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Celtic Cross Reading

Celtic Cross Reading

The classic ten-card spread for a question you want to look at from every side. Choose 10 cards and read them position by position.

Take a breath and hold your question in mind before you choose.

Choose 10 cards

The Hermit back The Hermit front
The Hierophant back The Hierophant front
The Star back The Star front
Judgement back Judgement front
Nine of Pentacles back Nine of Pentacles front
Ace of Swords back Ace of Swords front
Six of Wands back Six of Wands front
Death back Death front
Six of Cups back Six of Cups front
Seven of Swords back Seven of Swords front
Queen of Cups back Queen of Cups front
Knight of Pentacles back Knight of Pentacles front
Queen of Swords back Queen of Swords front
Eight of Cups back Eight of Cups front
King of Cups back King of Cups front
The Emperor back The Emperor front
King of Pentacles back King of Pentacles front
The Tower back The Tower front
Temperance back Temperance front
Five of Cups back Five of Cups front
Strength back Strength front
Six of Swords back Six of Swords front
Seven of Pentacles back Seven of Pentacles front
Ten of Wands back Ten of Wands front
The Sun back The Sun front
The Hanged Man back The Hanged Man front
Page of Pentacles back Page of Pentacles front
The High Priestess back The High Priestess front
Knight of Swords back Knight of Swords front
Queen of Wands back Queen of Wands front
Four of Swords back Four of Swords front
Ace of Cups back Ace of Cups front
Queen of Pentacles back Queen of Pentacles front
The Empress back The Empress front
The Lovers back The Lovers front
The World back The World front
Nine of Swords back Nine of Swords front
The Fool back The Fool front
Two of Wands back Two of Wands front
The Devil back The Devil front
Five of Wands back Five of Wands front
Two of Pentacles back Two of Pentacles front
King of Swords back King of Swords front
Three of Swords back Three of Swords front
Four of Cups back Four of Cups front
The Magician back The Magician front
Ten of Swords back Ten of Swords front
Ten of Pentacles back Ten of Pentacles front
Wheel of Fortune back Wheel of Fortune front
Justice back Justice front
The Moon back The Moon front
Eight of Swords back Eight of Swords front
Six of Pentacles back Six of Pentacles front
Page of Wands back Page of Wands front
Page of Cups back Page of Cups front
The Chariot back The Chariot front
Page of Swords back Page of Swords front
Three of Wands back Three of Wands front
Seven of Cups back Seven of Cups front
Three of Pentacles back Three of Pentacles front
Eight of Pentacles back Eight of Pentacles front
Two of Swords back Two of Swords front
Ace of Pentacles back Ace of Pentacles front
Five of Swords back Five of Swords front
Seven of Wands back Seven of Wands front
Nine of Cups back Nine of Cups front
King of Wands back King of Wands front
Five of Pentacles back Five of Pentacles front
Eight of Wands back Eight of Wands front
Four of Wands back Four of Wands front
Four of Pentacles back Four of Pentacles front
Nine of Wands back Nine of Wands front
Knight of Wands back Knight of Wands front
Two of Cups back Two of Cups front
Ace of Wands back Ace of Wands front
Three of Cups back Three of Cups front
Ten of Cups back Ten of Cups front
Knight of Cups back Knight of Cups front
10/10 cards left

About the celtic cross reading

The Celtic Cross is the best known tarot spread and the one most readers reach for when a question is large or tangled. Ten cards are laid out in a cross and a vertical line of four, and each position looks at the situation from a different angle: the centre, what crosses it, what lies below and behind, what you aim at, what lies ahead, and then your own view, your surroundings, your hopes and fears and the outcome.

Because there are ten positions, the reading is slow and layered. Start with cards 1 and 2 as a pair: the situation and what crosses it. Then read the four cards around them (foundation, recent past, goal, near future) and finish with the column of four: you, your surroundings, hopes and fears, and the outcome. The overview under the cards names the pattern across all ten, such as how many Major Arcana appeared or which suit dominates.

The 10 positions

  1. The present. What is at the heart of the matter right now?
  2. The challenge. What crosses you or complicates the situation?
  3. The foundation. What lies beneath it: the root, the base of the question?
  4. The recent past. What has just happened and is fading away?
  5. The goal. What do you consciously want or aim at?
  6. The near future. What is likely to come next?
  7. You. How do you see yourself in this situation?
  8. Your surroundings. How do other people and circumstances affect it?
  9. Hopes and fears. What do you hope for, and what do you dread?
  10. The outcome. Where does this lead if nothing changes?

How to use this reading

Think about a question that matters to you and keep it in mind while you choose. Pick ten cards from the fan, then read the result from card 1 to card 10. Treat the outcome card as a direction if things continue as they are, not as a fixed fate: the earlier positions show where you can change course.

Questions and answers

What is the Celtic Cross tarot spread?
It is a ten-card layout in which each position has its own meaning: the present, the challenge, the foundation, the recent past, your goal, the near future, you, your surroundings, hopes and fears, and the outcome.
Is the Celtic Cross good for beginners?
It can be, but it takes longer to read than a three-card spread. If you are new to tarot, try the 3 card reading first and come back to the Celtic Cross once you know the cards.
How do I read the outcome card?
Read it as the likely direction if the situation continues as it is. The cards before it show what feeds that direction, which means you can decide what to keep and what to change.
Does the order of the positions matter?
Yes. The same card means something different as the foundation than as the outcome. Always read in position order, and look at the pair of cards 1 and 2 first.
Where can I read about the full layout?
See the guide to the Celtic Cross tarot spread for how the cards are placed and a longer explanation of each position.

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