DailyTarotFree AI tarot readings.
FREE · TEN CARDS · CLASSIC SPREAD

Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

The deepest classic spread. Six cards map the situation; four cards map you and where it is heading.

How to read the Celtic Cross

Read it in two parts. The cross (cards 1 to 6) is the situation: what is happening, what blocks it, where it came from and where it is going. The staff (cards 7 to 10) is you inside that situation: how you are acting, who is around you, what you hope and fear, and where it leads. Start with cards 1 and 2 together, then read the staff from the bottom up.

The ten positions

  1. The heart of it

    The center of your question as it stands today.

  2. What crosses you

    Laid across the first card. It can be an obstacle, or a force you have to work with.

  3. The root

    The older cause or feeling that set this in motion.

  4. The recent past

    What just happened and is now losing its hold.

  5. What you aim for

    Your goal, or what you think about most.

  6. The near future

    What is likely to show up in the coming weeks.

  7. You

    Your attitude and the part you play.

  8. Around you

    Other people, your setting, and pressures you didn't choose.

  9. Hopes and fears

    Often one card holds both.

  10. Where it is heading

    The direction the other nine add up to. Change the cards you can, and this one changes too.

Tips for a clearer spread

  • Ask about one situation. "What do I need to know about moving to Denver?" works better than a general life question.
  • Look for repeats. Several cards from one suit show where the energy sits: Cups for feelings, Wands for drive, Swords for thoughts, Pentacles for money and work.
  • Compare card 10 with card 7. If you don't like where it is heading, card 7 shows what you can change.

FAQ

Is the Celtic Cross good for beginners?

Yes, if you read it one position at a time. The position questions above tell you what to look for in each card.

How long does a Celtic Cross reading take?

About ten to twenty minutes if you read each card in its position and then look at the whole.

Why is card 2 placed sideways?

It literally crosses the first card, showing what pushes against the heart of the matter.