| 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 William Blake Tarot explores the mystical vision and artistry of the renowned English painter and poet. Through rich interpretations focused on creative undertakings, it has long been the deck of choice for artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers. For more information about this deck, or to buy your own personal copy, go to www.blaketarot.com.
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 | The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Ten of Poetry (Prophecy): "In futurity / I prophetic see / That the earth from sleep / (Grave the sentence deep) Shall arise and seek / For her maker meek: And the desart wild / Become a garden mild". Experiencing a feeling of spiritual elevation. Profound existential gratitude. Communion with elemental forces. Acceptance of divine will. Things are turning on the hinge of fate. Having the gift of prophecy, and speaking the truth. "Telling it like it is." Commitment to serve the greater good. Awakening to the larger implications of life. In the creative process: A time of divine grace in which you have special access to creativity. Be humble despite your achievements; you are channeling from a higher source. |
 | 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. Eternity, when reversed: The intervention of transcendent forces in the everyday world. The great are brought low and the petty are elevated. Obsession with the passage of time and the immanence of death. Being overwhelmed by the repetition of evil and mediocrity, and withdrawing from the world. Cynicism and nihilism driven by regret over past mistakes. |
 | The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Reason, when reversed: Naked rationalism is in the driver's seat. Being out of touch with your heart and inner voice. Feeling bound by rules without context. Finding oneself trapped in a hierarchy, whether at the top or the bottom. Reliance on the patriarchal or traditional approach in the face of changing times or contexts. Fathering issues. Watch for ironies, as the emperor has no clothes. |
 | The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Nine of Painting (Fruition): Rewards of relaxation, luxury, or perks for a job well done. A profound or peak experience. Physical bliss, orgasmic potentials. Tangible achievement on many levels. Peak health or accelerated healing. Active participation in a complex physical or job process. Making tangible contributions to society. In the creative process: You gain by combining separate elements into an integrated whole; making the right use of what is available in order to achieve your goals. |
 | The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. Six of Poetry (Cooperation): "Gods are visions of the eternal attributes, or divine names: They ought to be the servants, and not the masters of man... Cooperating in the bliss of Man obeying his Will Servants to the infinite & Eternal of the Human Form". Ability to evoke what you need by using personifying and mythologizing as creative tools. Special help is on the way. Accessing your own unconscious powers. Creative traveling. Soaring to success through teamwork. Dealing with those in high places. Acting as the courier of important information. In the creative process: This is a time to rely on your intuition to invoke the "eternal attributes" you need to get the job done; cooperate with your visions. |
 | The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Man of Music, when reversed: Repression of emotions. Discipline and mastery turned to denial. Feeling the pressure to remain on top. Making unreasonable attempts to sway others through fluency in the language of the unconscious. Reliance on dreams, oracles, and omens above the direct evidence of the senses and reason. Overestimation of ones own abilities. In the creative process: Dedicate your considerable powers to help others and for creating beauty in the world. |
 | The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Union, when reversed: Something vitally important to you refuses to come together. Discord between male and female forces, or inner and outer life. Holding back. Incompleteness. Fear of intimacy or self-sacrifice. |
 | The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Magic, when reversed: Loss of control over the situation. Misdirection of powerful forces. Squandering the available resources. Ineffective communication. Taking action at the wrong time or in the wrong context. The use of naked aggressiveness when subtlety is required. Lack of tools and skills. |
 | The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Eight of Poetry (Swiftness): "Time is the mercy of Eternity: / without Time's swiftness Which is the swiftest of all things: / all were eternal torment". Vigorous and imaginative assertion is strongly indicated. Experiencing the relativity of time. The speeding-up of events or gathering of energy. Falling in love, or being swept off your feet. Everything is up in the air or in process. Flux. Rapid communications across time and space. The Internet. Look for coincidences and serendipity at work. In the creative process: Transcend all illusions of time and space by using your imagination, which can take you anywhere at any time. |
 | The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Three of Painting (Practice): A need to exercise and master your skills and talents. Creatively interacting with your peers. The play of social dynamics at work or on the job. Seeking a synthesis of the available factors. Building support. Integrating energies to achieve a mutual goal. In the creative process: Experimentation and manipulation are the keys to acquiring the experience needed to get the job done. |
