The Daily Fool

Select a new draw: Single Card Reading Two Card Draw Past, Present, Future Celtic Cross Look Up a Card

Your Past / Present / Future Draw of the Day

Meanings of the cards when read in their upright position:

1. The Past

Page of Swords
Frequently, the Page of Swords refers to you, or someone who strongly influences your life in the situation in question, but does not have to be male. He seeks higher ground, using his standpoint to master difficulties. He watches for trouble over his shoulder. In the card, the wind blows the trees and his hair, symbolizing changing circumstances, unpredictable behaviors, and wavering opinions in the current situation. Flexibility and adaptability are key.

The concept of the past sounds like an obvious one, but often there are subtleties involved. While this can include the Querent's past, it can also include events or the feelings of others that have had an impact or influence on the current situation. Does it necessarily mean things that took place long ago? Maybe... or it could be a conversation that took place last week.

2. The Present

Four of Swords
The Four of Swords represents an inner retreat that you are currently taking. Your present situation is very difficult and you may be in the midst of much turmoil. A temporary truce seems to be in place, and you are now seeking recuperation within. The swords on the wall symbolize your previous battles, and the sword at your side represents your current conflict. You will soon take up the sword again. The battle isn't over, but when you return to it, you'll be invigorated and able to formulate a mature, effective response. When combined with the Eight of Wands or the Six of Swords, this card can also mean that some kind of an actual trip may take place, one intended to bring you peace of mind.

The center card symbolizes the present–the things that are happening right now around you. Because this spread contains only three cards, many things can be read into this card that might normally be seen in several cards in other spreads.

3. The Future

The Tower
The Tower is the seventeenth card in the Major Arcana, and is given the number 16 to indicate the conscious mind represented by the Magician (1) faced with the breakdown of the unity found in the Lovers (6). Atop a craggy peak, the once-crowned Tower begins to crumble. Fire and Lightning ravage it from within and without. Two people, calling to mind the man and woman in the Lovers card (but clothed, indicating concealment), plunge to an uncertain fate, as flames erupt from the explosion. The destruction is devastating, but there is a purpose behind it. The walls of the Tower have been constructed by the materialistic Ego, and the force of chaos has come to tear them down in the name of spiritual development. The small, tear-shaped flames are symbolic because they resemble YOD, the first letter in the Hebrew name for God. They represent the spark of enlightenment that will brighten even the darkest hour.

Right now, you may be experiencing a time of turmoil. The phenomenon that 'bad things' happen in threes, or other multiples, is a reality, and you may feel the rug of life being pulled out from under your feet. Like the Tower, you feel you have been struck from out of nowhere. Sometimes, a fire is needed to clear out dead wood, and clear space for the fresh seedlings that will someday be a great forest. If you feel overwhelmed, remember that you can only become stronger by surviving these trials.

Our last card represents the final outcome. It could be a long-term goal or an immediate resolution, depending on the question and the situation that the Querent is facing.

- Reading Guidance -

Before you draw: Hold a question or situation lightly in mind — not a yes/no, but an open one. What do I need to understand about this? works better than Will this happen?

Reading the spread: Look at each card individually first, then step back and read the spread as a sentence. Cards reinforce each other, contradict each other, and sometimes one card explains what another one seems to be hiding. Trust what strikes you immediately before you read the description.

If a card confuses you: Sit with it rather than pulling a clarifier right away. The card that doesn't make sense now often makes sense by the end of the day. If it still doesn't land, a single clarifying card drawn separately can help focus the energy.