When we learn tarot, we are often encouraged to use ‘fixed-position’ spreads; The Celtic Cross is a prime example.

With Lenormand, if you have time and the space, you’re encouraged to lay out all 36 cards in a tableau, starting at 1 and ending at 36. The most popular version uses rows of 8 plus the final 4 cards under the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th cards.

However, laying down three cards is sometimes simpler and quicker. I say simpler, but some decisions have to be made about what order to place them and then how to read them.

Will you lay three cards left to right and read left to right? Or are you going to place a card in the middle and then fill in the left and the right positions.

Do you then read them the same way you laid them, or do you read them the other way? The same thing applies if you’re using 5 cards. Are you going left to right?

Or using the middle as a hinge?

And then, will you read them with a middle focus or run your eyes from left to right?

Do experiment by trying the different types of questions with options of spreads, and see what works for you.

But whatever you prefer using, it’s worth making these decisions upfront; that way, you have clearly set your intention and can focus on answering the question asked without second-guessing whether you’re reading the cards correctly.