The Psychic Studio

🌈 Perhaps, I should have entitled this blog “The Science of Divination” because when it comes to the Lenormand (Leno) Grand Tableau (GT), it really does feel like a science to me! I think of this spread as being a gate, a portal, a time map perhaps. Ever since I first laid eyes on the GT I was fascinated! But what exactly is a GT and how do we read it? Well, allow me to break this gargantuan spread down into bite-sized chunks! The video above was a quick summary of the spread I’m now going to show you in detail!

It’s easier to see how the GT works if we look at it in a table.

This is a 9×4 layout which I prefer because it’s easier to mirror cards and we can mirror in lots of different ways to find connections. The more you look the more you see! So what we have are all 36 cards falling in different houses. The houses in a GT are like flavours in an ice cream shop! When we dip each card into the flavour of the house, it tells us more about the events or situation. It’s a bit like how adjectives modify nouns. So if we had the card of the letter falling in the card of the heart – we could have a sexy DM sliding into our Instagram! 💌

Let’s add some colour to our GT so it’s easier to see what’s going on! 🌈

Ok, so in this GT I laid for a gay male couple – Player 1 (Card 28) is falling in the house of the Waze or Crossroads so they are thinking about a decision they wish to make – contrary to popular belief, cards don’t have genders! I mean I could be reading for Sam Smith innit? Remember Leno is a language, not a card game. The 36 cards represent our entire vocabulary and in fact, all the words used in our language (in English that’s about 170,000) so I call it ‘The Universal Language’ as it covers all languages and represents every single person who has ever lived or will ever live. In a world of LGBTQIA+ it has to represent non-binary people too just as the English language has to describe everyone so the idea that Card 28 is a dude and Card 29 is a lady no longer works in 2024.

So I call them Player 1 and Player 2 and I usually just turn the card and use a crystal to represent each person. It’s also important to understand that if you are single (like I am) – Card 29 could be the feminine part of my mind, or another person with whom I will interact during the time span (of any gender), or a project I am working on. The reason why they are different and thought of as ‘male’ and ‘female’ is to do with the playing card insets and predictions about pregnancy. If the Jack of Spades (13 The Child) is closest to the Stork it’s a baby girl, if the Jack of Hearts (24 The Heart) is closest to the Stork, it’s a baby boy. At birth anyway! Hell, they may well decide to transition by the time they are 18 or choose to be non-binary so you see the whole gender thing in Leno is ridiculous in this day and age!

But in case you’re wondering why we have an Ace of Hearts on one card and an Ace of Spades on another – that’s why! I may just use the playing cards to represent Player 1 and Player 2 in future if I’m reading for a straight couple as it still works with the Stork but keeps it neutral. Ok so with that out of the way (and it took me the longest time to work all this out by the way folks) let’s dive into our GT.

Ok, so Player 1 is falling in the 4th column and the 3rd row. This column of time (in yellow) – Sun, Clouds, Player 1, Stork – was the day I did the reading – 7th March 2024. You’ll see in a moment why I think of this as a map of time. Their partner is falling in the 9th column and is on the top row in the corner.

So, a few things I noticed – firstly Player 1 is in the middle of the spread. They are in the middle of a situation and they are not entirely on top of things. If they were over on the left you could say they were starting a new period and pushing the narrative forward – time flows from left to right (past to future). Their partner being in the corner is playing an important role in whatever this current situation is and they are having an impact on creating the future. The corners are cornerstones of the reading. We’ll see how they are influencing things in a moment. Player 2 is above Player 1 so they have more control in this relationship. Let’s take a quick look at their relationship. We do this by looking for the relationship cards – the ring, the heart, and the anchor and we look at what connects them together.

The Ring, the Heart, and the Anchor are all near to each other and in the future – in front of the column of time Player 1 is falling in. If the ring was behind it would show the relationship was over or ending – this shows it will continue for the time span of the reading (we’ll get to the time span in a second don’t worry!). There’s power in numbers so we want positive cards to cluster together in a spread. I always look for the flow of energy!

