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The Celtic Cross, its Pattern and Meanings
An article by Bryan Campbell
There are of course many different ways that people attribute meanings and apply techniques for Tarot readings. This represents the culmination of years of Tarot use and study within the Los Angeles-based Gnostic Society.
The psychology of Jung has played a major role in our development of these meanings, and a major majority of our fellow readers agree on these meanings, and we agree that reversed-meanings are not helpful. The intuition does not need more data from the "thinking-mind", which is what reversed positions cause. The imagery of the cards teaming with the position provides plenty of "vocabulary" for meaning to come to the realization of the intuitive faculty of the reader.
The traditional titles for the card positions of the Celtic Cross have some variation through its history, perhaps the least meaningful and useful are descriptions include "This card is above you, this card is at your left, this card is below you" and so on. Even the most traditional names of the positions are in need of upgrading through the deeper understanding we gain with Jung, which assistance helped us refine the psychological importance of a Tarot reading versus the lesser human urge to seek or provide the lesser function of "fortune-telling". Certainly readings can provide some fortune telling, but only as appropriate for the greater purpose of revealing meaning for the recipient, that they may move forward in life possibly making better decisions and enjoying deeper understandings along the way.
Whenever asked by recipients of readings whether they should concentrate on an issue important to them while shuffling the cards, we say "No, the reading will reveal what is most important, which may not be what we think is important. At the very least one should approach it without pre-conceived perspectives or goals.
The Celtic Cross in our setting has been wonderfully enhanced through the Gnostic Society, where this feature emerged and we all were delighted how much help it is, and how easily we had adapted to it. This new feature is based on the 3-Card Reading for the answering of individual questions a reading recipient might have, whether immediately after a full Celtic Cross reading, or for times when the querant seeks specific insights.
Of the two types of 3-card readings, this adaptation is with the one which has the central card shedding light on the subject itself. The card dealt on the left represents the detrimental approach and the card on the right represents the beneficial approach to understanding the issue. Thus those of us who use this 13-card spread instead of the traditional 11-card spread consider the "Best possible development" (Typically known as the"Final Outcome") position to become the central card of a 3-card set, where the detrimental and beneficial approaches are thus shedding additional light on the central card. This additional meaning compliments the rest of the Celtic Cross, completing the full spectrum of meaning available in a Tarot Reading.
This graphic can be opened on a separate page , to make it easier to switch between viewing the text and the graphic.
The position numbers correspond with the sequence from which the cards peel off the shuffled deck after the Significator has been found by seeking the first king or queen that is found seeking upwards from the bottom of the deck. although sometimes one is chosen like all remaining cards, which are taken in order from the top.
Position 1: Significator: What is valuable from the traditional practice of picking a queen for a female and a king for a male, is that there is only one of four possibilities from the deck which will appear, and provides a very meaningful "psychological perspective" or central conscious theme of the reading recipient, which person shall subsequently be called a "Readee". The themes of emotional, intellectual, intuitive or earth-centered/practical overviews set the conscious stage for the full reading. As the rest of the cards will most likely have representatives from all the suits, the Significator sets the tone for the entire reading.
Position 2 and 3: These next two cards are very much "co-elements", and can be considered the currently active "consciousness streams" of the reading. Many readers consider Position 2, "Covering Card" as being beneficial, and the next card, the "Crossing Card" as countering it, going against our progress or spiritual advancement. Some of us consider the two cards as being akin to "the wind and the current as we sail our small boat on a navigable river". In these cases the two forces are both there without "judgement" and need to be managed together as we make our way. Intuition will give the reader insight about where between these two differing interpretation approaches is active in the reading.
Positions 4 through 7 are traditionally considered "Time". Distant past for #4, recent past for #5, near future in #6 and more distant future in #7. Certainly the two Future card positions are most likely to be akin to "fortune telling", however, we shall see that there are deeper meanings available from these positions.
Position 4: This card position shares a quality with the number 8 card at the bottom of the Celtic Cross. You could draw a line between these two and the rest of the reading above and perceive them as being less accessible to our consciousness. These positions share a special message of their own, as we are best off being enlightened about what has been relatively hidden from our view. Position 4 is "The Distant Past" and should shed light on a theme from our past which still carries significance yet we are least aware of it's relevance at the time of the reading.
Position 5: The "Recent Past" should be easiest to the readee to relate to, as our experience is relatively fresh, and this card can be a major anchor point in our grasp of the full reading as it relates to our life.
Position 6 and Position 7 have the greatest vulnerability to "fortune-telling", yet can have a profoundly useful contribution to the deeper meanings of a reading. Some of us consider the two positions as possible "options" for a future, the better future coming into being if we take the full reading "to heart", live with it and observe its relevance as we continue after the reading. Then we might experience a future aligned with one of the two cards rather than the other. An interpretation of being near and farther futures may seem appropriate instead, as perhaps as being a progression to aspire to. The point here is that all card positions are there to bring forth meaning which is helpful for the readee.
