The Celtic Cross is one of the oldest and most complete system reading of the Tarot.

Each position is connected to the others, representing a given situation seen from the present moment. It is composed of 10 cards that show the development of a situation in a dynamic way.

The Celtic Cross is one of the oldest and most complete editions of the Tarot.

Each position is connected to the others, representing a given situation seen from the present moment. It is composed of 10 cards that show the development of a situation in a dynamic way.


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The Celtic Cross represents movement. We should observe it as a living organism that develops coherently. Here we see our internal state and its reflection in external situations. The Celtic Cross shows us the richness of a situation and in this way it becomes a discovery tool.

Positions Meaning

  1. Situation. The main theme. What’s happening.
  2. How this situation is expressed. How it is lived the situation represented by position 1.
  3. Cause. What triggers the situation. Real needs.
  4. Where we are coming from. The past. What has been.
  5. Objective. What we want to achieve. What we are thinking.
  6. Where we are going. The immediate future. What is in the process of manifestation.
  7. Oneself. How are we affected by the matter.
  8. How do others perceive us. What others feel about us.
  9. Expectations. What we fear and what we expect.
  10. Consequences. Where the situation goes in the long term.

Interactions between Positions

Position 1 is where the reading is centered. It represents the main energy that defines the situation, the heart of the matter. When interpreting the Celtic Cross, remember that the answer to your question is represented by this card. The other positions tell the story … why this is happening, where it is going, what is possible to happen next, how we face the situation, etc.

Now let’s see how these cards interact with each other.

Present Axis (Positions 1, 3 and 5) Vs Temporal Situation (Positions 4, 2 and 6)

Positions 1, 3 and 5 represent the present moment, the axis of the situation. The card in position 1 is the heart of the matter, the card in position 5 represents our perception (mind), how we see it and the card in position 3 represents our unconscious motivation, the platform where everything is taking place. Positions 2, 4 and 6 represent the temporal situation, what we are moving from and to. Card in position 2 shows the immediate influence that we are dealing with, card in position 4 shows what is in our back, the past, that what we have experienced and card in position 6 shows what we are facing, what is in front of us or how we should be dealing with the future.

The road to the conclusion (Positions 7, 8, 9 and 10)

Taking into account what the Grand Cross tells us, we can see how we are dealing with the central issue. The card that is in position 7, shows us our personal attitude and position 8, how it is that our environment perceives us. Position 9 represents our expectations, which  are conditioning our attitude (Position 7). And the conjunction of all this is seen in position 10, which represents the consequence of our actions and that are also producing what card in position 1 is describing.

Expectations (Position 9)

Expectations are represented by the card that falls into position 9 (or what is traditionally called hopes and fears). These expectations that appear arise from our past experiences (position 4). We could say that it is the most important card after the card that is in Position 1, since it greatly conditions our perspective on the issue as a whole. We will also find here important details of how we process the past.

Consequences (Position 10) and Causes (Position 3)



Position 10 represents the consequences that the situation or central theme (position 1) creates in our lives. It represents a life lesson that will help us expand our consciousness. As everything we experience serves us to expand our awareness and grow, this card is always a great helper to let ourselves dwell into what we are really achieving with our current behavioural patterns. It will always lead us to more awareness, regardless if the result is pleasant or unpleasant. The card in this position becomes what we should look closer… why we want this, is it the first time we get here? Does it serve us? What I need (card in position 3) and what I get (card in position 10).

More on Tarot: Birth Cards – The Magician, The Wheel of Fortune and The Sun

The Celtic Cross is one of the oldest and most complete system reading of the Tarot.

Each position is connected to the others, representing a given situation seen from the present moment. It is composed of 10 cards that show the development of a situation in a dynamic way.

The Celtic Cross is one of the oldest and most complete editions of the Tarot.

Each position is connected to the others, representing a given situation seen from the present moment. It is composed of 10 cards that show the development of a situation in a dynamic way.


SUBSCRIBE to my extended version of Holistic Astrology on Substack! Get new articles, videos, planetary transit news, astrology podcasts and more delivered to your inbox for FREE! You can also opt for the paid subscription for ongoing astrology classes – only 5 euros per month!

The Celtic Cross represents movement. We should observe it as a living organism that develops coherently. Here we see our internal state and its reflection in external situations. The Celtic Cross shows us the richness of a situation and in this way it becomes a discovery tool.

Positions Meaning

  1. Situation. The main theme. What’s happening.
  2. How this situation is expressed. How it is lived the situation represented by position 1.
  3. Cause. What triggers the situation. Real needs.
  4. Where we are coming from. The past. What has been.
  5. Objective. What we want to achieve. What we are thinking.
  6. Where we are going. The immediate future. What is in the process of manifestation.
  7. Oneself. How are we affected by the matter.
  8. How do others perceive us. What others feel about us.
  9. Expectations. What we fear and what we expect.
  10. Consequences. Where the situation goes in the long term.

Interactions between Positions

Position 1 is where the reading is centered. It represents the main energy that defines the situation, the heart of the matter. When interpreting the Celtic Cross, remember that the answer to your question is represented by this card. The other positions tell the story … why this is happening, where it is going, what is possible to happen next, how we face the situation, etc.

Now let’s see how these cards interact with each other.

Present Axis (Positions 1, 3 and 5) Vs Temporal Situation (Positions 4, 2 and 6)

Positions 1, 3 and 5 represent the present moment, the axis of the situation. The card in position 1 is the heart of the matter, the card in position 5 represents our perception (mind), how we see it and the card in position 3 represents our unconscious motivation, the platform where everything is taking place. Positions 2, 4 and 6 represent the temporal situation, what we are moving from and to. Card in position 2 shows the immediate influence that we are dealing with, card in position 4 shows what is in our back, the past, that what we have experienced and card in position 6 shows what we are facing, what is in front of us or how we should be dealing with the future.

The road to the conclusion (Positions 7, 8, 9 and 10)

Taking into account what the Grand Cross tells us, we can see how we are dealing with the central issue. The card that is in position 7, shows us our personal attitude and position 8, how it is that our environment perceives us. Position 9 represents our expectations, which  are conditioning our attitude (Position 7). And the conjunction of all this is seen in position 10, which represents the consequence of our actions and that are also producing what card in position 1 is describing.

Expectations (Position 9)

Expectations are represented by the card that falls into position 9 (or what is traditionally called hopes and fears). These expectations that appear arise from our past experiences (position 4). We could say that it is the most important card after the card that is in Position 1, since it greatly conditions our perspective on the issue as a whole. We will also find here important details of how we process the past.

Consequences (Position 10) and Causes (Position 3)



Position 10 represents the consequences that the situation or central theme (position 1) creates in our lives. It represents a life lesson that will help us expand our consciousness. As everything we experience serves us to expand our awareness and grow, this card is always a great helper to let ourselves dwell into what we are really achieving with our current behavioural patterns. It will always lead us to more awareness, regardless if the result is pleasant or unpleasant. The card in this position becomes what we should look closer… why we want this, is it the first time we get here? Does it serve us? What I need (card in position 3) and what I get (card in position 10).

More on Tarot: Birth Cards – The Magician, The Wheel of Fortune and The Sun