When the Emperor Goes to War: The French Cross

Le tirage en croix, or the Cross Spread, is among the most widely practised methods of tarot reading. It appears in the majority of French tarot literature and has long been favoured for its elegance and directness. One of the principal reasons for its enduring popularity is its capacity to provide a clear and decisive response to a question—indeed, it may even yield a simple affirmative or negative where appropriate.

For some practitioners, the notion of using the Tarot to obtain a “yes or no” answer is considered rather objectionable. However, among most continental readers, such an approach is entirely de rigueur. After all, do not many questions, when properly distilled, come down to a straightforward affirmation or refusal? I have always found myself more sympathetic to the continental tradition than to the somewhat diffuse sensibilities of the modern Anglo-style New Age approach. When one consults an oracle, one does so in pursuit of clarity, not greater confusion. A tarot reading ought, in my view, to address the question succinctly; otherwise, one may fairly ask what purpose it serves.

The Cross Spread

Like the Celtic Cross, the Cross Spread exists in a variety of forms. The version presented here is both standard and the one I personally employ:

Card 1 (Left): The querent, and their manner of approaching the situation.
Card 2 (Right): The situation itself, including external influences, whether favourable or adverse.
Card 3 (Above): Advice and guidance.
Card 4 (Below): The outcome.
Card 5 (Centre): The synthesis.

Unlike the first four cards, the fifth is not drawn but calculated. One adds together the numerical values of the four cards already laid, using the Major Arcana, and reduces the result to a number not exceeding 22.

For example, should one draw the Fool (0), the Devil (15), the Star (17), and the Hermit (9), the calculation is as follows:

0 + 15 + 17 + 9 = 41

As this exceeds 22, one reduces it further: 4 + 1 = 5. The resulting number corresponds to the Pope (or Hierophant), which serves as the synthesis.

It should be evident that this synthesis card is not to be read as an additional outcome; that function is already fulfilled by the fourth card. Rather, the synthesis reveals the underlying dynamics—the deeper currents and governing principles at work within the matter under consideration.

A brief note should be made regarding the Fool. When it appears among the first four cards, it is assigned the numerical value of 0 for the purposes of calculation. However, the matter is treated somewhat differently in the case of the synthesis. Should the final total reduce to 22, the Fool is taken as the synthesis card. In this way, the Fool retains both its numerical absence and its symbolic primacy: it is at once nothing and everything, the beginning and the end. This dual function is entirely in keeping with its role within the Greater Arcana, and it serves as a subtle reminder that, even in the most structured of methods, the Tarot admits of paradox.

On Method and Practice

Some years ago, I encountered an argument—during a rather spirited exchange on Facebook—that while the Cross Spread is well suited to the Tarot de Marseille, it is ill-matched to decks such as the Crowley-Harris Thoth Tarot. The objection rested largely upon the use of the Greater Arcana alone. According to this view, such practice runs counter to the philosophy of certain decks, wherein the Greater and Lesser Arcana are intended to function in close interdependence. It is further argued that the Greater Arcana, taken in isolation, cannot adequately address more mundane concerns.

I must confess that I do not share this opinion. Throughout much of my own practice, I have regularly made use of the Greater Arcana alone. It is true that I feel most at ease with the Marseille tradition; however, I have also worked extensively with the trumps of both the Thoth and Rider–Waite–Smith systems in isolation. At no point have I found these cards incapable of speaking to matters on the material plane. After all, what one is doing in any reading is nothing more than interpreting cards’ essence within context, be it exoteric or esoteric.

Since completing the colouring of my first Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.) deck, I have taken considerable pleasure in working with it—including in the context of the Cross Spread and Astrological Wheel, employing only the Greater Arcana. What follows is an example of such a reading.

