Tea & Tarot: Expanded Celtic Cross

Today I am drinking - Oregon Chai Latte made from the original latte concentrate.
I enjoy this concentrate because it is easy to make into either hot or cold drinks when I'm busy or immersed in a projects (its also easy for me to request others to make as it doesn't require me to explain how much sugar and milk I take in my other black teas). 
This chai is very mild, not nearly as spicy as other chais I have sampled. This can be a good thing if you find some chai too intense. I like intense, so I don't often drink this without adding a little extra something to it (like the Pumpkin Spicy Syrup discussed below). 
This is a great option for those who are busy or on the go (fantastic for travel). 
I give it 4 out of 5 stars for convenience and variety. 

How-to Make Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte at Home!

Before we get into this recipe, i want to say that, yes, I am aware this is not a "real" latte because I didn't heat the milk and create foam as a latte demands. You can heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave but I am not sure how to make the foam without special equipment so...those of you who are barista purists, I hope you will forgive me. 

For this recipe you will need

• Chai
  
• Hot water (of course)
  
• Milk (your choice of type)
  
• Pumpkin Spice Syrup
  
• Cinnamon (optional)
  

Brew your chai tea as you would normally. If you like it strong, add an extra bag to your mug or pot. 
Add a tablespoon of Pumpkin Spice Syrup to your mug. You can make it more or less depending on how sweet or strong you want the flavor to be. 
Add milk. 

Super simple, I know but can you imagine how much money you're saving by not spending $5 a pop on one of these at the local coffee spot? If you wanna feel fancy shmancy, add a dash of cinnamon to the top and put your chai in a branded to-go cup before you leave the house or settle in at your desk. Be sure to take a selfie and share it with me @SeerandSundry on Twitter!

Triadic Celtic Cross

The tarot spread for today's Tea&Tarot is an expansion on the traditional Celtic Cross spread created by Eileen Connolly. Most tarot readers know the Celtic Cross spread as it is the MOST used spread for tarot readings. It is a 10 card spread and, Eileen Connolly reads the positions as

1. This is what covers the question
   
2. This is what crosses the question (for good or bad)
   
3. This is the basis of the situation
   
4. This is behind you, or in the process of leaving
   
5. This is what crowns you and could come into being
   
6. This is before you
   
7. This represents your own negative feelings
   
8. This represents the feelings of others around you
   
9. This represents your own positive feelings
   
10. This is the outcome
    

For the expansion, Eileen's way of reading the Celtic Cross is important to use as it relates to the layout meanings for the second step - and that is what this spread is, a secondary step for the Celtic Cross to read further and deeper into the cards. 

I want to make it clear that this is Eileen's way of reading the Celtic Cross because many tarot readers have different meanings for some of the positions, myself included. 

For the expansion, for each position of the Celtic Cross you will have 3 cards instead of 1 for a total of 30 cards. The cards will, for the main body of the cross, be placed in a triangular formation, while for the side bar will be laid out horizontally. 

Eileen, in Tarot - The Handbook for the Journeyman, says that the Triadic Celtic Spread can "open the Pandora's Box of what's really going on deep inside you." She goes on to make clear that this is not a forecast or fortune-telling spread; "it is to allow you to understand how and why events occur." 
Pictured is my spread created regarding a business question I had:

This is, obviously, not a spread I recommend for daily reading or a quick and simple question. My recommendation is to use this spread for times when your question has a lot of facets to consider and is effecting your life in more than just one area. Have your notebook or tarot journal handy for copious notes. Having this many cards going at once can make it difficult to see and make connections from one card to another. I personally filled up 7 pages in my own tarot journal just from this one reading with notes on location, timing cards, how one card not only effects the triad that it is in but cards on the other side of the reading, and more. 
I also recommend you do this spread in an area where you have ample space...my normal tarot altar could not contain 30 cards splayed at once so I had to move to my desk. Remember, sacred space can be created anywhere - even the floor of your living room or bedroom if necessary. 

Final Notes

Don't be afraid of do-it-yourself recipes or large readings. Both can be super beneficial to your life and magickal practice.