ANCESTRAL PATH

TAROT DECK
by Julie Cuccia-Watts

Text by Tracey Hoover

Published by
U.S GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.
Stamford, CT 06902 USA
 © 1995, 2013, 2019 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

All rights reserved. The illustrations, cover design

and contents are protected by copyright. No part of
this booklet may be reproduced in any form
without permission in writing from the publisher,
except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief
passages in connection with a review written for
inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or website.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Made in China

Published by:

U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

179 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902 USA
203-353-8400 • Order Desk 800-544-2637
FAX 203-353-8431
www.usgamesinc.com
 ANCESTRAL PATH TAROT
The Ancestral Path Tarot is offered by artist Julie
Cuccia-Watts as an ancestral gift to you. It is hoped
that you will find it a path to the discovery of your own
truths. For the artist, it is a synthesis of her spiritual
beliefs expressed within the structure of the Tarot.
Its imagery speaks of the human experience,
emphasizing potential tapped in the past and preserved
through verbal and written histories, traditions and
myths. This visual feast fulfills the raison d’être of the
Tarot—patterns creating meaningful stories of the
human condition.
We are all embryonic ancestors, similar to the fetus
in the Hanged One image in the Ancestral Path Tarot.
Through the placental cord of cultural transmission,
we imbibe the world view of those who shaped and
adapted it. We are nourished on the legacy of their
belief systems.
We are so immersed in the amniotic fluid of our own
particular cultural system that we rarely realize that
all this nurturing was meant to prepare us for the birth
of our own impact on that culture.
The process of birth into awareness and r­ esponsibility
as a mature adult is painful. The world outside our cul-
tural womb is complex and diverse. Some womb-nurtured
beliefs are inappropriate for survival and success in
this world.
3
 Many beliefs from other ancestral paths intrude
upon our awareness. There are collective and individual
paths of infinite variety. As we sift and sort through
all that the human experience offers, from the dawn
of humanity through the present, we spend a lifetime
“pathworking.”
We follow the path of others; we widen or close
off pathways on our journey, and we carve new paths
through unexplored ­territory. More critically, perhaps,
we also shape paths for others—­contemporaries as
well as descendants—who (will) view us as ancestors.
Evaluating whether we are clearing a path or muddling
it for others is an enlightening exercise.
The emphasis on the path of the ancestors in
the Ancestral Path Tarot is not the ­anthropological
emphasis on cults of the dead, but on a living tradition
from all human cultures available for us to factor into
our world view.
Defining yourself as an ancestor (and your living
role models as ancestors) places you in the unique
perspective offered by the Ancestral Path Tarot. The deck
portrays paths created by ancestors of different cultures
and times for our consideration.