Sofia’s Reading

The reading below was conducted during the summer of 2025 for a colleague. Sofia had met her husband whilst at university. They became engaged shortly after graduating and had been married for eleven years. Sadly, the relationship had been under strain for some time. Despite attending relationship counselling and making sincere efforts to begin afresh, the same difficulties persisted. Sofia was increasingly concerned, not only for the marriage itself, but also for the effect the situation was having upon their two young children.

Question: Can this relationship be saved?

The cards drawn were as follows:

The Emperor (4)

Death (13)

The Devil (15)

The Tower (16)

For the synthesis:

4 + 13 + 15 + 16 = 48 = 4 + 8 = 12

The synthesis is therefore the Hanged Man.

I said to Sofia, “Yes, but only if you’re prepared to sacrifice everything and live with ghosts.”

Sofia is signified by the Emperor. In Book T¹, one of the attributions given to the Emperor is “war,” and it is clear that Sofia was prepared to fight for her marriage. The Emperor does not readily accept defeat, and the failure of the relationship would feel, at least in part, like a personal failure.

Opposing the Emperor is Death. The image is striking. Sofia is prepared to struggle against forces that have been acting upon the marriage for many years. In relationship readings, the second card often describes either the partner or the relationship itself. Here, Death suggests that time, experience, and changing circumstances have altered the marriage fundamentally. What once bound the couple together no longer operates as it once did. The relationship has reached a point where it must either find a new basis upon which to continue or come to an end.

The advice position is occupied by the Devil. Here, I read the card in terms of material ties and practical obligations. After eleven years of marriage, Sofia and her husband have built a shared life: a home, finances, and the responsibility of raising two children. Should the marriage end, there would be considerable practical consequences. The Devil reminds Sofia to consider not only the emotional realities of the situation, but the material ones as well. From this perspective, the status quo can be retained albeit at a price.

The outcome is the Tower. Rather than a sudden calamity, I see it here as a structure that can no longer support the forces acting upon it. The marriage has changed, but the couple continue to relate to it as though it were the same relationship they entered into eleven years earlier. The Tower suggests this is no longer possible. The structure of the marriage has shifted and can no longer accommodate its present dynamics. What was has gone and cannot be restored.

Yet the reading does not conclude with the Tower. The synthesis is the Hanged Man, which reveals the underlying dynamic of the situation. The card does not suggest that the relationship cannot be saved. Rather, it indicates that it can continue only through sacrifice. Sofia would need to relinquish her expectations for the future and accept the uncomfortable reality that the marriage she once knew no longer exists. The relationship may endure, physically and materially, but only if both parties are prepared to let go of what was and make their peace with what remains. Otherwise, it will be a time-bomb.

Ultimately, the reading is quite simple. Sofia has the grit and determination of the Emperor to preserve the bonds of marriage represented by the Devil. Yet that marriage has been fundamentally altered by Death, and, as the Tower suggests, old bones (all that remains) make poor building blocks. Whether the relationship is worth preserving under such circumstances is the question posed by the Hanged Man. The marriage may survive, but only as a ghost of what it once was.

Sofia and her husband split six months later.

This example also illustrates a point often overlooked in discussions about tarot methods. Whether one is working with the Tarot de Marseille, the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Thoth Tarot, or a B.O.T.A. deck, it is perfectly possible to obtain direct and unambiguous answers. The key lies not in the artwork or even the system itself, but in keeping a firm eye on both essence, function and context. The cards reveal the essential nature of a situation; the reader’s task is to understand that essence within the context of the question asked. Do that consistently, and the Tarot rarely lacks clarity.

Cards: BOTA Tarot © Builders of the Adytum

Footnotes:

Regardie, I. (1989) The Golden Dawn: An account of the teachings, rites, and ceremonies of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Stella Matutina): A complete course in practical ceremonial magic. Saint Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. ↩︎

27 July, 202623 July, 2026

Sailing on the Seven Seas: The Ship Card

Some sailed to the sea in ships to trade on mighty waters. These men have seen the Lord’s deeds, and wonders he does in the deep.
Psalm 106: 23 – 24, Grail Translation

And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
Gone from my Sight, Henry Van Dyke

Ship, indicates wealth obtained by commerce or by inheritance; it also means travel when it is located near the person.

