Horse Shoe Spread
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is a classic tarot spread. It is more advanced than the three-card reading, yet simpler than most other spreads. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other spreads which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future spread, it contains these cards in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other tarot cards that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The cards are to be read as follows:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle Prince of Wands |
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Hidden Influences Seven of Cups (Debauch) |
External Influences Four of Disks (Power) |
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The Present Four of Swords (Truce) |
Suggestion XIX – The Sun |
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The Past Six of Cups (Pleasure) |
The Outcome XX – The Aeon |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
Six of Cups (Pleasure)
Astrological Correspondence: Sun in Scorpio
The Six of Cups symbolises harmony, emotional fulfilment, and glee derived from experiences or connections. In this deck, the card features six golden cups arranged in a balanced and symmetrical pattern, overflowing with water from flowers, representing the renewal and richness of emotional energy. The imagery conveys an atmosphere of sensual satisfaction and the revitalising joy of revisiting memories or tapping into emotional resources from the past.
The Sun in Scorpio combines the warmth and illumination of the Sun with Scorpio's depth and intensity, highlighting a connection between the conscious acknowledgment of joy and the transformative power of emotional experiences. It signifies a moment of emotional harmony where the past serves as a source of strength and inspiration for the present.
The Six of Cups invites us to indulge in the pleasures of memory and connection, celebrating the richness of our emotional life. While it carries echoes of nostalgia, it is not merely a backward glance but an affirmation of the deep well of emotional abundance that fuels growth and joy. It reminds us to embrace moments of pleasure, allowing them to recharge our spirits and enrich our present.
In Relationships: The Six of Cups can suggest a reunion with a past lover or rekindling of childhood affection or relationships that hold emotional nostalgia. It may also indicate a period of emotional healing, where you can find solace in the purity of love once experienced or remembered.
In Work: The Six of Cups might represent revisiting passions, returning to work or environments where you once found emotional fulfilment. This card suggests drawing on experiences or revisiting a childhood dream or ambition could help bring growth and emotional satisfaction in your career.
Spiritually: The Six of Cups speaks to a desire for a return to spiritual innocence and simplicity. It can be a reminder to embrace the spiritual joy and wonder of childhood or early spiritual experiences. It may also indicate a time to reconnect with old spiritual practices that once felt powerful, or to seek comfort in sacred places or rituals.
When ill-dignified: The Six of Cups may point to excessive attachment to the past, nostalgia for things that no longer serve you. There may be a reluctance to move forward, clinging to former relationships or times with an unrealistic expectation. You may feel stuck, as if you are living in the past and unable to embrace the present or future.
The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Four of Swords (Truce)
Astrological Correspondence: Jupiter in Libra
The Four of Swords represents Truce, a moment of peace after a period of mental or emotional conflict. In the Thoth imagery, the four swords converge at a central point, creating a sharp intersection over a lotus flower, symbolising balance, peace, and spiritual calm. The swords are not in active conflict but align in a way that suggests a temporary cessation of mental struggle, offering a moment for reflection and respite.
With Jupiter in Libra, this card emphasises the themes of balance, expansion, and harmonious resolution. Libra brings the need for equilibrium, and Jupiter fosters growth through peaceful cooperation. This card suggests you may find yourself in a situation where there is a pause in conflict, a moment to regain clarity and find peace within yourself before moving forward.
The Four of Swords invites you to embrace this moment of truce, allowing space for healing and reflection. The lotus flower at the centre reminds us that stillness can lead to spiritual growth and mental clarity. Though the conflict may not be resolved permanently, this pause offers an opportunity for rebalancing and gathering the strength needed for the next phase.
In Relationships: The Four of Swords can indicate a time of pause or rest. It suggests a need to take a break or step back from a situation to regain mental clarity before moving forward. It may also indicate a time of emotional healing in the relationship.
In Work: The Four of Swords suggests rest or retreat after a challenging time. It encourages you to take a mental break from stress or conflict to gain perspective and clarity before continuing. It can also indicate the need for strategic rest to re-energise and move forward with renewed focus.
Spiritually: The Four of Swords calls you to retreat and reflect. It indicates a time for meditation, contemplation, or rest to restore mental and spiritual health. The card invites you to rest from spiritual activity and allow the mind to clear, creating space for deeper insight.
