INSPIRED by HOLMES post re Celtic Cross

[GreatDane]

How many here have the Celtic Cross as their GENERAL go to in readings for themselves and/or others?  I know it can depend on the type of reading, what a client may want, what they wish to know, but how many tend to use the Celtic Cross more than other spreads?  And, if not, is there a spread you use more than others? 

[Arania]

It is what most people I read for ask for. Otherwise I tend to not use it anymore as I have developed my own systems and tend to create spreads on the fly. I really don't like reading with a spread more than a few times in a row, it always feels like getting stuck.

[fire cat pickles]

I use the CC for my personal readings for "biggie" questions.  It's what I started with and it's what I know. Although I don't do in person readings (don't really have the opportunity here), if I would I probably would do the CC with them. It's what I'm comfortable with; it's what I know.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by fire cat pickles

[katrinka]

I seldom use it, and when I do, it's only because I'm either feeling nostalgic, or someone specificallly requested it. 
I prefer spreads without named positions, like lines, boxes and tableaus. Those work better with the way I read.

It's possible to read a CC as a ten card spread rather than ten one card spreads, as @leroidetrèfle has outlined. You CAN read the combinations. But generally, the context of the question and the neighboring cards (WITHOUT named positions) are sufficient. Why add an extra layer of elaboration? I prefer a clean, scalpel-like spread. Do you really need "This is beneath you" if you're just asking if your parcel will arrive soon? */rhetorical* 😁

I don't dislike the CC. I've known it since I was a kid. It's in that little mental memory file with Humble Pie, rhinestone encrusted jeans and t shirts, and other fun relics. I just don't find it to be the most practical spread, in most cases.

Edited February 17, 2020 by katrinka

[geoxena]

I rarely do any spread that is more than 3 or 4 cards, and I pretty much wing it every time, meaning that I don't look up spreads or try to learn spreads that others have designed.  I don't feel the need for a recipe.  How I lay out the cards, and how many, will depend on the querent and the question.  I just listen to the person and then it's, "Okay, so this card will represent [fill in the blank] ..." and go intuitively from there. 

 

I remember learning the Celtic Cross ages ago.  It just complicates the reading, I think.  Not my cup of tea!

Edited February 17, 2020 by geoxena

[pacificwaters]

38 minutes ago, geoxena said:

I rarely do any spread that is more than 3 or 4 cards, and I pretty much wing it every time, meaning that I don't look up spreads or try to learn spreads that others have designed.  I don't feel the need for a recipe.  How I lay out the cards, and how many, will depend on the querent and the question.  I just listen to the person and then it's, "Okay, so this card will represent [fill in the blank] ..." and go intuitively from there. 

 

I remember learning the Celtic Cross ages ago.  It just complicates the reading, I think.  Not my cup of tea!

+1 to this ..!!

 

I am more of a 3 card lover. Faced with a question I often try to just lay out three cards and see what the message could be. If questions do crop up during the reading, I tend to pull cards accordingly as and when required.

 

However if right from the beginning there are many ifs and buts then I design a spread at the spur of the moment but limit it to say 5-6.

 

Celtic Cross is a rarity for me and is more what I feel a theoretical exercise. But then I would not negate the depth of information that can be gleaned from it. It is profound indeed!

[geoxena]

TBH, a lot of the time, I find one card is enough.

[gregory]

I used the CC exactly once for an actual reading rather than for "educational and personal training purposes". It was a disaster. But one thing I learned from that was that for me at least it is a very bad idea - far too heavy. I even did a 42 card reading once and that worked better.

 

But like geoxena - I find one card is often enough, and I very rarely use more than three.

 

I agree with pacificwaters:

 

Quote

Celtic Cross .... is more what I feel a theoretical exercise.

Absolutely NEVER a go-to spread for me.

[Decan]

I don't use the CC.

With Tarot 3 cards (no position) bring enought informations for what I ask. The French Cross is 4 or 5 cards, so possibly I would prefer it but I just pull 3 cards most of the time.

[Guest]

The CC is not a bad draw. However, for general readings, not so much. I use Waite’s version but don’t read it in numerical order — it is somewhat disjointed otherwise.

