Past / Present / Future
Subtitle
A classic timeline spread showing influence, context, and direction.
Overview
Summary
A classic timeline reading to see what led here, what is active now, and what is developing next. Great for quick context.
Level
Intermediate
Layout
Three Card Row
Introduction
Past / Present / Future is a foundational tarot spread because it is simple, flexible, and easy to apply. By arranging the cards along a timeline, it helps you see how earlier influences shape the present and how current conditions suggest a next phase.
This spread works for many kinds of questions, from reflection to decision making. It reads best when you treat the three cards as a connected progression rather than isolated snapshots.
Instructions
Name your topic or area of focus and keep the question open ended.
Shuffle the deck while holding the situation in mind.
Cut the deck when you feel ready.
Draw three cards and lay them out from left to right, Past, Present, Future.
Read the spread as a progression, influence, current reality, developing direction.
Treat the Future card as a trajectory. If things continue in this direction, this is what tends to unfold.
Optional: draw one additional card asking, How can I shift the trajectory?
Positions in this Spread
1
Position 1: Past
The card in this position of the spread reflects past events, patterns, or beliefs that continue to influence the present. It points to what you may still be carrying forward.
2
Position 2: Present
The card in this position of the spread reflects the current reality—what is most active, visible, or demanding attention right now. It shows what you are being asked to engage with in this moment.
3
Position 3: Future
The card in this position of the spread reflects a likely direction or next phase based on current momentum. It describes a trajectory rather than a fixed fate, allowing room for choice and change.
Interpreting this Spread
Read the Past card as context rather than history alone. Notice how its themes echo in the present, whether through ongoing patterns, unfinished lessons, or expectations you still live from.
Use the Present card as the anchor of the reading. It shows where your energy and responsibility currently sit, and it often points to what is most workable.
Read the Future card as conditional. Ask how it grows out of the present and whether it looks like continuation, resolution, or a turning point. Then consider what changes in the present could influence the direction shown.
Taken together, the spread offers a clear story of continuity and movement through time, with an emphasis on awareness and agency.
More About this Spread
Past / Present / Future appears in many tarot traditions and is often a first introduction to timeline readings. It is especially useful for quick check ins or when you want perspective without building a larger layout.
Because the Future position reflects momentum rather than destiny, this spread pairs well with a follow up card when you want to explore what supports change or how to approach the next phase.
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A three card spread that shows past influence, present context, and a developing direction.
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Use Past / Present / Future for quick perspective on how a situation is unfolding. The cards show what shaped the moment, what is active now, and where momentum points next.
Meta Description
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Past / Present / Future is a three card tarot timeline spread. See what influenced the present, what matters now, and the direction that is developing based on current momentum.