Original Instructions

Card No. 3, the Ship or Boat, is represented by the Ten of Spades. At first glance, its meaning appears rather straightforward. Surely it signifies travel and little more? Yet, as with many Lenormand cards, a closer examination of the eikōn reveals a richer and more nuanced symbolism.

The Essence and Function of the Ship

The traditional eikōn depicts a large sea-going vessel, usually a galleon, carrack, or merchant ship, its sails billowing as it makes its way across the ocean. Some decks show one or two additional vessels upon the horizon, reinforcing the impression of long-distance travel, commerce, and movement between distant places.

The essence of the Ship is movement and its function is transport.

To appreciate the significance of the card, one must remember the world from which the Petit Lenormand emerged. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, most people never strayed particularly far from their place of birth. Long-distance travel was neither commonplace nor inexpensive. Journeys by sea were often arduous, time-consuming, and fraught with uncertainty. Nevertheless, ships remained essential. They connected nations, facilitated trade, transported goods, and enabled the exchange of ideas, cultures, and opportunities.

For this reason, the Ship’s most immediate and enduring significance remains travel. Whether by land, sea, or air, the card signifies the act of undertaking a journey and moving from one place to another. If the Ship appears prominently near the significator, one may often predict with confidence that the querent will soon travel or that a journey will play an important role in forthcoming events.

Yet the Ship should not be understood solely in a literal sense. Its symbolism extends beyond physical travel into the broader concept of movement itself. In a reading, the card often invites us to consider the course upon which the seeker presently finds themselves. Is their life progressing towards a destination, or have they drifted off course? Are they making steady progress, or are they becalmed and unable to advance? Such questions naturally arise when the Ship appears.

The card can also indicate expansion and the broadening of horizons. Just as a ship carries people and goods beyond the confines of their familiar surroundings, so too can it suggest the need to venture into new markets, acquire new experiences, or seek opportunities beyond one’s customary sphere. In this respect, the Ship can be particularly valuable in business readings.

González Cabrera Bueno, José, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

For entrepreneurs and those engaged in commerce, the Ship frequently raises questions of distribution, reach, and growth. How might a product be transported to a wider audience? Which new market remains unexplored? What avenue of expansion has yet to be considered? In such instances, particular attention should be paid to the card towards which the Ship is travelling. That card may indicate precisely where one should look for new customers, fresh opportunities, or increased sales.

Ultimately, the Ship is a card of departure and progression. It rarely permits stagnation. Whether manifesting as a literal journey, a commercial venture, a personal development, or a widening of one’s horizons, the Ship encourages movement from the known towards the unknown, carrying the seeker beyond their present shores and towards new possibilities.

As always, the surrounding cards determine whether the movement represented by the Ship is functioning smoothly or encountering obstacles. A vessel sailing freely conveys a very different picture from one struggling against contrary winds and treacherous seas.

Coda:

Whether appearing in questions of travel, business, relationships, or personal growth, the Ship invariably signifies movement from one state to another. It is the card of journeys, horizons, and expansion; of leaving the familiar behind in pursuit of wider opportunities. Above all, the Ship reminds us that progress rarely occurs whilst we remain safely in harbour.

Person and Description

The Ship is not ordinarily employed as a significator. Nevertheless, when it appears alongside a person card, it can provide valuable information regarding both physical appearance and temperament.

Physical Appearance

Traditionally, the Ship introduces an element of foreignness or distinction into a person’s appearance. Such a description should be treated with caution, however, for what is considered foreign or exotic is often relative to the perceptions and experiences of the querent. In practice, it is usually safer to say that the individual possesses a distinctive appearance or stands out in some notable fashion.

