Time Tarot Reading – Make Tarot Predictions with Precision

One frustration of Tarot reading is making time-sensitive predictions. As a divination tool, Tarot reading integrates one’s psychic sense, but calling upon that talent can be inconsistent for some. A concrete determination of time is obscured by layers of symbolic meaning. Pinning down ‘real time’ is difficult, if not impossible, unless one’s psychic sense is strong. Even then, it is not automatic like ‘clockwork’, and can be hard for the novice to achieve.
Luckily, there are Tarot ‘time value systems’ applicable to the classic Rider Waite Tarot deck, and the many decks beyond. My personal favourite is in the book, “Time Tarot” by Alarnah Tobin-Gray and Llyle Wentworth, published in 2002, a ‘Holy Grail’ of a book for Tarot readers.
Our Thanks to the Authors
We’d like to thank Time Tarot authors Alarnah Tobin-Gray and Llyle Wentworth for their very gracious permission for us to publish their Minor Arcana dates from the Time Tarot book. They’ve also let us condense (with editorial license) Time Tarot’s prediction directions in this article. This information is by no means complete, the book contains further details for the dates and timeframes, and reading advice.
Unfortunately, not many have seen Time Tarot, a magnum opus, as it is currently out of print, although copies may soon be obtainable through Llyle’s website http://www.llyle.com.au/ Please check there for availability, or search for it online.

Dates and Timeframes Given
Time Tarot gives calendar dates and timeframes for each Minor Arcana card. Any Major Arcana card represents one year of time. Tobin-Gray and Wentworth use suit names you may know, Staves (Wands), Chalices (Cups), Blades (Swords) and Pentacles (Coins). Besides dates, Tobin-Gray and Wentworth created their own definitions for each Minor Arcana card, each Major Arcana card, and introduced a refinement of five ‘extra’ original defined cards called the Semi-Major Arcana; we won’t go into them in this article, however.
We present to you here a simplified chart of the Time Tarot date periods, as well as a highly condensed version of the authors’ suggestions for predictive readings. Please note this information has been abbreviated by us due to space constraints, but the time periods and their representative cards have been faithfully reproduced in the chart below. The chart of cards and their dates/timeframes appears below the instructions.
Step by Step to Prediction with Time Tarot
In the Time Tarot reading system, time periods are applicable for up to two years in advance. To acquire date predictions, the first method below is the most accurate for simple questions involving time. For example, “When is the best time for me to move house?“ or “When is the best time for my holiday?”. Remember: we are looking into the future, not the past, unless that is otherwise requested.
1. Formulate your question
2. Shuffle the deck, concentrating only on the issue, and set the cards face down
3. Do not cut the cards
4. Turn over the top card
5. If you draw a Minor Arcana card, the period shown on the chart is when the event will occur
6. If the date is prior to the tarot reading, the event will happen when the dates next occur
7. If you turn a Major Arcana card, continue to turn more cards until you get a Minor Arcana card, a maximum of five cards
8. If a Major Arcana precedes the Minor Arcana card, add one year to the period in question. For example, if the first and second cards are Major Arcana, and the third is Minor Arcana, the time will be one year from the reading, plus the time period on the card. Even if the first four cards are Major Arcana, they add only one year to the time prediction.
9. If you turn five cards without a Minor Arcana card appearing, you are being told no date is to be revealed at this time.
10. Do not try to force a date, it will turn out to be incorrect.
Timing within a Card Spread
You can use any of the variously known spreads for predicting with Time Tarot. Within a multi-card spread, the date is always the fifth card in the layout.
In a three card spread, the time card is the second card. We get there by counting cards one to three, then returning to the first card, which becomes the ‘fourth’ card, and the next card (actuallly the second) becomes the fifth card.
If only Major Arcana cards appear, it means NO TIME is given for the reading, as there will be changes happening before you should make a permanent decision.
Similarly with a four card spread, the first card is counted as the ‘fifth’ card as you count through.
In a spread with more than five cards, the fifth card will always signify time. If the fifth card is a Major Arcana, look at the fourth card and add one year to the date. So, a reading done in February showing March on the date card means March of the NEXT year, not the pursuant month. If a date is not given, the reading is to be applied to the past year.
Using the Time Tarot Book as an Oracle
Should you be able to acquire the book, Time Tarot itself can also be used as an oracle. To do so, ask a single question, then open the book at random, and read both Positive and Negative definitions. Positive being the most likely outcome, Negative showing what you must do or give up in order to achieve your desired outcome. Dates do not apply when using the book itself as an oracle.
