Elemental dignities .... help please

[Polyhymnia]

This may be a very silly question with an obvious answer, so please bear with my possibly over working mind. I am endeavoring to understand how to read elemental dignities. I have found some good sites and (now, lol) understand the relation between the elements.

My question is this; No where can I find anything on how to read spreads. When the cards are placed in a line, well that is obvious. But, when we have a spread like; (for example)

1 ........... 2
.. 5 . 6 .7 ..
3 ........... 4

How is this read? Do we treat them as if in a line 1234567 or do we literally read them as they are placed; 153 356 567 etc? Because if we read them as they are placed we have many more options of "pairing" and if we read them as they are pulled 1234567, the cards are not really in their "true" (laid out) position

I know there are quite a few of you that are amazing with the elemental dignities, so any help and guidance you can give me would be ever so appreciated.

Thanking you in advance Poly

[Fianic]

If i were to read a spread like this...

I would read 567 as a three...

Then pair...
12
34
13
24

[rwcarter]

I tend to read EDs in triads of adjacent cards, so I would read 567, 153, and 274. Now in a layout like that, it would seem that each card would have an individual meaning and then I would look at the triads for additional info.

HTH,
Rodney

[starrystarrynight]

Yes, that's how I would read the triads in this spread, as well, Rodney.

1-5-3
5-6-7
and
2-7-4

[Masa]

I was wondering this not long ago, too. After reading that the Golden Dawn had two spreads--the Celtic Cross and the Opening of the Key--I decided that the whole concept of spreads is specifically designed to be a "simpler" method of reading that gives you more hints about what everything means. On the other hand, ED is a big part of the more advanced approach that gets taken to its brain-straining conclusion in the OotK. So most of the time, when I use the really intensive ED stuff it's in spreadless readings.

However, I've started paying attention to elemental dignities in other spreads. Like in the Celtic Cross, I take note of the relative "strength" of each of the four points of the cross, which is easy because they're arranged into three-card points. I don't pay as much attention in the staff, but only because it doesn't have the same visual cue and therefore doesn't seem as important. I like it this way, but it may mark me as a noob.

[Polyhymnia]

Thank you All

Looks like reading in triads has the major consensus, which suits me as there are less combinations to fathom

Still, I think perhaps when I am more adept at reading the ED's I will probably have my own "system" as each of you do. But for now, I have a springing board.

Thanks again