AUTHOR’S NOTE: The simple “past-present-future” predictive reading is such an integral part of the tarot practitioner’s toolbox that we usually perform it without thinking too much about exactly what we’re doing.
In practical terms, examining events and circumstances that have already transpired and can no longer be affected by our active intervention would seem to be irrelevant to where we are now and where we’re headed. (As an old business acquaintance of mine from western Pennsylvania used to say, “I warsh my hands of it.”) At best it can provide validation for the presumed accuracy of the “present” and “future” scenarios described in the reading, with a “Yep, that was me alright” nod of concurrence.
This observation has led many thoughtful diviners to question whether we even need a “Past” card in the spread since it looks like a wasted position. To a certain degree I’m in accord with this objection, and have reformulated my three-card “past-present-future” layout to encompass “Present, Near Future (short-term outcome) and Distant Future (longer-range consequences).” But there is another way to look at it, particularly for more complex spreads like the Celtic Cross.
In “CC” readings I’ve often felt that the “Distant Past” card can reflect unfinished business that may insidiously project itself forward into the present and future dimensions of the querent’s life, the first rumblings of which are usually encountered in the “Recent Past” analysis, in which we may feel “betwixt-and-between” with one foot still caught in the trap of prior conditions. It can represent the ineradicable root of the “stuck-in-the-past” syndrome and any stubborn attitudes arising from it that simply won’t die.
In that sense (and at that late date) it is typically a psychological rather than a physical intrusion (unless our nagging mother has moved in next door and persists in tormenting us, in which case it becomes part of an uncomfortable “Present”). I’ve always maintained that the “Distant Past” is functionally remote from the more fluid “Recent-Past/Present/Near-Future” continuum that tends to bleed over from one stage into the next with no clear boundaries, but there are times when “old news” can stick its long nose into our affairs at the most inopportune moment.
When reading for a client, I initially interpret the “Distant Past” or “foundation of the matter” card as showing aspects of the situation that are “carved in stone” and all the querent can do is become reconciled to any inconvenience this poses. (An example would be someone we’ve had to deal with over the years who is “set in their ways” and isn’t going to change during any further interaction.)
It can be tempting to consider the upshot as revealing a “steady state” of inertia that is only of academic interest for predictive purposes, but I always raise the question – particularly if a less-fortunate card is present – regarding whether there are any lingering implications for the querent’s current status. It implies offering a “skeletons-in-the closet”perspective that may be difficult for the seeker but, if there is any truth to it, that reality should be confronted before it spills over into future considerations. As I see it, this is where the pragmatic value lies in probing the potential impact of previous events and circumstances.
In closing, I should note that none of the above Celtic Cross provisions will apply to those who have decided that the original “Distant Past”position in Waite’s design now means “Unconscious Influences.” I follow the old assumptions that the “cross” part of the spread (Positions #3 through #6) applies to development of the question over time, while the “staff” section (Positions #7 through #10) relates to the querent’s response to those developments, which includes all psychological reactions. Positions #1 and #2 (the “covering” and “crossing” cards) stand apart as less linear in nature. I’ve explained my approach in a previous essay that may be of interest:
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