4
 WHAT IS TAROT?
A working definition of the Tarot is simple. The Tarot
is a specialized series of 78 symbol-­stuffed cards used
for divination (reading the cards) and meditation.
A Tarot deck is divided into two unequal parts:
the MAJOR (GREATER) ARCANA and the MINOR
(LESSER) ARCANA.
More attention is paid to the Major Arcana, a group of
22 cards, usually numbered and bearing titles defining
their metaphysical or archetypal nature.
The second grouping, the 56 Minor Arcana cards,
consists of four suits, usually called Swords, Wands,
Cups and Pentacles. Each suit contains fourteen cards
(Ace through ten, Page, Knight, Queen, and King).
Its structure is similar to that of a modern playing
card deck, except that the playing card Jack fuses the
Page and the Knight.
The Ancestral Path Tarot adheres to the fundamental
structure of Tarot decks. Its Major Arcana sequence of
22 images bears the standard titles (with the exception
that the Hanged Man is now the Hanged One), but an
older ordering is used. The Justice and Strength trumps
exchange position (Justice is the eighth arcanum and
Strength the eleventh).
The suits of the Minor Arcana are named SWORDS,
STAVES (WANDS), CUPS, AND SACRED CIRCLES
(PENTACLES). Numbered cards are to be viewed from
5
the Ten to the Ace, reversing the typical hierarchical
structure. Court cards are termed King, Queen, Knight
and Princess for the sake of convenience, as the divine
and legendary figures of the Ancestral Path Tarot do
not easily adapt to static titles.
The four suits depict representative cultures of
four racial groups: Japanese Swords; Egyptian Staves;
British Cups; and Native American Sacred Circles.
Each culture is portrayed during a distinct historical
epoch: the Japanese feudal era; the Egyptian nine-
teenth dynasty of Ramses II; Arthurian Britain; and
post-contact America.
Central myths or legends of these racial groups
serve as a backdrop to each suit and trace paths our
ancestors forged in shaping their world view.
In the Sword suit, a woman’s epic song details the Ainu
peoples’ relationship with their bear god, and defines
relationships between men and women, clans and tribes,
and Ainu and Japanese cultures.
The Osirian myth cycle of death and ­resurrection
weaves through the Staves. A chapter from the
Egyptian Book of the Dead, entitled “Triumph Over
Darkness,” speaks eloquently of life and death, light
and shadow, and gods and humans.
The Arthurian/Grail mythos sets the stage for the
Cup suit. “Morgana’s Reverie” synthesizes the story of
the Cups as the sister of King Arthur prepares herself
for the role of psychopomp on the path to the King’s
6
initiation into the knowledge of his genetic inheritance
and his spiritual responsibilities.
In the suit of Sacred Circles, a Menominee creation
legend of bear and thunder spirit ancestors and a
Winnebago holy (medicine) song support the tale of
the vision quest.
Court card images are deified ancestral figures.
­Creator deities Izanagi and Izanami and their children,
Moon God Tsuki Yomi and Sun Goddess Ama Terasu,
grace the Sword Court cards. Staves depict the
brother-­sister ruling deities, Osiris and Isis, with their
sister, Nephthys, and son, Horus. The major Arthurian
­characters—­Arthur, his wife Gwenhwyfar, his friend
Lancelot, and his sister ­Morgana—­ ­comprise the Cup
royalty. And the god/dess forms of the Sacred Circles
are Grandfather Thunder, Grandmother Moon, Father
Sun and Mother Earth.
Aces symbolize the raw elemental power of each
suit: the clear air of the intellect associated with the
Swords; the fiery spirituality of Staves; the watery
emotional nature of the Cups; and the earthy ­physicality
of Sacred Circles. Each ace is emblazoned with an image
defining its suit. Swords were near-mystical objects in
ancient Japan; they were believed to contain spirits and
were imbued with miraculous powers. The ankh is the
Egyptian staff of life and resurrection, the pre-Christian
cross of a sacrificed god. The Grail quest is a mystical
experience available even to those at the beginning of
7
their ­spiritual path. And the Native American drum
measures the heartbeat of the earth. It carries
messages with the language of its beat, and opens
pathways between the worlds of the living and the
ancestors.

8
 DEFINITIONS—MAJOR ARCANA
0 THE FOOL: Beginnings; the heady moment before
diving into the future; the state of being untested
(­inexperienced); the feeling of quivering anticipation
when arriving at the brink of experience; exploring the
unknown; risking; taking a leap of faith; stepping onto
an untested path, or leaping onto the spiral. Consulting an
oracle; paying attention to omens; using divination to
clear a tangled path.

I THE MAGICIAN: Male active force; creativity, spon-

taneity, practicality, skill, inventiveness; self-­reliance,
willpower, self-confidence. The ­ability to imagine, create,
and see ideas through to ­completion. The art of persua-
sion, or the ability to influence others. Can also represent
the use of power for negative purposes: powering-over
rather than empowering others; selfish hoarding rather
than sharing with the community; exploiting others
or resources.

II THE HIGH PRIESTESS: Female receptive energy.

