Tarot: THE Celtic Cross Spread: The Self Seeds & The Soul Tree

TAROT : THE SPREAD
THE SELF SEEDS & THE SOUL TREE
By: Jenny Sieck

Glad to be writing about Tarot Reading again as the sun rises higher in the sky today. She’s coming out delighted to warm us by embracing the gentle resonance each of us embody as we explore unique languages of rootedness on mother earth. All of us like the branches of trees yearn for the increased light springtime brings. It is learning to embrace this light that helps people to become aware attuned tarot readers. And following intuition for each person is a unique subtle journey. Often trusting our inner guidance has to do with leaving behind fixed principles that no longer speak to us on our life path. However while you are learning to feel your own resonance more deeply it can be helpful to understand some rules or structure in order to honor the basics. So with this in mind, the tarot provides a map --a hypothetical human story about you’re client. Who they could be and what they may be facing. We can tap into this story by noticing the different ways the cards speak & honor the intuitive truths they bring to our awareness. In future articles we will look at the tarot through different complimentary lenses. However, in this article I will cover one of the more fixed aspects of reading the patterns of cards in the layout. Each card placement represents a different aspect of what your client may be facing. Each layout or spread is distributed the same way each time. This helps the reader to create and later intuit a story that has somewhat fixed aspects. This said, there are different layouts to choose from.
Here we will deal with the Celtic cross spread as it is very good for beginners to work with. For non-beginners take a look at books on layouts. They cover the gamut—there are astrological twelve house layouts, there are layouts dealing with personality constructs like the shadow or the divine feminine or what Jung called the Mater. There are layouts that are connected to different cultural understandings like ones that delve into past lives & there are layouts dealing with certain aspects of life like relationships. Then too as you become more adept you can give a shot at creating your own which is fun & can be very insightful as well.

As for out Celtic cross it looks like this:

Card 1 the significator, is typically your client or sometimes the issue itself.
Cards 1 thru 6 create an extended cross shape & build on the initial cross created by 1 & 2.
Card 2 crosses card one and is what supports, blocks or adds a charge (of any type) to the question being asked.
Card 3 is left of the cross created by 1 & 2—this represents the distant past, depending on the client’s age. It covers developmental hurdles, often in early childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. It expresses what the client idealizes & or avoids.
Card 4 is under the small cross. It represents the immediate past, or what just literally happened & or how the client feels about it.
Card 5 is what crowns the client—the immediate future or what is now coming to pass literally & how the client feels about that.
Card 6 is what is in the distant future. Sometimes this card also will come with a charge about how long something might take too manifest.
Card 7 begins to grow the reading & look at possibilities the client can use for empowerment. At this point it is helpful to imagine a root sprouting out of the ground reaching toward the sun expressing the possibility of the clients best self & most empowered outcome & ability to grow toward the light. Often this will help the client imagine a new possibility that reaches beyond the literal, and suggests a shift in attitude. By holding this awareness of the clients best self they can begin to attune to it as well. These four cards represent growth & are laid out in an upward line just to the right of the first 6—they are read in an ascending order as well.
So, card 7 is the environment the client is in…sometimes this is an area where the client has great awareness, sometimes little…so tread lightly. This is the way the client sees themselves, how the client feels, what they are literally experiencing, & what they may believe they are entitled too. This is also a good place to get the clients input, if they want to share…this is the place for them to begin if they want too, to tell a new story.
Card 8 represents the way the client is seen by others. This is drawn from the idea of how the client feels about how others see them. It is a place to raise issues about the clients blindspot’s or what Jung referred to as the inferior function. Card # 8 helps the client see themself more clearly. It is also a place to discuss issues about there support system. Do they feel aligned with it or like it isn’t a good match? Do they have people around who support there highest good? Or who weaken it?
Card 9 is the client’s hopes & /or fears…this relates directly back to card 1 and draws on the “best self” idea the client envisions or at one time envisioned for themselves. This card helps the client get in touch with the possibilities expressed and embodied by there highest & most authentic self. It is the seeds & sprouting roots of the divine golden child self the best potential in us…who we were born to be. It expresses the trunk of the tree, the solidity of what they’ve created thus far. As well as the branches & leaves….This is what we want to become. It is often due to societal strictures and unresolved trauma that we are afraid to manifest this. This is where you can help the client imagine how to actualize there most inspired dreams. These can be anything…and not necessarily what you might be imagining for them. Listen here to what they say, how, they say, it & also with your third (or intuitive) ear.
Card 10 is the outcome, it draws on everything said up to this point & culminates with the possible outcome of the situation. This is a place to reinforce some of the strengths the client has for dealing with what they face. As well as to hit on the blindspot’s uncovered in the reading. It is a place to remind the client of their best tools regarding their situation & their life strategies. It is also a place to honor the client’s whole journey & reinforce their inner strengths. It sums up the journey they have taken in there inner & outer lives thus far.
As for the intuitive aspects of the reading…trust your gut & seek an empathic attunement, more simply said, have compassion for your client. Know that your readings will improve as you embrace the resonance of your own life…breath deeply, value rules as tools or guides on the journey & most of all have fun with your own rich insights & deepening awareness! Let these soak into your core & sprout your own seeds of possibility, as the sun beams down on the golden child- the springtime mater in us all!

Jenny Sieck copyright 2010