Tracy just sent the location of the tarot spread she created for Planet Waves a few years ago. The formation is called the Celtic Wings spread. It’s based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. I developed this in the winter of 1994-1995 when I was working answering phones on the night shift for the Jackie Stallone Psychic Circle. This long article tells the story of why I came up with the spread, and under what circumstances, and then in the second section it gives the theory and structure of the spread. This is premium content from a few years back — in case you’re wondering what exactly we do with your subscription dollars. Good stuff!
You will need to bring your personal knowledge of the individual cards, as I don’t have a resource for that yet — but we will get there.
Have fun…let me know how it’s working for you…if you know how to use the “screen grab” feature on your computer, you can save your spreads.
Thank you for sharing and reposting the spread and the articles. I prefer to use the Thoth deck but it can be too intense or even scary for some people.
When working with someone in person, I often find it works well to avoid spreads altogether. Simply ask them to pick a card that tells us what they think they want, one for what they really want, and then one for how I can help. Once the problem that the reading is meant to address has been established, the picture of how to approach it can be built up in a succession of choices. This is most appropriate for long readings that involve healing of the querent, often on a deep level. The problem they think they have is almost never the real problem that needs to be addressed.
The cards are simply a channel for the unconscious to speak, after all. Given the large number of people in our society who seem to have no sense of what their own body is trying to tell them, the unconscious has to resort other channels of communication. The cards can be one of the healthier choices for expression.
Very nice article Eric!
I had the good fortune to twice study both Astrology and Tarot concurrently with two different teachers; Edwin Steinbrecker for the first years of learning and later with Ellias Lonsdale who also uses other symbolic systems along with Astrology. Both these teachers saw Astrology and Tarot as interlinked systems, so it makes perfect sense to me to read your (as usual) insightful contemplations on both subjects.
For fun I sometimes use Tarot in a non-traditional spread by placing the cards down like they are a natal chart and use each card to peer into the moment thru the doorways of the houses. (I hope that makes sense). I lay the cards down in a wheel of 12 starting with the first card in the 9:00 position and working counter-clockwise just as a chart does with the houses, with each card speaking to what normally would be the house placement if it was a natal chart. This spread has the advantage of being able to start the reading anywhere on the wheel/spread too, like your Celtic Butterfly… since you read the spread a little like a chart… you start where the most energy is, or you start with what is foremost in the client’s awareness field and work around from there. I usually put the unused deck in the center but it doesn’t have to be there.
However, for my final card (#13 placed in the center)) after the reading is complete, I ask for one more card, I look for the “Secret Helper”. I do this by turning over the unused deck cards one at a time till I hit the first Major Arcana card… this is the Archetype/Energy that is assisting in the situation in hidden ways, the Secret Helper. This Secret Helper always has a lot to add to the reading, and is frequently the every next card that would have been drawn had the spread held 13 positions.
It’s always amazing to see how well these two tools work together in this spread. I don’t know if this is an official spread or not, I’ve never heard of it in any books before, I just started using it one year because I wanted to use the Tarot but in a completely new and (for me) fresh way. The cards showed me this spread and it really works well for me.
And yes, I agree that the cards like to be respected and treated kindly, and they do like cloth or wood as a reading surface. I have moved readings to a floor or other location because the available surface did not have the right feel. My cards really like being right on the earth too, if it’s covered in green living things or bare stone(s).
Thanks for a nice new spread to try and a good read. I’ll give it a try !
Very happy to see this is now working. Sometimes reporting is a GOOD thing :D.
Yes, a really great spread that I’m looking forward to working with. It’ll take some time to become well-acquainted with it, but it looks like it has a large capacity for dialogue and insight.
Thanks Eric!
— S
Wonderful, can’t say how happy I am with all these new developments.
Planet Waves is seriously on Fertile Ground.
Either that or I have become soft in the head and I need to get off the computer 🙂
I just did a spread and read your long ( but not too long, and very helpful!) article.
not to be cliche-but I was blown away!
Thank you Eric.
You are very generous. A very helpful article on Tarot and after reading it I listened to the Tarot reading in your Cancer audio and I am amazed and feel well guided!
I’m thrilled you’re going down the Tarot road too.
So ties into everything. Thanks!
Hey this is a slick variation !! And the article is very helpful and enjoyable to read.
I got a good spread with much to meditate on and ponder over…
Thanks EFC, Tracy and PW!