How to Read a 5-Card Cross in 5 Minutes
Or maybe less???
The five-card cross is one of those classic tarot layouts that is super adaptable. I regularly use it as the basis for some of my own tarot spreads, including this year’s series of New Moon / Full Moon spreads, and it can be found in other cartomancy systems, such as Lenormand and Kipper. It’s even the heart of that famous old chestnut, the Celtic Cross.
The 5-card cross offers such versatility because it’s multidimensional.
This single card layout provides so much:
five individual card positions, which can be interpreted individually for five mini one-card readings;
a horizontal three-card reading, which can offer an easy way to interpret sequence, cause-and-effect, and temporal events;
a vertical three-card reading, which can offer a look at internal developments, concerns, and interactions that do not rely on sequence or time; and
a big five-card picture surrounding a central concern.
Of course, how each of these positions is read depends on the intentions of the reader. For example, a psychologically oriented tarot coach might see the card to the left of center as past baggage that is interacting with the central present state to create a probable future outcome. Meanwhile, a traditional Kipper reader might see the card to one side of the center as a negative future event and the other side as a positive future event, with the center card not necessarily coming in as part of the reading beyond current theme/focus.
But if you want to quickly master a general 5-card tarot reading that can apply to any question, learn these five steps. In your reading, you can spend a minute with each, and you’ll have done a 5-card reading in five minutes.
The central card is the focus, so start there. It’s the present state. It’s the lesson. It’s the theme. Everything comes back to and revolves around this central card. If it was chosen intentionally, it will be easy to remember that. If it is left up to fate, make sure that you prioritize this card’s importance. It should affect how you interpret every other card in the cross, from the lens of the card meaning to the directionality of movement to the symbols you read in other cards.
Then read your cards from left to right to see the trajectory of the situation and external events and factors. Reading these as external and temporal differentiates the horizontal row from the vertical column, which is also three cards. And of course, frame these cards through the lens of the central card.
What’s to the left is being brought into the situation as an external factor over which the querent has no control. That doesn’t mean it’s someone else’s problem. It just means it’s a given. It can’t be prevented. It’s been set in motion and now the querent will be dealing with it.
What’s to the right is where things are headed and what’s likely coming into the frame. This has not yet happened, but it’s likely to play out, barring some intervention by the querent or other significant factor. What the querent does can impact this.
Read the vertical column to identify inner factors affecting the situation. Make sure to read these in relation to the central card. You do not need to read a trajectory here since it is non-sequential: the two states exist simultaneously.
The card on top is what is within the conscious mind. It allows the querent some intentional focus and consideration. They will want to keep this in mind when choosing how to act in the situation.
The card on bottom is the state of things under the surface. It drives the querent from a place that can’t be controlled, such as shadow triggers and deep emotions. As with the card to the left, the querent needs to recognize these states and be prepared to adapt.
Look at the big picture.
Consider the overall vibe. Is it generally headed in a positive direction? Is it a complete clusterfuck? This is important for understanding the reading’s tone.
Consider elemental and number patterns. Is this a fiery set of cards that needs a little grounding an caution? Is it airy and all about communication (or all in the querent’s head)? Is it all low numbers and thus really about the basics? Or is it all high numbers, which can point to some fine tuning and final details?
Where is the central card directed? (This is relevant even for the minors in pip decks.)
If to the left, the querent may be overly concerned with what’s out of their control. This allows for good reaction but also passivity.
If to the right, the querent may be overconfident in where things are headed. That’s great for staying positive and proactive, but they may be blindsided by what’s coming from behind.
If focused below, the querent may be stuck in their feelings. They are very aware of the way their unconscious self can affect them, but they aren’t using that knowledge.
If focused above, the querent may be ignoring emotional undercurrents. They will likely be able to strategize and plan, but they are not always adaptable.
If balanced or focused straight-ahead, the querent doesn’t have any specific strengths or weaknesses in a particular direction.
Are there other lines of movement between cards? These can indicate important connection points that may not otherwise be obvious.
Last, bring it together in answer to the question. Remember why you’re doing the reading in the first place and get back to that point. Rally around the central card and bring it on home.
Want help creating your own layouts?
You’ve got options! Join my upcoming semester of tarot and take advantage of 20+ office hours, where we can talk through your ideas and how best to ask the questions that matter most and create a custom signature layout for you.
Can’t wait? Sign up for my intensive fundamentals course for new and experienced readers, Read Tarot like a Nerd, where we get into the heart of asking questions that matter, along with a dozen or two other valuable topics to take your tarot readings beyond the basics. Or check out my Saturday seminars, including past recordings of Reading the Big Picture and Getting Intentional, which will help you create your own spreads.