Retro Spread - The Magic Square
- Jan 1, 2016
- 3 min read
When I first started out reading tarot, spreadcrafting wasn't the developed art it was today. There was a notion that building on tradition was the best way to make that connection with the cards, and so set spreads were committed to memory and utilised depending on the level of detail or introspection required by the querent...accordingly, there are a number of 'retro spreads' that, over the years, have taken a backseat to the more ubiquitous Celtic Cross Spread (i'm certain the larger publishing houses still panic when a new tarot deck is printed, and include a clause in their contract that the LWB has to contain instructions on how to Celtic Cross, lest the Earth wobbles off its axis!), and have fallen out of popular useage.
My early Tarot Toolkit was stuffed to the gills with these memorised formulations of accepted wisdom, and, in their defence, they were popular for a reason - robust, time-tested and providing a great level of 'around the issue' detail that helped to ground the issue before tackling the aspects of potential for the situation.
One of these retro spreads, with a distinct emphasis on introspection, was The Magic Square. It was widely published 'back in the day', but seemed to fall out of favour, and it's very rare to see it given any attention these days. I was shown the grid layout, but I've also seen it laid out with the cards in a different sequence, and also in a different pattern, spiralling inwards or outwards. I believe the different approaches are mostly cosmetic, with the core meanings of the cards carried across most versions of the spread.
Card 1. Individuality - consists of the good, the bad, and even the crazy, that make a person distinct and unique. This shows the Querents true nature, or at least how they're expressing themselves in the current situation.
Card 2. Connection or Duality - shows the Querents relationship with others and their influence through that connection.
Card 3. Stability - the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast - this card identifies what is stable in the Querents life
Card 4. Tenacity - anything really worth doing takes persistence, perseverance, and stubborn determination, and this card shows where the Querent demonstrates these traits.
Card 5. Potentiality - an interesting card that can show an aptitude that may be developed by the Querent, or the focus can be wider, showing the inherent capacity for coming into form, focus or being of the situation at hand.
Card 6. Opportunity - this card identifies when the situation is right for the Querent to do something they're interested in doing, achieving or attaining.
Card 7. Spirituality - those things that are less connected with the physical, and more with the intangible, spiritual aspects of the Querent and their situation, their beliefs and their influence.
Card 8. Negativity - shows where the Querent is exhibiting or experiencing skepticism and a tendency to deny, oppose or resist aspects or opportunities within the situation. Can identify areas that need attention in order to overcome setbacks.
Card 9. Positivity - where the Querents is experiencing certainty or acceptance or affirmation, it can also identify those areas that are being reinforced by spirit, as being encouraging or promising of a successful outcome.
Alternative layouts for the Spread are below, showing the inwards, introspective spiral and the outwards or expressive spiral. I've seen the inwards spiral used for shadow work, where specific issues were identified and then examined in greater detail.
Give your deck a little 'old school' loving, dust off the Magic Square spread, and see whether this blast from the past is able to give you some great results - I'd love to hear how you get on with the spread!!
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