When ill-dignified: The Four of Swords can indicate stagnation, withdrawal, or avoidance of necessary action. It may also suggest a refusal to rest or heal, leading to burnout or mental exhaustion. You may be using 'rest' as an excuse to avoid dealing with important issues, leading to further mental confusion or distress.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Seven of Cups (Debauch)
Astrological Correspondence: Venus in Scorpio
The Seven of Cups signifies emotional excess, illusion, and the dangers of overindulgence. This card depicts seven cups arranged chaotically, overflowing with murky, stagnant liquid, emphasising the corruption of pure emotional energy. The imagery conveys decay, as the once-refreshing waters of gladness and emotional fulfilment have become polluted by excess, indulgence, or lack of clarity.
Venus in Scorpio combines the seductive and magnetic qualities of Venus with Scorpio's intensity and depth, highlighting the tension between desire and emotional saturation. This card reflects the risks of being seduced by fleeting pleasures, ungrounded fantasies, or false promises, leading to a state of disillusionment and emotional stagnation.
The Seven of Cups warns against being caught in illusions or distracted by unproductive desires. It challenges us to discern between genuine fulfilment and empty indulgence. While it may tempt us with alluring possibilities, it urges us to ground ourselves, clear emotional confusion, and make choices that lead to lasting satisfaction and renewal.
In Relationships: The Seven of Cups suggests you may face many emotional choices, perhaps feeling uncertain about which path to take. It can indicate a tendency to be drawn to unrealistic or illusory relationships or desires, cautioning you to look beyond appearances and follow your heart.
In Work: The Seven of Cups warns of the dangers of distraction or chasing unrealistic opportunities. You may be overwhelmed by numerous options or distracted by tempting but empty promises. It advises you to focus on practical goals and avoid emotional escapism or fantasy-driven decisions.
Spiritually: The Seven of Cups points to confusion or a scattering of emotional or spiritual energy. You may be pulled in multiple directions or have trouble discerning between true spiritual paths and distractions. It invites you to ground yourself, focusing on the path that resonates most deeply with your soul.
When ill-dignified: The Seven of Cups can indicate emotional confusion or disillusionment. You may face excessive emotional choices, each more fleeting than the next, leading to indecision or a lack of emotional clarity. There may be a tendency to become consumed with fantasy at the expense of tangible reality, leading to disappointment.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
Prince of Wands
Element: Air of Fire
Astrological Correspondence: Leo
The Prince of Wands represents the intellectual and communicative aspects of Fire, where mental energy and creative passion converge. As Air of Fire, he embodies the visionary thinker who brings dynamic ideas, plans, and strategies to life with inspiration and daring. The Prince is a passionate and courageous individual, full of bold concepts and the drive to translate them into action.
This card symbolises the spirit of adventure and enterprise, where creativity is channelled into purposeful movement. It is a card of intellectual boldness, where ideas ignite like wildfire and are swiftly translated into reality. The Prince of Wands is a figure of immense energy, filled with determination and enthusiasm to take on challenges, initiating projects with great confidence. He encourages you to embrace the power of your thoughts and ambitions, and act decisively in the pursuit of your goals.
In Relationships: The Prince of Wands represents passion and excitement. This can indicate a fast-moving romance full of desire and adventure, but it can also imply someone committed to the thrill of pursuit rather than steady emotional intimacy. The Prince is often the impulsive lover, driven by the desire for adventure or novelty.
In Work: In the professional world, the Prince of Wands is an energetic and bold leader, pushing projects forward with enthusiasm and a strong sense of purpose. He represents the catalyst for action, the one who brings ideas into motion. However, this card also warns that rushing forward without a solid plan can lead to burnout or missed opportunities.
Spiritually: The Prince of Wands can indicate intellectual exploration or philosophical inquiry. You may seek ways to expand your mind, often through bold or unconventional means. The card may also represent an energetic search for truth or personal enlightenment.
