Compiled by David C. Jones (djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu)

Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones.  Please see the table of
contents for the location of the full listing of the copyright
notice.

1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A) (Doane)

To do this spread, remove all 22 major arcana and the Ace of each
suit.  These are the only 26 cards used in the reading.

Layout:
Row 1:              03 18     04 17
Row 2:                    M C
Row 3:        02 19        |        05 16
Row 4:     20              |              06
Row 5:               ASC --+-- DES               22 21
Row 6:     01              |              15
Row 7:        11 10        |        14 07
Row 8:                    N C
Row 9:              12 09     13 08

Row 2 begins at the same height where row 1 ends.
Row 3 begins at the midpoint of Row 2
Row 5 begins where Row 3 ends
Row 7 begins where Row 5 ends
Rows 4 and 6 lie at the midpoints of Rows 3, 5, and 7
Rows 8 and 9 are symmetrical to rows 1 and 2
Cards are paired if their sum equals 21 (i.e. 3 and 18 are paired)
Paired cards should be adjacent to each other.
Pair 3/18 should meet at the same vertical line which divides the
     card ASC in half.  Follow symmetry.  Each pair is called a
     'throne'.  The throne number is the same as the lowest number
     of the pair.  (i.e. 3/18 make up the third throne)
Pair 22/21 is called the Staff
Note that ASC, DES, NC, and MC each denote only one card.

Deal:
The four Aces must go in the ASC, DES, NC, and MC position. 
Shuffle the four aces.  Place the first Ace in the position marked
ASC and continue in a clockwise direction.  (Humorous note: the
Doane/Keyes book says to shuffle and three-cut these cards as you
would the regular deck.  Is there actually anybody out there who
has ever bothered three-cutting a four card deck?)

The Major Arcana go in the remaining 22 locations.  Shuffle the
Arcana and deal as shown numerically in the above diagram.

Reading:
The four aces represent the Astral Kingdoms and relate to the four
angles of the horoscope.  Astrologically ASC represents ascendence
or first house and pertains to life.  MC stand for Midheaven or
tenth house and pertains to honor or business.  DES stands for
descendence or seventh house and pertains to love or war.  NC
stands for Nadir or fourth house and relates to secrets or
outcomes.  You should start your reading based on which kingdom
most closely relates to the question your querent has asked.  (ie
if the querent asks about marriage, start the reading in the
descending house)

The following is a suggested list of how to interpret each Ace in
each location:

   Ace | Ascendence     | Midheaven | Descendence | Nadir
==============================================================
Pent   | Strength       | Favorable | Great      | unfortunate
  acle | Vigor          | but req.  | Strength   | outcome
       | Vitality       | effort    |            |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wands  | Favorable      | Great     | Difficulty | struggle
       | Work or        | Power     | caused by  | or small
       | Responsibility |           | Difference | return
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cups   | Pleasures may  | Pleasure  | Joy and    | pleasant
       | deplete        | may ruin  | Happiness  | result
       | vitality       | honor     |            |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Swords | sickness/death | failure   | disputes   | favorable
       |                |           |            | outcome
--------------------------------------------------------------

Note that Asc and Des have three thrones while Mid and Nadir have
only two.  When reading the Asc or Des thrones, the center throne
(1 or 6) will indicate the most important factor of that throne.

Determine which kingdom is most appropriate to the Question.  Cards
in the thrones of this kingdom indicate what conditions caused the
outcome suggested by whichever Ace appearing in that kingdom. The
kingdom opposite the Question is the opposition.  It thrones detail
what opposes the querent. The kingdom immediately clockwise the
Question represent the events which will lead to the conclusion.
The kingdom counterclockwise to the Question yields the outcome of
the matter.  Its thrones give more specific detail of that end.

If the whole reading or any part of it seem contradicting, the
staff will reveal why the answer was unclear.