Reading Your Deck . . .

In giving readings for others, I have found that most people have trouble shuffling the deck, therefore I usually do the shuffle. While I am shuffling the cards, I focus completely on the seeker. I do this by closing my eyes and holding a vision of them in my mind's eye. I also ask for guidance on their behalf at this time. There are rare occasions when I have the seeker do the shuffle, such as when that person is also a psychic or has strong psychic abilities which I pick up. I shuffle the cards until they "feel right". This is an intuitive process and with practice you will learn to "feel" your cards.

When using the smaller spreads, I then fan the cards across the table in front of the seeker and ask them to pick the appropriate number using their non-dominant hand. I do this because of the belief that the non-dominant hand is that person's psychic hand. As most people are right handed, their left hand is then their psychic hand. This is something that was taught to me by my great aunt Edie.

When using a larger spread, such as the Celtic Cross,  I simply do the shuffle and deal the cards from the top, laying them in order on the table. Because I am an intuitive reader, I place all the cards the same way in my deck. When I lay them out, I begin with them all facing myself and turn each card to face the seeker as I read them. When each card has been read individually and they are all facing the seeker, I then look for any patterns that will add substance to the reading.

It is probably best to start with a simple spread and work up to the more complicated ones as your proficiency grows.

      A Simple 3-Card Spread . . .

The deck is shuffled while concentrating on the question. The deck is then fanned out on the table and three cards chosen, laid out face down. Turn them over one at a time and contemplate its meaning. Then turn over the second card and do likewise, followed by number 3.   This quick and easy method answers a simple question. This is a good spread to use if you have a question. If the question isn't answered clearly, you can then proceed to the expanded spread.

      Expanding the 3-Card Spread . . .

The deck is shuffled and the cards  fanned across the table and the seeker chooses the first three cards thinking on their question, placing them face down as shown. The seeker then picks cards 4, 5, and 6, again concentrating on the question. Finally the last three are chosen and laid out as the spread is shown above. The reader then turns the cards one by one in the order given and reads the each card. When all the cards are turned face up, the reader can then determine the outcome of the question.

The following spread is one I developed many years ago and I still enjoy using it professionally. It is more complicated than the ones above, but still not difficult to master. Those who walk the pagan path will find it interesting because it is based on the "Wheel of the Year."

      Eight-Spokes of the Wheel . . .

In this spread the first card S represents the seeker and is chosen by the reader. There are many ways to choose a significator card as it is otherwise known. Some readers pick the card for the seeker based on their colouring, the Queen of Cups representing a blond woman for example, but I have found this method unreliable. One way, if you know their Zodiac Sun Sign is to choose the Queen or King of the suit that represents the sign. Wands for Fire signs, Cups for Water signs, Swords for Air signs, and Pentacles for Earth signs. This is a very good method, but care must be taken because some decks indicate that Wands stand for Air signs and Swords for Fire signs. The booklet accompanying your deck may tell you how the creator of that deck decided to illustrate the Zodiac, if at all.

The way that I choose a significator card is by their personality or how they appear to me. It is an intuitive process and for those of you who have good psychic abilities, it is very rewarding. If you are just starting to read the cards, use a method that comes easiest to you. You can always change it when you've had more experience. What is important is that you believe in what you are doing.

The cards are shuffled and the reader lays the spread starting in the middle and covering the seekers card with Card Number 1. Card Number 2 is shown at the top between Samhain and Yule, however, if you are doing a reading in July for instance, then the card should be placed between Litha and Lammas. In other words, Card Number 2 should be placed as close to the time you are giving the reading. The rest of the cards are then placed around the wheel, deosil (clockwise).

The Celtic Cross method has been around for a very long time. It was the first spread I learned when I began in 1966. I learned it from Eden Gray's book The Tarot Revealed. I have seen this spread published since, in various forms, and it is often included in the booklet with a tarot deck. I doesn't matter if you have already learned another version. If you are comfortable with it, then use it. Remember, the cards answer to your own beliefs.

The Full Celtic Cross spread is an expanded version of the original Celtic Cross and is my  creation. It began many years ago when I had the seeker choose three additional cards to form The Surprise. These three cards were fanned and placed face down to the left of the spread and read at the end of the session. Over the years it has evolved, almost of its own accord, into the spread I use today. This is the spread as I use most often for my clients.

      The Celtic Cross Spread

Choose a significator card for the seeker and then shuffle and deal the cards using the method that is most comfortable to you. Lay the cards face up in the pattern of the spread as shown. Begin with card #1 and continue to card #10 reading each card individually. After this has been done you can then look to see if there are any combining factors present in the reading. Remember to use your intuition. The rule I use is, if a thought pops into my head, even if it seems silly or unrelated to the meanings of the cards, I speak it. So often this has proved to be the answer to the real reason the client has sought a reading.