Three-card tarot: past, present, future

The three positions

The third card is not fixed fate; it is the trend of the current path. If you dislike what you see, look back at the second card for what you can change.

Reading the connections

A deep three-card reading is less about each card than about the story the three tell together. This page looks at five things.

• Elements in sequence. Neighbouring cards of the same or a friendly element (Fire–Air, Water–Earth) mean the story flows; opposing elements (Fire–Water, Air–Earth) mean friction at that turn.
• Direction of energy. Each card carries a positive or negative charge; rising values from past to future mean things are improving.
• Number of Major Arcana. More means a bigger turning point; none means the matter is largely in your hands.
• Suits and numbers. A repeated suit shows whether the story turns on feeling, thought, money or drive; rising numbers show development; repeated numbers stress a theme.
• Court and reversed cards. Court cards are often people involved; several reversals mean the energy is still stuck inside.

An example

Say you ask about work and draw the Eight of Pentacles (past), the Chariot (present) and the Six of Wands (future). It began with dedicated practice, now needs determination to steer, and leads toward recognition. Earth into Water is friendly (the Chariot rules Cancer, a Water sign) while Water into Fire is opposed, so expect some emotional pressure before the success.

How the shuffle works

Pressing Shuffle performs ten riffle shuffles using the Gilbert–Shannon–Reeds model, which imitates splitting the deck and letting cards fall in alternation as hands do. For 78 cards, about ten riffles bring the order close to fully random. With reversals on, one half may be turned end over end before the riffle, so reversed cards come from the shuffle itself. You then pick from all 78 face-down cards, and the deck keeps its order for next time like a real deck on the table.

Frequently asked questions