I like to challenge myself when doing predictive Tarot readings. I try to be as specific as possible and part of that challenge is to determine when an event will happen. Although most of this comes down to intuition, there are three really good techniques that can be used to help develop an intuitive sense of timing. Any of the techniques taught tend to vary from simple to complex, with astrological methods requiring the most background knowledge. Although I think astrology can be an excellent tool to use, I want to concentrate on some simple techniques that I use, that can be applied almost straight away.
1. Attention Seeking Tarot Card
Any card that seems to demand your attention, might be doing so for a reason. In these cases, I make a mental note of that card and if, during the course of the reading, I find myself returning to that card again and again, I will usually take that as very significant. These ‘attention demanding’ cards can indicate many things, but occasionally they might be hinting at the timing. Figuring out what these cards want is half the battle, they may have nothing to do with predicting the timing or they may do. In fact, they might even represent three or four different things. For this reason, this technique is the most intuitive, but can also turn out to be the most accurate.
Example of an attention demanding Tarot card
The other day I was doing a Tarot reading and the Eight of Cups kept grabbing my attention. Although this card was hinting at many different things, I felt it was also telling me the overall timing of the reading. I took the number Eight and said, this reading will cover the next eight months. There was no rational reason for me to intuit this; no complex system was used to validate my feelings.
However, there were other patterns and connections in place which also helped me arrive at my conclusions. For instance, the influence of the Moon was prevalent in the client’s reading which prompted me to see the reading within an Eight month time frame. I saw an image of cycles and phases which all helped me to arrive at my prediction, with the most important event happening in November (Death card – Scorpio).
Let’s look at this further
This technique is the most intuitive, and as I’ve said earlier, probably the best. The difficulty with describing such a technique is the difficulty of showing the reasoning process I went through for something which is essentially, irrational. When we use our intuition, we are using our imagination and the rational part of the mind is put to one side while the irrational is privileged. Each person’s irrational way of working with the Tarot will be unique to them. The most important thing you can do for yourself is trust the irrational. Do not try and rationalise the irrational way you have arrived at your prediction because, certainly if you don’t have much experience in this way of thinking, you may damage you’re enjoyment of Tarot.
This can happen in two ways. The first way, is to be overly rational about the whole thing. This kills the irrational and intuitive process which I’ve described and secondly, it can block further progress as your confidence could be affected.
This technique needs to be approached with an open, free, and unconcerned mind; unconcerned for the correctness of technique, or the correctness of approach.
What does all that mean?
If you choose to use your intuition to make predictions, you are entering into a relationship with your irrational mind. This may already be a well developed and close relationship, in which case you will have no trouble with the technique, or it may be a difficult or tense relationship, in which case, gentle steps would be advised when using this technique.
This technique does more that develop your intuition; it actually develops a trust between the hidden, dark and irrational areas of your mind.
2. The Tarot suits and timing
This technique gives a bit more structure to help with making timing predictions. It still relies on intuition but the rational mind can be kept occupied by thinking about it as an actual structured method, while the irrational mind can be left to make connections between the patterns of the suits.
The seasons
After you have dealt out the cards using your chosen Tarot spread, quickly scan the cards to determine which suit is more prominent than the others. Each suit can be thought of as representing a season, and the more prominent the suit, the more likely the event will happen within the season that that suit corresponds to. Here is a list of the associations that I use:
- Wands: Spring
- Cups: Summer
- Swords: Autumn
- Disks: Winter
Although this system is rather vague, it’s still very useful in certain circumstances, and certain questions. It’s also rather accurate.
Days, Weeks, Months and Years
Imagine the suit of Wands as representing events that happen quickly while the suit of Disks happens very slowly. In this way, we can draw an imaginary line, with Wands representing the fastest and Disks representing the slowest. The other two suits, that being the suit of Cups and the suit of Swords, are positioned somewhere in the middle of that imaginary line. With that in mind, we can make predictions based on the speed of the suit:
- Wands: Days
- Swords: Weeks
- Cups: Months
- Disks: Years
Common advice states that a Tarot reading loses its accuracy when the predicted events are beyond a year from the day of the reading. That means that questions that ask a Tarot reader to make predictions years into the future are not as reliable as questions that ask a Tarot reader to make predictions a few months into the future. Although I accept this point of view, there are always exceptions to the rule and I would advise you not to shy away from making those types of predictions. Experience, both good and bad, is always good.