Position 8: "The Unconscious" is the common name for this card, and left to its own, tells us really very little, so here are some thoughts on it's meaning. It is less about some general "collective unconscious" as it representative of strong themes that we lack conscious awareness of. This lack is a major issue, and can in ways be "the root of our problems". This card can reveal that which can be most useful yet most challenging to integrate into our reading-induced understandings. If you imaging a line separating the bottom two cards of the Celtic Cross, this along with the distant past then work to reveal issues that have been elusive to our awareness.
Position 9: "The Household" has always seemed like a poor title for this. Less about whether you have made your bed or done the dishes, this card position represents "the world we live in through our senses", the setting for our entire experience of life that the reading is endeavoring to enlighten us on. This card can be another "anchor-point" (like the "recent-past") that we can more easily grasp and thus aid us to achieve understanding of the entire reading's meanings. The meaning of this card can "hit close to home".
Position 10: "Consciousness". Here perhaps is the third card that can be relatable, however this often comes as a bit of an awakening. The fun of this card is that it reflects what "we think reality is" which typically varies greatly from the reality being brought forth by the rest of the cards! This should be an opportunity to laugh at ourselves (for the foolishness of our freshly discarded view) and learn perhaps the most important issues of an entire reading. This is our chance to see "true reality" once our previous beliefs have been unseated.
Position 11: "Final Outcome" never seemed like a good title, and so it was with great joy we have come to see it as "Best Possible" progress or development. "Outcome" sounds rather final, like "end of story", but life is a continuing story, and this card could be best understood as revealing a significant "milestone" achievable along the way. Optionally as mentioned before, as the center of a set of three cards, the insights of both the card, #12 on the left, which represents how we might default to, as we have likely had a tendency for in the past, versus the card on the right, #13 which shows a recommendation for a new approach to life and meaning that would help us make it closer to that milestone shown in #11.
These are the values held dear by the ones who would endeavor to "attain towards gnosis" or in Jungian terms to endeavor to become closer to an "Indivisible Unity" throughout our entire spectrum of being.
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Celtic Cross Image
Return to:
Gnostic Society Los Angeles
Gnosis Archive
Celtic Cross Image
Return to:
Gnostic Society Los Angeles
Gnosis Archive
Gnostic Society Los Angeles
Gnosis Archive
The Celtic Cross, its Pattern and Meanings
An article by Bryan Campbell
There are of course many different ways that people attribute meanings and apply techniques for Tarot readings. This represents the culmination of years of Tarot use and study within the Los Angeles-based Gnostic Society.
The psychology of Jung has played a major role in our development of these meanings, and a major majority of our fellow readers agree on these meanings, and we agree that reversed-meanings are not helpful. The intuition does not need more data from the "thinking-mind", which is what reversed positions cause. The imagery of the cards teaming with the position provides plenty of "vocabulary" for meaning to come to the realization of the intuitive faculty of the reader.
The traditional titles for the card positions of the Celtic Cross have some variation through its history, perhaps the least meaningful and useful are descriptions include "This card is above you, this card is at your left, this card is below you" and so on. Even the most traditional names of the positions are in need of upgrading through the deeper understanding we gain with Jung, which assistance helped us refine the psychological importance of a Tarot reading versus the lesser human urge to seek or provide the lesser function of "fortune-telling". Certainly readings can provide some fortune telling, but only as appropriate for the greater purpose of revealing meaning for the recipient, that they may move forward in life possibly making better decisions and enjoying deeper understandings along the way.
Whenever asked by recipients of readings whether they should concentrate on an issue important to them while shuffling the cards, we say "No, the reading will reveal what is most important, which may not be what we think is important. At the very least one should approach it without pre-conceived perspectives or goals.
The Celtic Cross in our setting has been wonderfully enhanced through the Gnostic Society, where this feature emerged and we all were delighted how much help it is, and how easily we had adapted to it. This new feature is based on the 3-Card Reading for the answering of individual questions a reading recipient might have, whether immediately after a full Celtic Cross reading, or for times when the querant seeks specific insights.
Of the two types of 3-card readings, this adaptation is with the one which has the central card shedding light on the subject itself. The card dealt on the left represents the detrimental approach and the card on the right represents the beneficial approach to understanding the issue. Thus those of us who use this 13-card spread instead of the traditional 11-card spread consider the "Best possible development" (Typically known as the"Final Outcome") position to become the central card of a 3-card set, where the detrimental and beneficial approaches are thus shedding additional light on the central card. This additional meaning compliments the rest of the Celtic Cross, completing the full spectrum of meaning available in a Tarot Reading.
