7-Card and 9-Card Spreads of the Petit Lenormand: Practical Guide for Beginners

The central card (position 5) is the true heart of the spread. It is the pivot around which everything is organized. It can be seen as an "atmosphere" card that gives a direction to the reading. It can be used in two ways:

Option 1: The central card is drawn at random

In this case, it represents the main theme of the question, provides a first answer, and gives the guideline for the interpretation.

• Advantages: It helps guide the interpretation and prevents the reader from feeling lost among the 9 cards.
• Disadvantages: None.

Option 2: It is chosen in advance, as a "Significator"

Here, you choose a card in advance that represents the theme of the question, placed in the center at position 5. You do not interpret this card directly, but it serves as a reminder and a focus to put the others into context.

• Advantages: It acts as a signpost to stay focused on the subject. It offers a strong visual element that embodies the querent or their problem. By "fixing" the center, some associations are highlighted or set aside (you work around it without interpreting it directly).
• Disadvantages: You may feel restricted (interpretation bias) or feel that it reduces the real possibilities of the deck.

Which option to choose?

• To be free: In a general or open question, it is advised to let the central card appear on its own. It is more organic and sometimes surprising, even if it can be frustrating if you were waiting for a direct answer on a specific subject.
• For beginners: When making your first square spreads, choosing the central card is reassuring. In a targeted or closed question, it allows you to concentrate the interpretation. This method also gets you closer to the conditions of the Grand Tableau where you interpret the square around a significator.

Personally, for a real reading, I let chance decide. For learning, I advise choosing the central card. In this case, refer to the article on Choosing the Significator.

Practical example: The Ship in the center

If the question is about love but the Ship appears in the center, it does not mean the spread is "off-topic". The deck draws attention to a particular dimension: distance, slowness, adventure, or a need for change.

In love, the Ship can indicate:

• A long-distance relationship or a temporary separation.
• A partner who values their independence (or even a risk of cheating: "going elsewhere").
• A feeling of non-communication where you need to "make contact" or clarify goals.

The surrounding cards will refine this message:

• Ship + Whip: Distance and lack of communication are daily issues; you pass each other without talking.
• Ship + Bear: A feeling of isolation, everyone lives in their own cave, love is in hibernation.
• Ship + Stars: Hope for a renewed love, but one might be thinking of other potential partners.

The central card highlights the essential tone that the deck prioritizes, even if it is not what the querent had imagined.

The 9-card square system

To read the square correctly, we use different lines that break down the situation:

• The Time Flow (columns): They show the story of the situation, from its origin on the left to the possible result on the right.
• Levels of Consciousness (rows): They separate what we hope for (top), what we experience concretely (middle), and what is hidden or unconscious (bottom).
• Transformation Lines (diagonals): They trace the paths of change and indicate if the situation tends to become real or stay at the idea stage.
• The Field of Forces (corners): They set the scene, the limits, and the blocking points surrounding the question.
• The Influence Network (diamond): It highlights the moving forces that we can act upon to make things evolve.

When should I do a square spread?

The square of 9 can be done at any time, but it is perfect for check-ins and looking at the short or medium term. It is not a spread you do every day for the same question, but rather when you want a clear reading on a situation that is changing.

• For a global overview: at the start of a month, a season, or a big life step.
• When a question gets specific: it is perfect for a question that needs a wider view than a simple 3-card spread, without going as far as the Grand Tableau.

Open or closed questions?

The 9-card square is a flexible spread that adapts to how you ask the question:

• Open questions: This is where it works best. It allows you to explore themes like "What do I need to know right now?" or "What are my prospects?" by showing aspects you might not have thought about.
• Closed questions: It becomes a precision tool. By placing a chosen significator in the center (the Book for studies, the Heart for love), the surrounding cards will show if the influences are positive or not.

Note: For very direct yes/no questions, some prefer shorter spreads (3 or 5 cards) so the 9-card square doesn't add too many details and "water down" the answer.

There are so many methods, how should I do it?

Think of this as a catalog. A 9-card reading doesn't require you to use every method every time. Feel free to use your favorite methods and ignore the others.

The basics to start well:

1. Decide if you will pick the central card or let chance decide.
2. Mix the deck and lay out the 9 cards in a square.
3. Interpret the 3 rows, then the 3 columns.

After that, you can add the mirrors (for a dilemma), the corners (if you feel stuck), the diamond (to know what to do), or the diagonals (for personal growth).

How long does this spread take?

The 9-card square takes a medium amount of time to interpret:

• Small spread (3 or 5 cards): 2 to 5 minutes for a quick answer.
• 9-card square: 10 to 20 minutes depending on your experience and the depth of the question.
• Grand Tableau (36 cards): 45 minutes to over an hour.

It is much faster than a Grand Tableau because you don't need to look for every significator, but it offers a much deeper analysis than a short spread.