Taking time...and Tarot!

 

 Queen of Staffs (Queen of Wands)

from Alchemical Tarot

by Robert M. Place

 

A long while back--1994 and, apparently, updated in 2000--I wrote a piece about timing of events and processes in Tarot reading, and I've just rediscovered it. I think it holds up pretty damn well.

So, I thought I'd edit it slightly, add a few new items, and share it with you here. Use the Contact Eva form to let me know what you think and what your own experiences with timing in Tarot have been.

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The Tarot and Time--Some Suggestions
by Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Using Time/Energy Factors in Tarot:

If you are looking for indicators of time period, timing of action, or pacing of energy in a Tarot spread, here are my suggestion for how the cards may give you helpful clues. Of course, remember to interpret everything creatively and intuitively within the context of the specific question and reading.

Swords (air) can mean fast, airborne energy; something happening very quickly; can also be any time period governed by the air signs of the zodiac (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius).

Wands (fire) can mean fast, fire-borne energy; something happening soon. Relationship to the Sun card means happening within a day or days. The number of wands could indicate number of days. Can also be any time period governed by the fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius).

Cups (water) can mean slow, gradual, deep movement. Relationship to The Moon card means happening within a month or months. Takes a little time to develop. The number of cups could indicate number of months. Can also be any time period governed by the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).

Pentacles (earth) can mean extremely slow; year or years. The number of pentacles could indicate number of years. Can also be any time period governed by the earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).

Aces--the beginning of something, new cycle

Twos, Threes, Fours--early on in a process

Fives--mid-point in a process but also possibly a significant turning point

Sixes, Sevens, Eights--far along in a process; all significant stages along the way

Nines or Tens--a process coming to fruition, prelude to a new cycle

Kings--the past; long development of experience; maturing

Queens--the status quo present

Pages and Knights--the new, the active present, what's potential

The Fool--impulsive; things happening very quickly; unplanned and potentially disruptive.

Magician--things may happen quickly but only after skillful arrangement, effort, willpower.

High Priestess--slow energy; things happen only after something is tested, revealed or discovered; may take time and effort.

The Empress--gradual, steady, natural; things may take time to develop and possibly only in relation to the prior or simultaneous development of associated things.

The Emperor--things may take a long time to manifest but, when tangible, will move rapidly.

Hierophant--things happen easily only after appropriate connections and understandings are made, then movement flows steadily.

The Lovers--things happen only after a decision has been reached or a change in thinking has occurred, then movement is quick.

The Chariot--things may happen, facilitated by internal and/or external momentum. Some care should be taken in one's movement.

Strength--things happen only after something is brought into sharp focus. Proceed in a careful, moderate way with guidance.

The Hermit--things happen in a fairly slow, careful manner or after a period of careful thought, planning, meditation, and/or solitude. The pace of events is determined by one's inner processes and needs, not by pressures of the outside world.

The Wheel of Fortune--things happen in cycles; things happen again; necessity to know exactly where you are in a certain external or internal cycle and to act or make your decisions from that awareness.

Justice--things happen only when there is balance or when the right decision has been reached, then they can proceed swiftly.

The Hanged Man--very slow, gradual, steady development; natural time; nothing forced. It is advised to stop action and wait. This card can also indicate a period of looking into the past, regressing or having a sense of being regressed, or feeling stuck. Can be a necessary and helpful period of suspension.

Death--dramatic change; beginning of a new cycle.

Temperance--gradual, moderate development; things happen only as a result of healing or balancing process.

The Devil--regression; sense that time has stopped or moved backwards; inertia; things happen only when lessons have been learned and you've moved on from the past--or--challenging things happen again and again until awareness changes them.

The Tower--rapid, dramatic change; break with the past; usually unplanned, unexpected.

The Star--things can happen after a period of cleansing or after something has been communicated to others or others have been activated; then they happen with ease; can be unusual, unexpected.

The Moon--gradual, natural change; observe and follow the lunar cycle.

The Sun--daily occurrences; natural cycles of highs and lows in life.

Judgement--things happen only after different things are each acknowledged and drawn together; things happen only after awareness is heightened.

The World--holistic sense of time--timelessness; past, present, and future as one an all equally valuable and accessible.

©1994, 2000, 2021 Eva Yaa Asantewaa