Time Tarot Date and Timeframe Chart
STAVES (WANDS) | ||||
Card | Time Period | Key | Upright | Reversed |
Ace of Staves | March, April, May | Beginnings | New beginnings | Delays |
Two of Staves | 20 March to 31 March | Planning | Success | Reorganize |
Three of Staves | 31 March to 11 April | Completion | Opportunity | Disappointment |
Four of Staves | 10 April to 21 April | Harmony | Reward | Obstacles |
Five of Staves | 22 July to 1 August | Effort | New challenges | Conflict |
Six of Staves | 1 August to 11 August | Acclaim | Success after strife | Bad news |
Seven of Staves | 12 August to 23 August | Patience | Holding your own | Strong competition |
Eight of Staves | 22 November to 3 December | Positive change | Progress, action | Adjustments required |
Nine of Staves | 30 December to 13 January | Gains | Efforts pay off | Must work harder |
Ten of Staves | 13 December to 23 December | Oppression | Darkness before dawn | Reevaluate goals |
Page/Princess Staves | Within 10 weeks | Messenger | Good news | Be careful |
Knight/Prince of Staves | 23 November to 23 December | Movement | Proceeding | Bad decision |
Queen of Staves | 20 March to 22 April | Loyalty | Fidelity | Restriction |
King of Staves | 21 July to 24 August | Leadership | Enterprise | Seek clarity |
CHALICES (CUPS) | ||||
Card | Time Period | Key | Upright | Reversed |
Ace of Chalices | December, January, February | Happiness | Beginning of good things | Make a change |
Two of Chalices | 20 June to 2 July | Appreciation | Beginning of a relationship | Loss of balance in a relationship |
Three of Chalices | 1 July to 13 July | Fulfillment | Start of a new life | Make new plans |
Four of Chalices | 12 July to 24 August | Dissatisfaction | Time to reconsider | Self-pity |
Five of Chalices | 21 October to 3 November | Possibilities | More to come | Review before deciding |
Six of Chalices | 1 November to 13 November | Serenity | Relocation | Living in the past |
Seven of Chalices | 13 November to 25 November | Emotional situations | Resolution brings contentment | Self-delusion undermines progress |
Eight of Chalices | 17 February to 27 February | Change brings benefits | Abandon past plans | Giving up hope |
Nine of Chalices | 9 March to 22 March | Satisfaction | Material gains | Self-indulgence |
Ten of Chalices | 10 March to 22 March | Realization of dreams | On-going contentment | Disappointment |
Page of Chalices | Within five days | Loving messenger | Important message arriving | Self-centered, manipulative person |
Knight of Chalices | 17 February to 23 March | Exalted, idealistic feelings | Goodwill given | Look before you leap |
Queen of Chalices | 20 June to 24 July | In control | A wise woman will help you | Someone who lacks depth |
King of Chalices | 21 October to 25 November | Trustworthy | A responsible man | Disillusionment |
BLADES (SWORDS) | ||||
Card | Time Period | Key | Upright | Reversed |
Ace of Blades | June, July, August | Victory | Success | Obstacles |
Two of Blades | 20 September to 6 October | Indecisive | Balance | |
Three of Blades | 3 October to 15 October | Difficulty understanding sorrow | Gratitude | Disorder, confusion, upheaval |
Four of Blades | 13 October to 24 October | Solitude | Meditation | Feeling of opposition |
Five of Blades | 20 January to 30 January | Facing one’s limits | Long-term goal achieved | Feeling unlucky |
Six of Blades | 29 January to 9 February | Insight, ability, adjustment | Solutions found | Plans postponed |
Seven of Blades | 7 February to 20 February | Time for tact | Surprise opportunities | Plans upset |
Eight of Blades | 17 May to 31 May | Indecision, trust intuition | Freedom and movement | Seek good advice |
Nine of Blades | 1 June to 13 June | Anxiety and fear about future | Patience, good things are coming | Illness, hardship |
Ten of Blades | 10 June to 22 June | Painful, final ending | Travel by water | Setbacks or accidents |
Page of Blades | Two years | Start of mental powers | Unexpected changes are good | Feeling defensive |
Knight of Blades | 19 May to 23 June | Sudden changes | Someone who favors you | Someone opposed to you |
Queen of Blades | 22 September to 23 October | An unknown quantity | Strong, helpful female | Inflexible, intolerant female |
King of Blades | 19 January to 21 February | Dual Personality | A person in control | A stubborn, calculating person |
PENTACLES (COINS) | ||||
Card | Time Period | Key | Upright | Reversed |
Ace of Pentacles | June, July, August | Start of prosperity, success | Material achievement | Missed opportunities |
Two of Pentacles | 21 December to 31 December | Money, energy becoming available | A beneficial change in finances, fortune | Financial difficulties |
Three of Pentacles | 30 December to 10 January | Early success in material endeavour | Efforts finally rewarded | Poor workmanship, lack of ambition |
Four of Pentacles | 10 January to 20 January | Do not become overly attached to material things | Watch for four new opportunities | Setbacks and obstacles |
Five of Pentacles | 21 April to 2 May | Period of financial difficulty, loss | Use opportunity wisely | Unemployment, failure, bankruptcy |
Six of Pentacles | 1 May to 13 May | Sharing money, belongings | Improvement in business | Unsettled feelings, concern over poverty |
Seven of Pentacles | 12 May to 22 May | A difficult work decision | Welcome change in financial situation | Self-pity |
Eight of Pentacles | 22 August to 3 September | Talent worthy of development | Prepare for the future | Limited ambition, dishonesty |
Nine of Pentacles | 2 September to 13 September | Time to analyse goals, desires | Period of pride in achievement | Difficult situation, possible loss |
Ten of Pentacles | 12 September to 23 September | Period of on-going contentment | Finances beginning to grow | Lowering of living standards. Court involvement with family. |
Page of Pentacles | Three weeks | Gathering energies, someone hopes to profit from you | Someone gives you good, life-changing news | Wasteful with money. Living beyond means |
Knight of Pentacles | 21 August to 22 December | Self-development, inner strength, industrious | High energy level, responsible | Trustworthy person needs constant motivation |
Queen of Pentacles | 23 December to 21 January | Wish granter, powerful influence | Kind woman happy at work or home. | Fear of failure, lack of motivation |
King of Pentacles | 20 April to 22 May | Individuality | Approachable, helpful wise person | Double-dealing dishonest person |
More Information on Tarot Prediction
Here are links to a couple of videos with different methods and perspectives on timely predictions with Tarot cards. Use their time values, or apply the Time Tarot dates and timeframes.
A quick prediction method:
A three-part tutorial on Tarot prediction:
Clairvoyant Mediums – Bring Messages from Deceased Relatives
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