Intuition, understanding, serenity, wisdom, and self-
sufficiency. Purity, virtue, lack of guile. Seeming lack
of emotion because emotional entanglements are
avoided. Conversely, the card can reveal ignorance, poor
judgment, or short-sightedness. Lack of common sense,

9
intuition or insight. Trivializing the mysteries due to
superficial motives and/or incomplete understanding.

III THE EMPRESS: Female active energy (­birthing/

creation, nourishing/nurturing issues); the intuitive
component of a successful partnership; decisions based
on facts informed by feelings; material wealth, fertility,
abundance, flowing ­creativity, the creative process.
Can also mean infertility; a difficult birth; t­ echnological
intervention in natural processes; oppression, confine-
ment, indecision, apathy, neediness, starving for love
and affection, or an impoverished spirit.

IV THE EMPEROR: The patriarch; an effective leader

wielding great power, capable of exercising authority,
and willing to listen to counsel. Mature decisions;
establishing, ­pursuing and attaining goals; sacrificing
for the greater good; laws and regulations governing the
community. A weak Emperor is immature, ineffectual or
indecisive. Aggressive or violent behavior. Corrupt leader-
ship, laws or customs.

V THE HIEROPHANT: A spiritual leader or teacher.

Connection with the infinite, sacred, macrocosm, or
divine; messages from non-­rational sources. Insights
gained by life ­experience; self-­acceptance; maturity.
Ritual and ceremony; the outer forms of worship;
­religious/spiritual activities and doctrine. The bestowal
10
of blessing, forgiveness or ­absolution from a spiritual
leader. Conversely, can indicate a tendency to cling to
outdated traditions or ideas; hollow ceremony, mean-
ingless rituals; lip service to outmoded belief systems.
Dogmatic, even fanatic, religious tyranny; unscrupulous,
exploitive religious leaders; false prophecy, blind faith,
cheap theatrics.

VI THE LOVERS: Choice: both freedom of choice and

responsible choices. Sexuality: budding attraction;
sexual expression; moral and ethical values ­concerning
sexuality. Relationship: making decisions about the
nature of a relationship; degrees of intimacy in a
­relationship; initiating and nurturing a relationship.

VII THE CHARIOT: Combining spiritual, intellectual,

emotional and physical energies to ride victoriously
through life. Self-­confidence acquired from family and
community support. Fearlessly forging ahead, carving
one’s own path. Conversely, can indicate defeat where
victory could have been attained. Sudden catastrophe.
Insufficient planning or lack of trust collapses projects
and goals. Defeatist attitude, lack of self-worth,
confidence or self-esteem. Impetuous action leading
to defeat.

VIII JUSTICE: Getting to the heart of an issue through

judicious, considered evaluation. Advocating right
11
causes rather than socially popular causes. Can also
mean unfairness, bias, imbalance, discrimination;
rewards meted out to the undeserving. The legal system,
rather than justice, is served; the scales are tipped
through bribery or corruption; robbing the poor to give
to the rich.

IX THE HERMIT: Solitude, contemplation; knowledge

or illumination from the past; valuing traditions and
the wisdom of elders or ancestors. The appearance
of a mentor, guide, teacher or role model at a critical
juncture in one’s life path. Can also indicate being held
back by the past, living in the past, or ignoring lessons
of the past; fear of death; dread of aging; denying the
validity of tradition.

X THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE: Fortune, fate, destiny,

cycles, spirals, luck. Unlimited possibilities for good or
its opposite. Seasons of being. Recognition of the cyclic
nature of life and the universe. Understanding how life
cycles are embedded in astrological cycles.

XI STRENGTH: An empowering strength, merging

strengths in a cooperative endeavor. Attainment at
considerable peril. Harmony (at-one-ness) with the
environment and other life-forms in the ­environment.
Attraction of complementary energies and ­qualities.
Physical health and vitality. Can also show ­weakness,
12
disease, sickness; abuse of power and/or the
­environment; impotence or sterility.