3. Predicting the day
Although I said I wasn’t going to introduce Astrology, I have introduced this technique because it only requires you to know some basic associations of the Major Arcana or Trump cards which I will present below. This technique allows you to predict the day on which the event will happen.
- Sunday: The Sun card
- Monday: The High Priestess
- Tuesday: The Tower
- Wednesday: Magician
- Thursday: Wheel of Fortune
- Friday: Empress
- Saturday: The World
This list of associations is based on the astrological attributes that are used on some occult Tarot decks. It is surprising how handy this list of associations can be when clients want to know exactly what will happen on “Sunday of next week.”
These three simple techniques for predicting the timing of events are very powerful, and surprisingly accurate. I’d really like to hear more about the techniques that you use when predicting the timing of events in a Tarot card reading. Also, do you find that certain spreads lend themselves to different time frames?
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Lyanne maybe you could refraise the question a little.
Like Erica said, maybe you could ask:
Will he call me anytime soon?
Good luck to you!
ok Girls
i followed your advice!
I just asked a question different, and i promise i will not use timing questions about the same subject until the time pass!!!!! promise promise :p i don’t want to lose this one….
I asked, when will i listen his voice for the first time on this year 2011on the phone ?
It came out:
10 wands, Ace wands, 7 wands
Observation: i’ve never heard his voice …because he calls and say nothing, maybe waiting for me to say…so the iniciative must be mine. I think that shows how true the 10 wands (struggle waiting) Ace wands (first time listening his voice) and seven wands (corage to speak) came out.
Am i right ? say yes
Ok, swords are the fastest, next up is wands.
Wands also symbolize the creative force,
passionate emotions.
Take a look at each card, what feeling do you get
when you look at the cards?
What do they tell you?
Is there a story here?
I always associate wands with spring/summer.
Somehow I get the feeling, you’re gonna have to take the first step here.
Go for it, you have nothing to loose!
I was thinking more: 3 active cards….means days… 18 days :/ i’m to ansious and it’s a torture waiting so much days…. now, months? can’t even imagine :SSSS
Well, according to numeroly 10 and Ace, indicates a transition, something ends and begins another… and because it came out as two first cards, means to me that soon will be a change.
The 7 wands, indicates a challenge that will happen if we really talk :s because both of us, are in a relationship… and it’s already a burden this situation…one comes close, the other runs, the other come close, the first one runs… but our feelings are to strong… i’m just afraid about the possibility that he’s mad with me, because i always been defensive with his approach…and he might think that i dont like him.
Sorry for speaking to much, have no one to talk about this :S
Thks for your opinion Karolina
but i hope you’re wrong desperately 
Haha, you’re funny Lyanne.
But I’m not really an expert in this field.
But you’re absolutely right, three active cards.
I’m always in that opinion that the guy should
take the initiative.
I guess I have too much pride:P
Anyways hope it works out for you.
i think that to…but this is taking about 15 years now
…. i’ll do something different now :p hopei have a chance still….
Haha Lyanne, maybe you could ask another question.
Like: How does he feel about me?
Is he planning on calling me anytime soon?
Or:
What happens if I make the call?
Try it
lyanne, Three active cards are days but you have an ace in the reading which is a passive suit. So therefore, your answer would be 11 weeks. I’d say around April or sooner.
10 wands, Ace wands, 7 wands= 10 of wands is the sruggle here. Ace of wands it will be new, as you implied earlier hearing his voice for the firtst time. Seven of wands here..it’s a victory card. I believe you will be the one who makes the call here. The ending result will be positive but it’s up to you to take that first step. Don’t wait on him to do it. I hope this helps.
lyanne, I take that back. It’s not 11 weeks. It would be one week. I get Aces and Pages mixed up sometimes. Sorry about that.
Erica i was having a heart attack reading your answer!!!!! hahahah…..
Well i’ve no problem calling him, i’m no masoquist….i just don’t do it because he calls me with an anonymus number …. -_-
hope you’re right Erica….really……………..
Karolina, i’ll wait this next week to pass before asking other question related to this situation, i don’t want to miss this call this time…. :S
Thanks both, for your advice! maybe we can share emails, :pppp
I’m creating a love movie inside of Taroteon LOOOL
kisses to everyone
Yes it would be nice to share emails
Yes I thinks you should wait one week now.
