How to Read the Square of Nine Lenormand Spread

The Square of Nine Lenormand Spread, also known as the Portrait Spread, is one of the most used spreads in the Lenormand Community. But, as with all things, there are different approaches, alternate steps, and as always a different take on how to go about reading the cards.

Here's my version of the Square of Nine Lenormand Spread.

Note: the image is from February's Guidance Reading, in case you'd like to look over the steps and the reading at the same time.

Step One: Look at the central card. It represents the overall theme of the reading, answers the question directly, and/or shows what provoked the issue (why you asked the question). You can relate the card to multiple views, or just pick one and stick with it. It usually depends on the situation. As with the guidance for the month, I usually see this card as the overall theme.

Step Two: Read the corners to find the basic issue. (1+9+3+7)

Step Three: Read the diamond to find the hidden aspect of the issue. (2+4+6+8)

Step Four: Read the columns. Column 1 represents the past, Column 2 represents the present, and Column 3 represents the future.

You could stop here or take a few extra steps to gain more insight or to double check some of your information.

Optional Steps -

Step Five:  Read the rows. Row 1 shows what's on your mind, Row 2 shows the present situation, and Row 3 reveals what you already know about the situation.

Step Six: Read the diagonals to find possible influences and how things will pass. (1+5+9, 3+5+7)

Step Seven: Knighting a card can bring clarity to the card's meaning within the reading. The technique is based on the movements of a knight in a chess game. It is able to move to a square that is two squares away horizontally and one vertically, or two squares vertically and one horizontally. So, two cards up and one to the left or right, two cards down and one to the left or right, two cards to the left and one up or down, and two cards to the right and one up or down. You decide on the card you want to clarify and then pick the cards that knight it. These cards will reveal more detail about the card.

I hope this step by step guide helps in your next Reading of the Square of Nine Lenormand Spread.

Review: Lenormand Oracle Card Deck by Alexandre Musruck

Lenormand Oracle Card Deck
Author: Alexandre Musruck
Schiffer Publishing, 2018

Last week, I posted a review on The Art of Lenormand Reading by Alexandre Musruck. This is a quick look at the companion deck.

The Lenormand Oracle Deck consists of 39 cards, the normal 36 plus three additional cards - a man, woman, and child.

The cards come in a card-size top lift box. The box is a hard to open. I plan to insert a ribbon to assist in the lifting of this tight lid. For now, I pull downward from two corners and it usually works okay.

The cards come with no reading material. They are designed to be bought with the companion book. But, if you are already a Lenormand reader, you can get the deck without the book.

The cards include the image, the number, and the inserts. The images are clear and precise. You won't have to wonder which card is which, as you do in some of the new decks.

I recommend this deck to anyone who wants to learn the Lenormand. It would make a great first deck, because of its simplistic images. Of course, any seasoned reader looking for a new deck would almost certainly enjoy the clear images of this deck.

Grab your copy from Schiffer Publishing.


(Review Product supplied by Schiffer Publishing)

Review: The Art of Lenormand Reading

The Art of Lenormand Reading: Decoding Powerful Messages
Author: Alexandre Musruck
Schiffer Publishing, 2018
Description: 240 page book


When I opened my box of goodies from Schiffer Publishing, I was delighted to see this book and its companion Lenormand Deck. My mind had been drifting to the Lenormand and this arrival jump started my interests once again.

First, let me say this book was self-published in 2016. This is a new version published by Schiffer. I'm not sure what, if anything has been changed or added from the original.

The Art of Lenormand Reading is like most books on the Lenormand, but it also has some added twists.

It begins with a standard introduction of the best way to approach the cards and techniques to help learn the system. A section on the deck anatomy goes over the many features of a card: the symbol, card number, and the playing card insert. The author then explains the Signifier Cards and other people cards. Demystifying the Cards gives an introduction to what will be covered in the Meaning of the Cards section. And, he gives a list of the Nuance cards: Action, portrait, mood, and timing.

*It's important to note that the author is using the French Lenormand system in the book.

The next section is the Meaning of the Cards, where the author covers the keywords and an overall meaning for the card. Then, he breaks it down into divisions such as what the card means in a love reading for a single person, timing of the card, what it means in an health reading and more.

