Celtic Cross in Tarot | What it means? How to play? When to use?

Do you know the meaning of Celtic Cross in Tarot? There are several methods of playing Tarot and the Celtic Cross is one of them. It is one of the most popular print runs, being very useful when you want to analyze an issue in more depth.

Its reading uses 10 cards to answer the question. Thus, it is possible to examine the situation from different angles: present, past and future, its roots, internal and external influences, advice and final outcome.

It’s a game that can guide you on how to act and which paths to take in life’s delicate situations. In this post, you will better understand how this method works.

Celtic Cross – meaning

The Celtic Cross is embedded or flanked by a circle. The cross itself symbolizes the four elements of nature: earth, air, fire and water. The circle is the symbol of eternity and the trail of the sun in the sky.

Contrary to what many think, she is not a symbol of Christianity, as her representation is dated to 5,000 BC.

The Celtic Cross Method in Tarot

To play Tarot by the Celtic Cross method, you need to shuffle all 78 cards, which include 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Afterwards, you will arrange the cards according to the order of the numbers in the image below.

Each position has a meaning, which we detail below.

meaning of positions

Position 1 – Significator

This letter will define the situation in which the person you are consulting is currently in. It is the essential question, the main point! It speaks of the kind of life that person leads, both internally and externally.

Position 2 – Crossed Letter

This card reveals the obstacle being faced by the person at present. The problem she needs to overcome to achieve her goals. It is this card that shows what is preventing the previous situation from expressing itself fully, causing blockage in the life of the person in question.

Position 3 – Head Card

This card reveals the surface of the problem pointed out by the card in position 2. The apparent cause of the obstacle.

Position 4 – Basis of the Question

This card goes deeper and shows the real reason behind the apparent surface of the situation, reflected in the card in position 3.

It is the cause that is at the root of the psyche, it reveals the internal and external reasons for the problem, which is in the unconscious. Therefore, this letter often surprises the person who is consulting, the consultant.

Position 5 – Past Influences

This card shows an internal or external situation that has already happened in the person’s life, probably no more than 6 months ago. It was something important that the person cannot get rid of. But she needs to let this situation and the feelings around her go away so that she can continue on new paths.

Position 6 – Future

This card shows an internal or external situation that will soon manifest itself in the person’s life.

Position 7 – Current Position

This card is an extension of the card in position 1. It describes a person’s attitude to the circumstances around him. It represents the potentials to be developed or revealed.

Position 8 – Environmental Factors

This card shows how the person is seen by family and friends. It indicates the reaction that she should expect from others in relation to the issue at hand. Sometimes the person is going through a time when they are not understood by their friends. Thus, this card reveals why, as it shows how others are seeing this person.

On some occasions, this card reveals the opposite of what the person being consulted feels. This happens because this person is sending the wrong message to others or is hiding their real problems.

Position 9 – Hopes and Fears

In this card, both the desires and the anxieties faced by the person are presented.

Position 10 – Final Result

This card will present the natural consequence of the situation the person is going through at the moment. It shows what the possible developments for that issue will be in the next six months. In short, it points out how the situation will be resolved.

reading guidelines

For the reading of the Celtic Cross in Tarot to be as assertive as possible, it is necessary that the person who is consulting asks the question very clearly. If the question is vague, the answer will be vague.

Another guideline is for the person not to ask multiple questions on various topics, such as “I want to know about my future in love, work and finances”. Choose just one question, one problem.

Ask questions like: “What does the tarot have to say about the job I was offered?” or “What does the tarot have to say about my current relationship?”

After taking out the cards, the reading can be done in the normal order: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Or you can leave all the cards untapped and read them together.

Another option is to start at position 5 (past, background) and move to position 9 (expectations). This way, you will have a general idea of ​​the situation. Then read positions 1 and 2, which represent the impulses of the present moment. Afterwards, check the conscious view of the problem with the card in position 3 and its roots in the unconscious with the card in position 4.

Finally, it analyzes the person’s opinion on the subject in question by looking at the card in position 7, the external influences in position 8 and the prognosis contained in the cards that are in position 6 and 10.

To better understand the meaning of Tarot cards and be able to interpret your game in the best way, take the course “Tarot Revelations”. In it, you will learn the history of the cards, the conceptualization of the Major Arcana and what each one represents in love, health and related time, the types of readings, combinations and interpretations of the cards.

Have a specific problem and would like a deeper analysis of it to find the best solution? Play a Celtic Cross online on our Tarot queries page.