:
Not useful for specific questions, yes/no questions or predictive readings.
I recentlly made a quick little reel about this spread on Instagram, but I felt it would be nice with a little deep dive into this spread. So here is my personal take on the Celtic Cross… Take what makes sense and leave the rest. <3
Setting up your sacred space
First set up your sacred space. When doing a big spread like the Cectic Cross it can be nice to make a little ritual of it. Especially if it’s the first time you do this spread as it will most likely take some time to get through it. Make your first time special.
Find a private place where you wouldn’t be disturbed for the next hour or longer. If you have an altar cloth, throw it on the table. Light a candle or two. Put a nice and calming record on if you like (analog or digital record). Make a cup of tea or perhaps some ceremonial cacao. Burn a little incense. Gather around your favorite crystals, magical objects, lucky coins or talisman.
Also have a notebook and pen (or the notes on your phone if you prefer being digital) handy.
Ground yourself. Meditate a bit or just take a few deep and concentrated breaths. Or simply sit still with your eyes close for a bit and think of your theme or intention for the reading. Find a comfortable sitting position, chances are you’re gonna sit here for a while.
Cleanse your space
Cleansing your space can be a good idea, just to clear the energy and also as a part of creating a ritual around your reading and to help grounding yourself. It is not required, but it can a nice little magical thing to do.
I usually prefer the traditional palo santo (picture) or a sage smugde stick, but you can use whatever else you like.
You can also cleanse your deck, if you feel its needed or just because it could be nice to do. Again this is not required, do it if you feel like it.
Then shuffle!
Just give those cards a good long shuffle. Think of your theme and/or intention for the readings while you do so. Stop when you feel ready. If you already have a certian style of shuffling , then just go ahead and do your thing.
If you’re a beginner, keep it simple. Just shuffle any way you feel comfortable. Don’t think about too much, just shuffle like you’re about to play cards with grandma.
My style is very simple and sometimes a bit chaotic. But most times I basically just shuffle like I would with a normal card deck, then lay down the deck, knock on it and cut it in half. I then pull all cards from the lower half of the pile.
But just do it anyway you like. There are NO rules.
Pull the cards…
Pull your cards, one by one and lay ‘em out facing down in the layout of the Celtic Cross (see picture below).
Flip the cards over
IF you’re a complete newbie to doing big spreads I’ll advice you to take ‘em one by one, make you notes for each cards first, before you try to wrap your head around the greater meaing of it all.
But again, there are (in my book) no die-hard rules here. And whether you do, don’t stress about it.
The interpretation…
And now the fun begins. Start by interpretating the cards one by one. Take notes along the way for better overview. Keep your notes as simple or detailed as you like. Keywords, short sentences or half a novel. It’s up to you.
In the Celtic Cross most of the positions means something specific according to what kind of card you pull. Eg. pulling a major arcana card means somethings very different than pulling a court card or a minor arcana card. So keep that in mind then you try to get a grasp on the meanings. This can seem like a scary, confusing or like a whole lot, but trust me on this: This is a big help for you! As it narrows down the ways to interpretate the card laying before you. So keep an eye on the guide below when you flip over the cards.
Let’s begin!
1) Present - Right here & right now
Major - Overall theme. What’s the bigger perspective and aspect of your theme here? What’s the headline?
Minor - The situation right now. What is currently going on around you and/or this theme?
Court - Who is the main character in this “story”? A specific person (Yourself or someone else)
2) The challenge / obstacle
Major - Life lesson you struggle with or experience right now. What big overall lesson are you going through in life in relation to your theme?
Minor - Situation or problem. What everyday problem or conflict are currently standing in your way or giving you a hard time?
Court - Person involved or aspect of yourself. Who’s to blame here?
3) Past - What brought you here
Major - Phase or theme. What big “thing”, life pattern or major event in your past is either blocking you from moving forward at this time, or supporting you?
Minor - Situation or event. What has recently happend in your life that has made you consult the tarot for clarity?
Court - Person or aspect of yourself.
4) Near future
What's around the corner? What’s about to happen?
Major - Phase or theme. A big change in your life about to happen.
Minor - Situation or event. A smaller event about to happen.
Court - Person or aspect of yourself.
5) Conscious "Top of Mind"
What's going on in the real world. Your facade or public life. Your outer life theme. Read the card with a rational approach, think of what’s going on in your everyday life. It could be a thougth process or real life events affecting your path.
6) Unconscious
What's going on beneath the surface? Something you're not consciously aware of. Something internal or private. Unconscious life theme. Read this card intuitivly. Trust the first thougths that comes to mind. Dreams or visions. Listen to your gut.
7) Advice
Recommend action. How to handle this situation/issue. This is an advice for the previous part of this reading. Spend some time finding the meaning of the previous cards and what they mean as a whole.
Major - Lesson to learn. What big life change would you benefit from making right now? What life lesson must you dedicate yourself to learn?
Minor - What to do? What can you do on a everyday scale? What smaller changes in your situation would you benefit from making?
Court - How you should handle this? What would the person on the card do?
8) External influences
What's going on around you? Other people or events involved.
Major - Overall, local, national or even global events. Can be both bad things ike a pandemic, economical crisis, cut-downs at your job or natural disasters. Or it could be good things like new job opportuniteis in your area, better intrests on loans or posiyive events in your community…
Minor - An external situation. This is something that is happning in your near surroundings but not directly related to you, but still affecting your life somehow.
Court - Another person who influence / advice / manipulate / support you.
9) Hope or fear
Intentions. Look at the shadow / light aspects of the card. How is card affecting the rest of the reading? Use your intuition here, is this card giving you a positive or negative vibe? Start by deciding that, then move on to interpretate the card more in depth.
Major - Big shift. A possible game-changer. Make it or break it.
Minor - Possible helping accurance / concern to address. Blockage / wish.
Court - Who you wanna be or don't wanna be.
10) Result / Outcome
Hvad could happen IF the advice / insigths / path of this reading are to be followed. (Always keep in mind that you ALWAYS have your free will and you can change things and get a different outcome)
Major - New life lesson. Something that could possible change your outlook on life.
Minor - Next phase of this situation. Next step on this path.
Court - The person you can potentially become after this reading.
Have fun! 🔥
Love Mariia
*disclaimer: This is MY personal take on this classic spread. There are many many different ways of doing this. Search the web and you’ll find. Take what resonates and leave the rest <3
