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How to Read Nine-Card (Portrait, Box

or 3x3) Lenormand Spreads
5–6 minutes

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 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.

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Reading the Nine-Card Lenormand Spread

Horizontally

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

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
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.

Phew! I know this is quite a lot. For the purposes of documentation,

you may find this useful to consult all the possible techniques in
one post - but in practice, there is no need to read the cards in
every exhaustive manner! All of this, once learned by heart and
practiced to perfection, will make us well prepared for any larger
spread we may encounter.