Phases of Life Tarot Spread
From the Major Arcana to the four different suits that comprise the Minor Arcana, Tarot represents the different phases of life’s journey and the archetypal energies we meet along the way. Sometimes when I do readings, I forget to look at the cards within the context of this journey. So I’ve recently begun to spend more time researching how the cards can be interpreted from this point of view. Drawing inspiration from my studies, I decided I wanted to make my own spread to figure out where I am at in my own journey.
Card 1: what phase of life am I leaving behind?
This card provides insight on which phase in your journey you have most recently moved on from. This card represents which energy or person had the biggest influence in your most recent past. When I say “most recent past” I don’t mean yesterday, a week ago, or a month ago. But, more so, the most recent chapter of your life that has now come to a close. Something like graduating college, quitting a job, or moving away from home. While pulling these cards, the time frame I had in mind was between three to six months.
Card 2: what phase of life am I currently experiencing?
This card represents where you are at in your journey right now and what energies you’re currently immersed in. This card will provide insight into what is most important to you right now, what goals you are currently trying to achieve, or what values are influencing your decision making right now. For example, I pulled the four of swords when I did this spread for myself. This is currently a time of rest and reflection for myself, considering that I recently graduated college and am in that weird in-between phase where I’m waiting for my new job to start.
Card 3: what phase of life will I be entering soon?
This card will give you insight into what type of energy will be heading into your life soon. All of the first three cards can be linked together to show how influences from your previous chapter of life have led you to where you are now and how the choices you are currently making are clearing the way for the incoming energy represented by this card. This card can give you an idea what to expect in the future on a larger scale.
Card 4: what can I do to leave this phase behind me?
This card provides insight on ways the previous phase of life may still have a hold on you and what you can do to make sure that the past does not keep you from enjoying the present moment. It can also alert you to old ties that still need to be cut or details that still may need to be attended to. When read together with the first card, this one can give more depth in regards to what messages or values from the past you still need to integrate in order to move on.
Card 5: what can I do to be successful in this phase?
This card represents an area of life for you to focus on in relation to the second card. This card provides more details about how the second card’s energy can be fully appreciated and integrated into your life. If you recently have been feeling lost or confused in life, this card can give you a good starting point that will help you better understand what it is the universe is asking you to accomplish in this step of your journey.
Card 6: what can I do to prepare for this upcoming phase?
This card shows what you can do in the present moment that can help ease you into the transition whenever you take the next step in your journey through life. It can also give you more insight into what to expect when it comes to the third card. As you progress through your current phase and begin to move into the upcoming phase, this card’s energy will become more relevant and noticeable.