Jan 26 - Unusual Decks: Before, In Between and After Tarot

Unusual Decks: Before, In Between, and After Tarot

Exploring storytelling, timing, and movement in the cards

What if a tarot reading could capture not just a moment - but the scene before and after as well?

That’s exactly what these three decks aim to do. The Before Tarot, In Between Tarot, and After Tarot are all based on the familiar RWS system, but each takes a different approach to time. One shows what happens just before the moment we usually see, one captures the transition between cards, and one imagines what comes next.

It’s a creative idea - and surprisingly practical. These decks can help you build a more layered interpretation, add depth to familiar cards, or shake things loose when you’re stuck in a reading.

---

What makes them unusual?

Each of these decks plays with narrative flow. Instead of treating a card as a fixed image, they treat it as a frame in a larger scene. Here’s how they break down:

• Before Tarot shows the lead-up to a card’s iconic moment - a glimpse of the choice, action, or emotion that sets the scene in motion.

• After Tarot reveals what happens next - the result of the card’s decision or energy.

• In Between Tarot takes a more conceptual route, blending the energy of one card into the next. It’s like watching transformation unfold.

All three decks stay fairly close to RWS structure, so if you’re familiar with that system, you’ll likely feel right at home - but with a fresh sense of movement and possibility.

---

Example: The Fool

You might already know how you read The Fool in a standard deck - freedom, risk, potential. But how does that shift when you see:

• In the Before Tarot: The Fool hesitating, looking at the map, or saying goodbye before setting off.

• In the In Between Tarot: The Fool mid-leap, energy shifting toward The Magician.

• In the After Tarot: The Fool landing - or tumbling - into the next phase of their journey.

Suddenly, you’re not just interpreting a single moment. You’re reading a story.

---

Try This: The Story in Motion Spread

This 3-card spread works beautifully with these decks, but you can use any deck you like:

1. Before – What brought me to this moment?

2. Now – What energy is present?

3. After – What is beginning to unfold?

You can use a single deck for all three - or if you have multiple, you might enjoy mixing them:

• Before Tarot for Card 1

• Your usual deck (or In Between Tarot) for Card 2

• After Tarot for Card 3

Or try it with a standard deck and treat the positions as time markers - the prompt still works.

I’ll be trying this one out myself soon, and I’d love to hear how it plays out for you. If you do give it a try, feel free to share your draw or your thoughts in the comments!