The cards that connect Player 1 and Player 2 are The Sun and The Anchor. I could say their relationship is generally happy and anchored in place. And indeed this couple are in a long-term relationship which is very secure. There’s a lot of love and support for one another. Let’s have some music while I write the rest of this blog! I just love a tune or tune, don’t you? 🎶 Leno doesn’t have to be boring right, we can still learn how this massive spread works and have some fun! 🕺😽😽

So, how do we figure out timing in the GT? Well, we need to look for an event in the recent past to get our time span for the whole reading. What I have found is that although I can set my intention to look at a certain time span (9 days, one month, two months, three months, one year) often I’ll get the information I need to pass on and the recent past events will give me an anchor point or a hook to figure out the duration of the whole spread. Keeping an open mind is best when reading a GT and you don’t always get what you want, you get what you need to be able to figure it out. You see, we are not getting the information from the cards, they are just cartoons to trigger ideas, we are using the cards as a sort of translator between our conscious mind and our subconscious mind (or deep mind).

I noticed the Scythe in Player 1’s house in the corner – so something has affected them in the past. There have been one or more problematic events as it’s a negative card. I noticed the Scythe beside the tree which mirrors the Tower. The Mice card is touching the Sythe. Then I noticed the Clouds (the card of general trouble) above the seeker Player 1 and the Cross in the house of the bear. So, often times the bear will represent a person’s mum so I asked if their mum had a surgical procedure (Scythe + Tree) which was worrying (mice) and if they had a stay in hospital (tree + Tower), and yes they had surgery 4 weeks before around the 7th of Feb. I noticed that Player 1 knights to the Tree and has the clouds above their head and that they knight to the Cross.

I asked if they’ve also had health issues and they have ongoing (clouds) health issues which means they cannot work (Moon in Fox). Ok, so now we have an event in the past so let’s look at what this becomes in terms of timing.

So because I know this person’s mum had surgery around Feb 7th 2024 and I’m doing this reading the night of the 7th March 2024, I know that each column represents 1 week so what we are looking at here is a time span of roughly 9 weeks so this helps me to make predictions of events. The thing about the GT that I found very confusing at first (well for the first 15 months actually!) is that the 36 cards we see here are not ALL showing a series of chronological events like a calendar.

It’s about how they interact – think cause and effect combined with general life areas which remain constant during the time span of the reading – in this case, we are looking at a picture of a person’s life over 9 weeks and all the things that are happening and are about to happen. I hope that makes sense, this spread will bend your mind like a pretzel at first but once you see the relationships it will begin to make sense. Like I said, it’s more of a science than an art! We need to look at the positions of each card to figure out the story! Then we use techniques known as knighting and mirroring so see how cards modify each other and give us more details about cause and effect!

I always look to see what cards fall in their own houses as this is important. It’s like that card is saying ‘Hey, look at me!’. I noticed the Coffin was falling the house of the coffin – it’s the house of endings.

I noticed that the Coffin mirrors the Snake. The Mountain is in the house of the Key. So I’m thinking ok we have an ending (coffin in coffin) to do with deception or a female family member (Snake) – why? House in in Mountain. Player 1 knights to Cross and Snake knights to Whip. So I ask if they’ve had an issue with family (House in Mountain) and yes this person had a huge fight (Cross – a burden) with their sister (Snake – Whip) and they are no longer speaking. Mountain in Key – the silence between them. But then I noticed the Lily (the card of extended family) was in the house of the cross which mirrors Player 2 (their husband) which mirrors Ship which mirrors Scythe. They have also had issues with their husband’s family who live in a different state (Ship) – (Mice in Garden – to lose other people) and have severed ties with them (Scythe – Lily). Mountain mirrors heart in clouds and Clouds above Player 1’s head. Ok, also notice key is in Lily – so there’s an important issue with family. So now let’s look at the house Player 1 falls in. Remember our ice cream idea! Player 1 is tasting the flavour named ‘Decisions’. So what are they trying to decide about?

It helps to add some colour to a GT! 🌈 Player 1 is in the house of Waze (Cross roads) because they are trying to decide to do an expensive course in Social Work (Waze in Book and Book in Fish). This is an issue with money Fish in Mice because they have had issues with their health affecting their work – Moon in Fox, Bear in Moon, and Fox in Tree and Tree knighting to Player 1. Also their mum had an issue with health insurance and they had to advocate for them – hence Moon knights to house and house knights back to scythe – their mum’s surgery. I just around when reading a GT and use knighting to find the story line. It’s all about seeing the connections and always asking why is this card in this house and why is this pattern appearing.

