How do you answer the "when" question?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mj07	30 Apr 2004
When doing a tarot reading and someone asks "when" how do you interpret the cards? For example, did a reading for a friend in which one question was "when will I meet my soulmate?" (ya, I thought of this b/c someone else posted a question about it) and got something like the Page of Coins Rx... something like that. Just as an example, how do you answer questions like that? When will I get a new job? When will I get married? When will I have children? etc. etc.

HudsonGray	30 Apr 2004
Tarot doesn't read the future, just shows where it's heading. So the further forward you go, the more diffuse all the actions get. So the question isn't really answerable. If she asks 'will I meet him this week' that probably can be answered because life is already in play, but then if she stays home the whole week unless he's a salesman or Jehovah Witness, she's cut her chances of meeting the guy.

contrascarpe	30 Apr 2004
One of my Tarot Books touches on this but at the moment I cannot recall which one. I will search when I have a second, but there are methods out there. Personally, I agree with HudsonGray - Tarot is not absolute, it should be viewed IMHO as more of a guide, or an introspection tool. If a querent really presses, I would probably be tempted to be vague - "soon", "years from now". However, if they really get persistent, the wiseguy in me would probably say something like September 25, 2015 at 7 AM ....... then let them try to find me in 11 years for a refund, hehe. Dan

mj07	30 Apr 2004
thanks, I kinda figured that. I can't remember exactly what the card was, but considering all the other cards in the spread I said it meant that she's meet him after she became less concerned with financial problems and got out of the house more! :D

13thFaeChylde	30 Apr 2004
I was wondering this myself. You must have seen the request for a reading in my thread, mj07. I think I have a book with romantic spreads, and am going to check there when I get home for any pointers.

Phoenix Rising	30 Apr 2004
I know Joseph Martin has a great technique for timimg. Using the aces if they come up and yearly cycle. Numerology is very good for pinpointing timings as well. Or best time to do it.

tmgrl2	30 Apr 2004
I wondered that too, mj...when people talk about Tarot with me...I do tell them I don't use it to predict ...(Umbrae's ...birth, death, sickness...) ...but if there is a when I would probably try to assist the Q in reformulating the question...I spend a bit of time doing this with the few live readings I have done, since I basically use Tarot as a spiritual guidance Tool rather than predictive....doesn't mean I might not ask as I see the cards...e.g. Is there a very young person giving you some difficulty right now...I like the way Dan addresses this in the open of AT in his articles about the Process... terri

mj07	30 Apr 2004
FYI, I had been using this spread off Tarot Moon called "Looking for Love". The card I got was Ace of Pentacles Rx, and what I told her was she'll find love when she is less concerned with material resources/when she leaves the garden ie moves out of her familiar situation and gets OUT OF THE HOUSE! AHAH! But answering when, nothing seemed to make sense...

Caelum	30 Apr 2004
Timing is always difficult since the future isn't pre-destined. I use a specific timing spread which is based on the 8 spoked wheel of the year that has proven itself many times for me. I start with the current season (Beltane right now) in the North position, and then circle the cards clockwise from there in 7 more spaces. I do two layers, and then look for Aces or any other favorable placement combination and that's my time period. If you're not familiar with the Wheel of the Year, it marks the Solstices, the Equinoxes and the Cross-quarter days. Caelum

Dragons_Wing	01 May 2004
tarot companion by pollack i think... talks a little of this. such as when a certin number comes up in a reading it will mean its x amount of weeks, months etc away.

The How do you answer the "when" question? thread was originally posted on 30 Apr 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.