I especially like the Special Power division. Here's what the Rider says: The Rider is the bearer of news. Every card that comes before him on the same line describes the message he is bringing forward.

Other divisions include the related Archangel, Planet, and Zodiac Sign. Unfortunately, the author doesn't share anything more on these subjects. It would have been interesting to have an explanation of how and when to use these relationships.

The next section, Additional Keywords, is seven pages of more keywords for each card. A few short sections follow. Card Reversals, which lets you know the cards are never read reversed, seemed completely unnecessary. A section on the Significators covers the main Querent cards, Man and Woman, and the Money, Health, and more. The Combination Section goes over possible meanings for the combination of all the cards.

There's a section on Archangels. Here you may gain a clue to why the archangel is assigned to the card. For example, the book is Metatron, who is the scribe of God, the letter is Grabriel, the messenger of God, and Scythe is Jophiel, who you may call upon to help reduce clutter. I only looked up these three to investigate connections. As for an explanation of what to use these connections for, I'm still not sure.

There's a section which covers the physical attributes of the cards, which in my opinion, should have been added to the section of card meanings.

The playing card inserts have their own section. The meanings are given for each card, based upon the French cartomancy system. Included is a chart on the meanings of multiples in a reading. For example: two Kings show an opening, while three 8's indicate a wedding.

The next forty-four pages cover Lenormand Card Spreads. The author goes into detail on how to read a Grand Tableu. He also offers a real reading using the Tableu.

A short section on attuning your deck closes the book, covering clearing, prayer and blessing your cards.

This would be a decent book to get you started with the Lenormand. A seasoned reader may find some new insight in the pages, or at least a slightly different perspective on some of the cards.

Grab your copy from Schiffer Publishing.



(Review Product supplied by Schiffer Publishing)

Your Personal Year Card and WORDs for 2016

When did people start setting WORDS instead of goals for the New Year? It seems I'm behind the times, yet again. This sounds like a great idea, let's see what I can come up with. You're welcome to follow along and create your own words for the year.

I'm picking three words, using three methods of inspiration.

I decided to start with my Personal Year Card to get some insight on the energy surrounding me for the year. For this, you add your birth month+birthday+current year, and reduce to a number below 23, which is then matched to a Major Arcana Card.



This year I find myself in the Personal Year of 13  - the year of DEATH. The energy of this card is about transformations, the letting go of something old to make room for something new, and endings opening the way for new beginnings.




I chose the Wisdom of the Oracle, a gift for my December Birthday, for my second source of inspiration. My random pull produced the number 13 card. (Right? I was a little surprised, too.) The Fork in the Road is all about making a decision, choosing a path, and moving in a new direction.


Another birthday present, the Under the Roses Lenormand became my third source of inspiration. I pulled two since they are read in pairs. I was pleasantly surprised by the cards pulled: the Letter/the Journal. I believe we can take this at face value - Journal/Book Writing.

So, what have I chosen for my word of 2016? Change, Forward, and Create.

Change - allow and embrace all changes in life and within self.
Forward - move forward, making necessary choices along the way.
Create - allow time and intuition to guide you in your creations and remember to enjoy the journey.

What words have you set for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving 'Blessings' Spread

Happy Thanksgiving!

Horn of Plenty

Thanksgiving is the time for families to gather and give thanks for all they have accomplished and encountered throughout the year. In celebration of the holiday, I've decided to fall back onto the Lenormand with a 'Blessings' Spread to help reveal those blessings.

Deck: Gilded Reverie Lenormand by Ciro Marchetti.

First, shuffle your deck, while thinking over the past year and the year to come. What blessings do you have to be thankful for?

Next, spread out the deck before you, locating the Bouquet card.

Then, lay out the 2-3 cards on each side of the Bouquet. The cards to the left reveal blessings of the past and present, while the cards to the right reveal blessings of the future.

Blessings of the Past and Present: A secure home life (House), both emotionally (Heart) and financially (Fish).

Blessings of the Future: Recognizing (Woman facing Paths) the many choices (Paths) of communications (Birds).

Take a moment to check on your Blessings.

Hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

How to Ask Yes/No Questions with the Lenormand

I have found the Lenormand Cards are amazing for Yes/No Questions. They not only answer your question, but also give added information. There are a few things to consider before you proceed.

