Seven Card Horseshoe Tarot Spread

A 7 Card open horseshoe spread
Patti Wigington

As you develop your Tarot reading skills, you may find that you prefer one particular spread over the others. One of the most popular spreads in use today is the Seven Card Horseshoe spread. Although it utilizes seven different cards, it’s a fairly basic spread. Each card is positioned in a way that connects to different aspects of the problem or situation at hand.

It’s important to note that various readers lay their horseshoe out differently—some with the open end down, others with the open end up. Use the method which appeals most to you and your Querent. In the layout you see in the photograph, the horseshoe is open at the top. Also, keep in mind that various readers may assign different aspects to the cards in their individual positions.

In this version of the Seven Card Horseshoe spread, in order, the cards represent the past and present, hidden influences, the Querent him or herself, attitudes of other people, what the Querent should do to solve the problem at hand, and the eventual outcome of the situation.

Card 1: The Past

This card, the first one in the layout, symbolizes past events that are impacting the current situation or question at hand. In this particular spread, the card that turned up was the Justice card. This is a card that shows us that we do indeed have the ability—and the responsibility—of knowing right from wrong, so that fairness and balance will rule the day. The Justice card can also represent a desire for a well-balanced mind and soul.

Card 2: The Present

The second card in the Horseshoe spread represents the present. What are current events circling the Querent, and influencing the issue about which they are concerned? The card in this position, in our spread above, is the Queen of Swords. This card often indicates that there’s someone in the picture who is loyal but very stubborn. It could be the Querent themselves, or perhaps an individual who has a lot of influence upon them—a friend, a spouse, or a sister.

Card 3: Hidden Influences

This card is a little bit tricky—it’s the card that represents the unseen, the problems and conflicts that you don’t yet know about. Here, we have the Ten of Pentacles, which could indicate that there’s a financial boon on its way—but only if the Querent knows to look for the right opportunities. Could she be overlooking something important that’s right under her nose? Of note, some readers use this card to represent the immediate future, rather than unseen influences.

Card 4: The Querent Him/Herself

This card, the fourth one in the spread, is at the center of everything. Some readers like to turn this card over first because it represents the Querent himself, as well as his or her attitudes about the situation at hand. Is it a negative card, indicating that the individual is concerned or fearful? Or is it a positive, hopeful one? In this layout, we’ve turned over the Nine of Wands, which often indicates someone who can handle adversity well, if they can get past their own sense of skepticism.

Card 5: The Influence of Others

What sorts of external influences are holding sway over the situation? Does the Querent accept help and support from other people in her life, or does she let other peoples’ negativity drag her down? This card is important because it influences how other people close to the Querent feel about the situation. Here, the card in this spot is the Sun card, which indicates good things to come. This shows that other people who are watching or involved in the situation have a positive feeling about it.

Card 6: What Should the Querent Do?

The sixth card indicates what course of action the Querent should take. Keep in mind that sometimes what the person should do is nothing at all. Here, we have a reversed Three of Swords. This tells us that if the Querent is willing to open up the lines of communication, his or her petty squabbles and conflicts can be resolved.

Card 7: The Final Outcome

This last card is important because it factors in all of the previous six cards into its answer. Here, we have an indicator of what the final resolution to the problem will be. In this spread, we’ve drawn a reversed Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups is often associated with spiritual insight and good fortune, but when reversed, that happy insight is twisted to show disappointment or sadness. However, this may not be disappointment or sadness on the part of the Querent; sometimes it indicates that we need to be cautious of the feelings of others.

Keep in mind that this is just one of several ways you can use this seven card spread. There are a number of other great versions available to try—be sure to check out this post by The Random Writer at Ultimate Tarot and some great ideas from Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady.

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Your Citation
Wigington, Patti. "Seven Card Horseshoe Tarot Spread." Learn Religions, Aug. 26, 2020, learnreligions.com/seven-card-horseshoe-tarot-spread-2562801. Wigington, Patti. (2020, August 26). Seven Card Horseshoe Tarot Spread. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/seven-card-horseshoe-tarot-spread-2562801 Wigington, Patti. "Seven Card Horseshoe Tarot Spread." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/seven-card-horseshoe-tarot-spread-2562801 (accessed March 28, 2024).