Haha, I can act in that movie!
Anyway ladies, what do you think about these timing cards:
4 swords, and devil?
Could this indicate this saturday?
4 days?
Karolina i wish you could
PPPPPP i would arrange a nice cupid costume for you, and give you sharp arrows hahahahaha
About that timing cards… my intuition tells me that once the devil rules on capricornian sign, that already passed (19th january) so …adding 1+5=6 (june) and the swords showing the number 4… once we are in jan. it appears to me ends of may beginning of June.
It’s confuse interpreting a minor and mayor arcana togheter… work with the minor arcana only, and take 3, like Erica said.
My email:
taroteon.lyanne@gmail.com
Kisses
Yes haha!
But the Devil card also rules saturday, and swords are fast.
And since it’s four days to saturday.. I just thought.
But then again.. when I look at the cards I see a story here.
Four of swords is quite passive (although swords are fast)
The man is resting, there’s not much action going on.
Devil tells me “being slave to impulses”,
and this is a quite destructive relationship.
Gonna try this again.. I really hope it’s sooner than May/June.
I’ll add you Lyanne!
Thanks for the answers
i didn’t know that the devil card is associated to saturday… hmmm
To me 4 swords it’s connected with suffering…and the devil usually indicates a relationship where you feel trapped to it.
Karolina, let me know your email latter.
Good luck
Nothing is working out for me right now!
Frustraiting!… I mean when will I get a job?
I can’t ask now, too much bad energy.
Yes I mail you
thanks!
Karolina,
i took cards for you, questioning “when Karolina will begin to work”?
It came out:
9 swords, 3 pentacles, page of pentacles
Since 9 of swords, are de nightmare card, i think you feel trapped in your own fears, that are not quite real, you just need to be more confident and trust more in your capacities. So you need to change your perspectives they’re quite dark :p
3 of pentacles shows partnerships, a foundation is created and promises be fruitful.
Page of pentacles, shows a beggining of something pratical. It has been said here that represent a 30days period, and since the cards show two passive minor arcana, it represent a month.
My intuition says you’ll find a job after 2 months.
Page of pentacles, rules Apr 11 to May 10 according to : http://taroteon.com/tarot-tutorial/tarot-tutorial-timing-and-predicting-events-with-astrology-tarot-reading/
Hope you feel more optimistic!
It helps seeying this video of Kate Perry – Firework, it brings more confidence!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
Bye ***
Karolina,
i took cards for you, questioning “when Karolina will begin to work”?
It came out:
9 swords, 3 pentacles, page of pentacles
Since 9 of swords, are de nightmare card, i think you feel trapped in your own fears, that are not quite real, you just need to be more confident and trust more in your capacities. So you need to change your perspectives they’re quite dark :p
3 of pentacles shows partnerships, a foundation is created and promises be fruitful.
Page of pentacles, shows a beggining of something pratical. It has been said here that represent a 30days period, and since the cards show two passive minor arcana, it represent a month.
My intuition says you’ll find a job after 2 months.
Page of pentacles, rules Apr 11 to May 10
Hope you feel more optimistic!
It helps seeying this video of Kate Perry – Firework, it brings more confidence!
Bye ***
Hey Karolina & lyanne,
I did a yes or no reading on a engagement question for curiousity ya know. Cards as follow, The Hermit-Ace of Cups-Four of swords.
my intepation of the reading, the hermit: Patience Ace of cups: Love/New Beginings. Four of swords: I see it as a peaceful card after many battles. I honestly think If any engagement took place, it would be peaceful…I see the Ace of cups and four of swords as positive cards. Just my opinion here.
What’s your thought on this reading?
Oh yes, I’d be delighted to exchange e-mails with you both. I’ll take
lyanne’s email down here. I’ll write her and get yours Karolina. =)
According to Dorothy Kelly, from the book “Tarot Card combinations” the 4 of swords is seen as Repose, convalescing, seclusion, delays, sickness, solitary.
The combination of that 3 cards would suggest:
Eremit – reflection, detachment
Ace cups – marriage
4 swords – sickness
Detachment on marriage brings sickness.
