About the Spreads

The Golden Dawn / Thoth Method

Relationship Spread

The Decision Game

The Path

The Plan Game

Single-card Draw:

The Ankh:

The Blind Spot:

The Cross

The Celtic Cross

The Secret of the Priestess

Free Online Tarot Readings with bifrost, a child of Thoth

With there being such distinct differences in the engineering of these 2 decks, there are naturally differences between them in the methods of divination.

Since the Book of Thoth was not intended to be used with reversals, that option has not been made available for this deck. In Thoth readings, the cards' dignification depends upon the neighboring cards. Cards of the same energy strengthen their neighbors. Cards of opposite energies such as cups and wands cause ill-dignification.

This method of reading takes a little getting used to, like learning manual transmission, so reading with Thoth could be considered as better for more advanced readers and better for deeper more spiritual questions. Cards that are not opposite or the same suit are considered friendly. In some spreads dignification is considered neutral and not relevant. The Golden Dawn method is the one that relies most strongly on dignification.

Since the Rider-Waite does use reversals, dignification is automatic with this deck. The RWS not only introduced the now common use of reversals, but also modified the tradition of the minor arcana, replacing the pip cards with cards depicting scenarios. Readings with the RWS are more blunt, making them much easier for beginners to interpret.

Of course the general rule with tarot is to just do it your own way. Seek, and you will find. Always follow your intuition, and learn at your own pace.

Single-card Draw

Difficulty: Easiest

The single-card draw is best for times when you need to narrow your focus to a single point. It can be used to draw a card of the day, week, or even your ultimate destiny. It couldn't be any simpler than this one.


Higher Perceptions

Early Causes		Triggering Causes

Necessary Conclusions

Cross 1		Cross 2

The Next Step

Surprising Experiences

The Result

Difficulty: Kind of tough

The Ankh Spread is for deeper questions about the causes behind trends.

The loop of the ankh shows the deeper spiritual background, while the base shows your prospects for the outcome.

The first 2 cards represent the 2 parent causes of the situation. They will either compliment each other or they show 2 sides of a conflict.

Card #3 determines the early causes of the trend you have asked about.

#4 shows the causes that triggered the current situation.

#5 reveals the spiritual perspective behind the subject of this reading.

#6 informs the querent of the reasons why the spirit demanded this course of action to unfold, in that it was a means to this end.

At this point, you want to soak in the meaning of the first 6 cards before moving forward to the last 3 cards. The last 3 will show your prospects for the future.

#7 shows the next step, or the immediate future.

#8 shows surprising experiences on the road to the end result.

#9 is the end result.

	Known to self	NOT known to self
Known to others

NOT known to others

Difficulty: depends on one's will to objectively view the self

This spread is used to enhance self-awareness. No question is necessary, or questions about learning something about yourself.

#1: This card displays the obvious identity, the part of your self that you know and show.

#2: This card shows unconscious driving forces from a secret dimension that neither you nor your company is aware of about you. This is the Great Unknown.

#3: The secrets you keep from others are apparent in this card.

#4: This is your Blind Spot. This is what you asked about which you needed to be made aware of by this reading. You may want to watch these mannerisms.

	DO this
It deals with		Do NOT do this
	It leads to

Difficulty: Easy

The Cross Spread is good for questions asking for advice. It can also be used to determine the meaning of a confusing card from a previous reading, or for that matter, to shed light on other points of confusion as well.

In questions asking advice, this spread is self-explanatory. The main thing is to determine the difference between cards #2 and #3. #1 is the topic and #4 is the result.

In questions regarding confusion, such as: "What was the meaning of Card (X) in the last spread?" the main thing is also to determine the difference between cards #2 and #3. In this case, Card #2 will show what the card was not referring to, and Card #3 will show what the card really meant. #1 is the topic and #4 represents the purpose it serves.

Before

Crowns it

Crosses it
Crosses it

This is it

Rests upon
Unconscious

After

Where it leads
Future (long-term)

Expectations
Hopes or Fears

Environment

Querent

difficulty: Average

This is the most commonly known and used spread. This one is good for questions of all types. It's also a good basic spread for beginners. In this spread it's good to notice relationships between the pairings of cards #5 & #9, #1 & #2, #3 & #4, and #6 & #10.

