Here is a concept that uses three brief “mini-readings” (Past/Present/Future) to derive a fourth “keynote” spread showing a condensed developmental path for the situation. It applies Elemental Dignities to the “Present” line, which is read from the outside-in according to standard ED practice. (The center, or “principal,” card is the focus; the others feed into and modify it.) The “Present” scenario receives more emphasis because I see it as “where the rubber meets the road” in any developing situation; it’s where we can act with the greatest efficiency and effectiveness to steer our course in response to the “Future” outlook. In all three rows, Card #1 represents the “ingress” or first hint of the influence of that chronological period; in the Past and Future rows, Card #2 is transitional and Card #3 shows the point of departure where the situation is starting to “turn over” into the next phase. The Present is a composite “stage-setter” rather than a progression.

I didn’t have room to include it in the design, but a “quintessence” card can also be calculated from the “keynote” column to give an even higher-level overview.