Horseshoe Spread tarot spread
Seven cards in a horseshoe: from the past to the outcome, by way of what is hidden, the obstacles, the surroundings and the advice.
The 7 positions of the Horseshoe Spread
- 1Past
The events and choices that led up to this point.
What prepared the situation?
- 2Present
The current situation as it is lived.
What is the situation like now?
- 3Hidden influences
What acts without being seen: unconscious factors, missing information.
What can't be seen?
- 4Obstacles
The point of resistance: what holds back or must be crossed. It is the apex of the spread.
What is the main obstacle?
- 5Surroundings
The people and outside circumstances: how others influence things.
How do the surroundings affect it?
- 6Advice
The attitude or action the cards suggest.
What is best to do?
- 7Outcome
The most probable tendency if the advice is followed and the forces stay as they are.
Where does it lead?
How to read the Horseshoe Spread
- Card 4 is the apex: every reading of the horseshoe revolves around the obstacle.
- A court card in position 5 usually points to a real person in the querent's surroundings.
- Dignities are read along the arc: each card is modulated by its two neighbours.
- Past ↔ OutcomeLe due punte del ferro: da dove si parte e dove si arriva.
- Obstacles ↔ AdviceOstacolo e consiglio: il consiglio è la chiave per superare l'ostacolo.
- Hidden influences ↔ SurroundingsInterno ed esterno: ciò che è nascosto in chi consulta e ciò che viene dagli altri.
Origin
A traditional seven-card spread laid out in a V, widespread in European cartomancy for practical questions.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards does the Horseshoe Spread use?
The Horseshoe Spread uses 7 cards: the full 78-card deck.
What do the positions of the Horseshoe Spread mean?
The positions are: Past, Present, Hidden influences, Obstacles, Surroundings, Advice and Outcome. Each card is read as the answer to the question of its position.
How do you read the Horseshoe Spread?
Card 4 is the apex: every reading of the horseshoe revolves around the obstacle. A court card in position 5 usually points to a real person in the querent's surroundings. Dignities are read along the arc: each card is modulated by its two neighbours.
Where does the Horseshoe Spread come from?
A traditional seven-card spread laid out in a V, widespread in European cartomancy for practical questions.
Articles about this spread
More spreads of the same kind
Past, present and future: the trajectory of the matter read through the archetypal forces of the 22 Major Arcana alone.
Simple Cross (Wirth)For, against, the why and the judge; at the centre the synthesis, which is not drawn but calculated by adding up the Arcana.
Celtic CrossTen cards: the cross describes the situation and its timing, the staff on the right describes the querent, the surroundings and the outcome.
Astrological WheelOne card for each of the twelve astrological houses and one at the centre as the dominant theme: a complete panorama of life.
