If you are new to Lenormand, I highly recommend starting with either three cards or five cards. This is the most basic spread and what all Lenormand card readers eventually gravitate to in order to answer simple or complex questions.
Before you do a spread, though, make sure you have spent some time with your deck and have a basic understanding of the meaning of each card. Never feel as though you need to absorb it all - every reading will have you consulting each card individually before making an assessment of the entirety of the spread.
Both are read the same, but the five card spread will give you more context clues to work with. The three card spread can be read just as easy, and sometimes is best for the simple questions. It takes a bit of practice to understand which works best for what.
Ultimately it is your personal preference for what order the cards are laid out. Personally, I follow a straight line (1-2-3), although I know some who prefer either 3-2-1 or 2-1-3. The order is unimportant, but you will need to decide early on as this will be the method in which you always use, as it will be your intention. Since I often do five card spreads, I keep it simple in a straight line.
Regardless of the order, it is always the middle card you will want to look at first. This is your center, your answer in the simplest terms and broadest meaning. The details, or specification of this answer, are in the cards to the left and right.
3 Card Example Question
This question was “What should I be focused on?”
Fish-Book-Woman
Center card is Book, which happened to translate literally in this case. There was an abundance (fish) of books in her library, and she (the Woman) was very much behind. This spread translated to a literal “Focus on your abundance of books”.
Birds-Book-Woman
This was the exact same question, but one card difference changed the answer completely. Instead of a physical book needing to be read, this Book translated to a story in need of writing. The Birds are what changed the narrative, as they represent communication and talking. Next to the book, it symbolized storytelling, with the woman again more as a signifier or character.
From the example above, you can see how one card can change the entire meaning of the spread. This is because the cards work in pairs. You can also see why there needs to be an odd number of cards.
5 Card Example Question
This question was “Am I focused on the correct things now?"
Key-Snake-Fox-Bear-Stars
Center card in this example is neither positive nor negative, rather asserting itself as being about career specifically, as the Fox is a crafty creature for the purpose of survival. It’s the cards on either side that answer this question completely and tell the whole story.
The Key and Snake on the left show that past experiences have not been positive, but rather necessary for future success. This suggests that while the previous road was rough, the current direction will not be. All things must happen for a reason, essentially.
The Bear and Stars suggest that not only is this the correct focus, it is the path to fullfilling dreams and ambitions. The Bear is a powerful, successful creature that is almost always able to get what it wants. The Stars are also related to success, or rather “reaching the stars”. Being bold and confident will absolutely help them shine and achieve their goals.
Overall, the answer was yes, despite the ambiguity of the center card. When looking at 5-card spreads, it’s important to see the left two cards as “past” or “underlying cause”. The two cards to the right will always pull towards the future or add clarity to the nature of your question.
Based on this reading alone, I can honestly say I recommend commissioning Jaide Dee for her creative services. The Stars with the Bear to me indicate she is a powerful force with a spot on intuition. Please do give her a visit!
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In another example with the same question, the card in the center did positively answer the question.
House-Heart-Flowers-Key-Woman
Because of the nature of the question, the Flowers simply become a “yes”, as they symbolize positivity, happiness, and gifts. The cards to the left are again a “cause” - Because of a love for the home, a purpose is being fulfilled. The cards to the right are also a simple, yet detailed answer - the querent is the key, or the solution. On the right track? You betcha.
It should be noted the Woman card in this deck has a specific direction, and in this spread, she is looking at the Key. Take note of these directional clues within decks - they can offer more insight to the reading and offer more context clues. The Clouds sometimes have a specific light or dark side, which can change the meaning of the reading. Knowing your deck and spending time with each of the cards is important, because it’s easy to miss these subtle clues. Expanded decks may also include more than one of the same card, and this should be noted before interpreting a spread.
No matter if you use 3 or 5 cards, you’ll note they are still read in pairs. This is why other complex spreads will either work or they won’t with Lenormand cards. A few complex spreads I use often are basically a variation of the 3-card spread. This includes Secrets of the Heart, 3x3 Past/Present/Future, and Astral Cross spreads. The Grand Tableau is a whole different animal, though. Make sure you are comfortable with smaller spreads before you attempt the big one.
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3 & 5 Card Spreads | Past, Present & Future | Secrets of the Heart | Astral Cross | Grand Tableau
Tutorial by Ladybug Dawn