The “Argent Helix” Second-Act Celtic Cross Variant
AUTHOR’S NOTE: In my essay yesterday I introduced the concept of a 15-card spread that is basically a Celtic Cross variant. Because it resembles a double ellipse (although a somewhat lopsided one like the lemniscate in the RWS 2 of Pentacles that suggests unbalanced change), and because tarot embodies the mystical nature of the Moon with its perpetually changing face, I decided to name it the “Argent Helix” second-act spread.
The first six cards — which exhibit the clockwise rotation of Eden Gray’s model and not A.E. Waite’s original “Sign of the Cross” progression — and the four cards of the “staff” will be familiar to Celtic Cross fans, although I’ve tweaked some of the position titles to reflect my own ideas that have evolved over five decades of using the spread. The five additional cards provide a “second act” to the outcome scenario. At first I intended to employ this expanded version only when the “end of the matter” card (Card #10 of the initial pull) is inconclusive, but after trying it in an actual reading I realized that it can serve as a comprehensive situational-development spread in its own right, with a number of “achievement milestones.”
Because it recognizes that a matter can come full circle and wind up back where it started if the “Final Outcome” card is similarly ambiguous or fails to offer substantive resolution, I envisioned Card #14 segueing back into Card #7 for another try. I didn’t contemplate adding any more cards if this happens, but I did include an optional 15th card at the center of the second loop (the “Breakout” card) to suggest a way that the querent might be able to escape a recurring negative pattern through some kind of assertive action. (If Card #14 provides adequate closure with no residual consequences, this card would not be needed.)
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on November 15, 2023.