Or
Reflection/detachment brings marriage delays.
Just mine opinion here , hope it’s wrong :/
Thank you so much Lyanne!:)
That’s so sweet of you.
Yes I agree Erica, 4 swords combined with the Devil card,
is maybe not a good combination.
The meaning of the cards changes depending on which cards are near.
I see this as a very intimate engagement.
The two peoples intellect as one.
Two people who thinks the same about things.
lyanne, I never go buy books, honestly. Books don’t hold the future. That’s just based on what one person says, not everyone feels the same as they do. I have read a lot of different webbys with a lot of different tarot associations/meanings. I’m asking what you think, not a book lol. Okay, I do see the hermit card as a negatory but the other two cards I don’t though.
Karolina, the devil not really that evil compared to the moon and the tower. I always see the devil card as a sex card…That’s just me. I totally agree with what you implied for my reading.
Sorry Erica,
Didn’t wanted to make you feel sad, i respect your opinion, and my comments always have been intuitives, and my intuition this time took me to one of many books i have here, and it came out like that….honestly i think that what i said:
“Reflection/detachment brings marriage delays.” it’s more probable, because the factor of delay (eremit) is evident…on this reading, and i really don’t think it’s a no answer, because the 4 of swords is softned by the ace of cups (a very positive card) so it’s more like stagnation, delays, for me! Could be different for another person….
Kisses*
lyanne and Karolina, what tarot decks do you own? Because I, myself own a different deck entirely. I have a faerie deck by natalie hertz . I ususlly go by their LWB(Little White Booklet) for my meanings..but if i need a further intepation, i usually go online to read. I’m just curious ya know.
lyanne, I appreciate your input on my reading. I’ll just hope for the best. =) I believe if something going to happen..it will before end of March.
I use the rider white deck.
I agree with you about the sex part of the Devil card.
But also must remember in the rider white deck.
They are not chained to the Devil, they are free to go.
But they choose to give in to “lower impulses”.
I see that as a negative side, all kinds of addiction.
Like: drugs, sex.. and so on.
But I would like to think this has an positive element to it,
combined with 4 of swords, what do you say Erica?
And in matters of timing, could it be this saturday?
That was just my first thought,
I usually go by my first inutive feeling.
Erica i use the marseille deck :p , i have the gypsy deck and the angels deck too, but i don’t use them…they don’t work very well to me…
Erica just was trying to help*
March it’s to long for me :p hehehe Good luck Erica, you’ll make it!
Lalalala …And I am waiting for that call -.- counting the 7days of the week….
Really hope you’re right this time :/
Good luck to both of you!!
Or good luck to all of us
lyanne, if you stopped at that reading, there is good possibility that you will hear from him in seven days. Just remain positive. Belive in the reading. =)
Karolina, I agree with the four of swords. The devil is an earth element. Which is the slow part of the reading. It could happen on saturday or by late feb-early March. Marjor Arcana usually somewhat a 30 day period…Another note to remember…is that they work in quarters too. So it’s possible it could be by the end of the quarter too. Just some notes to keep in mind here.
And also erica, everytime ask for an ace in this timing.
It is the ace of cups.
Also telling me spring right?
LyanneI write to your email tomorrow I am going to sleep now.
Listening to Katy Perry- Firework, thank you.
You were right about me feeling trapped, I really do.
kisses
thks karolina! you have a portugese name, interesting… :p
Erica!! are you crazy? I tied my hands so badly ;p
PPPPPPPP i need to solve this problem urgently, thjere’s anything worst than you need to say something and somehow people don’t let you? Grrr :p
i’ll stay away for timing questions for awhile
Erica if you use the fairy tarot, why do you know so much about timing readings? You had sucess on you predictions?
Someday Douglas will appear here and kill us hahhaa
24 comments in just one day LOOOOOOOL we’re nuts
Ups it comes another one
Haha I haven’t gone to sleep yet.
Swedish name Lyanne
We can talk more tomorrow,
on mail also.
Hahahaha Douglas sorry..
ladies with all kinds of problems.
