Category Archives: Ask a Tarot Reader

This is another post in the “Ask a Tarot Reader” series. If you have a question for me that you’d like to see featured here, please email me at hilary@tarotbyhilary.com, Subject line: “Ask a Tarot Reader”. Please specify how you would like your name to appear or if you wish to remain anonymous.

So what I found when doing the Celtic Cross spread is that people really don’t like the final outcome card – or at least they end up not paying attention to the more immediate cards on the table because they are hyper-focused on that last card that is supposed to provide an answer to their future, wrap it up in a nice little bow. That’s not the way tarot works, of course, but I keep seeing it – eyes drawn to that final card when it comes out, instead of the other 9 cards that are in a Celtic Cross spread.

I love the Celtic Cross spread. There’s a reason why it’s a go-to spread for so many readers: it’s an excellent spread when you are looking for an overall snapshot of a situation that has many layers and forks to it. Do you have a situation where you feel your work is reflecting your love life is reflecting your family life is reflecting your health? Of course you do: we all have areas in our lives where if one is affected, it pulls on the threads of the other areas.

What I’m trying to say is there’s 10 cards and a Celtic Cross spread tells you a lot if you were to focus on all 10 cards – those positional meanings tell you everything from current situation to Crossing card (which lists assets and obstacles) to message from higher self to subconscious to past influences to present ones, etc. Many of the positional cards I just described come in the main Cross formation of the Celtic Cross spread. And yet… people look to the final card, and sometimes to the last 4 cards which I call the “flow line to the future”. Basically: let’s not neglect the entire spread in favor of JUST one card.… Continue Reading