When ill-dignified: The Prince of Wands can indicate mental restlessness, hasty decisions, or an excessive focus on novelty at the expense of deeper commitment. You may be easily distracted or prone to acting on impulse without thinking through the consequences. This card warns against reckless behaviour or a lack of foresight in your actions.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
Four of Disks (Power)
Astrological Correspondence: Sun in Capricorn
The Four of Disks (Power) represents the solidification and consolidation of material wealth and security. The imagery of four square disks arranged symmetrically evokes stability, emphasising the creation of a solid foundation and the control one has over their material circumstances. This card symbolises the mastery and protection of financial resources and the ability to maintain power and stability in the physical world.
The Four of Disks reflects a time when material security is established, and you are likely in a position of control over your material situation. It highlights the importance of maintaining discipline, focus, and practicality in securing one's wealth, but also warns against the potential rigidity or over-attachment to material possessions. The influence of the Sun in Capricorn encourages a steady, strategic approach to building and preserving wealth, ensuring that power and stability are achieved through responsible, enduring effort. This card represents a moment of mastery in managing one's material world.
In Relationships: The Four of Disks may signify stability and security but can also indicate possessiveness or control. It may suggest that you are focusing on maintaining the material aspects of a relationship, such as financial security, at the expense of emotional depth or freedom.
In Work: The Four of Disks suggests financial stability and control over one's material resources. It indicates success in business or career, particularly through careful management and conservation of resources. The card advises maintaining control and not taking unnecessary risks with financial matters.
Spiritually: The Four of Disks may suggest that you are focusing too much on the material or outward manifestations of spirituality and not enough on inner growth. It may be a reminder to let go of the need for control and allow more freedom and flow in your spiritual practice.
When ill-dignified: The Four of Disks represents a fixation on materialism, greed, or possessiveness. You may be too conservative with your resources, unable to let go of control. It can indicate insecurity masked by an outward appearance of power, or the inability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
XIX – The Sun
(Sun, Resh)
The Sun radiates with the energy of vitality, clarity, and triumphant renewal. Associated with Resh, the face, this card symbolises self-awareness, illumination, and the expression of the inner light. The Sun, as the central celestial body, embodies life, growth, and divine purpose.
The imagery is vibrant and joyous, as the golden sun blazes in the sky, surrounded by rays of light that fill the scene with warmth and illumination. Beneath it, twin children dance in a fertile landscape, representing innocence, harmony, and the unification of opposites. The background is lush with fields and flowers, a testament to the creative and nurturing power of the sun's energy. The card radiates an undeniable sense of triumph and clarity.
In Relationships: The Sun signifies joy, harmony, and mutual understanding. It brings light to connections, encouraging open communication and the sharing of love without reservation.
In Work: This card represents achievement and the realisation of goals. You are advised to embrace your success and lead confidently.
Spiritually: The Sun symbolises enlightenment, integrating the self, and realising your divine purpose. It calls you to step into your power and radiate your truth confidently.
When ill-dignified: The Sun warns of arrogance, egotism, or overexposure. You are advised to balance your confidence with humility and guard against burning out your energy.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
XX – The Aeon
(Judgement, Fire, Shin)
The Aeon represents transformation, evolution, and the awakening to a higher state of consciousness. Associated with Shin, the tooth, this card reflects the process of breaking through old paradigms to embrace a new spiritual era. Crowley's reinterpretation of Judgement as The Aeon emphasises rebirth on a cosmic scale, rather than individual reckoning.
The central figure is the translucent child-god Horus, representing the dawn of a new age. Above him, Nuit, the goddess of infinite space, arches across the sky, and Hadit, the fiery point of divine inspiration, burns at her core. The two incarnations of the same figure symbolise the transition from the old to the new. The vibrant reds and blues throughout the card evoke the dynamic forces of destruction and creation.
In Relationships: The Aeon signifies the potential for profound change. It suggests leaving behind outdated patterns and embracing a higher level of connection and understanding.
In Work: This card indicates a turning point, calling you to align with your true purpose and embrace transformative opportunities.
Spiritually: The Aeon symbolises awakening to a higher state of being. It calls you to release the past and step into your divine purpose with courage and clarity.
When ill-dignified: The Aeon warns of resistance to change, clinging to outdated beliefs, or fear of transformation. You are advised to trust the process of renewal and embrace the potential of the new era.