How do you do a near-future tarot reading? In the French method you ask about the coming days or weeks, then draw three cards: the days ahead, the weeks ahead and a piece of advice. Used as divinatory tarot, it shows a tendency, never a date or a verdict.
The French near-future layout (tirage futur proche) is one of the simplest ways to practise. It is short enough to read back, and it teaches you to separate what the cards show from what you hope they say. If you are new, start with our complete beginner guide.
What a near-future reading can and cannot say
A reading describes what is already moving and where it leads if nothing changes. In our experience the shorter the horizon, the clearer the reading, so we suggest days and weeks for three cards. The cards do not give dates, and a hard card does not announce a disaster. The Tower speaks of a structure that stops holding; Death, of an ending and of what it frees. Neither announces an event.
The three positions
- The days ahead: what is already under way and shows up first. The most concrete card.
- The weeks ahead: what the situation becomes if nothing changes. Read it together with the first card.
- The advice: the attitude that serves you best. It predicts nothing; it guides your action.
Variants exist. We suggest three cards to learn; some French authors use a six-card layout from the distant past to the distant future.
Asking the question
Avoid date questions and yes-or-no questions. Ask something open, such as "How will my situation at work evolve over the coming weeks?" or "What attitude would help me over the next few days?". Write the question down before you shuffle. If the result bothers you, do not redraw on the same question: read it again calmly, or ask a different one such as "What can I do to make this go better?".
Reading the three cards together
Look at the overall shape before the details. Three major arcana in a row mean a period that matters. Several minor cards of one suit point to one area: Cups for emotions, Swords for thoughts and exchanges, Wands for action, Pentacles (Deniers in Marseille) for daily life. A reversed card usually shows held-back energy rather than a bad omen; see our reversed cards guide. Then look for the thread between cards, and finish with one written sentence.
A worked example
Take the question "How will my career change evolve over the coming weeks?" and the cards Eight of Wands, The Hermit and The Chariot. The days ahead bring fast movement. The weeks ahead bring a quieter phase to take stock. The advice is to keep your course. Read together: it starts quickly, a pause may follow, and your role is to keep your direction. This is an illustration only, and promises no outcome.
For feelings-related questions, see the French love spread. For the meaning of every card, use the complete card guide.
A deck that lets you read it in French
If you are learning in French, our French-language learning deck prints the meaning on each card, so you can react first and read afterwards. It uses the 1909 illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith, a printed French booklet comes in the box, and the full French course follows by personal link after purchase. To be clear, Marseille is a different tradition with no scenes on the minor arcana, and you can learn with any deck. This one just saves you the trip to the book.
French-language learning tarot deck, 1909 art
Meanings printed on every card in French, a French guidebook in the box and the full course in French after purchase. Ships to the EU, UK, Switzerland and Iceland.
See the French deckFrequently asked questions
Can the cards predict the future?
Not with certainty. Tarot shows a tendency based on your present situation, and that tendency changes when your choices do.
Is there a day when you should not draw cards?
Many readers recognise no forbidden day; some traditions observe one. As simple good sense, avoid reading when you are exhausted or overwhelmed, because you will mostly read your mood.
How long should I wait before drawing again?
Wait until the situation has moved on or the horizon of the first reading has passed; we suggest two to four weeks. In between, ask a different question rather than repeating the same one.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
Includes a free full tarot course in English