XII THE HANGED ONE: Transition. A period of rest

between significant events, a time when action is inad-
visable. Surrender to inevitable circumstances;
in/voluntary sacrifice; descent to the depths of the self;
altered perceptions by examining things from a differ-
ent (upside down) viewpoint. Can also indicate boredom,
stagnation, impatience, ambivalence or indecision.

XIII DEATH: Seeing beyond death to rebirth; ­clearing

away the old to make room for the new; risking
renewal; radical transformation; unexpected change;
death of a particular phase in one’s life; completion of
one cycle as a new one unfolds. ­Conversely, can indicate
­stagnation, stasis, inability to change, lack of develop-
ment or evolution.

XIV TEMPERANCE: Conservation of resources,

­moderation, wise management of self and environment;
taking a stand on the abuse of humans, animals and/or
the earth. Can also imply sterility, extinction, pollution,
ravaged environment, ecological disasters, or misuse
of resources.

XV THE DEVIL: Karmic ties; unpaid debts; unresolved

issues; loss of self to another’s will; self-­punishment;
13
violence; lack of principles; self-­destructive ­tendencies.
A more enlightened look at the card can elicit ideas
of release from bondage; throwing off shackles;
overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds; ­releasing
inner devils.

XVI THE TOWER: Unexpected, total, sudden change;

breaking down old beliefs; a sudden event that destroys
one’s foundations or basic beliefs. Time to rebuild
from the ruins of the past. The breakdown of matter to
its essential elements. Catastrophic events; events that
the individual has no control over except in how he or
she responds to them.

XVII THE STAR: Trust in oneself and the universe;

giving of oneself unstintingly without regret or fear
of loss. A refreshingly quiet phase in one’s life, infused
with joy and outward-­directed ­activity. Alternately, loss
of hope, faith or enthusiasm; ­distrust, betrayal of trust.

XVIII THE MOON: Understanding and flowing with

cycles; ­perceiving patterns in events; ­creating patterns
of meaning in life; weaving destiny; ­distinguishing
between webs of illusion and r­ eality; coming to the
end of a cycle. You may be a fly caught in a web; or a
poorly woven pattern may have to be undone and
rewoven. Resistance to adapting to cycles may ­create
roadblocks in your path.
14
XIX THE SUN: Successful culmination of a quest;
basking in the light and warmth of ­accomplishment;
accepting the bounty of life and recognizing its source.
Joy, happiness, exuberance, high spirits, ­sharing good for-
tune, celebrations, success, freedom, growth, abundance,
pleasure, consciousness, ­manifestation, and splendor.

XX JUDGMENT: Self-judgment and self-­forgiveness.

A time of assessment. The attraction of the soul to the
Creator, or self to Higher Self. Alternatively, outer rather
than inner judgment; failing challenges; s­ hrinking away
from self-knowledge and self-­assessment; inability to
love or ­forgive.

XXI THE WORLD: Ecological and/or global issues.

Perfection, recognition, fulfillment, completion, ­success,
­achievement. Rewards reaped from hard work. Long-term
goals accomplished. Can also indicate lack of a global
perspective; tunnel vision; inability to see the forest for
the trees; self-serving interests; short-term rather than
long-term goals; failure to complete a task; lack of vision.

15
 DEFINITIONS—MINOR ARCANA
Suit of Swords
KING OF SWORDS (IZANAGI): Creative skill, ­intellectual
prowess. Using the sword as a tool rather than as a
weapon. Emerging from chaos or confusion with a
plan of action; action following thinking and planning.
Weakly aspected, can mean destruction rather than
creation, regression rather than progress, or inversion
rather than extroversion.

QUEEN OF SWORDS (IZANAMI): Joy in the creative

­process; pride in one’s creations; making something
from nothing; letting what you love grow in its own
light; vigilance against threats to new or hard-won
accomplishments. Delight in children or grand­children;
parenting skills; family pride.

