1

Covers: This cards describes a general influence on the specific area of the question.

2

Crosses: This is another element in the situation - it may be in opposition to the first or complementary to it. I used to read this card as 'opposing' the covering card, but 'complementary' seems to provide a more relevant result.
 

3

Below: This card refers to a specific incident or incidents in the past which are relevant to the question. Recent or distant past, this refers to some specific occurance that is part of the foundation of the present situation; some relationship event, some memory or some individual which endures in the querent's mind or circumstances.

This card should be compared with the next, to see if they are consistent or not - either way it can narrow down the interpretation.

4

Behind: This card refers to general life influences which have been in effect for a time, and which are ending now, or have just ended. This is almost an 'astrological' influence, usually - a general influence which provides a flavor for the recent past or present. It does NOT mean that this influence is all powerful or that our actions cannot break out of the general influence; it may just take some extra thinking and self observation.

A predisposition to impulsiveness during a particular time does NOT mean you give up on making balanced decisions - you may need to put in place certain precautions during this time.

5

Before: This card refers to general life influences are just now, or in the immediate future, beginning to influence the questioner. Similar influence and similar cautions to the card above.

6

Above: This refers to a specific incident, developing from the cards below which may occur in the future.
This one used to puzzle me; the first few suggestions I learned for this position seemes to offer it as a 'Results' Card - but I could not, for a while, sort out its relationship to card 10.

Now I think of it as a balance with the 'below' card - a specific event, which may occur or have a likelihood to occur ( have I made the point that we all have choices ?) on the way to the final result.

It may also be a 'subtotal' type thing - this may be what is the result of the cards 1 - 5 - then we add in the influences of cards 7, 8, and 9 and reach the final 'result' or possibility.

7

Self: This card centers on the questioner's self - those aspects, conscious or unconscious which are relevant to the question.
I've used this as 'what the questioner thinks of the situation?' but also as sometimes a marker to what part our own experience of being us has in the reading.

8

Surrounds: This card describes the environment and especially the people around the questioner as they are relevant to the question.

9

Hopes and Fears: As it says, the hopes, fears, or both, the questioner may have about the issue in question.Just keep in mind that it's sometimes not as simple as fear a bad thing, hope for a good one. Sometimes we hope for failure, or fear success. Read the other cards, especially 'self' and 'below'.

10

Result: This is what naturally follows from all the preceding influences and cards. 

Note:- This is not 'the Future'; if the questioner chooses to change any of the influences or choices described above, the result may very well be also changed.

H**l, changing the result is one of the reasons for reading Tarot - added insight into or selves and our beliefs and actions can CHANGE things, at least sometimes.

To believe else is to live the last night of the Titanic again and again - and the movie was bad enough !! (Three Hours ! - sorry, personal gripe)