The Ankh Spread
Something new to try
In my recent post about the Weiser Tarot, I mentioned that the Little White Book introduced a new Spread, the Ankh Spread.
If you missed it, you can find that post here:
But that’s enough of a trip down memory lane, on with the Spread!
Here it is in action:
Card 1 - The Page of Wands
The LWB says: “…you or the situation or person for whom the reading is being done. This card is also known as the Significator Card.”
I don’t use any cards in any Spread as a ‘significator card’ as I understand the term. I do however see this card as symbolic of the question at hand. This, along with the card that crosses it, is in my mind the ‘heart of the matter.’
Card 2 - The High Priestess
The LWB says: “…represents obstacles, blocks, or challenges.”
Diverging once again, I don’t necessarily see crossing cards as blocks. Rather I see the two cards, 1 and 2 working together to create context for the matter at hand. I just don’t always read crossing cards as negative, and I think that is what is implied by the explanation in the LWB.
Card 3 - The Hanged Man (The Hanged One in Weiser Tarot parlance)
The LWB says “…represents the basic roots of the situation at hand.”
I think that makes good sense. I would add to it that these basic roots are probably things that could be easily known if looked for, and easily understood.
Card 4 - The King of Wands
The LWB says: “…reveals deeper, perhaps secret, roots of the situation that must be addressed.”
I would certainly change that ‘must’ to ‘should’ and I would add that we should also address anything that might be revealed by card 3. It is important here that we don’t trip over from reading a current situation, and the result if the current course is maintained, to fortune telling. And I think that the words we use are really important for keeping that distinction. Tarot should be empowering for whomever is receiving a reading, and it is if we always remember that everyone has free will and any possible outcome can be changed through the exercise of that free will.
Card 5 - The Chariot
The LWB says: “…represents what is departing or has become obsolete.”
That makes good sense to me, with the caveat that whatever is being symbolized as departing has had an impact upon the ‘heart of the matter’ as it currently stands and is symbolized by cards 1 and 2.
Card 6 - The Empress
The LWB says: “…represents what is entering or new opportunities.”
That also seems right to me.
But, I think we can take this a step further.
Cards 1 and 2 represent ‘the heart of the matter.’ Card 5, ‘the past,’ and card 6 ‘the future.’ So we end up with a basic Past-Present-Future Spread within the larger Ankh Spread.
Card 7 - 5 of Pentacles
The LWB says: “…represents the aspirations, hopes, and desires of the questioner.”
I can buy that. It makes sense to have a card signifying hopes and dreams in the Spread. But, if that is the case I think we need to read card 7 in context with cards 3 and 4 representing possible fears of the querent, particularly card 4, as we often refuse to admit our deepest fears, even to ourselves.
Card 8 - 3 of Swords
The LWB says: “…represents where assistance may best be obtained.”
Good. It will have to be determined in the reading if this assistance is available within the querent, something the querent can receive alone, or if it is outside assistance that is needed. The context of the question, and the spread itself should serve to help answer this.
Card 9 - The 6 of Wands
The LWB says: “…represents the best course of action.”
Given that, this Spread is without any card to illustrate the final result, so we need to look back to card 6 for a hint of that. Because of that, I think that cards 6 and 9 are best read together. What is the best course, and what will help us steer onto that course, with an indication of the result assuming we follow it. Certainly the Spread as a whole will also give an indication of the likely result.
I think that this is a Spread with a great deal of potential to be really useful. I plan to continue working with it in the weeks to come, and imagine that my thoughts about it will develop further.
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