| The Celtic Cross spread is one of the most popular Tarot spreads, providing varied insight into many aspects of a complex situation and your role in it. The William Blake Tarot explores the mystical vision and artistry of the renowned English painter and poet. Through rich interpretations focused on creative undertakings, it has long been the deck of choice for artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers. For more information about this deck, or to buy your own personal copy, go to www.blaketarot.com.
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 | The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Three of Music (Exuberance), when reversed: Sense of emotional contraction. Inability to experience joy. Lack of motivation. Stagnating on the verge of new territory. An absence of enthusiasm among supportive relationships. In the creative process: Exciting and joyous progress is taking place; blow your horn! |
 | The card visible at the center of the cross represents the obstacle that stands in your way - it may even be something that sounds good but is not actually to your benefit. Imagination, when reversed: Failure to use wisdom and prudence. Too much reliance on novel solutions to conventional problems. Unwillingness to look within and seek an inspired resolution. |
 | The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Child of Science, when reversed: Formulating unnecessarily complicated plans or stratagems. Questioning everything. Assuming that your outlook is representative of everyone else's. Trusting your intuitions in the face of the facts. Relying on rules of thumb when deeper insight is needed. Refusing to do background research and lay a foundation for your insights. Focusing on impersonal principles in personal matters. Being cool, aloof, or shy. In the creative process: Doing feasibility studies or reorganizing your approach is favored now. Be curious and question everything. |
 | The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Woman of Painting, when reversed: Bureaucracy and administration to the exclusion of the creative. The pursuit of tangible rewards at all costs. Team building and cooperative efforts where a single vision is required. Supporting and acknowledging others for political gain. Infatuation with the shallow. In the creative process: Your creative ideas are now taking tangible form, assisted by good use of your available resources and personnel. |
 | The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. Three of Poetry (Creativity), when reversed: Seeking a creative opportunity in a commercial environment. Imaginative approaches are squandered in mundane circumstances. Seeking Truth where only Fact can be found. In the creative process: You get the go-ahead to "do your thing"; your project has special blessing at this time because of your ability to see an overview or get the big picture. |
 | The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Two of Music (Contraries): "Without Contraries is no progression. Attraction and Repulsion, Reason and Energy, Love and Hate, are necessary to Human existence". A paradoxical situation at hand. Being faced with emotional choices. Different kinds of energies needing to be harmonized. Attraction of opposites. Focus on strengthening friendship and partnership. Transcending differences. Exchanges for mutual benefit. Being willing to meet someone halfway. In the creative process: Use the presence of contrary elements as an impetus for unleashing your imagination to exploit the inherent possibilities. |
 | The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Knowledge: An important, possibly moral choice to be made. Be discriminating with advice from others. Deep insight into a relationship or one's own involvement in a relationship. A need to integrate all levels of consciousness within oneself. An opportunity for intimacy and open communications. |
 | The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Whirlwind, when reversed: Winds of change make old visions obsolete. An act of god or stroke of bad luck. Inner turmoil cleverly disguised but unrestrained. Getting the run-around. Reaching a turning point. A good time to honor your gods. |
 | The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Six of Science (Passage), when reversed: Going to undue lengths to avoid surmountable obstacles. Movement without progress. Challenges imposed or undertaken without purpose or meaning. The illusion that new terrain bears nothing in common with the old. Latent possibilities are occluded or confused. Opportunities are overlooked. In the creative process: Your imagination needs to be uncovered or unleashed by resolving contradictory elements and seeking spiritual guidance. |
 | The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Four of Music (Musing), when reversed: Letting your mind wander at critical times. Mixing business with pleasure to your detriment. Being unaware of what is going on around you. Feeling lethargic, lazy, or apathetic. In the creative process: Relax into playfulness, whimsically experiment with improvisation or reminiscence about past experiences. Such meditations alleviate stress and refresh the imagination. Make space for the gifts of spirit to move through you. |
