| 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. Seven of Coins (Assessment): A step forward, accomplished with grace and skill. |
 | 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. Ten of Swords (Ruin), when reversed: Fame or glory blooming forth from misfortune. Cruel reality ennobled by art. |
 | The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Six of Staves (Victory): Triumph over great difficulties. A glorious victory. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." |
 | The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Three of Swords (Sorrow), when reversed: Balance of forces in conflict. Rest from struggle. |
 | The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. The Fool: The personality in the primal state, the willful child in all of us. Instinct. Innocence. Impulsive actions. Setting off in a new direction in life. Liberation of the impulses. Insight and wit from instinct rather than instruction. |
 | The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. The Hanged Man, when reversed: Masochism. Self-imposed confinement. Potential release from bondage. |
 | The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Queen of Coins, when reversed: A cornucopia emptied. A heart of stone. Crystalline coldness. A field barren and gone to seed. Preoccupation of wealth and security that stifles enjoyment of both. |
 | The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Two of Swords (Peace): Friendship, especially between student and teacher or younger and older. The adventure and excitement of childhood and adolescence. |
 | The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Queen of Cups, when reversed: A melodramatic scene stealer. A sentimental hypochondriac. A person prey to wild and shifting emotional fancies. |
 | The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. The Magician: Mastery of words and of matter. Eloquence, including eloquent silence and Hermetic wisdom. Mediator, messenger, and communicator. The Magician may be a sage or just a quick talker. He is a master-manipulator of the material world, but the miracles he effects may be true physical and metaphysical transformation of mere illusion and technical tricks. With Hermes, one never knows; he is the god of orators and liars, merchants and thieves, trickery and arcane science. |
