Petit Lenormand: Complete Guide to Drawings for Beginners and Advanced Users

In the article Yes/No Spread with the Petit Lenormand, I propose several methods to get a yes/no answer using only the names of the cards and their symbolism. But here, I emphasize another method based on the colors and values of the cards.

This simple and effective method allows you to get a quick answer to a closed question (answerable by Yes or No) based on the colors of the cards. Here’s how to proceed:

• Shuffle the cards and focus on your question, which must be closed, meaning it has a Yes or No answer.
• Draw 3 cards and observe their colors. Each color has a particular meaning for this spread:
  - Clubs: NO
  - Spades: Maybe NO
  - Diamonds: Maybe YES
  - Hearts: YES
• Interpret the answer based on the majority of colors drawn:
  - If most of the cards are Clubs or Spades, the answer leans toward No.
  - If most of the cards are Hearts or Diamonds, the answer leans toward Yes.
  - If you have an equal distribution of colors, the answer will be Maybe, indicating a situation that is not yet determined or still evolving.

This method adds another dimension to interpreting spreads by focusing solely on the colors. To explore the use of colors and card values in more detail, you can refer to the article Using Colors and Values of the Cards (3/7), which delves into this topic further.

The 5-card spread is a simple and direct method to get an answer to a closed question by reading the cards as a complete sentence. In the Petit Lenormand, each card represents a clear symbol, and combining them into a sequence allows for a fluid and concrete interpretation. This approach is ideal for beginners as it does not require choosing a Significator or using complex combinations.

Here’s how to proceed:

• Shuffle the cards while thinking of your closed question. Then, draw 5 cards and lay them out in front of you.
• Read the 5 cards as a sentence: Each card becomes a word or an idea that, together, form a clear answer. No need to interpret the cards individually or search for additional combinations. The set of cards will directly give you the answer. Example: To the question "I’ve been looking for a job for several months without success. What should I do?" Answer: The Cross + The Child + The Key + The Tower + The Tree give "Your challenge" + "is to stay joyful and open" + "because the solution lies" + "in the foundation/authority" + "of your network/professional contacts." In short, "communicate positively with people around you, and consider building a professional network."

This method is particularly suited for those looking for an intuitive and quick reading. You can enjoy letting the cards "speak" for themselves, allowing your imagination to flow while staying grounded in the simple symbolism of the Petit Lenormand.

To delve deeper into card usage and their symbolism, you can check out the article How to Combine Cards (1/7).

Once you have gained confidence with basic readings, you can explore more complex spreads, such as the 9-card reading. This spread allows you to delve deeper into open questions by combining a horizontal line and a vertical line, with a central card serving as the pivot for the interpretation.

Here is how to proceed:

• Shuffle the cards while focusing on the open question asked.
• Lay out 9 cards: 5 cards in a horizontal line and 5 cards in a vertical line, with the central card shared between the two lines.

Interpretation

• Central card (Significator) : This card is the heart of the reading. It symbolizes the overall mood and gives the main direction for the interpretation. It is your guide to understanding the entire situation.
• Phrase with the 5 horizontal cards : Read these cards as a sentence describing the current situation, the causes, or the blocks. These are the elements influencing the present.
• Phrase with the 5 vertical cards : Here, the cards reveal the near future, possible solutions, or upcoming effects. They offer ways out of the situation or a deeper understanding of it.

The "Near" and "Far" cards

• Near cards : These are the four cards that directly surround the central card (the two horizontal and two vertical cards). They complete the situation by providing important details. Pair them up to refine the interpretation of the horizontal and vertical sentences.
• Far cards : These are the four cards at the ends of the horizontal and vertical lines. They represent more distant or secondary influences, completing the interpretation of the vertical line's sentence.

Going further

• Adding cards : If the reading requires further depth or additional clarifications, you can add 4 new cards around the Significator to form a square of 9 cards at the center. Pair these new cards with the "Near" cards to refine the interpretation.

This method offers a great deal of interpretive freedom while remaining structured, ideal for exploring answers to complex or open questions. Don’t limit yourself to this technique: let your intuition guide you to go further in the possible combinations!

To learn more about using the Significator, you can refer to the article Choosing the Significator (4/7).

Once you've done several 9-card square spreads, you're ready for the Grand Tableau. I won't go into detail here because it's covered in a full separate article: Reading the Grand Tableau (7/7).

When starting with the Petit Lenormand, it's important to know which spread to use based on the context. Here are some guidelines to help you choose, whether you're learning or doing a reading.

For Learning

If you're in the learning phase, each type of spread can help you master different skills:

• 3, 5, or 6-card spreads: Ideal for practicing card combinations and creating intuitive sentences. These short spreads are perfect for working on your ability to interpret the cards quickly and effectively.
• 9-card cross spread: This spread is particularly useful for understanding the "near/far" method. It helps you see which cards directly influence your question (the nearby cards) and which have a more distant or subtle impact (the far cards).
• 9-card spreads (cross or square): These spreads are also excellent for practicing with the colors and values of the cards, essential elements for refining your interpretations. This spread also prepares you for the Grand Tableau.

For Reading: Three Main Spreads

When you're doing a reading, your main criterion for choosing a spread in the Petit Lenormand should be the time you have available. Unlike Tarot, where the theme or number of cards might determine the spread, for me, it's the time I have that decides how I read with the Petit Lenormand. Here's how to choose:

• Less than 3 minutes: Go for a 3-card spread. It's perfect for a closed and simple question, where you're looking for a quick, concise answer. In a party, demonstration, with people around, it's ideal. You can do several spreads in a row for each question from your audience.
• Less than 10 minutes: Use a 9-card spread. This spread allows for a more nuanced reading of a closed question, exploring causes, effects, and possible solutions. In a bar, on a corner table, when you're alone with a friend.
• At least 20 minutes: Choose a Grand Tableau. Even if you don't read and interpret all the cards, this spread equips you for everything, including any follow-up questions!
• Between 10 and 20 minutes: This is where the dilemma arises! You can either do a 9-card spread or a Grand Tableau focusing only on part of the tableau.

A Flexible Approach

The golden rule in the Petit Lenormand is this: you need a reason not to do a Grand Tableau. Indeed, the Grand Tableau is your default option for readings unless you're constrained by time or space (for example, if you're doing a reading outdoors on a small table).