The Ship frequently describes a taller individual, often with a lean or elongated frame. The hair tends towards darker shades and, particularly in men, may possess a slightly windswept or untidy quality, as though shaped by the elements. The eyes frequently tend towards blue or green, reflecting the maritime symbolism of the card.

As with all descriptive cards, the surrounding cards may refine or modify these indications.

Temperament

When describing character, the Ship corresponds most closely to the traditional sanguine temperament. Of the four classical temperaments, the sanguine is perhaps the most adventurous, optimistic, and outward-looking. Such individuals possess a natural curiosity about the wider world and are rarely content to confine themselves to a narrow sphere of experience.

See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ship person enjoys discovering new places, meeting new people, and exchanging ideas. They are often sociable, friendly, and receptive to different perspectives. Just as the merchant vessel carries goods from one port to another, these individuals delight in making connections between people, places, and opportunities.

There is also a strongly enterprising quality to the Ship. The traditional eikōn is not merely a vessel of exploration but one of commerce. Consequently, those represented by the Ship frequently possess a commercial instinct and an eye for opportunity. They are inclined to look beyond familiar boundaries and may prosper through trade, travel, networking, importation, exportation, or other pursuits which broaden their horizons and extend their reach.

At their best, they are adaptable, optimistic, resourceful, and possessed of a genuine enthusiasm for life. Their willingness to embrace change often enables them to succeed where more cautious individuals hesitate.

At their worst, however, they may become restless, dreamy, unsettled, or perpetually in search of the next horizon. There can be a tendency to lose interest once the novelty of a situation has passed, or to pursue new opportunities before fully developing existing ones. Like the vessel depicted upon the card, they are seldom inclined to remain anchored in one harbour for long.

Special Features

Mode of Transport

Some cartomantes associate the Ship with all forms of transport, whether a motor car, bicycle, aeroplane, or boat. I have never found such a broad interpretation particularly convincing. For me, the Ship signifies only certain modes of transport.

When the Petit Lenormand emerged, the most common means of personal transport were horses, carts, and carriages. In our own time, the motor car, motorcycle, and bicycle fulfil much the same role. The deck already contains a card depicting a rider upon a horse: the Cavalier. If we wish to signify personal transportation—a journey undertaken under one’s own control—the Cavalier frequently serves this purpose admirably.

By contrast, the traditional eikōn of the Ship depicts a large sea-going vessel intended for long-distance travel and commerce. A galleon was not used for local errands or daily commuting. It carried people and goods across great distances and often beyond national frontiers.

For this reason, I associate the Ship with trains, coaches, buses, aeroplanes, ferries, cruise liners, and, naturally, ships themselves. The common thread is not merely transportation, but transportation over distance. Unlike the Cavalier, where the traveller directs his own mount, the Ship usually indicates a person being conveyed by a larger system of transport.

This distinction is important. The Ship concerns long-distance travel and those means of transport that carry us beyond our usual sphere. It is less about driving to the shops and more about crossing borders, horizons, and significant distances.

Longing

Beyond physical travel, the Ship can also signify longing. Just as the traveller gazes towards a distant shore, the card captures the feeling of desiring something that lies beyond one’s immediate reach.

This interpretation is most often encountered when the Ship appears with another person card. In such circumstances, the card frequently indicates that the individual is absent, distant, or otherwise unavailable. The separation may be geographical, emotional, or circumstantial, but the defining feature is the same: the absence is keenly felt and seldom forgotten.

The Ship therefore speaks of yearning, homesickness, missing a loved one, or desiring something that remains beyond one’s immediate grasp. In relationship readings, particularly for those seeking a partner, it can indicate a longing for companionship, romance, or a future not yet realised.

Inheritance

Inheritance may seem an unusual signification for the Ship until one reflects upon the card’s essential function. The Ship transports people and goods from one place to another. Inheritance can be understood in much the same way: the transfer of a legacy from one person or generation to the next.