PRINCE OF SWORDS (TSUKI YOMI): Disciplining

emotions; meditative practices that strengthen mind
and body; ­fertilizing a masculine domain with feminine
waters. Quiet before a storm; the science of warfare;
forging a sword that is a resourceful tool, as well as a
destructive weapon.

PRINCESS OF SWORDS (AMA TERASU): The ­Spiritual

Warrior; victory following an inner conflict of the soul;
16
the quiet aftermath of an initiatory experience; repose
alter struggle. Basking in the warmth of the sun.
­Processing the lessons of the sword, realizing its duality
as a tool or a weapon.

TEN OF SWORDS: Going a long way to make a short

point. Disruptive, chaotic, violent change. Overkill.
Blowing a situation out of proportion. In addition,
the drama of victimization; perpetuating the cycles
of abuser-victim; maintaining the victim’s role as an
excuse for not getting on with one’s life.

NINE OF SWORDS: A prophetic dream. Being in a

critical position to affect events. Being overwhelmed
by a sudden intuition of danger. Acknowledging the
accuracy of insights, especially when they are not
pleasant. Foreknowledge that demands action.

EIGHT OF SWORDS: Being held captive by one’s own

traditions; blinded by the path of tradition; societal
boundaries. Paralysis by fear; fearing to act because of
the possibility of scandal or mis­understood motives.
Alternatively, pitting one’s will against fate/destiny;
braving scandal or scorn to do the right thing; acting
despite overwhelming obstacles.

SEVEN OF SWORDS: Most commonly, the thieves’ card.

Manipulation, extortion, stealth— and getting away with
17
it. A warning to carefully evaluate who you are dealing
with in a given situation.

SIX OF SWORDS: Mental harmony. A journey of the

mind. Separating oneself from uncertainty. Order in
nature as intellect is exerted over matter. As part of the
bigger picture, however, this card depicts a false sense
of security as behind-the-scenes activities undermine,
exploit and betray.

FIVE OF SWORDS: Idealism, youthful enthusiasm,

even naiveté. A time of learning, absorbing and training.
Making a commitment to an ethos or organization.
Alternately, blind faith, unquestioning loyalty.

FOUR OF SWORDS: You cannot prevail against greater

forces; release ideals or goals that cannot be actualized.
Alternatively, listen to your inner voice and act upon
its message. Don’t bury good ideas.

THREE OF SWORDS: The sorrow of separation,

e­ specially from family and relatives. A temporary separa-
tion to mature or gain perspective. Weaning from a
deep attachment or addictive dependency. The releasing
of expectations about other people; letting others make
their own way in the world.

18
TWO OF SWORDS: A stalemate. A difficult choice
must be made; at this time, however, no decision
resolves the issue or problem. Indecision results from
the lack of satisfactory choices available.

ACE OF SWORDS: The element air, the power of the

intellect, the ability to think and reason. Like the other
aces, it embodies the potential of the suit; it does not
actualize or manifest Sword qualities.

Suit of Staves
KING OF STAVES (OSIRIS): Judgment, ­measuring,
assaying, weighing. Decisions, law, rules, ­regulations,
standards; establishing criteria; critical evaluations.
May have something to do with the legal system.
Adversely, can indicate harsh judgment, guilt pinned
on the innocent, or injustices.

QUEEN OF STAVES (ISIS): The perfect blend of body,

emotions, and intellect in a spiritual venture. The world
of magic and mysticism brought to the practical level
(i.e. applying magical principles in the real world for a
tangible result). A c­ ommitted woman of will, strength
and determination. A risk-taker for personal concerns,
she may show a curious lack of interest in other issues.

19
PRINCE OF STAVES (HORUS): Inflamed passion.
Emotion excited by new experiences. Willingness to
fight for what is right. Preparation for battle, a spiritual
rather than physical struggle. Using the fire of the soul
to combat the vagaries of human existence. Training to
reach the peak of one’s spiritual, e­ motional, intellectual
and physical prowess.

