By Wayne Wilson
This spread is loosely based on the Celtic triquetra, showing the union of Mind, Body and Spirit in a kind of “Venn diagram” also related to the broader “Tripod of Life” concept. The cards can be laid out in any order; there is no fixed sequence for reading them. There is also no “outcome” card since the objective is self-understanding and not prediction. The most effective way to use this spread is to focus on a single area of life – spiritual, psychological, inspirational or practical – displayed in seven qualities. It may also be best to use a single rank of cards – all Trumps, all Courts or all Pips (although “Courts + Pips” could prove to be more useful).
The main feature of this spread is the interconnecting matrix of elemental qualities defined by Mind (Pure Thought expressed by the element of Air in both cognitive and creative modes); Pure Desire embodied in the physical realm of Earth; Pure Feeling centered in the concept of Water; and Pure Will set above all as Spirit springing from a sublimation of elemental Fire. The nexus points at the corners of the “rounded” triangle symbolize the practical combination of intellectual power with desires, feelings and spiritual values in terms of “Ambition,” “Inspiration” and “Higher Purpose.” The central point of the interlocking circles might also be considered the entry point for Soul into physical manifestation, as a “fixing” of Spirit within the vehicle of Mind, which in turn (at least ideally) masters raw Desires and Feelings as a hallmark of the human condition.
The key definitions for the primary positions are:
Pure Will: What I Aspire To Pure Thought: What I Understand Pure Feeling: What I Offer Pure Desire: What I Need
These positions are displayed in the primary colors Red, Yellow and Blue plus White symbolizing the purity of Spirit.
The key definitions for the secondary positions explore the “how” of applying the primary qualities:
Analysis (a mingling of the practical and theoretical modes of Earth + Air): How I Solve Problems Imagination (a joining of mental and emotional forces as Air + Water): How I Grow Creatively Sensation (a blending of physical and emotional responses to external stimuli through the agency of Earth + Water): How I React to the World
These positions are displayed in the secondary colors Orange, Green and Violet. The following link provides background information on the associated Celtic symbolism:
https://docelticjewelry.com/celtic-symbols-meanings/
The background graphic (“Tripod of Life”) is used with the kind permission of Mesa Creative Arts www.mesacreativearts.com )