For this reason, the Ship can occasionally signify an inheritance, legacy, bequest, or succession. This is by no means an everyday interpretation and one I have employed only on rare occasions. Nevertheless, in the appropriate context, particularly when supported by other cards, it can prove remarkably apt.

Timing

In matters of timing, the Ship operates at a measured pace. Unlike the rapid activity of the Birds or Moon, the Ship suggests a journey that takes time to complete. Consequently, it tends to operate in terms of months rather than days or weeks.

Over the years, I have also noticed an occasional association between the Ship and Stella Maris—Our Lady, Star of the Sea—whose feast is celebrated on 27 September. This is not a traditional Lenormand correspondence, but one that has appeared with sufficient regularity in my own practice to merit mention.

Health

In health matters, the Ship is associated anatomically with the liver, spleen, and gallbladder. In the appropriate context, combinations can provide further detail. For example, the Ship and Mountain may point towards obstruction within the gallbladder, including the possibility of gallstones.

More commonly, however, the Ship concerns movement and disorders associated with it. It can indicate disturbances of balance, co-ordination, motion, and spatial orientation. Likewise, it frequently appears in connection with travel sickness, seasickness, and anxieties associated with travel itself.

The Ship in Action

In early 2019, Joan consulted me regarding a business and enterprise course she was considering undertaking. Joan operated two businesses: a jewellery-making enterprise and a cleaning business run jointly with her husband. Her question was straightforward: what would she gain from taking the course?

The cards drawn were the Birch Rod, the Stars, the Book, the Park, and the Ship.

The answer was remarkably clear. The greatest benefit would be a better understanding of how to grow her businesses and expand her market.

The Birch Rod occupies the first position. As we have already seen, the essence of the Birch Rod is correction and its function is to discipline. The course would therefore require Joan to scrutinise her existing practices, tighten her business plans, and address weaknesses that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. It was not simply a matter of learning something new; it was a matter of refining what already existed.

This process naturally led to the Stars. Greater discipline and organisation would provide Joan with clarity, direction, and a more focused vision of where her efforts ought to be concentrated.

The Book revealed that there was still much to learn. More importantly, it suggested opportunities, customers, and possibilities that had not yet been discovered. The knowledge required for further growth existed, but it had yet to be accessed.

The combination of Book–Park–Ship was especially striking. The Book pointed towards hidden or unexplored knowledge. The Park expanded this into the public sphere and marketplace. Finally, the Ship showed expansion beyond existing boundaries. Taken together, the cards indicated that the course would help Joan identify and reach a market she was not presently serving.

Here the Ship functions in its broader sense of expansion and extending one’s horizons. Armed with fresh knowledge and a clearer direction, Joan would be able to take her products and services into previously uncharted territory. The course would not merely teach her how to run her businesses more effectively; it would show her where growth could be found and how to reach people beyond her current customer base.

In practical terms, the reading suggested that the greatest value of the course would be neither the qualification nor the certificate itself. Rather, it would provide Joan with the knowledge, clarity, and direction necessary to unlock new opportunities and bring her businesses before a wider audience. The Ship showed that she would be able to expand her horizons and, in doing so, reach more people through markets and opportunities that had previously remained unexplored.

Forthcoming articles will cover the Cross, the Bear, the Key, the Hound, the Fishes, the Stars, the High Tower, and the House cards.

Images:

Featured Image:

Ships on a Misty Morning. Ivan Aivazovsky. Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons.

