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 3 – UNDERLYING ENERGY, SUBCONSCIOUS INFLUENCES, WHAT LIES BELOW

Card position 3 usually lies directly beneath the cross formed by cards 1 and 2. Therefore, it represents what lies below the main conflict of the spread. It informs the reader as to the influences coming from the subconcious level. These energies most likely don’t manifest in your subject’s mind, so this card can give you a bit of advice to give. You can tell your subject about some influences they may not have an awareness of.

If you visualize the spread as a novel or a movie, the third card represents the underlying motivation that drives the character to do certain things. The character doesn’t realize he/she operates from this influence. It may represent an event from the person’s past or some hidden away influence from the subconsious world.

After you have determined the conflict of the spread with cards 1 & 2, Card Position 3 will help you determine the personal influences that the subject manifests which may have led to the conflict or which may prevent him/her from progressing.

The third position could indicate any of the following:

• An underlying motivation
• A subconscious influence
• Something hidden or suppressed
• A gut feeling
• A forgotten memory
• A root cause

Court Card in the Third Position 

A court card in the third position will most often reflect a shadow personality of the subject. A personality traight the subject doesn’t realize he/she is exhibiting.

Conversely, a court card can represent another person whose influence on the matter at hand is secret or unknown to the subject.

Example:  A man asks about feeling stuck in his career path. You draw a Queen of Pentacles in the third position. This might represent a woman in his current career who has some sort of influence in holding him back (perhaps a supervisor or rival business owner). Or it could indicate that the man internalizes his business personality (indicated by the Queen) which may hold him back. You might suggest that he concentrate on speaking up or externalizing himself to others. Having more confidence or making new connections in order to counteract this subconscious influence.

Relationship to other positions

The number three card in the Celtic Cross spread relates to several other cards in the spread.

Vertical Axis - Cards 3, 1-2, and 5

The vertical line of cards represents the dimension of inner/outer or up/down. Position 3 starts on the inner point (the subconscious or gut feeling or instinct level) and progresses up through cards 1 & 2 (the conscious level) into card 5 (the superconscious or inspiriation level). Interpreting card 3 through this filter helps bring focus to your reading.

Relationship to Position 7 

The third card also has a very strong relationship with card position 7. They both indicate influences coming from within the subject. However, card 3 usually has a much more subtle influence and the subject usually doesn’t have any awareness of this influence. Card 7 indicates thought processes the subject has and is aware of.

Relationship to Position 9 

The third card relates to the ninth card because they both represent a secret or key that may help in giving advice to the subject. Card 9 usually indicates a desire, worry, fear, obstacle or a key to unifying the entire spread. Whereas, card 3 indicates a sub-influence that once the subject becomes aware of, they may suddenly make connections they hadn’t thought of before.

Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of the importance of card position 3.

Be sure to take a look at the previous entries:
Card Position 1
Card Position 2

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 2 – CROSSING ENERGY, OPPOSING FORCE, LATERAL MOVEMENT, SUPPORTING ENERGY, DEFINING ASPECT

At the center of the spread crossing card number 1 (the subject), lies card number 2. It represents energy that is either working against or possibly supporting card number 1. Even if the energies represented by the first two cards seem similar, the second card often represents an obstacle to overcome or an opposing force.

If you visualize the spread as a novel or a movie, the second card represents the conflict or antagonist of the story. By comparing cards 1 and 2, you should have a clear picture of the central struggle your subject faces right now. If no struggle or obstacle feels evident, then the opposing forces may be working together to create the same overriding energy.

If you think of the whole of human emotion as if it were a flat map. All 78 energies of the tarot run vertically and horizontally similar to the longitude and latitude markings of a globe. The first two cards of this spread give you a marker on the map which tells you where the subject is right now. Other dimensions of the subject’s situation (such as time) can be derived from other cards in the spread. Read more on this “dimensional” concept in my previous post Imagining the Celtic Cross Spread in 5 Dimensions.

The second position could indicate any of the following:

• An opposing force.
• A conflict your subject faces or an obstacle they must overcome
• A supporting or clarifying energy.
• Another way of looking at the subject.
• A defining element, which sheds more light on the subject.
• A crossing or lateral movement. Energy that flows against your main objective

Court Card in the Second Position 

A court card in the second position will sometimes represent a person in the subject’s life who is at odds with them or doesn’t see the situation the same. This person may be working against the subject (in regard to the question they asked).

Conversely, a court card can represent an aspect of the subject’s personality which is working against his/her intentions. A personality flaw that may be getting in the way or impeding progress.

Example:  A woman asks about the state of her marriage. You draw the Sun card for position one and the Queen of Cups in position two. This could indicate that the woman generally sees her relationship clearly and with an optimistic slant, but her personality suggests to others that she isn’t happy or she may be projecting a moodiness which works against the sunny energy. Conversely, the Queen of Cups can represent the other person in her relationship. Perhaps your subject’s sunny optimism makes her partner moody or difficult to be around.

When you don’t have a clear idea of the situation from card number one, card number two should shed some light on the matter. If you think of the cards as a general conflict in a story, you will be able to inquire with your subject to narrow down what that conflict may be.

Relationship to other positions

The number two card in the Celtic Cross spread relates to most of the other cards in the spread. Since it is closely tied to the subject of the reading, you will refer to Cards one and two as a single unit as you progress throughout the spread. Since card two mostly represents something you need to overcome or work through in order to progress, you will refer back to it as the main objective to address in 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 cards 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 cards 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 cards in relation to both of these directional spokes of the center wheel.

Relationship to Position 1 

The first card also has a very strong relationship with card position 1. 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. They should almost be treated as a unit.

Relationship to Position 8 

The second card ties in closely with card 8. Card 8 usually represents the subjects environment, external forces and what others think about the subject. Card 2 has similar properties in that it deals with opposing or outside forces. Comparing these two cards for similarities and differences can shed light on the subject’s question. When they differ, usually card 2 represents an influencing aspect and card 8 represents emotions and thoughts of others or the general environment that the influencing forces of card 2 operate in.

Relationship to Position 9 

Position 9 represents hopes, fears, desires or a general key to any puzzling elements of the spread. This relates to card 2 as these aspects (fears, desires) can work against the subject or possibly work for the subject (hopes, key).

Relationship to Position 10
Since Position 10 represents the outcome if things continue as they have, you can inform your subject that whatever obstacle number 2 represents, they must overcome it in order to alter the outcome of position 10.

Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of the importance of card position 2. Check out previous posts for other positions.

Here is another flash tarot card reading application that I created. It has a simple straightforward presentation and it will guide you through all the steps.

Free Online Tarot Card Reading

You can choose between a 3-card reading or a 10-card Celtic Cross Spread reading. The deck used in this application is my favorite tarot deck, The Osho Zen Tarot. For those of you who haven’t had a reading with this deck, you will enjoy the thoughtful descriptions and beautiful artwork.

If you like to get readings with only the major arcana cards, this application will please you. But you can opt for a full deck reading as well.

Enjoy!

Find more fun things at my website www.dougfahl.com