Pirbid, hi,
 I find it quit traumatic to read about personal things, as the truth sometimes is not what they what to hear. Anyway I (use is not the right word but you get my meaning (I hope)) make the cards available for the evolvement of who you are.
Try too relate the astrology with the cards as they are: ie: Virgo = Hermit, Saturn = Death, Venus = Empress, Mercury = Magi, etc. I'm an Aries (Sunsign), Virgo Ascendant - my name adds up to 9 which in the Tarot is the Hermit which is related to Virgo which describes me very well, as I live alone and spend all of my time studying for that that I will never know (pessimism) and as the reading suggested the outside world don't understand the passion and therefore breaks in relationships are bound to occur, it is after 30 odd years of trying to be true to myself that I realize that we are and can not be perfect.
 Next topic: The Rose Cross spread is quite simple, the Golden Dawn produce a symbol of all there learning into the cross;
you have the four elements & spirit upon the arms plus the invoking pentagrams for each, knowing what element controls which physical state then it is possible to do this five card reading with quite accurate result; the reason is that there is no before or after there is only now.
I'll Leave it at this for you to see what you think, I have a lot more to relate but more is a bad thing, one last note all the Tarot cards are related to astrology, if you see a planet (Mercury) in a sign (Sagittarius) - see two Tarot cards together, Magi -  Virgo - Mercury  & Justice - Sag. - Jupiter.
 Here from you soon

I am a fairly pure Sag, so they have told me, with a Sag ascendant and the moon in Aquarius.

Interesting, matching cards to planets and signs. Even though I am unable to read (much less calculate) an astrological chart, I do have a fair idea of what each sun sign is like and how each planet can give you their strengths and weaknesses (if one wants to see them as such). For example, I feel Jupiter a lot in my love for learning and teaching. And I can easily see the Hermit's Virgo side. I knew Saturn was the Death planet (and the regent for Capricorn?), Venus the Empress (Libra?), Mercury the Magician (Gemini?)...

I still have a lot to learn! I believe there are many decks that have all the astrological symbols clearly depicted in each card (I do not think any of mine have them, though, so I will just have to learn them). By the way, You probably know by heart all astrological connections to the Major Arcana. I also know the Court Cards stand for different signs (4 of them repeated). Do you know those, too? But, what I am really curious about is: do the pips also have a clear astrological link?

About the Rose Cross, let's see if I got this right: each of the arms stands for an element, so Air - Mind, worries (do you put this card at the top of the cross?), Earth - Body, health, material things (at the bottom?), Water - Emotions (left, intuitive side?), Fire - Energy, activity (right, outgoing side?) with the Spirit in the center. I understand this is not the typical past-present-future reading, but a snapshot of the here and now. What I do not understand is the "invoking pentagrams for each" bit. Had never heard of it. I would be grateful for a small explanation on this subject.  

Pirbid,
 The Rose Cross, I have one in front of me, actually it is within my view all the time, as with the pentagrams when reading before laying the card down on the cross I visually invoke the pentagram of the corresponding element. You are correct in your assignment of the cross, and if I may this relates this to Christianity, head (Ateth) mind-Air, (Geburah)Left- Water (heart)Emotion, right- Fire (Gedulah) Justice, Lower- (Mulkuth) Earth, Physical, Centre is the Rose of creation, below but above is Spirit, your true self.
 One word of advice, do not try too hard as you will end up confused as I was in my fisrt 20 years, too much input is a bad thing.
Those Words above in brackets are Kabballistic if your unsure of them just Google them and you will see that they to relate to the planets and the Tarot.
 Keep in touch

Pirbid,
Switch Geburah & Gedulah not there corrospondances just there hebrew names.
James

Pirbid Hi,
 Pips on cards? Now your getting into numerology. Each number has a correspondence and a meaning (you are now delving into Cabala.) The pips on a card stand for where it is positioned upon the Tree of Life, a 5 of swords would indicate danger or swiftness of justice, a 5 of cups - leniency, 5 of Wands - Overbearing stubbornness, 5 of Pents - monetary cruelty