Cards:

Lenormand Cards: Jeu Lenormand © Cartamundi, WanderWüst © Jorge/Wandering Oracle, Lenormand Fortune-Telling Cards © Zao-Gelli, The Lenormand Oracle © Verlag für die Frau, Leipzig, Nieuwe Lenormand © Amber Studio/Erna Droesbeke, Lenormand 36 Orakelspielkarten © Königsfurt-Urania

References:

Boroveshengra, A., 2013. Cartomantes’ Cabinet: The Petit Lenormand Course.
Boroveshengra, A., 2015. Lenormand Thirty Six cards. 2nd ed. Create Space.
Delclos, M., 2013. Le Livre du Petit Lenormand. 1st ed. Escalquens: Éd. Trajectoire.
Gelineau, J. (1985) The Grail Psalms: Translated from the Hebrew. London: Collins Liturgical Publications.
Marco, M. and Goffinet, J., 1989. Petit Lenormand. Bruxelles: Servranx.
Matthews, C. (2014) The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook: Reading the Language and Symbols of the Cards. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books.
Meuris, B., 2018. Petit Lenormand Encyclopaedia: Volume 1. Create Space.
Silvestre, C., 2003. Le Petit Lenormand. [Montpellier]: Gange éd.

26 July, 202626 July, 2026

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Threes Part 4

This article continues my series examining the trumps of the Tarot de Marseille, adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Threes: The Empress, the Hanged Man and the World

Let us now consider a different style of reading.

This example uses the tirage en ligne, or linear draw, a common feature of the French cartomantic tradition. Unlike the previous examples, there are no fixed positions. Instead, the cards are read sequentially, each developing the story told by the previous card.

The reading was conducted for Patricia. Her husband, Kevin, was a self-employed carpenter who had begun to experience difficulties obtaining sufficient work. As both were now in their early sixties, Patricia was understandably concerned that a prolonged decline in business could affect their retirement plans.

Her question was:

“What can be done to increase the business?”

The cards drawn were:

The Hermit – The Juggler – The Empress

The Hermit describes Kevin’s current approach. Like the Hermit, he relies upon experience, reputation, and the quality of his work. There is a sense of prudence and discretion here. Existing customers value his skills, but the card also suggests a reluctance to promote himself or adapt to changing circumstances. The Hermit carries a lantern rather than a banner. He seeks to be discovered rather than noticed.

The Juggler introduces the necessary change. Whereas the Hermit is discreet, the Juggler actively attracts attention. He understands presentation, visibility, and differentiation. The card suggests that Kevin must identify what distinguishes him from the many other carpenters operating in the area. What particular skills, services, or experience set him apart? The Juggler asks him to define his unique selling point and make it visible to potential customers.

For example, Kevin may possess specialist knowledge in restoration work, bespoke cabinetry, traditional joinery, or some other area in which he excels. Such expertise has considerable value, but only if potential customers are aware of it. The cards suggest that he should stop marketing himself merely as a carpenter and begin promoting whatever makes his business distinctive.

Having identified those strengths, the Empress shows how they should be used. The Empress is a communicator and network builder. She spreads information, makes introductions, and ensures that people know what is available. The card therefore advises greater emphasis upon marketing, referrals, networking, local advertising, social media, and recommendations from satisfied customers. It is not enough to possess expertise; others must know that expertise exists.

The three cards form a natural sequence. The Hermit possesses knowledge and experience. The Juggler packages that experience into something distinctive and memorable. The Empress then communicates it to the wider world. The problem is not a lack of skill, but the failure to move through the latter two stages.

It is also worth noting that the reading begins with the Hermit and concludes with the Empress. Symbolically, this is a movement from privacy towards visibility. Kevin’s experience remains his greatest asset, but the cards indicate that he has become too discreet. The knowledge that serves him well must now be brought into the public eye.

My conclusion was that Kevin’s difficulty did not arise from a lack of ability or experience. The opposite was true. The Hermit suggested that he possessed valuable skills developed over many years. The problem was visibility. Those skills first needed to be defined and differentiated by the Juggler, and then communicated by the Empress. In short, Kevin did not need to become a better carpenter; he needed to become better known.

This example illustrates an important principle of the tirage en ligne: each card develops the action of the previous one. The cards do not merely provide three separate answers. Together, they tell a story.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])