• Know your cards - The first thing you'll need to know is which cards you consider positive, negative, and neutral. For the most part, your list will be the same as others, but your view point may differ on some cards. The important thing is to follow your gut, but be aware of your choices before you begin. Don't wait till you lay the cards out to decide. You don't want the temptation to make the cards give you the answer you want.
• The question - The more specific your question is the better the results. With a yes/no question, it is very important to gauge your possible answers. You will want the answer of 'yes' to be a positive result, and a 'no' to be a negative result. Setting a time frame within your question is also helpful to get the most reliable answer.
• Number of Cards - Determine this before you begin your reading. I find that 3-5 cards work well for this type of reading.
• Reading - Once you've laid down your cards, you will count the number of positives, negatives, and neutrals to determine your initial answer. More Positives = Yes, More Negatives = No, Equal Amounts = Maybe, but yet to be determined. After you have your answer, you can read the cards to gain more information.

Click on the Download Bunny to get a copy of my list of Positive/Negative/Neutral cards. 

bunny by DryIcons

Example of a Yes/No Lenormand Reading

I have a confession. I've become an addict to the show - Grey's Anatomy. I'm currently in Season 6. It would be easy to sit down and run through the episodes and catch up, but let's face it, I do have a life, lol. So please no spoilers. 

For my yes and no question, we turn to the characters of Grey's Anatomy.

Will Izzie Stevens return to Alex Karev?

cards produced by Carrie Paris

Positives - 4 - Sun, Dog, Key, Moon

Negatives - 0

Neutrals - 1 - Garden

With four positives and no negatives, the answer to the question is "Yes".

Now, we can look at the cards to gain more information.

Looking at the central card - Key, the yes is reinforced. 

The Sun reveals this will be a successful reunion, however the Dog may suggest a change in the relationship. As they were married when she left, and her sudden disappearing act has obviously put a strain on the love relationship, they may very well reunite as friends, but not as a couple. The Moon reveals her return is more about her career than it is about her 'love' relationship. The Garden suggests social events, which may reveal the setting of her return.

Sun+Dog - the friendship survives, Dog+Key - important friend, Key+Moon - career opportunity, Moon+Garden - social career

Sun+Garden - social success

Dog + Moon - career friendships

Inserts - 1+10+8+8+8 = 35 Anchor - Security

Izzie will return, but maybe not entirely for the relationship. She needs her friends and career, which is what provides her with a sense of security.

Enjoy exploring yes/no questions with your Lenormand Deck. And if you don't have a set, the deck used here is available for free printing at Carrie Paris.

Lenormand Moon

Ciro Marchetti, Lenormand

I've been a little hesitant in posting about the Lenormand. I'm still working through trying to get a grasp on how these cards work.

One day I think I've got it, and then the next they confuse me so much I want to pull my hair out. Let's say at this moment we have a love, hate relationship.

But, here we are, and we're going to look at the Lenormand. Maybe the understanding of the system will grow with each post, and you'll learn with me as we go.

One of the first steps in learning the Lenormand is to understand each individual card. Let me say here that there are different systems of the Lenormand and a few different ways to interpret and read the cards.

I think the system I'm using is French. The one I use is the same as Rana George and Mary K. Greer. So, if something I write doesn't match up with yours, feel free to say something, but understand it may just be a different system.

There are many different decks now, but I chose two images to give you an idea of what you may be looking at when we have the Lenormand Moon. The card is 32, out of the 36 card deck, and its playing card is 8 of Hearts.

We may go into the playing card aspect later, but for now, we will keep it as simple as possible with the basic meanings of the card. Again, these interpretations can vary from person to person.

Important to know: Do not confuse the Lenormand Moon with the Tarot Moon.

The Moon represents:

• fame and recognition
• intuition, dreams, and creativity
• evening, moon cycles
• job card - as in your job brings you fame and recognition - there are also other cards which can serve this purpose. In the end, choose one and stick with it. (I personally use the Anchor - more on that later.) 

It is suggested to have adjectives and verbs selected for each card. This will come into play when you start interpreting combinations. 

