AUTHOR’S NOTE: Here is a unique timing method that uses reasonably expected and objectively determined target dates to zero in on the most likely span of time from the date of the reading to the proposed time of completion. The aim is to partially offset some of the exaggeration that can occur with most methods of tarot timing.

It acknowledges that the querent may have arrived at a “ballpark” estimate (perhaps from prior experience, representative examples or a promise of some kind) that projects the weeks or months to closure, which can be used in concert with a separately predicted range to bracket a probable duration. (All images are from the Waite-Smith Centennial Edition, copyright of US Games Systems Inc, Stamford, CT.)

Begin by using the table below to select a card identifying the span of time within which you anticipate the subject of the reading to be resolved. A good example would be expecting to hear about a job application within three weeks. (It is acceptable to use hoped-for instead of anticipated as long as the goal is not unrealistic.) These categories are not entirely arbitrary since they are based on the relative “promptness” of each type of card, but the objective was to uniformly cover the one-year period within which most common circumstances should play out.

Place this card face-up and upright next to the spread position reflecting that duration. Although suit and rank are not critical to this method, you may want to use the card of the suit and rank that is most closely related to the nature of the question (e.g. a court card representing the assumed participation of someone close to the matter would work). The trump cards are allocated according to their elemental association. (For this purpose I use a Fire-Air-Water-Earth progression to capture the relative volatility of each element.)

Shuffle a second deck and begin placing cards face-up from top-left to bottom-right (1 Week to >12 Months), repeating the sequence as necessary until the selected card appears. Reversals are not used. (The meaning of these random cards has no bearing on the reading; they are just place-holders.)

If the card lands on a duration that is less than the anticipated range, determine the difference between the two and subtract half that amount from the anticipated span to come up with a new projection.

If the card lands on a duration that is greater than the anticipated range, determine the difference between the two and add half that amount to the anticipated span to come up with a new projection.

Aces = 1 Week
Twos = 2 Weeks
Threes = 3 Weeks
Fours = 1 Month
Fives = 2 Months
Sixes = 3 Months
Sevens = 6 Months
Eights = 9 Months
Nines = 12 Months
Tens = >12 Months (if indeterminate or potentially “never”)
Pages = 1 Month
Knights = 3 Months
Queens = 9 Months
Kings = 12 Months
Fire Trumps (total of seven) = 3 Months
Air Trumps (total of five) = 6 Months
Water Trumps (total of five) = 9 Months
Earth Trumps (total of five) = 12 Months

Below is an example reading. I chose the Queen of Cups (9 Months) as the anticipated denouement (no, it has nothing to do with a pregnancy) since none of the Eights seemed to fit the situation, and came up with >12 Months as the predicted time-frame. In order to have an even-numbered differential to work with, I arbitrarily chose 15 months as the target. Adding half the difference to the anticipated span, I arrived at 12 months as the new duration, which is not outside the realm of reason in this case.

Note that the farther out in time the resolution is predicted to occur, the less likely the projection is to be accurate, so do not settle on an unspecified duration that is too far beyond the beginning of the >12 Months range unless you have a good reason to believe it is justified, or suspect that the event may never happen. (Resist the regrettable example of the US Congress to just “kick the can down the road” and try again later.}