PRINCESS OF STAVES (NEPHTHYS): Messages from

the other side, a higher plane, or a different dimension.
Discerning between right and wrong, and making a
stand for the right. Participating in a just cause.
The eruption of something due to tremendous forces
underneath the surface of everyday reality.

TEN OF STAVES: Responsibilities and obligations

can be oppressive and stressful. Distinctions between
exploiting and being exploited need to be examined.
Slavery and/or servitude to society, family, or one’s job.

NINE OF STAVES: Hard, physical, manual labor that may

produce weariness, exhaustion, fatigue, or even illness.
The need for a rest or break from a difficult project.

EIGHT OF STAVES: Swiftness, speed, skill, racing

against danger. The swift resolution of a situation or
problem. Negatively, it can imply deliberate, ­wanton

20
destruction, desecrating the sacred, or defying a­ uthority
through destructive acts.

SEVEN OF STAVES: Initiation. Induction into the

­mysteries. Solving the riddle of the sphinx; to will,
to know, to dare, and to keep silent. The coming together
of experience. Goals are achieved by synthesizing the
experiences (initiations) of the past.

SIX OF STAVES: Victory, achievement, ­adulation,

honor, awards, celebration, or recognition; overcoming
­obstacles. Adversely, a hollow theatrical; an ­inconclusive or
false victory. The pitfalls of patriotism and hero worship.

FIVE OF STAVES: Discussion, planning, ­strategies,

negotiation. Cooperative efforts by diverse groups to
achieve a common goal. A pooling of skills and talents
to create something on a grand scale.

FOUR OF STAVES: Home; the personal environment;

the boundaries of one’s world. Additionally, family
bonds and relationships; a successful marriage and/or
partnership; the family as representative of society
or civilization.

THREE OF STAVES: Successful conclusion of a journey

or project. Leaping back into the mainstream of activity

21
following a period of withdrawal or inactivity. Inheritance;
passing power, wealth or wisdom to the next generation.

TWO OF STAVES: Potential energy, fertility. Temporary

but necessary separations. The need for patience to
see a project through to completion. Waiting, with its
attendant frustrations. Watching others act while one
cannot act.

ACE OF STAVES: Elemental fire, flame, light, warmth

and energy. Growth, enterprise, beginnings, potential.
Activity, initiative, creativity. Conversely, the destructive,
burning use of fire or light.

Suit of Cups
KING OF CUPS (ARTHUR): A responsible, learned
person. Interest in the arts and sciences. A person
with powerful emotions who has developed incredible
control over them; this emotional mastery is used to
unleash emotion at appropriate times.

QUEEN OF CUPS (GWENHWYFAR): A creative dreamer,

poetic and gifted with vision, tranquil and dreamy,
yet magnetic and compelling. A committed and loyal
partner. A person who flows rather than trudges
through life.

22
PRINCE OF CUPS (LANCELOT): The romantic
dreamer—­warm, impassioned, attractive, and a­ ppealing.
Setting out on life’s journey with all the romantic
idealism of youth. An artist–­musician, dancer, painter,
poet, or writer. The idealized lover.

PRINCESS OF CUPS (MORGANA): A magical being,

one who sees via the lens of insight; a healer, especially
of the emotions. Knowledge of herbs and the myster-
ies of the earth; a deep, intuitive understanding of earth
and water energies. In addition, charismatic energy;
magnetism; attraction.

TEN OF CUPS: Home, happiness; savoring family,

friends and temporal success. Establishing territory,
surveying one’s domain, marking the boundaries of
one’s personal environment.

NINE OF CUPS: Community celebration; public events;

fellowship/sistership; joining a group of people who
share similar interests and/or values. Conversely,
­hollow rituals, meaningless celebrations, and events
that are devoid of substance.

