VioletMoon
First point: what Rodney said. Stick to one question.
Second: the Celtic Cross provides us with a lot of information which can just be an overload especially for beginners.
As you stated yourself, the secret is to connect the cards properly. I tried to dissect the CC over in the readings exchange's Newbies Circle to address this theme.
Try to start by looking at various relations like:
Subconscious - Conscious
Past-Present - Future
Near Future - Guidance - Outcome
Your own influence - Surrounding's influence
I think it's best to go at a CC in parts and then connecting the different findings.
Yeah, definitely agree. It was way too much for me to even understand, especially since I was linking some things to school and some to the relationship which made it more confusing. This was way over my head and I think a truncated version or just sticking to 3 cards and trying to connect them might be a good start.