I was bored reading with the original Celtic Cross Spread, so I decided to revamp it and add my own twist:
1) You right now – This card represents what is going on for you right now. It indicates what you are thinking, feeling or doing.
2) Strongest influence – what is influencing you right now. This could be a particular energy, desire, person or event.
3) Hidden desires – Oh la la! This is what you really want. Social expectations be damned!
4) Snakeskin: what you’ve shed – what you’ve let go of, what is no longer a part of you or your life.
5) What you think you want – This may or may not be in alignment with #3 (what you really want), but this is a goal that you are actively pursuing.
6) Into the forest! What’s next? – As you go deeper into your life journey, what adventure will await you next?
7) Your relationship to your higher self – how connected or disconnected are you from the higher aspect of yourself?
8) Your role in your community – the role you often play at work, with friends and family and with the people you encounter in your day to day life.
9) The secret key to bliss! – what would make your life more blissful and fun.
10) Wonderful things that will happen – the good stuff that awaits you in the distant future.
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What if you get a negative card in a "positive" position?
Negative cards represent blocks that, if dealt with and removed, will bring greater ease and joy into your life.
For example, if you get The Devil in the "key to bliss" position, it could indicate that dealing with your addictions will lead to a more blissful life.
Always keep the positive aspect of the negative cards in mind. If you get Three of Swords in the "role in my community" position, it could mean that you act as the shoulder to cry on when others are feeling down.
Watch this spread in action in my video below:
I really liked what you made with the ninth position, that used to be the most confusing for me. But now, I’m having issues with the seventh one. Could you give another examples with another cards for the relationship with the Higher Self? And the practical consequences of this connection to my daily life?
Hi Kate, I really loved your revamped version of the celtic cross. I’m new to reading my cards and sometimes misunderstand somethings.. I just have one question I received the Ace of Cups in No.9 secret to bliss and I was wondering does this mean that love is coming my way or is it just kinda saying in general that it is missing from my life?
Charlene x
Kate: Thanks for this generous post, both written and video. I started reading Tarot 30 years ago. After a 15-yr-hiatus, I looked on-line for updated spreads. Even though I used a modified version of Celtic Cross, your version really intrigued me. I did my first reading last week and yr spread was great. Made me connect the dots more deeply.
Hi Julie,
I am really happy to hear that my version of this spread worked so well for you!
And that’s wonderful that you’re getting back into Tarot again after a long break. I hope you come back to my site for more ideas and inspiration 🙂
Cheers,
Kate
Love this “Revamp”
You did a wonderful job revamping the Celtic Cross. It’s always fun to stretch your intuitive muscles with a new spread. I look forward to trying it out on my own. Your demonstration was also great, and I felt a strong connection with the whole of the reading. Have a great weekend.
Thank you Cher!
Really love this spread…..given me more space to read and somehow, interpretation get even more creative too. Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s Awesome!!
Cheers,
Adelaine
Thanks Adelaine, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Cheers,
Kate
I just tried your Celtic cross spread and I have to say it is really accurate. I got judgement as my #10 card. The 5 of wands was my secret to bliss. It just seems like it all “fits” and shows the overall picture well! Thank you for sharing this.:-)
Your welcome! Thank you for trying it out and letting me know you liked it 🙂
Kate, I really want to congratulate you for this new innovation of the traditional spread. Its real fun to watch you read the spread. I feel the spread has become more amiable now .Must try it out immediately . The nomenclature of the positions have become more easier to understand and explain.
Thanks once again
Regards,
Manashi
Thank you Manashi – that is really good to hear. Making this spread more accessible was my goal, so I am glad you found it to be so 🙂
Happy Tarot Reading,
Kate
Love this version! Thank you; you always offer a fresh, modern take on tarot!
But I do have a question about negative cards…how would you interpret 9 Swords in the final position? Would it be to let go of angst and worry in order to live the good life?
Hi Kelli,
Glad you liked this spread 🙂
Yes, I would interpret the 9 of Swords as meaning that – also, I think it kind of suggests that you will find a way to drop worry and anxiety in your life – in a big way. Have you ever heard of The Work by Byron Katie? I am just reading her book right now and since I started using the techniques I have been able to almost completely drop stressful thoughts. I just thought I would mention it as it kind of relates to the 9 of swords.
I agree, there has always been a feeling of stiffness to the original celtic cross. I thought it had to do with me still learning. I tend to loosely interupt it, because of the stumbling. I have a question. I’m curious when creating or using a new spread how hard is it for you to commit the spread to memory?
Hi Teresa,
I can rarely remember spreads when I am doing an actual reading (especially new spreads) – unless I have it written down and keep referring to it.
Yeah, I have always found the celtic cross spread to be a bit awkward and stiff, to be honest. I think it was just begging to be altered!
Thank you Kate, this is amazing! I just tried it and it was a delight to read the cards in their revamped position meanings! I always felt something was off when it came to the 7th and 8th cards and now they make total sense. I also fell in love witht the past and future cards, snake skin and forest fed my imagination and made it easier to think that the spread is a map. Simply amazing!
Cheers,
~Deniz
Oh thank you so much, Deniz! So nice to hear that 🙂 Good to know it worked out nicely for you.
xoxo
Kate