Game Plan Spread

Difficulty: Easy
When you have a certain plan in mind, this simple 5-card spread presents a choice, hinting at what action or attitude should be taken for your plan to succeed, and what should be avoided in order to help your plan work out for the best.
The initial card is laid in the center of the layout, the significator. The following 4 cards are laid out clockwise around the significator.
In this spread, the second card shows what drives you, but also says you are not fully conscious of this, perhaps even completely unaware of it. It gives you a hint as to the reason that you strive for your goal.
The third card shows what others think of you and your goals. You may or may not be aware of this. Sometimes other people factor into your plans, and sometimes they don’t.
The fourth card shows what you should not do. If things are permitted to go down this path, your plan will collapse.
The fifth card is a hint as to how to make your plan work out favorably. The idea that this card presents should be followed in order to make your plan a success. It is the differences between Cards #4 and #5 that should be noted, as the differences provide the clues you need.
Your Game Plan Reading with the Thoth Tarot
Unconscious Drive
![]() 5 of Swords |
External Influences ![]() The Tower |
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Significator
![]() 10 of Wands |
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How it Will Succeed
![]() 4 of Wands |
How it Will Not Succeed
![]() The Aeon |
10 of Wands
Saturn in Sagittarius – Oppression
The number Ten refers to Malkuth, which depends from the other nine Sephiroth, but is not directly in communication with them. It shows the Force detached from its spiritual sources. It is become a blind Force; so, the most violent form of that particular energy, without any modifying influences. The flames in the back ground of the card have run wild. It is Fire in its most destructive aspect.
The whole picture suggests Oppression and repression. It is a stupid and obstinate cruelty from which there is no escape. It is a Will which has not understood anything beyond its dull purpose, its 'lust of result', and will devour itself in the conflagrations it has evoked.
5 of Swords
Venus in Aquarius – Defeat
The intellect has been enfeebled by sentiment. The defeat is due to pacifism. Treachery also may be implied.
The hilts of the swords form the inverted pentagram, always a symbol of somewhat sinister tendency. Here matters are even worse; none of the hilts resembles any of the others, and their blades are crooked or broken. They give the impression of drooping; only the lowest of the swords points upwards, and this is the least effective of the weapons. The rose of the previous card has been altogether disintegrated.
The Tower
Mars
Quarrel, combat, danger, ruin, destruction of plans, sudden death, escape from prison.
The Aeon
Fire
Final decision in respect of the past, new current in respect of the future; always represents the taking of a definite step.
4 of Wands
Venus in Aries – Completion
This card refers to Chesed in the suit of Fire. Being below the Abyss, it is the Lord of all manifested active Power. The original Will of the Two has been transmitted through the Three, and is now built up into a solid system: Order, Law, Government. It is also referred to Venus in Aries, which indicates that one cannot establish one's work without tact and gentleness. The wands are headed by the Ram, sacred to Chesed, the Father-god Amoun-Ra, as also to Aries; but at the other end of the wands are the Doves of Venus.
In the symbol, the ends of the wands touch a circle, showing the completion and limitation of the original work. It is within this circle that the flames (four double, as if to assert the balance) of the Energy are seen to play, and there is no intention to increase the scope of the original Will.