INTRODUCTION TO THE CELTIC CROSS
Although the precise origins are unclear, the Celtic Cross is still the most well known and most widely used tarot spread. There are several variations on the order in which the cards are read, and the meanings associated with the positions, but the layout is always the same. The very first reading I ever did, back in 1995, was using the Celtic Cross spread. In those first few years especially, I tried numerous spreads but now I almost exclusively use the Celtic Cross spread. I will show you why the Celtic Cross is not only my preferred spread but also the number one spread among Tarot enthusiasts. It explores every aspect of a situation, as you will see, and will often give you all the information that you need to gain insight into the area you have asked about. You too can learn to read the Celtic Cross tarot spread. In this series you will have a general introduction to the Celtic Cross, see it in action and have each placement explained in the form of an example reading.
NB: Much of this was posted as a single article on another website, for which I no longer write. However, it was way too long, making it quite off putting, so I have decided to divide the information into three clear sections. These are an introduction to the spread, how to prepare for a reading and finally a step by step analysis of the Celtic Cross spread and each placement.
Why the Celtic Cross for beginners
Many tarot guides will advise beginners to start with a one card or three card reading. The main benefit behind using fewer cards is that there are fewer meanings to deal with, making it easier to connect the cards. This means that you can simplify the answer you receive from the cards. However, I think these are also reasons why using a spread, like the Celtic Cross is more beneficial for those new to the tarot. A reading with fewer cards does force the reader to explore the meanings of each card more fully, but the Celtic Cross takes this further by providing more context for those meanings and giving a broader picture of the answer to your question. Another problem that is often cited is that while a three card reading such as a ‘Past, Present, Future’ is quite uniform and the meaning of each placement is easy to understand, the Celtic Cross, as you will see, has as many variations as there are readers! So those beginning their tarot journey do not know which spread to use. The simple answer is that you use whichever spread appeals to you. Very little in tarot reading is learned by rote and it is important to learn to individualise your readings to what works best for you; this in itself is an important lesson.
Why the Celtic Cross for more advanced readers
I’ve been using the Celtic Cross since I began this tarot journey and even now, two decades later, I still find it remarkable how much information I can glean from it. Of course that is not to say the way I use the spread is exactly the same today as it was back then or even a few years ago. When I first began I used what I understood of the placements to understand the meanings of the cards. Today, I let the question guide not only how I interpret the cards but also what angle the placements will take. For example, the seventh card generally shows the feelings of the querent. But for a question about love and relationships, this can show the root emotion of the relationship, or in a more practical reading, say for concerns about a problem, it can indicate whether there actually is something to worry about. Some readers create their particular readings for their clients and I also do this at times, but often, a reconfiguring of the Celtic Cross can have the same effect.
Which Celtic Cross is right for you?
Most Celtic Cross spreads consist of ten cards, although two extra can be added to expand on the outcome of the reading. Six cards make up the actual cross part and four are the column on the right hand side. The last four cards will usually have the same or approximately the same meaning in most Celtic Cross spreads, but the order in which the four outer parts of the cross are laid out and their meanings can differ quite significantly with different readers.
You will note that the Celtic Cross that I work with is different from the version in A.E. Waite’s ‘The Pictorial Key to the Tarot'(1911) even though he is believed to be one of the first to publish the Celtic Cross. But I would urge you to compare and see which version you prefer. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way; each reader has their own style and this is what makes reading the Tarot an art form. I am going to share with you my Celtic Cross, which I have used for almost two decades now. Before we continue with the next part of this series, why not familiarise yourself with the spread by checking out the Aquarian Insight Free Celtic Cross Tarot Reading and compare it to Waite’s spread or even any of the other ones which are readily available on the web.