We need to take advice from each other..
no problem karolina!
sleep tight
i’ll wait for your email tomorrow, i don’t need to do a timing question right? hahahaha
Good nigh!
lyanne, I stayed up late nights during research on Timing Methods. That’s how I know so much on it. There several ways to do it though. I find using the Minor Arcana is easier than the Majors. I’ve had some sucess with my readings, while others I did not. It also important to look at the Message of the card to determined the possible outcome too. Anoter note here, If you do readings before a retrograde, it will not happen because everything goes backwards. ..Last spring, i was supposed to be in a relationship..but because of the Mercury Retrograde, it didn’t happen. I have learned my lesson..not to do readings before or during a retrograde. ..I do alot research online.
Ladies, I do hope for things to workout in your favor soon. All we can do is be patient, remain positive and keep ourselves busy in the meantime until the event occurs(if it is going to happen that is).
Karolina, when it comes to the Aces. I usually don’t go by seasons. I go by the timing here.
Ace of swords- 1hr-1day/if in reverse, something needs to happen first.
Ace of wands-1day-1week
Ace of cups-one month
Ace of pentacles- 6 months or if reverse, it would be a year.
Okay, that’s just my method. =)
Hahahaha I’m gonna write you now Lyanne
Ace of swords- I write to you within one hour hahaha
Intresting Erica, I always thought Ace of pentacles is one year..
Good now I know it can be 6 months too
I write Lyanne, you can get my email from her.
I’m gonna search jbs today ladies.
Wish me luck!
And Lyanne maybe if I wear a cupid custome,
I get the job easier? hahaha..
Have a nice day
Hope you’ll find the best job for you in the world Karolina
I have your emails girls
, gonna answer after sent this comment.
Erica, very interesting this thing about planets retrogade…it seems that mercury comes retrogade on march 30th until April 23th :SSSS We shouldn’t do readings that time? or planning important things?
Where do you get the information about this retrogades online?
I leave here a little search about that on web:
Planetary stations in 2011
Saturn turns retrograde on 26 Jan 2011 at 17Lib13 *****
Mercury turns retrograde on 30 Mar 2011 at 24Ari21 *****
Pluto turns retrograde on 9 Apr 2011 at 07Cap30 ******
Mercury turns direct on 23 Apr 2011 at 12Ari53
Neptune turns retrograde on 3 Jun 2011 at 00Pis55 ******
Saturn turns direct on 13 Jun 2011 at 10Lib26
Uranus turns retrograde on 10 Jul 2011 at 04Ari33 *****
Mercury turns retrograde on 3 Aug 2011 at 01Virg12 *****
Mercury turns direct on 26 Aug 2011 at 18Leo41
Jupiter turns retrograde on 30 Aug 2011 at 10Tau21 *****
Pluto turns direct on 16 Sep 2011 at 04Cap53
Neptune turns direct on 9 Nov 2011 at 28Aqu08
Mercury turns retrograde on 24 Nov 2011 at 20Sag07 *******
Uranus turns direct on 10 Dec 2011 at 00Ari38
Mercury turns direct on 14 Dec 2011 at 03Sag51
Jupiter turns direct on 25 Dec 2011 at 00Tau21
Now i understand why i stopped receiving that calls, because of mercury retrogade on december 10th -30th -.-
Kisses and good morning!
wow, thanks for the info.
I got a job intervju tomorrow!
Ok I have not drawn any cars today, but I will after I cooked some food.
Wow that was fast :p, it’s all about knocking down that 9 of swords ;PPPPPP
Good luck Karolina!
I’m searching for job too….hope to find anything good sooner…
I already wrote both of you.
kisses
Haha I know
P
But maybe I wont start until two months?
Who knows, we see tomorrow..
I’m gonna ask how the intervju will go;P
Best luck to finding a job!
Erica I’ll write to you later okay?
Hahaha Doug is gonna be like: “what the….” hahaha
hi im just starting out and each day im getting better and better
so i did a reading asking when something in paticular was gonna happen and i got 5 swords the judgment card upside down and 5 cups
i must say im kinda confused but i know the number 5 is important i just cant figure out the time frame :/
Timing is hard with the tarot. I have been on 5 different sites and they all say something different. I like your suggestion about going with your intuition. I always find that works best. Thanks for the info.
What would a major arcana card represent as a timing card? I get the feeling it means “at any moment”. My question was when would a certain event happen, and twice (two months apart) I received a major arcana card as the timing card answer.
Hi Shadowewolfe,
I’ve written a post which might help answer your question. It’s called Astrological Associations. Let me know how you get on.
