Divine Vision with the Eye of Horus
From the Archives: My Versatile Circular Tarot Spread
I am obsessed with images of eyes. Just look at my substack logo! 👆
I would like to share a special spread I was given by my Guides in 2011. And perhaps this is when the obsession started.
During this era, I was the host for my Goddess Circle’s “Art & Tarot” evenings. Really fun! The art table (or floor) prepared with tools, paints, pencils, pastels and paper aligning to a chosen theme. Potluck-style food and drink for all!
While some were enjoying artistic shenanigans, others were slinging cards in the living room. We practiced with one another, and my Guides spoke frequently to channel messages for my closest friends and goddess community.
I learned to hone my claircognizance channeling, especially with my clairvoyant friend Serryn. One of these sessions revealed my primary Guide, whom we both share. He also helped establish a protective presence in my house full of spirits.
It was a unique time of mystical chaos flowing throughout the home. I enjoyed it immensely - a beautiful circle of goddess women from the Temple, sacred drumming, tarot, art . . . magical.
I still recall the moment I received this spread’s formation and name. Someone sat the couch next to me reading cards for another and I leaned back to chill out. A strong push of knowledge flooded my mind - what I understood to be a very old spread called “Eye of Horus” along with the layout.
I needed to intimately understand this spread - accessing divine vision in the formation of an eye! I seared it into my mind, even though I had no idea what the card positions meant or how it worked. I had no paper to record it otherwise.
My dearest friend Tracy (peacefully departed), a powerful Goddess in her own right, sat down with me soon after to figure out what it all meant. What we discovered is a powerful, versatile spread - it looks straightforward on the surface, but it’s anything but.
The beauty of this spread is it’s duality. Two perspectives. The mind versus the heart. Interaction between two people. A decision between two paths. Two of anything! The Lovers, Temperance and any “2” card would be the archetypal fit for the iris, card 1(Q).
The image below reflects our work that day:
Cards 2 and 6 are turned on their side, and I mentally note if they come out reversed. Card 2’s top will be on the left, and card 6’s top will be on the right. It’s a perfect eyeball.
Card 2 is the “outcome” for cards 3-4-5. This group is read as one story.
Card 6 is the “outcome” for cards 7-8-9. This group is read as one story.
Here’s where the complexity come in, and it’s really cool:
Cards 4 and 8 are the actual alchemical duality directly linked to card 1(Q). The two cards flanking each of those are supporting this energy.
The Iris - a card may be chosen which represents the Querent’s issue/archetype/whatever is in question. Or, a card may alternatively be drawn from the deck as 1(Q) to reflect the issue/archetype/whatever is in question.
Additionally, 1(Q) can be cross-diagonally linked to cards 3, 5, 7, 9 as contributing factors which elemementally interact with both 1(Q) and 4/8.
Use reversals when they appear, use all majors, or use a full deck. You do you.
It’s amazing! I use it frequently for my clients, friends, and also myself. Feel free to save this image and use the template as your guide. It’s my high-quality, super 4K original cheat sheet from my own tarot book of shadows. High tech, right!? 😂
I would like to give
a shoutout for her inspiration to dig this out of my archives. She’s been posting wonderful circular spreads lately and I’m here for it. She creates so much - books, a new tarot deck, and constant support for substack tarot practitioners.If anyone would like an intuitive reading from me using this spread, please DM me. This is my tried and true, always deep and amazing spread for all things.
Love to you all!
Feed me some comments -
Give the spread a try - be flexible and make it your own.
Anyone who attempts this spread and posts a brief interpretation gets a freebie 30 minute reading with me via zoom.
I have one freebie 30 minute reading paid forward from one of my subscribers. If you want to grab it, DM me.
🧿🧿🧿
Here we go! I read using this spread last night. I used the light seer’s tarot by Chris Anne. I welcome any feedback or thoughts on my interpretation!
I can’t post a picture here but here are the cards we drew:
(1) king of swords
(2) 5 of swords
(3) 4 of cups reversed
(4) page of pentacles reversed
(5) king of cups
(6) the moon
(7) 2 of cups
(8) 10 of swords reversed
(9) 8 of cups reversed
This was a deeply meaningful reading. I read for my wife last night, so I will share my interpretation without getting too detailed to protect her privacy. She is a fiery Leo (the lion in the querent card!) who is currently going through a process of change that is bringing up tender emotions. I was struck with the cups in all four corners representing the depth of emotion in the aspects of her personality. From the head's viewpoint, we have anxiety around starting a new project - she is working to get a dream off the ground but has doubts about her ability and her resources. The King of Cups shows a strength - the work she has done to create balance in her emotional landscape and stay calm in the face of chaos. The reversed 4 of cups speaks to a weakness - her tendency to dismiss other beings (physical and spiritual) who want to support her dreams and provide her with resources.
On the heart side, we have the Moon. You can't get more watery than that. There is some confusion or uncertainty here about what her heart's viewpoint really is (and in reality it keeps shifting), and also a feeling of suspension. The heart's desire card, the 10 of swords reversed, was poignant. Her heart wishes to emerge from its wounding - betrayals from those who she loved, several of whom were blood relatives. This desire has been aided by the strength of our union (2 of cups), and requires a willingness to make sacrifices in order to move towards her heart's desire.
Overall, we also noted the predominance of the color blue in the reading as well as solitary figures (except for the 2 of cups). Since this was an "eye of horus" reading I think it's interesting to look at the eyes in the card images. None of the figures were looking directly at us except for the king of wands (card 1), who was staring right into her eyes, like he was telling her "eyes forward!" In order to bring herself into balance, she needs some more earth and fire energy for grounding and energizing. Nourishing and warming herbal remedies, spicy foods, touching grass, going for walks, and sex are on the agenda.
Thank you so much, Erica, for sharing this spread! Sending all the love and blessings.