How to Read Nine-Card (Portrait, Box or 3x3) Lenormand

Spreads
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spreads

The process of learning to read Lenormand is a gradual one and depends on a committed
approach, taking each building block and putting it in its right place before proceeding
further. To be able to interpret the Grand Tableau, smaller spreads must be tackled first and
not one is perhaps more important than the Nine Card Spread.

Occasionally referred to as the “portrait spread" or the “box spread", it is the ultimate
building block for any larger layout. It essentially consists of three lines of three lenormand
cards but is oh so much more than that. It can be read in many different directions and offer
more information than you'd ever expect from nine simple images.

The Central Card of the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread

Like with the Line spreads that we saw earlier, there is the idea of a central card (5) in the 9-
Card spread as well. The significance is similar - it represents an underlying theme that
surrounds the reading. It can be either the significator (describing the person the reading is

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done for) or the core of the question, its essence, answer and outcome. For example, if we
draw the Fish card for this card, we know that the main theme that surrounds this reading is
finances.

Reading the Corners of the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread

Corner cards (1, 3, 7, 9) are also good to glance over at the very beginning to determine the
context (the "frame") of the reading and give it structure. You can choose to read this either
as an big “X” with 2 pairs at opposite corners, or go around the corners clockwise.

Reading the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread Horizontally

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The first line (1-2-3) is that of thought. It deals with our ideas, dreams and aspirations, with
what is "above" us and what we aim for. The second line (4-5-6) belongs to reality, to our
current state, our day-to-day life - either the pickle we've gotten ourselves into, or the blissful
existence we so very much deserve. The third, bottom line (7-8-9) is the undercurrent
shaping the situation, the foundations it stands on - what is below us, where we come from
and what baggage we're dragging with us. You can sort of think about these as the conscious,
reality, and unconscious, respectively.

Reading the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread Vertically

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The second step in interpreting a 3x3 spread is determining the time frame - what has come
to pass and what stands before us. The first column consisting of cards 1-4-7 belongs to our
past. 2-5-8 represents our present. 3-6-9 signals what awaits us in the near future. Usually,
this particular type of spread doesn't venture beyond the one month mark and is ideal for
short-term predictions. It gives a general overview and some deeper insight into the matter.
This makes it ideal for current affairs, day-to-day situations, big events (especially exams,
business interviews and their outcomes etc.).

Mirroring within Nine-Card Lenormand Spreads

In addition to reading the cards horizontally and vertically, we can also include one of the
techniques we learned from dealing with the Three Card Spread and the Line of Five or
Seven.

Mirroring is the name of the game and it comes in handy because there is plenty of
opportunity for it. 1 can mirror 3, 4 opposite 6, and 7 can go with 9. This gives us even more
room for interpretation than we hoped for. But that is hardly the end.

Reading the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread Diagonally

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The Nine Card Spread also brings in two new features (as if the above mentioned ones
weren't enough). The first is the concept of diagonals (in this case 1-5-9 and 7-5-3) which
carry with them a sense of movement and give the whole reading a direction in which the
situation may be moving. If helpful, you can consider these diagonals to represent either
influences, or possibilities.

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