EIGHT OF CUPS: Abandoning assured success for an

uncertain future. Dissatisfaction with material success.
Spiritual yearnings. Leave-takings, farewells (temporary
and permanent).
23
SEVEN OF CUPS: Visions, omens, innate intuitions that
rip the illusionary veil of everyday reality. Or, a deter-
mination to discover what lies behind the obvious,
to confront the meaning and purpose of one’s existence.

SIX OF CUPS: Memories, childhood, the past imping-

ing on the present. Looking to the past for inspiration;
longing for simpler, less complicated times; a desire
to resurrect the past. Also, avoidance of negative
­childhood issues.

FIVE OF CUPS: Disappointment, inability to enjoy

what life has to offer, immersion in regret or
­depression, emotional confusion and distress. Also,
mental illness brought on by emotional problems,
psychological illnesses.

FOUR OF CUPS: Ennui, discontent, boredom, l­ aziness,

estrangement, depression, weariness, loss of hope.
Physical incapacity or ­handicap; mental, emotional or
physical illness; a spiritual wasteland. Numbing emotions
with alcohol or drugs.

THREE OF CUPS: Reconciliation, reunion, renewal,

commitment, promises, vows. Issues of trust and honor.
Reconnecting with people and places from the past.
Being restored by integrating the past into the present.
Combining the spiritual and material aspects of one’s life.
24
TWO OF CUPS: Love, marriage, friendship renewed,
reciprocal affection or passion. Reunion or reconciliation
following a separation. The beloved mirrors the lover.
Bonds of affinity, sympathy, understanding, and empathy
that may be karmic.

ACE OF CUPS: Light is shed in dark corners to reveal

simple solutions to complex problems. The answer to
one’s question appears in the form of the brimming Cup
(“wish your will; drink your fill”). The clarity of the liquid
in the Cup may illuminate an answer to problems mud-
died by emotional turmoil.

Suit of Sacred Circles

KING OF SACRED CIRCLES (GRANDFATHER
­THUNDER): An undeviating, serious attitude of
watchfulness. One who is slow to anger, but volcanic
in eruption. Stern, implacable, steady, noble, reliable,
courageous, persevering. Weak aspects include volatile
responses or over-reacting.

QUEEN OF SACRED CIRCLES (GRANDMOTHER

MOON): The wisdom of the feminine/maternal principle.
The wisdom of the grandmothers, elders or a­ ncestors.
Nurturance, being cared for, the release of one’s burdens
to a willing recipient, unconditional love and acceptance.
The bounty of the earth is available for the taking.
25
 PRINCE OF SACRED CIRCLES (FATHER SUN):
L­ earning experiences. Reverence for the growth pro-
cesses made possible through the union of the sun and
the earth. Can represent one’s genetic father, or a fatherly
role model. A tutor, teacher, or mentor who shares
knowledge and wisdom. One who nurtures the young,
helping to develop newly planted ideas and concepts.

PRINCESS OF SACRED CIRCLES (MOTHER EARTH):

A person with a strong connection with the earth,
which can manifest as concern for the ­environment,
concern for animals and children, or domestic concerns
of the home and hearth, The traditional meanings of
thrift, diligence and benevolence apply here, as well as
the negative implications of waste and laziness.

TEN OF SACRED CIRCLES: The extended family, kinship,

clan matters, the blood line, family matters, the accumu-
lated wealth of experience offered by the extended family,
relationships with relatives, the wealth of one’s family
traditions. Conversely, problems in the family arena.

NINE OF SACRED CIRCLES: Mastery of life. Maturity

brings wisdom and the responsibility to share wisdom
with others. Savoring the blessings bestowed by age.
In a less exalted sense, the image points out the
­dangers of hero worship, dependency upon doctrine,
or unworthy gurus.
26
EIGHT OF SACRED CIRCLES: Apprenticeship; ­learning
a craft or vocation; job training. Physical dexterity and
skill. Alternatively, half-hearted efforts; chasing shallow
goals rather than developing inner convictions; going
through the motions; lack of purpose or direction.

