CELTIC CROSS POSITION 8

• OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT
• ANOTHER'S POINT OF VIEW
• ANOTHER'S EXPECTATIONS
• YOU AS OTHERS SEE YOU

outside environment

"that which surrounds you" - traditional
atmosphere
emotional climate
physical and social milieu
setting for the situation
playing field
context in which you must operate

another's point of view

how another sees the situation
the other person's side
another slant on the problem
different outlook
an objective opinion

another's expectations

what others want from you
demands placed on you
what another thinks you should be or do
claims of others on you
outside restrictions imposed on you
your assigned role

you as others see you

"how others see you" - traditional
how you are coming across
how you're being assessed
public opinion about you
impression you create
effect you have on others

Exercises

Celtic Cross Spread

Now, lay out ten cards of your choice using this spread. Read the page for each position one by one. Think about the meaning each card takes on because it falls in a certain position. You will learn more about this later, but just speculate for now.

Designing a Spread

You can design spreads yourself to suit your needs. Create for yourself now a three-card tarot spread. Follow these steps:

• Draw a picture of the physical layout - where the cards should go.
• Number the positions to show order of placement.
• Write a short phrase or two describing the meaning of each position.

This is a basic three-card spread that covers events in time.

Writing a Question

The first step is to review your situation thoroughly. Think about all the people involved, directly or indirectly. Go over your options for the future. Let your mind wander freely. You want to look at your problem without judging or censoring any part. Jot down the ideas that occur to you, but try not to be too systematic. You want to use your intuition, not logical analysis.

Once you have finished your review, you can write your question. Here are some suggestions:

Accept Responsibility

1. Should I put my father in a nursing home, or take care of him in my house?
2. What do I need to know to decide on the best living arrangements for my father?

In the first question, the writer gives up her responsibility for making a decision. She wants the cards to tell her what to do. In the second question, she is simply asking the cards to give her more information. She knows the decision lies with her.

It's tempting to write the first kind of question. We all seek the certainty that we're making good choices, but the tarot can't make our decisions for us. Avoid questions that deflect responsibility, such as:

• Questions to be answered "Yes" or "No"

  Will I get the job at the ad agency?
  Can I stick to my diet this month?
  Am I ready to retire?

• Questions beginning with "Should..."

  Should I let my daughter live at home?
  Should I go out with Jose?
  Should I apply to more than one university?

• Questions asking only about time

  When will George ask me to marry him?
  How long will it take to find a new car?
  When will I get my promotion?

Instead, begin your questions with phrases such as these:

• Can you give me insight into ...
• What do I need to understand about ...
• What is the meaning of ...
• What is the lesson or purpose of ...
• What are the circumstances underlying ...
• How can I improve my chances of ...
• How might I ...

1. How might I encourage my mother-in-law to move out?
2. What do I need to know to get along better with my mother-in-law?

In the first question, the writer is not keeping his options open. He has decided on one solution - having his mother-in-law move out. The second question is more open-ended. It's OK to narrow the scope of a question as long as you don't decide on the answer ahead of time. Both of the following are open questions, but the second is more specific:

• How would a switch to sales impact my career?
• How would a switch to a sales position at Purdue Insurance impact my career?

1. How can I improve my work situation?
2. How can I reorganize my desk so that Tom can find my files?
3. How can I improve the flow of work between Tom and me?

The first question is unfocused. It doesn't specify which work area is of interest. The second question is too detailed. It looks at one minor aspect of the problem. The third question is best because it finds the balance between the two. Include only the details necessary to make clear what you want to know.

Focus On Yourself

Sometimes you may not realize you are orienting your question around someone else. Consider these:

1. What is behind Arthur's drinking problem?
2. How can I assist Arthur with his drinking problem?
3. What role do I play in Arthur's drinking problem?

The first question focuses totally on Arthur and his problem. In the second question, the writer is included, but his attention is still on Arthur. The third question is best because it is grounded solidly in the writer's own experience.

Stay Neutral

1. Why am I the only one doing chores?
2. How can I foster a spirit of cooperation concerning the chores?

1. How can I make people listen when I'm talking?
2. What is going on when I try to communicate, but feel others aren't listening?

1. How can I make my boss stop asking me to do overtime?
2. Why have I had to do so much overtime recently?

In the first questions, the writer feels his position is the correct one - others are not getting with the program! The second questions are more neutral and open-ended.

Be Positive

1. How come I can never get my research published?
2. How can I locate the ideal forum in which to publish my research?

1. Why can't I overcome my fear of public speaking?
2. How can I improve my ability to speak to groups effectively?

1. Can you help me understand why I always blow a tournament in the last round?
2. Can you help me find a way to push on to victory in a tournament?

The first questions have an air of defeat. The second questions are more confident. The writer knows she will be successful given useful advice.