 

For general readings, I prefer palmistry (or lithomancy). Over time one has found that cartomancy is utilised best in context-specific draws. 
 

 If I have to utilise cards for a general forecast, I have two-star spreads, both use thirteen cards, but one identifies issues and problems (it comes from Minetta). I used this with a client last month who decided that she would prefer tarot over palmistry but said nothing about herself. 

 

However, nothing beats a tableau of either 32, 36, or 54-cards for general draws. You can scan them, and they’re versatile. 

[GreatDane]

I found all your answers really interesting because one hears SO much about the CC.  

 

What surprised me is how many of you often use one to three cards.  I usually do one question, one card.  I may wind up drawing up to three cards if I want to expand on what I have asked, but I don't really feel a need for spreads for myself in tarot readings.  Occasionally I will do a three card, but so rarely feel a need for more than that in reading for myself or others.  Of course it does depend on the type of reading and what someone is looking for.

 

We all do what we all do, what works for us and I enjoy reading how, why others read, what spreads they do or don't use.     

 

   

[53rdspirit]

Ok to pipe in? 

 

The only time I find myself doing a Celtic Cross is if it is requested (by clients online or in person), or with someone other than myself because I find that people usually don't tell me everything or that old familiar "I don't know, just tell me what you see," comes up and the Celtic Cross is where the hidden is revealed so I can give a better reading. I usually charge for these larger readings, the Celtic Cross, yearly astrological spreads, tableau's, (unless it's for my own children) and the like since they take a chunk of time and effort on all fronts. I have to practice the larger spreads from time to time just to...er...well, practice. 😄

 

For myself, I usually do a three or four-cards in straight line --that's usually well enough to get me upset for the rest of the day. 😄  I'm already familiar with my past so I'm primarily interested in who and what's up in my present or future and the line spread is good enough for a quickie, daily, or from-time-to-time basis. 

[GreatDane]

Totally makes sense to me, 53rdspirit.  

 

So agree with your Pausch quote! 🙂  

[Lady Butterfly]

I have used the CC a few times for questions where there can be deeper issues. It isn't my preferred spread by a long shot.

Usually I too like to draw three cards with no positional designation. I read them either in a line or in the order they jump out at me, which ever 'feels' right. Alternatively, if I am looking for a slightly more specific answer, I might craft a spread on the fly for that specific question. I find this works for me.

 

[GreatDane]

Lady Butterfly, seems like many readers like to just do whatever spread works for them for whatever the situation, which totally makes sense. 

It seems the Celtic Cross has gotten famous (partly the cool name?) as I see it in novels quite often.  I am currently finishing up a tongue-in-cheek or cheeky trilogy (A Tarot Mystery) that ends with a novel called, Give the Devil His Due,  which uses tarot....kind of....by someone who doesn't really read tarot even though she owns an occult shop and offers tarot reading (but she is trying, unfortunately her source is questionable).  AND, of course, the heroine or anti-heroine, keeps bringing up the Celtic Cross.  

I know sometimes readers must do it if requested, just wondered how popular it truly was as a reader's spread of choice.       

[geoxena]

On 2/18/2020 at 11:23 AM, GreatDane said:

I know sometimes readers must do it if requested . . .

Even if someone requested it, I wouldn't use it.  I'd be nice about it, of course, and explain my approach if necessary, but nope, no Celtic Cross from me.

[GreatDane]

Good for you, geoxena!  Since I generally read Lenormand for others, I don't get asked for it.    

[Barleywine]

Until I started crafting my own layouts, the Celtic Cross was my go-to spread for decades. I've never used Waite's version, preferring Eden Gray's, and now I have my own "tweaked" design that coincidentally has some similarity to the Anthony Louis model. I almost always use it for general topic-area readings where there is no specific question, especially when reading for other people since I find that it usually "delivers."

[GreatDane]

Barleywine, nice to see you!  Long time!  Thanks for sharing that.  Makes sense.  For those who have no particular focus in mind, I can see the use of a spread like the Celtic Cross.