Hi,
I asked myself the question how long would it be before I get the girl that I have been after and while shuffling, two cards jumped off the deck. It was the ace of pentacles and the sun. I know ace of pentacles is around one year but what was the sun doing along with it. I was confused. The three cards for the reading were Nine of wands, High Empress, Chariot.
Can someone shed some light so that I can see things a bit different?
Years could very well speed up into days with sexual, fruitful environment. By the way, this was posted last year, what happened between you two?
I am currently working with a man that is an aries, with pisces mercury, venus in aries and mars in sag and a moon in pisces/
I am sag with mercury, venus and mars in all in scorpio with a pisces moon. I am unbelievably attracted to this man and would like him to pick up the vibe that I am but do not know how to do or if he is even attracted me? I feel it in his voiice now but I don’t want to imagine something that isn’t there either?
do you read Tarot cards? If you do, self-readings are very accurate if you can absolutely do one spread and go with that one, not throw spread after spread with hopes of getting the outcome you want, and avoiding the outcome (of 1st spread) that is. One other accurate and very quick on-demand reading is on http://www.facade.com/tarot/
It’s a free online tarot reading; ask your question with sincerity and conviction and read/analyze the results. I recommend printing the reading/text to refer to later for reference and to gauge accuracy. Use this article by Douglas to determine indicators for timing related to your question. Good luck!!
under days, weeks,.. you have cups as months and swords as weeks.
In perfect Tarot divination, by Robert Wang, he has them reversed. Where does this info come from and which is correct?
Thanks
Hi Eule
Good question. The short answer is, ‘I can’t remember.’ The problem with breaking down the Suits to represent chunks of time is that it quickly becomes difficult to justify. The reason for this is that it deviates rapidly from astrology, which has greater subtlty due, amongst many reasons, to the number of symbols that it employs. Only using 4 symbols makes things difficult.
I wrote aobut the Cups as months and Swords as weeks because that is a system that I’ve always used, although I can’t remember were I read it.
In general, if you’re looking for something much more robust, then I suggest using the Golden Dawn system alongside the Thoth deck or similar (these sorts of decks make timing much more explicit by adhering to the timing employed by the Golden Dawn … with only a few derivations between them.)
Which is correct?
None. All. It really just comes down to finding a system that you like. Then test it. If it works, use it and don’t worry that other people use something different. If you would feel better with something much more consistent in its appproach, then use the Golden Dawn system. I’ve written a few articles on it if you’re interested.
Finally, doing a quick search on google for timings based on the suits revealed multiple differences from the authors. This is no bad thing and simply shows that using only 4 symbols eventually comes down to personal preference with everyone being correct or wrong depending on your point of view.
I just found this post & I’m excited to apply this insight/advice to my readings—Ty Douglas! They say when you know a subject very well (expert), you can simplify instructions and explanations easily. I love how this article is succinct and yet thorough. Very nice; I will let you know how the reading goes, I am sure it will be very accurate. When your heart’s in it, it is
Dear Mr. Gibb,
Excellent and very HELPFUL article! I want to thank you for the wonderful information.
I have a question, I just a deck called the Petit Ettiella and I would like know how to time events like you did with the Tarot cards. Can you tell me what you think.
Thank you again.
Sammy
Hi Sammy,
Thank you for your kind words
Unfortunately, I’m not familiar enough with the deck that you have chosen to be confident in giving you any advice. I know there are several excellent blogs dedicated to this style of Tarot deck and they may have information that may be able to help you further.
Hello, and how is everyone…happy mothers day by the way! I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing free cold tarot reading for me? I would really appreciate it and it would mean the world to me. Almost 2 years ago I separated from my ex with the dob 12/11/87, it was a bad break up, after 5 years he went off, found someone had a baby and today just proposed to her…..I wanted to know if its in his cards if he is truly going to marry her and if he will ever step up to the plate and be a father to his 2 kids we have together? my dob is 111184, thank you so much and your time is greatly appreciated.
Arminta, you don’t need a tarot reading to tell you that. You already know by his actions that he won’t or he would have by now. It’s time for you to move on, find happiness yourself and love your kids enough for 2. My kids father has nothing to do with them, its sad, but its life. We just have to be enough for them for now.
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