Your Version of the Celtic Cross

[Little Fang]

There was a thread that I discovered too late on the other forum related to this, so I wanted to bring it back here.

 

The CC spread is widely varied and many people have their own versions that they find most useful.

 

What is yours?

[Trogon]

The original CC that I learned with was from Eden Gray's "The Complete Guide to Tarot". I wanted to mention that, because it was the starting point for me and I still love Eden Gray's books (though I can't currently find my "...Complete Guide..." right now).

 

The first thing I did when redesigning the CC for my own use was to get rid of the significator. I found it to be rather useless - I generally know who I'm reading for and figure that using a significator just needlessly removes a card from the deck. A big part of what I changed was the almost chant-like stating of the positions as the cards were laid out; "this covers him", "this crosses him", etc. Anyway, here's my version (usual pattern, just without the significator);

 

1 -  Theme or main issue

 

2 - Crossing card (opposing influence or attitude to the issue or querent)

 

3 - Foundation (basis or origins of the issue - it's roots in the past)

 

4 - Passing Influence or event

 

5 - What is hidden - unseen influences or events

 

6 - Coming influence or event

 

7 - The Self (what the querent feels/thinks about themselves in regards to the issue)

 

8 - Environment / how others feel (someone close to the issue or the querent)

 

9 - Advice

 

10 - Outcome

 

[Edit to fix the "smiley" issue on #8  ::)]

[Bodhiseed]

I found this version in Carl Japikse's book "Exploring the Tarot"):

 

1. The Starting Point - This card defines the basic issue.

2. The Counterpoint - This card represents the force that complements the first card - the yin that goes with the yang to make a complete whole. It often indicates what spiritual quality is lacking in the

situation and needs to be added.

3. The Creative Challenge - This card indicates the lesson you are in the process of learning in this situation, and may hint at the

methodology to use in approaching it.

4. The Purpose - This card represents the perspective of the Higher Self and reveals something of the content of its plan (or the plan of the Universe/the plan of God, if you prefer). This card must be viewed as a sense of the "big picture," rather than interpreted from a personal point of view.

5. The Endowment - This card indicates what strengths or skills you bring with you that can be used in managing this situation.

6. The Destiny - This card indicates where the forces governing the situation are heading at the present time. It is not the outcome, but represents what will happen if absolutely nothing is done to act upon the forces already set in motion.

7. The Real Question - This card recognizes that the questions we ask are often incomplete, and so shows us the fuller picture of the situation

at hand.

8. The Unseen Forces - This card indicates what subtle or hidden forces are at work in the situation that you may not have taken into account.

9. The Spiritual Ideal - This card represents the ideal quality or force that you should be working with in order to obtain your goal.

10. The Fulfillment - This card represents the fulfillment of the plan of our Higher Self, and symbolizes our spiritual fulfillment.

 

[ErisofOceans]

My version of the cc is nicknamed Godfathers' Cross and I ended up changing quite a few of the positions - I never liked the "this crosses you" and "this is beneath you" lingo either. I also incorporated the past-present-future 3-card spread in it. Here's what it looks like:

 

Godfather's Cross

***4******10

2**1**3***9

***5******8

***6******7

1. The Present

2. Past of the situation

3. Upcoming changes

4. Mental state

5. Emotional state

6. Fears

7. Opposing Forces

8. Internal influences

9. External influences

10. Outcome as things stand