Learn how to read the Grand Tableau Lenormand Spread to accurately predict your future every time.
The Grand Tableau can be the most intimidating Lenormand spread to master.
Contents
Many beginner Lenormand readers look at the spread and feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. The sheer number of cards makes them feel lost, causing them to lose the story that the cards are telling them.
Many Lenormand readers end up reading each card one-by-one, instead of looking to the connections made by the cards. In time, they might try to read two cards together, but they fail to comfortably read all 36 cards in combination with one another…
…leaving much of the information contained in the cards unrevealed.
But reading the Grand Tableau can be much easier than this! It's a powerful spread that only looks complicated. When you know how to simplify it, a rich and compelling story comes alive for you. And you begin to see why Lenormand is the ultimate gossip, often revealing secrets many people would prefer to remain hidden.
What is the Grand Tableau?
The Grand Tableau is the daddy of all Lenormand spreads. It uses all 36 cards in a Lenormand deck, and gives detailed answers about multiple topics in your life.
Covering the past, present and future, no stone is left unturned.
The Grand Tableau explains how you got to where you are at present, what you're dealing with today (even what's on your mind), and what will happen next. It shows external influences that you may not be aware of – such as a secret rival at work, a hidden health issue, or a friend lending you a helping hand. The insights the Grand Tableau gives you can help you to know what course of action to take to achieve the best possible outcome.
It's an excellent spread for gaining an overall synopsis of your life and the months to come.
One important note is that there are two versions of the Grand Tableau. One is the 8×4+4 and the other is the 9×4. Rather than being some kooky math problem, these version simply refer to how many cards are laid out in each row, and how many rows there are. One version is not any better than any other. The same techniques are used in both spreads. While I prefer to work with the 9×4, you may find you prefer the 8×4+4. It's really a matter of personal preference.
When You Shouldn't Use the Grand Tableau
There are times when the Grand Tableau is a great Lenormand spread to use. There are also times when it isn't the best.
If you want a really simple, fast answer, don't use this spread. This isn't a spread that will give you an answer in a few minutes. It can take hours to read a Grand Tableau. When I do professional Grand Tableau readings, I spend at least 10 solid hours on each reading. It's a lot of work and a lot of time to do this spread. If you're at a party or chatting with friends, you could do a lighthearted one in less time, but it won't capture most of the details.
If you have a yes or no question, this isn't the spread to use. Other Lenormand spreads are much more useful and more suited to the task of answering yes/no questions.
If you have very specific questions, this isn't the best spread. For example, if you want to know if you should take a job offer, you're better off doing a 5-card spread on what will happen if you take the job offer.
When You Should Use the Grand Tableau
It's a great spread when you want a deeper understanding of your life in terms of love, work, family, and health over a period of time.
If you want to look at many areas of your life in a single spread, and see how these different areas interconnect, the Grand Tableau is the spread to use. When you understand how different areas of your life affect one another, you can more easily influence situations to create the future you want.
If you want insight into how other people are affecting your life, as well as into how things going on in their life may be affecting them (and you), this is the spread to use.
Step-by-Step Reading the Grand Tableau
I'm going to walk you through the steps involved in reading a Grand Tableau.
When you break a Grand Tableau down into manageable pieces, it becomes much easier. The trick is to see it as a bunch of mini-spreads.
Let me explain with the following Grand Tableau…
When you begin reading a GT, start with the first three cards of the spread (Tree-Scythe-Letter). They set the stage for the reading, giving you an idea of what is to come. Read them as you would read any 3 card spread.
Next look at the four corners. You can read Card 1 (Tree) with Card 36 (Woman), and Card 9 (Bouquet) with Card 28 (Mountain)…or you can read them in a linear fashion as Card 1 – Card 9 – Card 28 – Card 36. The corners reveal an important influence or occurrence in the coming months.
Then find the querent's card (Man/Woman). You can read the cards above, below, left, right, and diagonally to get more insight into the querent and what is affecting him/her. You can think of it as a 3×3 card reading if it helps you to focus.
Look for the negative cards to see how far or near they fall from the querent's card. This will tell you how much of an impact they will have on the querent.
Next examine cards that relate to different topics you would like to know more about, such as the Heart card for love life and relationships, and the Tree card for health. Read the cards above, below, left, right and diagonally for details.
You can use mirroring, knighting, counting, and houses to create additional card combinations to reveal further details about each topic.
Each time, you're just breaking the spread down to just a few cards read in combination with one another. Ultimately, each card in the spread will be read in combination with every other card, but as long as you keep things simple and break each step into a manageable group of cards, the cards will begin to transform from a disjointed puzzle to a clear picture – a big picture overview of your life.
There's my overview of how to read the Grand Tableau accurately every time. I hope this helps you to see how the different cards are connected to one another, and that you feel more confident in your ability to read the Grand Tableau Lenormand spread.
* Note: All deck images are from the Blue Owl Lenormand deck, available at Amazon.
Hello and thank you for your article.
I am curious why the grand tableau isn’t read 6×6?
Thanks 🙂
Traditionally, it’s read as an 8×4+4 and 9×4. It’s possible to do mirroring, reflection and knighting using those sizes, but it’d be challenging to do them with a 6×6, not to mention the size of space needed to lay out the spread.
Your site is very informative and haven’t found ant others to date as helpful. In “graduating” from 9 card 3x3s, I felt ready to move on to the GT. For some reason I wanted to try something different. Being a musician, It’s not the notes you DO play but also those you DON’T. So I created a 25 card 5×5, continuing to use the center card as the “theme” card. This leaves out 11 cards I DON’t play. What say you?
Hi Karl, I’m glad you’re finding the site informative. When you feel ready to move onto the GT, you can find multiple articles on this site covering the steps involved in reading GTs, both the 8×4+4 and the 9×4.
Anne,
I did my first GT this week. It wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be. It turns out that I don’t necessarily drag a “fine tooth comb” over it as I would do with smaller layouts. Breaking things up into “quads” of four cards seems to work for me in addition to knighting, mirroring and such. The Gentleman and Lady came up facing each other (divorced but still a large part of one another’s lives) with the Child above the Lady (Only one daughter). It didn’t figure because I get along with our daughter more so than her. It turned out if I put “new” as the keyword for the Child, it made much more sense with surrounding cards. Child: Person or New makes a big difference.
Karl B