I've received many questions about 3 card and 5 card Lenormand Spreads.
“Are there times you want to use a 3 card spread, but not a 5 card spread? And vice versa?”
“Is one spread better than another?”
“Is there any difference between 3 card and 5 card Lenormand spreads, other than the number of cards used?”
And so on…
My Take on 3 Card and 5 Card Lenormand Spreads
I used the Lenormand 3 card spread often when I was learning Lenormand.
It was easy.
I only had to worry about 3 cards. I only had a few combinations to deal with.
But…
I often found the 3 card spread didn't give me all of the information I wanted. Yes, it answered the question and gave me a broad overview of what was to come, but I often felt that something was missing. It often left me with more questions than when I started.
That's when I started using a 5 card spread.
You see, the 5 card spread gives me that extra little bit of detail. It gives more insights into what will happen, how things will turn out, and what a person's intentions are.
I'm much less likely to wonder how things will be in 3 months with a 5 card Lenormand spread than I am with a 3 card spread. The 5 card spread tends to answer all the little questions that the 3 card spread leaves behind.
It isn't so much that the 5 card spread is better than a 3 card spread, it's that the 5 card spread gives me more information because it allows for more card combinations – which is what makes Lenormand magical.
Does that mean I never use a 3 card spread?
Not at all.
I think a 3 card spread is the better spread for dailies.
Any time you want a quick overview, a 3 card spread can be a better spread to go with, especially if you're still learning meanings and don't want to spend a lot of time looking up what each card means.
But I will admit I rarely use 3 card spreads anymore. I don't think I've done one in over a year!
It doesn't take me that much longer to do a 5 card spread than a 3 card spread, and in the long run, I usually save time with a 5 card spread because it answers all my questions. In fact, a 3 card spread probably takes me more time because it leaves me with more questions, requiring me to do more spreads to get the answers I seek.
So When do You Use a 3 Card Lenormand Spread vs a 5 Card Spread?
For me, it's simple.
Use a 3 card spread when:
- You're doing a daily reading.
- You're just starting to learn Lenormand and you want to keep things simple.
- You want a general overview.
Use a 5 card spread when:
- You want a detailed, thorough answer.
What are your experiences with 3 card vs 5 card Lenormand spreads? Let me know in the comments below.
Hello
I really love that 5 card spread and I become better also thanks to your website.
I did a spread for myself and my question is what does it mean if you see a card twice in a reading? To be clear: i had letter-dog-bouquet- then if you have letter and dog is also bouquet…
Thanks
Thanks Dorien!
I’m not sure that I understand your question. You shouldn’t see a card twice in a reading unless you are using two decks to do a reading, which is unnecessary.
If you mean that you are seeing the same cards in two consecutive readings, it could be a variety of reasons, such as 1) You may not have shuffled well. 2) You are asking the same or very similar questions in each reading, and the cards are giving you the same answer because the first reading was correct.