Getting started · 3 positions
Past, present and possible direction
A three-card timeline for examining how a situation developed and which current conditions may shape its next stage.
Practice deck: all 78 RWS cards
Version and dealing convention
The numbered diagram defines this version. Other traditions may place or name positions differently. The practice uses consecutive random draws from the displayed deck scope.
A question to try
What has shaped this situation, and what can I change now?
Before you draw
- Write one open question and define its scope. Keep factual questions separate from symbolic reflection.
- Choose the position order and decide whether to include reversals before drawing.
- Read each card in its role, then compare the positions. Note uncertainty and one practical next question.
Position guide
- 1
Past
Consider an earlier influence that can be checked against your memory or records.
- 2
Present
Identify the theme that seems most relevant to the situation as it stands.
- 3
Possible direction
Explore a conditional development and what could change it; this position is not a fixed forecast.
How to connect the positions
Reading sequence (read grouped roles together as explained below): 1 → 2 → 3
Read from left to right, then compare the first and third cards. Separate a repeated theme from a change in emphasis. Finish by naming one current condition that would have to remain true for your proposed direction to make sense.
What to watch for
The last card does not make the future inevitable. New information and decisions can change the interpretation.
Your practice
Practise this spread
Draw distinct cards to practise matching a meaning to a position. Read the prompts and compare them with the complete card meanings.
The draw happens in this browser. It is not saved or sent as a personal reading.
Your cards will appear here after you draw.