| The Celtic Cross spread is one of the most popular Tarot spreads, providing varied insight into many aspects of a complex situation and your role in it. The Renaissance Tarot is a modern deck, with symbolism drawn from the heroic age and rendered in renaissance style. This deck is an excellent choice for exploring questions of passion, mastery, and the inner workings of human reason. If you would like your own copy of the Renaissance Tarot, you can buy it now! |
 | The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Eight of Swords (Interference): Emotional disaster. Loss of a beloved person or a valued situation. A sadness that creates a new strength and resolve. |
 | The card visible at the center of the cross represents the obstacle that stands in your way - it may even be something that sounds good but is not actually to your benefit. The Star, when reversed: Fleeting peace. Melancholy. Pensiveness. |
 | The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Two of Swords (Peace), when reversed: False friendship. Misunderstanding or duplicity, particularly between mentor and student. |
 | The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Queen of Swords, when reversed: Consuming fire; the flames of the martyrdom of Joan of Arc, Phaedra's misguided passion, Medea's jealousy, Lady Macbeth's ambition. Fire, if left to burn unchecked, can consume the soul. |
 | The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. Three of Staves (Virtue): Achievement attained after a long chase. A rare and glowing prize. |
 | The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Knight of Coins, when reversed: Small-mindedness. Insistence on the concrete. Lack of conviction in important matters. Lack of frankness in matters of the heart. |
 | The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Nine of Swords (Cruelty): Revenge. Excessive or violent response to a problem. Jealousy. |
 | The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Ten of Coins (Wealth), when reversed: Risk. Future in doubt. Gambling with one's well being. |
 | The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Ace of Swords, when reversed: The brutal aspect of power. Violence. Consuming heat. |
 | The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Four of Swords (Truce): Retreat from the battlefield of life. A rest from the conflicts with colleagues or competitors. Calm in the storm. Self-imposed exile. |