You may be wondering why I have gone into so much detail about writing a question. This process is a focusing exercise that prepares you for the reading that follows. Writing a question usually takes no more than three or four minutes, but, for that small investment in time, you reap big rewards. You understand your situation better and can interpret your reading with more insight.

The Environment

The environment of a tarot reading includes the physical setting and your internal state. There are five inner qualities that are beneficial. These are:

• Being Open
  Being open means being receptive. It is an attitude of allowing - being willing to take in what is offered without denial or rejection. By being open, you give yourself the chance to receive what you need to know.

• Being Calm
  It is hard to hear the whispers of your Inner Guide when you are in turmoil. Tarot messages often arrive as gentle hints and realizations that can be easily overwhelmed by a restless mind. When you are calm, you are like a peaceful sea in which every ripple of insight can be perceived.

• Being Focused
  Focus is very important for a tarot reading. I have found that whenever I feel a question strongly, I receive a direct and powerful message. When I'm scattered and confused, the cards tend to be the same. Your most insightful readings will be those you do when the desire is very strong.

• Being Alert
  When you are alert, all your faculties are alive and awake. A cat is alert when it is watching a mouse or bug. Of course, you won't be pouncing on your cards, but you will find them difficult to read if you are tired or bored.

• Being Respectful
  Being respectful means treating the cards as you would any valued tool. You acknowledge their role in helping you understand yourself better. You honor the choice you have made in deciding to learn the tarot and handle the cards accordingly.

Even though these five qualities are important, they are not necessary. You can have a meaningful reading without them, but it may be more difficult. The best way to decide if the time is right for a reading is to look inside. If something feels wrong, postpone the effort, but if your inner sense says go ahead, then all is well.

Besides the inner environment, there is also the setting of a reading to consider. The ideal place is one that elicits feelings of quiet, peace, even reverence. You could do a reading in a crowded airport, but the noise and distractions would make inner attunement difficult. Since you will probably be doing most of your readings at home, let's look at how you might create a agreeable environment there.

Set aside a place in your home where you will do your readings. By using the same spot over and over, you build up an energy that reinforces your practice. If you meditate or pray, you can do these activities here as well as they harmonize with the tarot in spirit and intent.

Try to create a sense of separateness about your spot. When you use the cards, you want to turn away from the everyday world and go into a space that is outside time and the normal flow of events. A separate room is ideal, but a corner set off by a screen, curtain, pillows or other divider can work too.

Try also to create an atmosphere of beauty and meaning. Place some items nearby that are special to you. Objects from nature, such as shells, stones, crystals, and plants are always appropriate. A talisman, figure or religious icon can help you shift your focus from the mundane to the inspirational. Consider pictures and artwork, especially your own, and appeal to your senses with such items as flowers, incense, candles, textured materials and quiet, meditative music.

These touches are nice, the only thing you really need is a space large enough to lay out the cards. You can use either a table or the floor. There is a grounded feeling to the floor, but, if that position is uncomfortable, a table is better. Choose a table of natural materials such as wood or stone.

If you like, you can cover the table or floor with a cloth to create a uniform area. The material should be natural, such as silk, cotton, wool or linen. Choose the color with care as colors have their own energies. Black, dark blue and purple are good choices. There should be little or no pattern, so the images on the cards stand out from the background.

Store your cards in a container to protect them and contain their energies. Any natural substance is fine, such as wood, stone, shell, or a natural cloth. I know of one woman who sewed herself a silk, drawstring bag and embroidered it with stars, moons and other designs. Consider keeping your cards wrapped in silk cloth when inside their container. Silk has a luxurious feel that will remind you of the value you place on your cards.

Tarot cards pick up the energy and character of those who use them. For this reason, set aside a tarot deck that is just for you, if you can. These cards are going to be your personal tool of communication with your Inner Guide. You want to bond to them closely.

When you do your tarot work in a place of your own, the experience can be quite powerful, but extra preparations are never necessary. All you have to do is use the cards. That's the important part.

The Daily Reading

You are now ready to begin putting your tarot knowledge to work.  In this reading, you select a single card that becomes your theme for the day. The purpose is to heighten your awareness of one approach to life for a single twenty-four-hour period. It also helps you learn the tarot without strain or tedium.

Let's say you have drawn the Two of Cups for a daily reading. As you go through the day, you will watch for signs of this card's special energy. The keywords for the Two of Cups card are connection, truce and attraction. In the morning, you notice that a colleague, who has been rather hostile, comes to your office to talk. You sense a truce, and you take advantage of it. In the afternoon, while working on a problem, you look for the connection between two approaches and find your solution. Later, at a party, you talk to someone who attracts you. On each occasion, you access the energy of the Two of Cups and allow it to guide your decisions.