The Moon as an adjective:

• creative
• intuitive
• evening
• famous (as in known for)

The Moon as a verb:

• visualize
• create

There are many, many words which can be connected with the Moon. This, by the way, is why I've found this system so hard to figure out.

Do you have experience with the Lenormand? Care to share some of your own insight on the Lenormand Moon? Are you beginning your journey into the Lenormand?

Keep It Simple, Silly

When approaching the Lenormand, one should realize how simple the process is and try not to make it more complicated than it is.

Easier said than done.

From experience, I believe the complications come in when we jump head first into this system and try to start reading before we are ready. Take it slow, build a vocabulary, form connections with the card combo system, and practice, practice, practice.

Below is an example of one of my daily draws. I threw the spread the other morning, jotted some notes, and left for work. Upon returning home, I glanced at my previous notes, yet nothing had happened during the day that rang true to my interpretation. So, I jotted down some more notes, played with some new keywords, and then it happened. The simple, logical interpretation jumped out at me and fell into place.

Final Interpretation: Leaving the office to drive my car around a committed route. (For those of you who may not know, I'm a rural mail carrier, therefore most of my work day is spent in my car following the same line of travel.) Surprise, nothing unusual happened, just a normal day at work.

This isn't the first time the Ship has appeared as Car for me. In February's Grand Tableau, it appeared followed by Fox, giving me Work Vehicle. But, I'll confess this wasn't evident until the end of the month, and I was reviewing the reading with hindsight. Such things are worth noting in a Card Journal, and the Road+Ring (committed path, my mail route) will be added in my Combo Journal.

Lenormand tip - Keep notes, build vocabulary, and creating connecting combos. Journals are very important in learning the Lenormand. I currently have three - one for individual meanings, one for combos, and one for daily/monthly readings. 

Good luck in you Lenormand Journey and don't forget to Practice.

A Lenormand Oracle Journey

Last month’s Examiner Article, Learning to Read the Lenormand, introduced my intentions of discovering the process of reading the Lenormand Oracle.

under the roses

~a little background~

Years ago, based on a friend’s recommendation, I decided to obtain a copy of the Titania’s Fortune Cards. Out of publication, this deck wasn't the easiest to find, at least not at a reasonable price. I finally tracked them down on eBay.

After playing with the cards, following the handbook’s guidelines and card meanings, I soon set them to the side. I couldn't understand how to read the cards without having to use the companion book with each reading. I didn't totally give up, going back to them from time to time, but they never really grabbed my attention.

Suddenly, this year, my radar picked up the abundance of others combining the Lenormand Oracle with the Tarot. In April, I tried the technique out and featured it on the blog. The results were interesting, but not enough to pull me into the journey.

Soon after, I randomly entered a contest for a copy of the Vintage Lenormand by Rootweaver. Guess what? I won. So this had to be a sign from my heavenly friends, a push in this new direction, right?

To begin my journey, I needed instructions. I purchased The Secrets of the Lenormand Oracle, which gave me a layer of foundation, but still left me a little confused.

The two most helpful sites I've found, which cleared away a lot of the spider webs, were Donnaleigh’s Tarot and LearnLenormand.

With a slightly shaky foundation, I began digging into this new system, started practicing on myself, and then expanded out toward my friends who are willing to be guinea pigs for the higher good of my learning.

There’s a long road ahead, but I’m catching on a little at a time.

Do you read the Lenormand Oracle? Any suggestions on reading material? Decks? Are you in the process of learning this system? Feel free to share and/or join me in this journey.

Review: Titania's Fortune Cards

Titania's Fortune Cards

Along the shelves of tarot cards, you may come across other types of card decks.

Fortune-telling cards are among these.

The Titania's Fortune Cards are based on the Mlle. Lenormand's Fortune Telling Cards. The cards in this deck are very easy to read with simple images.

The deck consists of 36 cards, slightly larger than playing cards. The card stock is thin and will need to be cared for, but this is a great deck to have.

If you look for this deck on Amazon, you will be shocked at the price of this out of print deck. Take your time, and search for these. You can find them for a reasonable price. It may just take you a little time. I purchased mine from an EBay UK seller for around nineteen dollars.

So, if you have trouble reading the complex messages of the Tarot, give these fortune cards a try. You'll be amazed by their accuracy.