You've laid out the Celtic Cross. Now what?
Begin by scanning the cards. Without examining the cards too deeply, what is your initial impression? Which cards are getting your attention? Are there any that don't seem to be “speaking” to you?
Next, look for the overarching theme. What are the majorities? Which suits are missing? For example, let's say that the cards are mostly Majors. This tells you right off the bat that big lessons are happening at this time, and a certain amount of fate may be involved.
Mostly Minors? It's all day-to-day grind and an indicator that things are within our control. Fate has little to say or do with the situation, or actions or lack thereof are creating the conditions.
A full set of Court cards? Lots of people involved.
See how that works?
Take stock of what's standing out, and you'll have a foundation to begin your reading. Here are a few more examples of multiples and what they could be telling you:
Also note if there are multiple Court members:
Sweep your eyes over the cards, take note of what cards are making up the lion's share of the reading, and start breaking down the spread into manageable sections.
The first section to consider is the mini-cross in the middle. This will give you the lowdown of how things stand at the moment. Are the cards in harmony? Do they support each other, or is there a contradiction present? For example, are they both positive in nature, or is one negative? What might two gloomy-looking cards tell you about the situation? How about two happy ones? What if the first card is negative and the crossing card is positive? Or vice versa?
Positions 3 and 4 give you an idea of what has created this moment in time. What can you glean about the past from those two cards?
If you compare positions 4 and 6, you see what's just leaving and what's on the way. For example, if you pulled the Six of Pentacles for position 4 and Five of Pentacles for 6, you'd see a financial setback, such as losing your source of support.
Pair positions 7 and 9, and you get a glimpse of how the querent is thinking about their situation. But if you take 7 and 8, you see how the environment might be supporting the person . . . or not. This pair could be important because your environment, including the people in it, can influence how things might unfold.
Look at positions 5 and 10 to get an idea of where it's all heading. For example, let's say you have the Knight of Cups in position 5 and the Emperor in 10. This could indicate a marriage proposal is on the way.
After you've moved through those pairings, begin breaking down the spread into groups. This helps construct the cohesive story the cards are trying to tell. I look at groups of three and four.
Past (3), Recent Past (4), Present (1)—Once again, we can see how the story developed.
Present (1), Obstacle (2), Querent (7)—This combo is the present moment and how the querent is standing (or not).
Querent (7), Environment (8), Hopes and Fears (9)—These three cards give a clear idea of not only the mindset but also the things that might be influencing thoughts or actions.
Possible Future (5), Near Future (6), Likely Outcome (10)—These three cards neatly sum up the likely future.
The Past (3), Near Future (6), Likely Outcome (10)—This diagonal mini-spread shows the root, what's next, and potential. It's like a Past Present Future contained within the spread. If you're in a pinch, these are the three go-to cards for a fast 'n furious interpretation.
Past (3), Present (1), Obstacle (2), Possible Future (6)—Here, we see the potential based on the past.
Recent Past (4), Present (1), Obstacle (2), Near Future (6)—These four give a snapshot of the most recent and soon-to-be events.
Querent (7), Environment (8), Hopes and Fears (9), Likely Outcome (10)—The column gives you an idea of everything that might be influencing the future. Is there something that needs to be changed?
I can size up a reading quickly by taking a minute to skim over the images and see what's standing out. It may seem like a lot to digest when you first begin. But with time and practice, the scan becomes second nature.
Lay out a Celtic Cross. Take out your journal. Begin counting up the majorities. What's standing out? Now, pair up the cards. How do the pairings work together? Is there a conflict? Write down your answers in your journal. Now do a few more Celtic Crosses and try to build speed.
Use the Celtic Cross for a particular question. Do a series of mini-readings only using the Threes. Write down your answers to each of these small readings in your journal.
Once more with feeling! Kidding. I want you to repeat the preceding Tarotcise, but this time, focus only on the Fours. Once again, journal your thoughts. How do these smaller readings help you see the larger picture?
If your Celtic Cross has four or more Majors, it's a sign that you may be working through a critical karmic lesson. In other words: transformation is happening on some level.
I've created a little formula based on one of Eileen Connolly's books, Tarot: The First Handbook for the Master. Her approach is different from mine and involves a lot more shuffling. I prefer a speedier way, so I stick to the cards that are already present in the reading.
Here's what to do:
After you've completed the initial reading, pull the four (or more) Majors out of the spread and line them up in order from the first Major pulled to the last one.
This forms an additional spread. The positions are as follows:
Let's use an example. Piper inquired about her relationship with Robert. After many years together, the spark was gone. Yet they couldn't seem to “quit each other,” she said. The higher number of Major Arcana cards in her reading showed that there might be a spiritual lesson to the situation.
The cards were Judgement, Death reversed, Strength, Tower reversed, Empress.
Here are the interpretations:
In short: the resistance is karmic in nature, because on some deeper level, they both know that this relationship isn't finished. With work and love, they can emerge a stronger, more loving couple.
Consider the plotline for a movie. Pull out four Majors from your deck. Using the positions above, determine what the karmic lesson might be for the characters in the film.
After you examine the cards and patterns, it's time to start laying down your interpretation! Let those words flow like a rap song. Do not stop to think about what you're saying too much. Allow the images to speak to you and through you. Share the story that is unfolding without filtering your answers. Let the information pour out of your mouth like a ticker tape. This is how I read, and like I said before, it's why I get salty when folks interrupt me. It disrupts my rhythm.
You might say: “Well, that's all well and good, Theresa. But you've been at this for a while. Where on earth do I start?” You can start anywhere you feel called. What card is grabbing your attention? Begin from that point and circle around as your intuition guides you.
But if you're stuck and not sure what to do first, always begin with the card at the very bottom of the spread (3). After all, this is the root and perfect jumping-off point for following the story the reading is trying to tell. From there, move to position 4, the recent past followed by the mini-cross. This is the starting route I usually follow.
From there, wind your way around the layout from 5 to 10. Once you've gone through every card, take a moment to see if there are any additional insights. Maybe you notice that the majority of the cards have a yellow background. What does that add to the reading? Or perhaps you get a feeling to go back to the mini-cross for some reason. If so, why? Remain curious and open. If you're reading for someone else, ask the querent if any cards are grabbing their attention. Explore that. Allow them to add their thoughts to what each card may mean. Create a conversation, and you may uncover new, helpful information.
The tarot cards will help you see the story. You just need to trust that your intuition guide the narration.