Tips for Determining Timing of Events in Tarot Readings

Ah, you’re basking in the satisfaction of having delivered a beautifully insightful Tarot reading. But then your Querent (reading requestor) leans forward, looks you in the eye, and asks the elusive and dreaded When question. More specifically, when a potential outcome denoted in the reading will potentially occur. Even if you prefer not to entertain timing questions, you may occasionally be pressed to do so. In this case, it will serve you well to have trusted tips in your toolkit for determining timing of events in your Tarot readings.

Since the future is indeed not written in stone, I personally resist giving timing of events in my Tarot readings. For anyone involved in a situation can make a change that either speeds up or slows down an upcoming event. Thus, the timing of things is always in flux. But if you must pin down timing to a number of days, weeks, months or years, try these helpful tips for determining timing of events in your Tarot readings.

Note: If you’re using a spread with a Near Future card position, that card’s event generally may occur in days to weeks. Thus, it follows that your spread’s Final Outcome card position generally denotes timing further out, such as months to years. Remember these are possibilities not absolutes.

Tips for Determining Timing of Events in Tarot Readings

Far too frequently, a Querent will ask after the reading has been laid out when an event, denoted by the Final Outcome card, will occur. Now, the hunt for the elusive timing answer is afoot. And fortunately, the below timing tips will come in handy for this arduous task.

Note: Tips #1 and #2 assume the reading’s cards have been drawn and point to the likelihood an event will occur. Then an additional card is drawn as a timing indicator. In other words, don’t use any of the cards in the reading as a timing indicator. Instead, after laying out the reading, reshuffle the same deck and draw one card for answering the timing question.

Tip #1 – Determine Timing Based on a Minor Arcana Card’s Number Plus its Suit Unit of Time or Season:

First, the Minor Arcana cards are divided into 4 Suits with Ace through 10 pip cards, and 4 Court cards each. For Minor Arcana card numbering purposes, Aces are 1, Pages are 11, Knights are 12, Queens are 13, and Kings are 14. The remaining Minor Arcana cards are numbered 2-10.

Then each Minor Arcana Suit has historically been associated with an element, season of the year, and unit of time. However, you’ll find that both the unit of time and season assigned to each Suit varies somewhat among Tarot texts and websites.

Nonetheless, whichever system you choose will work for you. Because, as long as you’re consistent with the system you’ve chosen to use, the “Wisdom of the Tarot” will know the appropriate card to bring up for you.

Below is a list of the Suit associations I’ve adopted. Here the Suit element and season happens to line up with the 4 Cardinal Zodiac signs of Astrology.

• Wands – Fire Element- Spring (Aries)- its card number in days or in Spring
• Cups – Water Element – Summer (Cancer) – its card number in months or in Summer
• Swords – Air Element – Autumn (Libra) – its card number in weeks or in Autumn
• Pentacles – Earth Element – Winter (Capricorn) – its card number in years or in Winter

Therefore, a drawn 10 of Swords timing indicator card indicates the event may occur in 10 weeks or in Autumn. And a drawn 6 of Pentacles indicates the event may occur in 6 years or in Winter.

Tip #2 – Determine Timing Based on a Major Arcana Card’s Astrological Association:

Twelve of the twenty-two archetypal Major Arcana cards are associated with a Zodiac sign. Therefore, if a below Major Arcana card comes up as your timing indicator, use its corresponding Zodiac‘s time period.

• Emperor – Aries – March 21 – April 19

• Hierophant – Taurus – April 20 – May 20

• Lovers – Gemini – May 21 – June 21

• Chariot – Cancer – June 22 – July 22

• Strength – Leo – July 23 – August 22

• Hermit – Virgo – August 23 – September 22

• Justice – Libra – September 23 – October 23

• Death – Scorpio – October 24 – November 21

• Temperance – Sagittarius – November 22 – December 21

• Devil – Capricorn – December 22 – January 19

• Star – Aquarius – January 20 – February 18

• Moon – Pisces – February 19 – to March 20

However, if a Major Arcana card not associated with a Zodiac sign is drawn for a timing indicator, it denotes the timing is not currently known. Perhaps the event won’t occur until the Querent resolves a personal issue that relates to the card’s Archetype.

Tip #3 – Determine Timing by Including a Specific Time Frame in the Reading Question:

If your Querent gives you a time frame within their reading question, you have received a gift. For this is the easiest way to determine event timing. And if they haven’t given you a time frame, you can always arbitrarily add one to their question. For example. What is coming up for me in my career in the next 6 months, or the next 5 years, etc.

But be sure to choose the time frame for the reading before shuffling and laying out the cards. Then you can trust the reading will show only events likely to occur within the question’s incorporated time frame. Trust the Wisdom of the Tarot on this.

Tip #4 – Determine Timing Using a Yes/No Programmed Pendulum:

For this method a pendulum is held above the reading’s Outcome card, while asking a specific timing question. For example, will this occur in blank number of weeks?, months?, or years? Keep asking until you get a yes on a number and a unit of time.

Programming your pendulum for Yes/No answers: For this method, program your pendulum to give a Yes answer by swinging back-and-forth and a No answer side-to-side. This is similar to one’s head movements in answering Yes and No questions. Then choke the pendulum’s chain about 1 inch from its top and hold it directly over the card you are asking the timing for.

Tip #5 – Determine Timing Using “If This, Then That”

An additional tip is to incorporate an “if this, then that” component in lieu of a unit of time. In other words, when the Querent does or does not perform said action, the event will occur. For example, If the Querent learns the lessons from their former disastrous relationship, they will find a more appropriate partner. For you must know what you don’t want in order to know what you do want to attract into your life.

Final Words on These Tips for Determining Timing of Events in Tarot Readings

I can’t stress enough that you must choose your timing indicator technique(s) before you shuffle and lay out the cards. For the Wisdom of the Tarot needs a heads-up of your chosen technique to ensure the appropriate card comes up. And be sure to inform your Querent that the denoted events and the timing of them are possibilities, not absolutes.

I hope these tips for determining the likely timing of events are helpful for navigating your Tarot timing questions. Happy Taroting!

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