Ten-card Celtic Cross
The most classic spread: read it as a cross and a staff, and find the card pairs that belong together.
8 min read
By the end you'll
- Know the meaning of the 10 positions
- Read the cards in pairs rather than one by one
- Boil a large spread down to one answer
The Celtic Cross is the best-known spread of all. It has two parts: a cross of 6 cards on the left and a staff of 4 cards on the right (see the diagram above).
The cross (cards 1–6)
- 1 Present situation and 2 Challenge (laid across each other): the core of the matter
- 3 Foundation (below) and 5 Goal (above): what lies deep inside, set against what you intend
- 4 Recent past (left) and 6 Near future (right): the timeline
The staff (cards 7–10, read from the bottom up)
- 7 Self: the querent's attitude to the matter
- 8 Environment: the people and circumstances around them
- 9 Hopes and fears: these two are often the same thing
- 10 Outcome: the final direction
Read in 4 pairs
- 1 with 2: what is the main problem?
- 3 with 5: do the deeper feelings and the conscious intention point the same way?
- 4 with 6: where is the matter going?
- 7 with 10: how does the querent's attitude lead to the outcome?
Reading the 3 and 5 pair
Question: Which way should I go in this relationship?
Cards: The Moon, position Foundation; The Lovers, position Goal
Sample answer: The Foundation is The Moon: deep down you are still confused and afraid of choosing wrong. The Goal is The Lovers: you want to choose clearly, from the heart. Together these cards say that before you choose anyone, you need to understand your own fear. A choice made out of fear won't lead to the love you want.
Reading in pairs shows the conflict inside the querent, which card-by-card reading misses.
Tip: Card 10 is always the conclusion, but if card 10 contradicts card 5, point out that the goal may need adjusting.
Summary
- The cross = the situation · the staff = the person
- Read 4 pairs: 1–2, 3–5, 4–6, 7–10
- Finish on card 10, with conditions