| 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 Renaissance Tarot is a modern deck, with symbolism drawn from the heroic age and rendered in renaissance style. This deck is an excellent choice for exploring questions of passion, mastery, and the inner workings of human reason. If you would like your own copy of the Renaissance Tarot, you can buy it now! |
 | The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Page of Coins: An intelligent and sensible young person. Dependable and practical person who yet hides mysterious corners of himself and hoards secret treasures. An admirer of the patterns of heavens, the makeup of nature, or the language of numbers. |
 | 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. Eight of Staves (Swiftness): An explosion of movement and activity. A dramatic event. An unusual manifestation. |
 | The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Page of Cups, when reversed: Emotional excess. Distraction. Seduction. |
 | The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Seven of Coins (Assessment): A step forward, accomplished with grace and skill. |
 | The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. The Lovers, when reversed: Love unrequited, star-crossed, soured, illicit, blind or foolish. |
 | The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Four of Staves (Completion), when reversed: Preoccupations. Discord in relationships. |
 | The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Queen of Swords: A person of sharp insight, persuasive, powerful and thorough. If extroverted, an administrator, an organizer, a firebrand, splendid as a summer's day - and sometimes as overwhelming. If introverted, a person of deep sentiment, susceptible to flights of ecstasy, of the flames of inner torment. |
 | The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. King of Swords, when reversed: Abuse of power. Tyranny. Cruelty. The empty striving for control. A failed attempt at mastery. |
 | The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Three of Swords (Sorrow): Conflict of two mighty forces for the possession or mastery of something or someone. A dangerous triangle. |
 | The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Wheel of Fortune: The intrusion of chance into affairs. Unlikely coincidence. "What goes up, must come down." The intercession of good fortune in life. A sudden opportunity that must be exploited deftly and promptly; according to Machiavelli, in The Prince, Fortune is "bald behind", that is, once she runs past, it will be too late to grab her, and so she must be seized as she approaches, "by the forelock". |