This graphic can be opened on a separate page , to make it easier to switch between viewing the text and the graphic.
The position numbers correspond with the sequence from which the cards peel off the shuffled deck after the Significator has been found by seeking the first king or queen that is found seeking upwards from the bottom of the deck. although sometimes one is chosen like all remaining cards, which are taken in order from the top.
Position 1: Significator: What is valuable from the traditional practice of picking a queen for a female and a king for a male, is that there is only one of four possibilities from the deck which will appear, and provides a very meaningful "psychological perspective" or central conscious theme of the reading recipient, which person shall subsequently be called a "Readee". The themes of emotional, intellectual, intuitive or earth-centered/practical overviews set the conscious stage for the full reading. As the rest of the cards will most likely have representatives from all the suits, the Significator sets the tone for the entire reading.
Position 2 and 3: These next two cards are very much "co-elements", and can be considered the currently active "consciousness streams" of the reading. Many readers consider Position 2, "Covering Card" as being beneficial, and the next card, the "Crossing Card" as countering it, going against our progress or spiritual advancement. Some of us consider the two cards as being akin to "the wind and the current as we sail our small boat on a navigable river". In these cases the two forces are both there without "judgement" and need to be managed together as we make our way. Intuition will give the reader insight about where between these two differing interpretation approaches is active in the reading.
Positions 4 through 7 are traditionally considered "Time". Distant past for #4, recent past for #5, near future in #6 and more distant future in #7. Certainly the two Future card positions are most likely to be akin to "fortune telling", however, we shall see that there are deeper meanings available from these positions.
Position 4: This card position shares a quality with the number 8 card at the bottom of the Celtic Cross. You could draw a line between these two and the rest of the reading above and perceive them as being less accessible to our consciousness. These positions share a special message of their own, as we are best off being enlightened about what has been relatively hidden from our view. Position 4 is "The Distant Past" and should shed light on a theme from our past which still carries significance yet we are least aware of it's relevance at the time of the reading.
Position 5: The "Recent Past" should be easiest to the readee to relate to, as our experience is relatively fresh, and this card can be a major anchor point in our grasp of the full reading as it relates to our life.
Position 6 and Position 7 have the greatest vulnerability to "fortune-telling", yet can have a profoundly useful contribution to the deeper meanings of a reading. Some of us consider the two positions as possible "options" for a future, the better future coming into being if we take the full reading "to heart", live with it and observe its relevance as we continue after the reading. Then we might experience a future aligned with one of the two cards rather than the other. An interpretation of being near and farther futures may seem appropriate instead, as perhaps as being a progression to aspire to. The point here is that all card positions are there to bring forth meaning which is helpful for the readee.
Position 8: "The Unconscious" is the common name for this card, and left to its own, tells us really very little, so here are some thoughts on it's meaning. It is less about some general "collective unconscious" as it representative of strong themes that we lack conscious awareness of. This lack is a major issue, and can in ways be "the root of our problems". This card can reveal that which can be most useful yet most challenging to integrate into our reading-induced understandings. If you imaging a line separating the bottom two cards of the Celtic Cross, this along with the distant past then work to reveal issues that have been elusive to our awareness.
Position 9: "The Household" has always seemed like a poor title for this. Less about whether you have made your bed or done the dishes, this card position represents "the world we live in through our senses", the setting for our entire experience of life that the reading is endeavoring to enlighten us on. This card can be another "anchor-point" (like the "recent-past") that we can more easily grasp and thus aid us to achieve understanding of the entire reading's meanings. The meaning of this card can "hit close to home".
Position 10: "Consciousness". Here perhaps is the third card that can be relatable, however this often comes as a bit of an awakening. The fun of this card is that it reflects what "we think reality is" which typically varies greatly from the reality being brought forth by the rest of the cards! This should be an opportunity to laugh at ourselves (for the foolishness of our freshly discarded view) and learn perhaps the most important issues of an entire reading. This is our chance to see "true reality" once our previous beliefs have been unseated.
Position 11: "Final Outcome" never seemed like a good title, and so it was with great joy we have come to see it as "Best Possible" progress or development. "Outcome" sounds rather final, like "end of story", but life is a continuing story, and this card could be best understood as revealing a significant "milestone" achievable along the way. Optionally as mentioned before, as the center of a set of three cards, the insights of both the card, #12 on the left, which represents how we might default to, as we have likely had a tendency for in the past, versus the card on the right, #13 which shows a recommendation for a new approach to life and meaning that would help us make it closer to that milestone shown in #11.
These are the values held dear by the ones who would endeavor to "attain towards gnosis" or in Jungian terms to endeavor to become closer to an "Indivisible Unity" throughout our entire spectrum of being.