Horseshoe Spread Reading
Seven cards in a U shape for decisions with several moving parts. Choose 7 cards and read them in order.
Take a breath and hold your question in mind before you choose.
Choose 7 cards
About the horseshoe spread reading
The horseshoe spread uses seven cards in the shape of a horseshoe, read from left to right as a story. It is shorter than the Celtic Cross but gives more to work with than a three-card pull, which makes it a good middle choice for a decision with a few factors at play.
The first two cards set the scene with the past and the present. The next three cards, hidden influences, obstacles and outside influences, show what you cannot see easily. The advice card then suggests how to respond, and the last card shows where the road leads if you follow that advice.
The 7 positions
- The past. What led up to this situation?
- The present. Where do things stand now?
- Hidden influences. What is working behind the scenes?
- Obstacles. What stands in the way?
- Outside influences. How do other people and circumstances affect it?
- Advice. What approach serves you best?
- The outcome. Where does this lead?
How to use this reading
Hold your question in mind and choose seven cards. Read the first two as the background, the middle three as the forces at play, and the last two as the way forward. If a position feels unclear, look at the card before it for context.