Question about past, present, future spread

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Pipistrelle	08 Oct 2004
Hello I am still at the stage where I feel most comfortable using the 3 card PPF spread (I've recently been given some excellent suggestions for more weird and wonderful spreads but haven't dared try them yet!) I've been wondering lately what sort of time frame people associate with the PPF spread - i.e. if you use it, how far into the past & future do you feel it's referring to? Or, is it a case of "it depends on the reading" because you can tell from the particular cards in the spread how far back/forward it's going? Yesterday I asked a question that was very important to me and the future card was 7 Pentacles which in this case I felt was definitely standing for "be patient" and I realised I didn't really know how long to be patient for :D Yes, yes, I know... That's what "be patient" means! And also, on a slightly related note, why is it every time I try to ask a straightforward question on this forum, it comes out really garbled? ;)

SoulFlower	08 Oct 2004
I think the card means you 'll just have to wait untill the time is ready for it. Don't rush into things, but wait 'till you think it's the right time. Patience means that you will have to wait some longer sometimes to get the results you really want. If you rush into things, things can go wrong. There isn't an exact time set possible if you mean like "Just wait a week" or something. In your mind you probably know already it is best to wait a bit.

Emily	08 Oct 2004
With the PPF spread - I usually read the Past as the recent past, the present and the near future. If I need a spread that delves into the past as in long time ago I would probably try to specify a time frame.

Pipistrelle	08 Oct 2004
Thanks Emily & Soulflower :) both your comments were helpful. I did kind of think that it must only refer to recent past and near future, but because of the open-endedness of the 7 of Pents in the future position, I wanted reassurance that it wasn't saying "wait ten years and then see" :D It's interesting... I asked about this particular issue a couple of weeks ago and got the High Priestess in the future position, which I read as "all will be revealed in good time". I guess the 7 of Pents now is the cards saying, "I told you all will be revealed and I'm not lying. Be patient". Also interesting is that the card I got for the "present" position the first time round was in the "past" position the second time round. So I guess things are moving ahead, I just can't see it. Repeat after me: Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue.... :) Thanks, Pip

HudsonGray	08 Oct 2004
I've always figured the 'future' was anything from a week to maybe 6 months at most in a reading. Anything further out would be subject to too many actions being influenced on it & not be clear enough to give you much. The wheel of the year spread, that's a bit different, each month has a general thing to watch for or to pay attention to. I think of those as more generic than the 'future' of the PPF spread.

lunar_rabbit	08 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Pipistrelle Yesterday I asked a question that was very important to me and the future card was 7 Pentacles which in this case I felt was definitely standing for "be patient" and I realised I didn't really know how long to be patient for :D Yes, yes, I know... That's what "be patient" means! ROFL!!! Sounds like you are NOT being patient! I just have to laugh out loud at this comment of yours because it sounds so much like me. I can't accept an answer like that either. "Patient?!" What do you mean?? For how long? But I really want to know right now!!!" That said, be careful about asking the same question over and over. Some people will say that the cards will get mad at you, which I don't especially believe. But I do believe that when you keep asking the same question over and over, what you are really doing it trying to change the answer. Your answers will start getting muddy. You'll find your readings not as helpful or accurate. So listen to your cards and BE PATIENT. :)

Ace	08 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Pipistrelle And also, on a slightly related note, why is it every time I try to ask a straightforward question on this forum, it comes out really garbled? ;) Your questions sound clear to me! I will tell you though, if it will help: At first, I wrote my messages off line, on the Notepad that comes with Windows (go to start, accessories, Notepad.) WHen I had them where I wanted them, I would cut and paste them in the reply window. And I sometimes paste them or type them in an e-mail window to spell check it, then again copy and paste into the reply window on forum.

Pipistrelle	09 Oct 2004
The doctor has loads more patients :D Quote: Originally posted by lunar_rabbit That said, be careful about asking the same question over and over. You're absolutely right of course lunar_rabbit (fantastic name!) As soon as I saw that 7 of Pents I thought, okay, I get it, I'll stop asking now (for a while anyway!) Thanks also Ace, that's a very good idea. It's a bit like writing your question out before you ask the cards, so you can fine tune it and make sure you're not asking something you didn't intend to ask :)

Ace	09 Oct 2004
You changed your signature, Pipistrelle! I kind of liked the Moon as being described with four eyes! BTW: don't forget, you can PREVIEW your message or go back and edit it, if you really hate it.

Pipistrelle	10 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace You changed your signature, Pipistrelle! I kind of liked the Moon as being described with four eyes! Lol! I was hoping no one had noticed... :| I must have been very tired when I first wrote that!

Chronata	10 Oct 2004
Another take on the PPF... Sometimes it's good to look at this spread, not necessarily in terms of actual amounts of Time...but as influences. Instead of Past...Present... Future... Think...Where you have been...where you are...where you are going... This makes it easier to think of the cards less as time periods...and more like influences and moments that overlap. The past card is really an influence that is still present in the present...and may be something that still needs to be looked at or addressed...or an influence that clearly states"you have arrived ." The present is the current state of mind...based on what has already occured in the first card...and what will influence the next card... And finally, the last card...the future is really where you are going... based on where you are at the moment....and where you have been. Judging this as "how long ago" or "How far from now" can sometimes limit your thinking. But if you think of time in a more fluid, less linear way, you can make the PPF spread really give up more information than almost any other three cards can! (Hope this isn't too confusing...I am going on a binge of two day insomnia! and...well...sometimes the words just don't flow right at all! :) )

lunar_rabbit	10 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata Instead of Past...Present... Future... Think...Where you have been...where you are...where you are going... This makes it easier to think of the cards less as time periods...and more like influences and moments that overlap. Thank you for this! That was an "aha" moment for me. I've always had a bit of trouble with the PPF spread for that very reason and now I feel like I can interpret it much better.

The Question about past, present, future spread thread was originally posted on 08 Oct 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.