#1: What it deals with, the initial situation.

#2: An added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.

#3: This is the asker is aware of consciously.

#4: Unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.

#5: The immediate past regarding the current situation.

#6: The first future card indicates the immediate future.

#7: This card represents the querent and their attitude towards cards #1 and #2.

#8: The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.

#9: This card is the querent's expecations; what they secretly hope for or what they fear.

#10: The second future card shows the longer-term outcome.

Waxing	Full Moon	Waning
Significators
Dark	Secret	Light
	Next Step

Difficulty: Average

This spread is a nice for going into the background of a current trend. It is good for when a question doesn't quite call for the Ankh spread. This spread is like a hybrid of the Ankh and Celtic Cross, but with a mysterious secret to be interpretted after the rest of the spread.

#1 and #2: Main impulses that represent the topic at hand. They may work together or they may not.

#3: This is the current influence at this time.

#5: The Waning Moon is the influence that you are putting behind you.

#4: The Waxing Moon indicates what is on the horizon, or the approaching influence.

#7: The Light is what is clearly recognized.

#6: The Dark shows what is there but not fully perceived, though noticed on a deeper level of consciousness.

#8: The Next Step is the near future, where this journey will take you.

#9: The last card, if a trump, reveals the Secret of the High Priestess. This is a special message that you should pay extra special attention to.

Difficulty: Complicated

The Golden Dawn spread is best suited for use with the Book of Thoth. This spread is set up to read a special way with the Court cards. Princes and Queens are supposed to represent actual men and women connected with the matter, while Princesses generally represent ideas; thoughts or opinions, and Knights represent arrival or departure of a matter depending on the direction faced.

In this spread particular attention is to be payed to a card's exact position in relation to its neighbors. Whether the neighbor cards bear the same energy (suit) determines whether a card is considered well- or ill-dignified. Opposite suits ill-dignify each other, while other suits are considered friendly. Cards of the same suit strengthen each other.

Also it is important to count the cards' tendencies, such as whether there is a lot of one particular suit or number pattern. The patterns will reveal special messages. Lots of trumps means higher forces at work, lots of cups means strong emotions, etc.

The Golden Dawn / Thoth Spread:

Card #1 represents the querent and the nature of the topic at hand.

Cards #2 & #3 are used in conjunction with #1 to further comprehend the nature of the topic.

The 2 sets of 3 cards at the top of the spread represent chronological sets of events. Your current path as it would unfold naturally is represented by cards #4, #8, & #12. The alternate path that you could take is represented by cards #13, #9, & #5. However, if these cards tell you that they go together instead, then the alternate path is to be considered an extension of your current path, and to be read chronologically in this order: #4, #8, #12, #13, #9, #5.

Cards #14, #10, & #6 shed light upon the psychological undertones of the current problem.

Cards #7, #11, & #15 represent the influences of karma and destiny that are beyond the querent's control. These cards suggest adapting to this fate.

	Querent		Partner
Rational
Emotional		Significator
External Stance

Difficulty: Easy

This spread is as easy to read as the chart at the left. Court cards generally indicate actual people with the same characteristics. Knights and Queens always represent men and women. Look for patterns in the cards as always.

If you do X

If you do not do X

Difficulty: Easy

For this spread, you ask a question like: "What happens if I do (X), and what happens if I don't do (X)?"

Card #7 is the significator.

Cards #3, #1, & #5 represent the chronological sequence of events that occurs if you choose to do (X).

Cards #4, #2, & #6 represent the chronological sequence of events that unfolds if you choose NOT to do (X).

	Current	Suggested
Rational
Emotional
External Stance

Difficulty: Easy

The Path is a spread that the querent asks for suggestions on how to behave properly in order to achieve a desired result. The Current column shows how the querent has been acting, and the Suggested column suggests how the querent should act in order to achieve their desires. The spread uses the standard 3 levels: rational, emotional, and external stance.

Unconscious driving force		External attitudes
	Significator
How it succeeds		How it does not succeed

Difficulty: Easy

When you have a certain plan in mind, this simple spread reveals whether or not your plan can succeed, and how it will work out. Like most spreads, this spread is self-explanatory.

Alternate path (or extension of current path)

Current path

Psychological basis