After writing the Tarot 101 piece, which provides a brief history of tarot as a practice and suggestions for getting started, I wanted to kick things up a notch and unpack a classic spread requiring more of a grasp on the divinatory nature of the tarot: the Celtic Cross. If you are just getting started, I recommend checking out the introductory post before diving in here.

Perhaps my favorite in-depth tarot spread, the Celtic Cross is believed to have originated in Europe in the 1800s, first appearing in print in 1910 as part of "The Pictoral Key to Tarot," by Arthur Edward Waite, creator of the classic Waite Tarot Deck.

As you may guess from the name, the Celtic Cross Spread (CSS) creates a – you guessed it – cross, as well as a staff with the cards, with each of the 10 cards shedding light on a different aspect. I will explain the purpose of each card and pull my own for each placement along the way.

1. Where You Are Now

The first card lays the framework for the rest of the reading with a simple question: where are you, right now, in this very moment? Speaking to a deeper aspect than "in my living room" or "in Asheville," this card is meant to reflect your current emotional, physical and/or spiritual place in this Universe. This is your starting place for your tarot journey with the CCS.

My Draw: The Hermit

"This sensitive key describes a soul-searching journey, and highlights a renewed sense of wisdom that has the potential to radically transform your life. The intuitive power of The Hermit encourages you to seek out your own inner sanctuary in order to gently detach from any unhealthy interferences or distractions," author and illustrator Danielle Noel writes. I see The Hermit calling out my Aquarian and introverted nature to withdraw when I hope to grow, or when I feel my immediate environment is not helping that cause, even when it is an inconvenient or even inappropriate time to do so. However, on the lighter side of things, The Hermit does have a positive goal in mind: reconnecting with "the quiet stillness of your Higher Self."

2. Potential or Challenges

This card lays across the first perpendicularly, and I like to think of it as either "a block or a bridge" – and most times, you will find it can serve as either, when you investigate both the light and shadow elements. So, you can either let this card stand in your way of reaching your destiny, or use it as a tool to unlock the blessing that already belongs to you. The choice is yours.

My Draw: Strength

"This powerful card highlights your Divine sovereignty and inner strength, when you are ready to set the stage for your own soul work. You are strong enough to navigate through the obstacles while also maintaining your composure," Noel writes. At face value, this seems like a card focused solely on my potential for inner strength, but in giving a balanced reading, it's important to give voice to the shadowed element of each card as well.

Noel also writes that if I have been relying on others' approval or assurance, now is the time to become much more self-reliant. I think this is the challenge aspect. The rest of this reading should guide me in understanding how to harness that inner strength and self-assuredness.

3. Where to Direct Focus

This card calls your attention to what may need some TLC before proceeding in your journey. Instead of charging ahead blindly, taking a deep look at your third card can show you exactly what you should work on next to make your dreams come true.

My Draw: Five of Swords

The Moonchild Tarot is dropping absolute truth bombs with this spread so far. "This card highlights the pointless winning, and needing to be 'right' regardless of the outcome and comes at a high cost that may alienate others," Noel writes. In this placement, the spread is telling me to take a look at places where I can let go of the reigns of control and my desire to be correct, while not sacrificing my need to be truthful. It asks for me to look inward and ask what type of communication is needed, what energies I can shed, and then allow myself to move forward with a lightness only achieved by letting go. Perhaps this will transform my nature to become The Hermit in times of conflicting belief or energy.

4. Look at the Past

While one should not dwell on the past, acknowledging it, accepting it, and letting it fall away is a potent part of the process here. Looking back at the past can be challenging, inspiring, bittersweet. Take it for what it is and let it show you where you have come from, a foundation for your ideal future.

My Draw: Three of Pentacles

This card is all about soulful connection and appreciating others. "The arrival of this card may be an indication that you have reached a state of accomplishment and bliss after all of your hard work," Noel says. The shadow aspect is that a controlling mindset can harm the overall outcome. I think both energies are at play in this look at the past. I think this card's message is that while looking back at my past, I should focus on appreciating the connections I have made with the people I love.

5. Your Unique Strength

If your spiritual journey is a door waiting to be unlocked, your unique strength is the key – the exact right fit for the lock. Uncovering and embracing this strength will help you on your way.