SEVEN OF SACRED CIRCLES: The rewards of hard

work. The bounty of the harvest. Communal sharing of
food and/or resources. The fruits of labor sustain the
community through the winter season. Conservation of
resources for lean times.

SIX OF SACRED CIRCLES: Reciprocation; sharing pros-

perity with those who helped you become prosperous.
The giving or receiving of a gift. Passing on of wealth
in the Native American custom of potlatch.

FIVE OF SACRED CIRCLES: Searching for a ­direction or

purpose in life. Tapping the subconscious for direction.
A spiritual retreat. Spiritual risks. The pause between
preparing for and undertaking a spiritual ordeal.

FOUR OF SACRED CIRCLES: The home environment

as basis for life’s experiences. Creating harmony in one’s
home or work environment. Setting things in motion
following thorough preparation. Beginning phase of a
task or project.

27
THREE OF SACRED CIRCLES: A craft is mastered
when (1) the body, (2) the materials and (3) the idea
all become one. Ethics and values are consonant with
one’s lifestyle. Work reflects values. Balance between
work, social, family and spiritual responsibilities.

TWO OF SACRED CIRCLES: Integration of the spiritual

and physical worlds; balancing the two worlds. The card
illustrates a peak ­experience, an event that will cast a
shadow over one’s future. It shows what can be achieved
by a fully empowered human being.

ACE OF SACRED CIRCLES: The gifts of the earth

(plants, metals, fertile soil, precious stones and minerals).
The earth is indeed a sacred circle.

28
 THE CELTIC CROSS SPREAD
The Celtic Cross spread is the workhorse of the Tarot
world. First appearing in 1910 in The Pictorial Key to
the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite, it has retained its
popularity through the twenty-first century.
Its popularity is probably due to its ­utilitarianism.
It is an ideal vehicle for readers to employ, as the
spread contains enough cards for a thorough reading.
Most seekers are satisfied with the content of this
­pattern, as well as the amount of time it takes the reader
to interpret the content.
Additionally, the positions cover, in a general sense,
the issues that motivate seekers to participate in a
Tarot reading. Its pattern offers a logical ­progression
of past and present events building up to likely
future opportunities.
The reading process involves preliminary rituals to
create an appropriate ambiance for both reader and
seeker. The primary ritual is that of shuffling performed
by reader and/or seeker, according to the inclination of
the reader. Most readers evolve a pattern of shuffling
and cutting the cards a requisite number of times
before the reading commences.
Regardless of the ritual(s) employed, the reading
eventually comes down to the reader’s interpretation of
the cards in the spread. The interpretation is dependent
upon a card’s individual meaning, its upright or reversed
29
state, its position in the spread, and its proximity to or
distance from the other cards in the spread.
The following page provides a description of each
position in the Celtic Cross spread.

10
5

9
4 S 1 6
2
8

3
7

30
 Position Meanings
S. Significator.........................The Seeker (Inner World).
1.  The Outer World................What is h ­ appening in the
Seeker’s environment.
2.  The Mirror............................A reflection of
the Significator.
3. Basis/Foundation..............Issue grounding
the Reading.
4. Past........................................Impacting the Present
(S, 1, 2).
5.  Possible Future..................Possibilities
(not probabilities).
6.  Immediate Future..............What will happen next.
7.  Karmic Implications.........Influence from past lives.
8.  Influence of Others..........Opinions and actions
of others.
9.  Hopes and/or Fears...........Reaction of the Seeker
to the events of
the Reading.
10.  Probable Future..................Most likely future
outcomes.

31
 For our complete line of tarot decks,
books, meditation cards, oracle sets,
and other inspirational products
please visit our website:

www.usgamesinc.com

U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

179 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902 USA
203-353-8400 • Order Desk 800-544-2637
FAX 203-353-8431