Fugdale’s Funhouse

In this series of articles on the positions of the Celtic Cross Spread. I will attempt to illuminate readers to the sometimes subtle distinctions between the meanings of the positions. I will post more information on other aspects of the Celtic Cross Spread later. In these articles I will use the term ’subject’ to refer to the person you give the reading to (which can by yourself or someone else). I will use the term ‘reader’ to indicate the person giving the reading (which will usually be yourself).

Celtic Cross position number 1 – YOU, IMMEDIATE ENERGY, NOW

Every variation of the Celtic Cross starts with the central card. It represents the subject of the reading and almost always represents the person who the reading is for (yourself, if you are doing your own reading).

It can represent:

A personality type of your subject.

OR

The most immediate energy covering the subject at that time

OR

The current frame of mind of your subject in relation to the question asked.

If you visualize the spread as a novel or a movie, the first card represents the central theme or protagonist of the story. When looking at this card you should immediately understand who you are dealing with at this moment in time.

This position could indicate any of the following:

• Your subject’s current state of mind in regard to the question they asked.
• The most dominant personality trait the subject exhibits at the moment.
• How the subject feels right now.
• The current circumstances covering the subject.
• What the subject knows about the question.

Court Card in the First Position 

If you happen to draw a court card in this position, you have it easy. Court cards often give readers grief, but, in the first position, a court card clearly indicates the personality of the subject. Court cards represent 16 different personality types. Each person can exhibit qualities of any of the personality types–some stronger or more frequently than others. A court card in the first position clarifies the current personality trait embodied by the subject in relation to the question posed.

Example:  You give a reading to a man who asks about his career prospects. You draw the King of Discs. This would indicate the man shows his “King of Discs” personality when dealing with his career prospects. He has a mastery over his finances and business decisions. He comes to the you with a positive, experienced, entrepreneurial frame of mind.

If, alternatively, you draw the Page of Wands, it indicates the man approaches the issue of career from a fresh youthful creative frame of mind. He may have just received some news about a new creative venture or may feel the need to focus on the passionate or creative aspects of his career as opposed to the monetary aspects.

Other Cards in the First Position

Since a non-court card won’t give you much insight into the personality of your subject, you can interpret the card as representing a current frame of mind or emotion the subject has some awareness of. You could also interpret the card as a general energy that seems to ‘cover’ the subject at this time.

Example: You draw the Moon card. This could indicate that the person feels down and doesn’t have a clear outlook on the situation. It also could mean that a general feeling of illusion or falseness covers the situation. Things may not be as they appear to the subject. It could also represent a person who has an addiction to alcohol or some other addiction.

Each card has many different interpretations. Talking to the subject and asking them questions about how they feel right now will often shed light on the best interpretation to go with.

When you draw the first card, you will often get an instantaneous reaction from the subject. They will immediately identify with the theme of the card. When they don’t react this way, you usually just need to dig a little and make sure to interpret the card in relation to the question that they posed. The light-bulb recognition may not come instantly, but after you offer a few different interpretations, you will usually discover the key to what the card may mean.

Relationship to other positions

The number one card in the Celtic Cross spread can relate to all the other cards in the spread. Since it represents the subject of the reading, you will refer back to it as you progress throughout the spread. Your interpretation of this card will color your interpretation of all the other cards. And your interpretation of the first card may become more complex as you move through the spread.

The Spokes of the Wheel - Relationship to Positions 3-6

I like to look at the central card as the hub of the wheel in the Celtic Cross spread. It represents the NOW. Examine the horizontal line of cards from left to right (past present future). The card in the middle represents the present state in that sequence of time events. Examine the vertical line of cards, from bottom to top (unconscious, conscious and super conscious). The card in the middle represents what the subject is aware of in the situation—what’s on his/her mind right now. You can and should interpret the card in relation to both of these directional spokes of the center wheel.

Relationship to Position 2 

The first card also has a very strong relationship with card position 2. The two cards represent the central conflict or obstacle. These two intersecting energies cross in space/time right now and create the atmosphere the subject feels most right now.

Relationship to Position 7 

The first card also correlates to card position 7 in the spread. Both cards represent the subject. Position number 1 represents a general blanket state of the situation. It feels as if the energy comes from outside oneself, whereas, position 7 deals more with how the subject sees himself in the situation. His inner thoughts and emotions or how he deals with the subject at hand.

Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of the importance of the first card position.