Now, because we are reading for two dudes here I could think of the guy I’m reading for as actually being Player 2 which would explain why the Tree is in his house but it still works – it’s the knighting that is really important here and you can see Player 1 knights to Tree and to Cross – so there is a burden with their health. With the Stork in the house of the Sun and the Sun in house – it showed their mum was making an improvement with their health.

Also with the Sun high and above Player 1, the Star high and above and the Moon close – it showed me that their situation was improving – you want the three luminaries – the moon, the sun and the star shining down and you want the Sun close to show positive energy!

So, once I had clarified what was happening and what had happened I could make some predictions about what would happen if this person remained on the same path. My favourite question is “Will my current path lead me to my best outcome?”.

So now we need to look at the Clover (if it’s near the seeker it brings opportunities and basic good luck but if far it can indicate issues and problems or a pessimistic attitude – the way I read a GT is based on what’s called the Traditional Method of Distance reading style using the near and far rules. I found a good description of them on a blog which I’ll share with you so you have them for future reference. The cards surrounding these cards describe the situation. You want positive cards near and negative cards far from the seeker!

📚Near and Far Rules📚

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 1. — THE RIDER – is a messenger of good fortune—if not surrounded by unlucky cards, brings good news, which the Person may expect, either from his own house (NEAR) or from abroad or of a professional nature (FAR); this will, however, not take place immediately, but some time later if far.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 2. — A CLOVER is also a harbinger of good news; but if surrounded by clouds it indicates great pain; but if No. 2 lies near No. 29 or 28, the pain will be of short duration, and soon change to a happy issue. If the CLOVER is far it can indicate a lack of positive opportunities, misfortune, or the person is feeling pessimistic.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 3. — THE SHIP, the Symbol of commerce, signifies great wealth, which will be acquired by trade or inheritance; if near to the Person, it means an early journey. If the fish is near the ship they may expect some extra money.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 4. — THE HOUSE is a certain sign of success and prosperity in all undertakings; and though the present position of the Person may be disagreeable, the future will be bright and happy. If this card lies in the centre of the cards, under the Person, this is a hint to beware of those who surround them.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 5. — A TREE, if distant from the Person, signifies good health; more trees of different cards together, leave no doubt about the realization of all reasonable wishes.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 6. — CLOUDS, if their clear side is turned towards the Person, are a lucky sign; with the dark side turned to the Person, something disagreeable will soon happen. I don’t have a dark and light side in my decks so I look to see if the clouds are to the left (in the past) in the present or in the future (to the right). I just look for the flow of positive and negative energy! It’s easier. The cards the clouds touch will tell you about the nature of the general trouble the person is dealing with.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 7. — A SERPENT is a sign of misfortune, the extent of which depends upon the greater or smaller distance from the Person; it is followed invariably by deceit, infidelity, and sorrow.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 8. — A COFFIN, very near to the Person, means, without any doubt, dangerous diseases, death, or a total loss of fortune. More distant from the Person, the card is less dangerous.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 9. — THE BOUQUET means much happiness in every respect.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 10. — THE SCYTHE indicates great danger, which will only be avoided if lucky cards surround it. The further away the better!

