The Lenormand Five-Card Cross: A Case of Event Horizons and Broadside Collisions
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I was recently involved in a discussion regarding the temporal nature of the horizontal, left-to-right line in a Lenormand reading and the fact that it doesn’t automatically reflect a “Past/Present/Future” scenario. This dialogue occurred within a broader examination of the five-card cross layout, which I will explore further here.
In most cases, I treat a Lenormand line as showing events unfolding in “real time” as an ongoing process, along what I sometimes think of as a metaphysical event horizon (in astrophysics this is defined as “a boundary beyond which events cannot affect an observer”). The idea is that the narrative trajectory is single-pointed and focused on the interaction between querent and circumstances, following a linear path from Point A to Point B. In topographical terms, it might be described as a flat plain with a limited field of vision as opposed to an elevated promontory that offers a more regional overview.
The ideal form of the line spread contains an odd number of cards with a central card that serves as the focus of the reading. This card is acted upon by the cards preceding it, and in turn acts upon those following it in a kind of “processional” arc. Introducing a vertical axis to the array that also passes through the middle card can provide an alternative outlook on the main thrust of the story-line. Think of it not as a counter-argument but as a sidelong view of the situation that offers the possibility of taking a different tack in the matter. Since it still engages the focus card, it can’t deviate too far from the script. I’m reminded of the “column right” and “column left” commands in a military drill that immediately change the direction of the entire formation ninety degrees from its previous path; this is usually employed to get around some obstacle before returning to its original track. The marchers turn on a dime to reorient their approach to the goal.
But in its most exaggerated expression the right-angle impact can amount to a broadside or “t-bone” collision of influences. The challenge for the reader is to thoughtfully integrate any pronounced divergence into the flow of the reading in a way that successfully entrains the offsetting energy it delivers. The traditional approach is to consider the card above the horizontal line to be a cause outside of the querent’s control that can overtake the situation, and the one below as an effect that will submit to conscious direction. This transitional state is filtered through the focus card and leaves its mark on the realization of its potential.
The final step is to blend all of these converging (and potentially competing) inputs into a creative whole that moves fluidly between the “natural” left-to-right progression of the reading and the countervailing movement of the vertical axis while bringing the four cardinal points (Left-Right-Above-Below) together in a primary theme symbolized by the hub card. The impression it gives is one of a centripetal force that draws everything to its center. In this sense there is no dominant “outcome” statement but rather a coordinated perspective that speaks both directly and tangentially to the objective signified by the horizontal row and the key premise of the focus card. Any actionable observations are thus predicated on the likelihood of that card living up to its promise.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on July 28, 2023.