My Draw: Ace of Cups

Danielle Noel puts it best when she writes "The Ace of Cups is a powerful symbol, brimming with the deepest waters of the eternal heart-consciousness...This potent message also echoes the psychic wisdom that flows through you – encouraging you to trust its voice, for it speaks with a fluency of the ancient language and lineage of your spirit."

Here, it is clear that my unique gift is my sense of intuition and heart-centered nature. It can also be a sign to direct focus to trusting your intuition and perhaps allowing forgiveness to others in your life.

6. Glance at the Near Future

If card number 10 is the destination, card six is a mile marker along the way, indicating the path you are embarking on. If this card is not favorable, it is time to change directions. If you like what you see here, keep on trucking.

My Draw: King of Wands

Emanating an energy of abundance, success and power, the King of Wands is a promising card for this placement. "You are limitless and imbued with power and wisdom," Noel writes. When in balance, he lovingly shares his wisdom with others and helps them reach their goals. However, out of balance, he can be overbearing and controlling. Thus, it is important to keep the ego in check. 

7. Suggested Approach

Where your strength is the key to unlocking your destiny, the seventh card is all about your strategy. Maybe there is a labyrinth between you and the aforementioned door, and the suggested approach is your road map.

My Draw: Queen of Wands

"This Queen encourages you to stand strong in your own resilience, in following the pulse of your heart and dreams. You are instilled with sacred wisdom, and this Queen wants you to go deep and source from this place," Noel writes. The message here feels clear: tap into my inner knowing and strength to make my dreams come true, while being careful of not overstepping, and perhaps stepping on the toes of others.

8. What You Need to Know

The eighth card is a tidbit of advice direct from Spirit. The spread has already given you the challenge, shed light on your unique gift, and provided a strategy. Now, it gives you some words of the wise to help ensure your success on this journey.

My Draw: Justice

"As a universal symbol for greater moral code, this card asks us to put aside our emotions and attachments, allowing us to view the situation with impartiality, on a larger scale," Noel writes. In this placement, I think the vision of the scales is important. Trusting my intuition is a thread running through this spread, so using my intuition as a tool for weighing my options, with no emotion behind it, seems to be the message here.

9. Your Hopes or Fears

Much like the second card which can represent either a "bridge or a block," the ninth card can be representative of your hopes or your fears, and often simultaneously. This spread teaches you to look at what is in front of you, flip it on its head and examine it from another perspective.

My Draw: Wheel of Fortune

An extraordinarily fitting card and a prime example of the meaning behind this placement, The Wheel of Fortune is all about life's highs and lows. "With this energy comes the sensation of inevitable fate or potential opportunity, depending on how you look at it." The Wheel of Fortune calls you to look at the patterns created in your life – and lifetimes – to see how you can break harmful cycles while continuing new ones. Finding balance between hopes and fears brings you to a neutral reality, and a balanced wheel.

10. Potential Outcome

An important thing to note here is that the tenth card is the potential outcome. Every single minute decision you make impacts your life. Pulling this tenth card is not sealing your fate. Instead it is either showing you something you can work toward, or something you can work to avoid. Proceed as needed.

My Draw: King of Cups

"The most imaginative, sensitive psychic of all the Kings, this individual is ruled by the sacred wisdom of the heart... They may have a tendency to become lost within the dimensions of their own inner-worlds, and can lose touch with the feelings of others if they are not mindful," Noel writes. I think an overall theme here is that while I am extremely heart-focused and willing to share love with others, my understanding of them could use some attention and improvement. (Go figure, an Aquarius needs to work on associating better with others. *eye rolls into the next dimension*). 

But really, I think this has been a potent and connected spread from start to finish. I also think it's important to note that I wound up with two king cards as my future cards. I have been working on balancing the divine masculine with in me lately, embracing that duality despite my feminine body and identification, and it is nice to see that come to fruition in the future aspects of this spread.

I hope this shed some light on a potentially daunting thread. For the next tarot-centric post, I will dial it back a bit and talk about the world of three-card draws. If you decide to try your own Celtic Cross, and would like to share, please tag us on Instagram: @earth.magick.asheville