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 11. — THE WHIP means quarrels in the family, domestic afflictions, want of peace among married persons; also fever and protracted sickness.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 12. — THE BIRDS means hardships to overcome, but of short duration; distant from the Person, it means the accomplishment of a pleasant journey.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 13. — THE CHILD is a sign that the person moves in good society, and is full of kindness towards everybody.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 14. — THE FOX, if near, is a sign to mistrust persons with whom you are connected, because some of them try to deceive you; if distant, no danger is to be apprehended.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 15. — THE BEAR is either a messenger of good fortune or admonishes us to keep away from company; particularly from that of the envious.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 16. — THE STAR confirms good luck in all enterprises; but if near clouds, it means a long series of unhappy accidents.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 17. — THE STORK indicates a change of abode, which will take place, the sooner the nearer the card lies to the Person.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 18. — THE DOG, if near the Person, you can consider your friends faithful and sincere; but if very distant and surrounded by clouds, be cautious not to trust those who call themselves your friends.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 19. — THE TOWER gives the hope of a happy old age; but if surrounded by clouds, it forbodes sickness, and, according to circumstances, even death.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 20. — THE GARDEN prognosticates that you will visit a very respectable company; if very near, you are to form a very intimate friendship, but if distant, it hints to false friends.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 21. — THE MOUNTAIN, near the Person, warn you against a mighty enemy; if distant, you may rely on powerful friends.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 22. — THE WAZE (CROSSROADS), surrounded by clouds, are signs of disaster; but without this card, and if distant from Person, that you shall find ways and means to avoid the threatening danger. You want this card of choices, alternatives, and solutions near! The Waze is my way of figuring out my way through he labyrinth that is the GT.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 23. — THE MOUSE is a sign of a theft, a loss; when near, it indicates the recovery of the thing lost or stolen; if at a distance, the loss will be irreparable.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 24. — THE HEART is a sign of joy leading to union and bliss.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 25. — THE RING, if on the right of the Person, prognosticates a rich and happy marriage; when on the left, and distant, a falling out with the object of your affection, and the breaking off of a marriage.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 26. — THE BOOK indicates that you are going to find out a secret; according to its position, you can judge in what manner; great caution, however, is necessary in attempting a solution.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 27. — THE LETTER, without clouds, means luck, which comes to you by distant, favourable news; but if dark clouds are near the Person, you may expect much grief.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 28. & No. 29 — Near and Far rules don’t apply they are just Player 1 and Player 2 or Player 1 and a project or something they are working on – or if you’re reading for yourself – the masculine and feminine parts of your character or mind.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 30. — THE LILY indicates a happy life; surrounded by clouds, a family grief. If this card is placed above the Person, it indicates the same as being virtuous; if below the Person, the moral principles are doubted.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 31. — THE SUN, lying near, points to happiness and pleasure, as its beams spread light and warmth; far away, it indicates misfortune and sorrow, as without the Sun’s influence nothing can grow.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 32. — THE MOON is a sign of great honours, fortune and fame if the card lies at the side of the Person; if at a distance, it means grief and misery.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 33. — THE KEY, if near, means the certain success of a wish or a plan; if distant, the contrary.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 34. — THE FISH, if near the Person, points to the acquisition of a large fortune by marine enterprises and to a series of successful undertakings; if distant, it indicates the failure of any speculation, no matter how well projected or planned.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 35. — THE ANCHOR is a sign of a successful enterprise at sea, of great advantage in trade, and of true love; but distant, it means a thorough disappointment in ideas and inconstancy in love.

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ No. 36. — THE CROSS is always a bad sign; if very near the person, you may hope that the misfortune will not last long.

It looks like this person will be making a decision around April 7th about the course in social work but there may be issues and quarrels with their partner – Player 2 knights to Whip (the card of quarrels) and the Cross is above the Ring – a burden in the relationship! So I ask the person about their partner and he works full-time as a chef and is concerned about spending so much money on the course. I said they’d be having an important conversation – Letter – about these decisions and about the stability of their relationship – Heart in Clouds and which knights to Fish. However with the Fish card close, the Moon close, the Dog close, and the Key close – they would find a solution to any issues and with Stork in the Sun – the changes would be positive and work out well in the future – Sun in House.

I did have a message from this person recently to thank me for the reading and it looks like things are improving in their life. I hope this break down of the reading helped you to better understand the GT. It’s a big complex spread but I love it and think of it as a map through time. You can do things with a GT that you just can’t do so easily using other divination tools and I love the precision you get from mirroring and knighting. If you’re wondering why we use these techniques, well as far as I know the Leno GT is based on earlier systems of tableau-style reading using playing cards. The proximity rules and the idea of cause and effect make it easy to figure out what’s happening. Also sticking to the core meanings or energy of the cards makes it easier to understand the situation – rather than getting into complicated card combinations. I just try to think positive, negative, neutral. I look for the clouds to see where general troubles are then try to work out if things are getting better or worse.

Houses in the grand tableau with playing cards

It is my aim to learn to read the MEGA 52 card playing card tableau in future as I find it fascinating. This is a blog from Camelia Elias’s website. I’m reading my way through her Read Like The Devil trilogy at the minute. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

Happy card reading guys!

Alexander, Seb, and Luna. xoxo