About the spread
The horseshoe is one of the classic tarot spreads, and its shape is part of its meaning: a horseshoe is a sign of luck, and its arc follows a situation from where it came from to where it leads. Seven cards give enough detail for a serious question but are still easy to read in one sitting — it is a good next step after the three-card spread.
The left side of the arc is time and the inner side of the question: the past, the present and the hidden influences. At the bottom lies the obstacle. The right side looks outwards and forwards: the people around you, the advice and the outcome. It suits questions about love, work, a move or any situation with several factors.
How to do the reading
- Formulate one clear question. Open questions work best: “What should I know about…?”, “How will … develop?”.
- Type your question into the box above the deck if you like. It never leaves this page.
- Press “Shuffle and deal”: seven cards land in an arc, the fourth at its lowest point.
- Turn over the cards in order, from 1 on the top left to 7 on the top right.
- Read what each position means below; a card’s full meaning is on its page.
What each position means
1 The past
The past that still affects the question: the events, decisions and moods that led to the present situation. Often this card explains why the question has arisen at all.
2 The present
The present: where you stand now, what you are feeling and dealing with. Read it as the centre from which the rest of the arc unfolds.
3 Hidden influences
Hidden influences: what is at work below the surface — something you do not know, do not see or do not admit to yourself. It may be a fear, a secret or a chance you have not noticed. This card often brings the most surprising insight.
4 The obstacle
The obstacle, at the lowest point of the horseshoe: the main difficulty in the situation, the thing that needs your attention. A favourable card here can mean an obstacle that comes from too much of a good thing.
5 The people around you
The people around you: how others see the situation and how they influence it — family, friends, colleagues, a partner. A court card often points to a specific person.
6 What to do
What to do: the advice of the spread, the most useful attitude or action. If you remember only one card, let it be this one.
7 The outcome
The likely outcome if you follow the path the reading shows. Like every outcome in tarot, it is a direction rather than a fixed fate: the advice and the obstacle can change it.
How to read the spread as a whole
Read the arc as a story. Cards 1, 2 and 3 describe how you got here; 4 is the turning point; 5, 6 and 7 show what happens next. Compare the third card with the sixth: the advice often answers the hidden influence.
If many Major Arcana fall, the question touches something important in your life and cannot be solved quickly. Many cards of one suit show the area the matter really concerns, whatever the question said: Cups for feelings, Pentacles for money and work, Swords for conflicts and decisions, Wands for ambitions and action.
Questions about the spread
How is the horseshoe different from the Celtic Cross?
The horseshoe has seven cards instead of ten and fewer positions about your inner state. It is quicker to read and suits questions that need a clear course of action; the Celtic Cross goes deeper into the psychology of a situation.
Why is it called the horseshoe?
Because of its shape: the cards lie in an open arc, like a horseshoe turned upwards — a traditional sign of luck, since it holds good fortune.
Can I ask a yes or no question?
You can, but you will get much more out of an open question. For a quick yes or no there is a one-card spread on this site.