At first, you may want to choose your daily card deliberately so you can avoid repeat selections and learn the deck more quickly. If you prefer, you can choose your card without conscious intervention. Here is the procedure:

1. Shuffle the deck once or twice.
2. Hold the deck face down in one hand and cover it with your other hand.
3. Pause a moment to become calm and centered.
4. Ask your Inner Guide to give you the guidance you need for the day.
5. Place the deck face down in front of you.
6. Cut the deck to the left and restack it.
7. Turn over the top card as your card of the day.
8. Return this card to the deck, and shuffle once or twice.

Keep a journal of your selections. Later, you will find it interesting to trace the pattern of your choices.

you may find it helpful to write in your journal entries using five pens of different colors - one for each category:

• Wands = Red (Fire, passion)
• Cups = Blue (Water, moods, emotion)
• Swords = Yellow (Air, mentality)
• Pentacles = Green (Earth, growth, plants, nature, money)
• Major Arcana = Purple (spirituality, higher purpose)

Color coding helps you see at a glance the shifting tarot patterns of your weeks and months.

You will probably be surprised to find that you draw certain cards over and over.

 The cards you select frequently will also tell you about your concerns.

The most important step in learning the tarot is to take the cards out of the box regularly. The Daily Reading is the ideal solution. If you do one each day, you will absorb the character of each card quickly and easily.

				six
				five				seven
				four
one		two		three		eight		nine

Card 1:  Where you're coming from

Card 2:  What needs flushing

Card 3:  Basis of present problem

Card 4:  Your main support source

Card 5:  Swaying influence, what's confusing or opposing progress

Card 6:  Ultimate potential of situation

Card 7:  What can help pull you through

Card 8:  Suggested next move

Card 9:  Where you're headed

Business Spread

Business Spread. This spread focuses on conditions surrounding your work or career aspirations, your financial outlook and areas of greatest success potential.

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eight	seven	six	five
nine	thirteen		four
ten			three
eleven	twelve	one	two

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Card 1: What You Want: Represents you, the seeker, and your career or business desire(s) at the present time.

Card 2:  Your Experience So Far: Focuses on the events that led up to the point where you are now.

Card 3:  What's Coming Up In The Offing: Reveals events that will soon transpire in your career or business world whether you work in an office, at home or in the field.

Card 4:  What's Coming Up Regarding Papers: Covers what you'll encounter with things involving papers in your work or business; whether they be documents, contracts or legal matters or artwork, books, ledgers and presentations.

Card 5:  What's Coming Up Concerning Letters: Is similar to that last card but it relates to that which deals with mail, packages and messages in motion, such as The United Postal Service, Federal Express, UPS, Email and faxes.

Card 6:  What's Coming Up in Your Financial Situation: Deals with everything related to your business finances and financial transactions.

Card 7:  What's Going to Cause Trouble or Anxiety: Foretells things that will upset, annoy or thwart you. If the information given here is NOT related to your business or work affairs, then it could represent something that interferes with your ability to handle them effectively.

Card 8:  What Will Come as a Disappointment: Represents things that will let you down, go wrong or fall through. Being forewarned is forearmed, and if you face these problems courageously, they can ultimately be overcome.

Card 9:  What New Undertaking Will Begin: Points to a new element that will come into play and/or a life altering experience that could impact your current state of mind or affairs.

Card 10:  How Time Will Effect You or What You Want: Presages what you can expect down the line. It shows how the passing of time might effect your wish and/or how or in what way events in your life are shaping up.

Card 11:  What You Will Have The Most Success In: Is a very important card because it describes your best achievement, the thing you will be most successful at and/or who or what would bring it. Look closely at the information given here as it may show another direction you haven't even considered.

Card 12:  What Will Come Out Of The Blue: Connotes something that comes as a surprise. It could be good or bad depending on the card that was chosen and what the "fates" decree.

Card 13:  Last card in this spread. Final resolution of the work or business issue being brought to the Tarot. Although it predicts an outcome, it should not be taken as a predetermined fate but rather a culmination of all other factors involved.

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		nine
	eight		two
seven		one		three
	six		four
		five

Card 1:  The Self, the totality of your being
Card 2:  Ambitions, Desires, instinctual urges
Card 3:  Ideals, Aspirations, what offers spiritual fulfillment
Card 4:  Actual Endeavors, what do you choose to follow
Card 5:  Dependencies, Addictions, unhealthy attachments, false values
Card 6:  Strengths, Positive Characteristics
Card 7:  Faults, Weaknesses
Card 8:  Self Perception, self-image
Card 9:  Deepest Desire, Fulfillment, insight to higher purpose

The Horseshoe Spread

The Horseshoe is a simple spread of seven cards arranged, unsurprisingly, something like a horseshoe. This spread is often considered to be more applicable to a specific question than a general reading, though it may be used for either. To prepare the reading, seven cards are selected and dealt in the order shown. They are then interpreted in turn as follows:

1. The Root
2. Sexual Center
3. Power Center
4. The Heart
5. The Throat
6. The Third Eye
7. The Crown