Classic Lenormand Love Readings: Near & Far In The Grand Tableau

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Now, a great many argue that sticking strictly to the traditional ‘Near and Far’ method, as outlined in the original Philippe Lenormand instructions, is the ONLY authentic way to interpret Lenormand Grand Tableaus.

As you will be aware, I don’t agree that there is such a thing as a “one true way” and certainly not an “only” true way. Partly because as far as I’m aware, the precursor to the Lenormand Cards, the Game of Hope, did NOT use “Near and Far” meanings (they arose only when the cards were rebranded as the “Petit Lenormand”) BUT that doesn’t mean that the “Method of Distance” isn’t a highly useful method of reading or a good one to learn. It just takes a bit of knowledge and a bit of practice. And of course, since it WAS the method that came with the original instructions in the mid 19th century when the Game of Hope was rebranded, it is the way that most 19th century readers used the cards.

You can find a copy of the original Philippe Lenormand Instructions here:

Philippe LeNormand Instructions English Translation

And check here for a more detailed post on the meanings.

Grand Tableau I: Near & Far Traditional Meanings

Meanwhile, wanting to know about romantic and marriage prospects was often the MAIN reason people had for seeking out fortune tellers or fortune telling games—a trend that persists today! That being the case, Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect time to remind ourselves of the Near and Far meanings relating to love and what we should be looking for in our Grand Tableaus if love is what we’re after.

As a reminder:

What Is Near and What Is Far?

What Counts As “Near”?

ANY card in a Grand Tableau that’s touching your significator (Very Near) and any card touching that (Near). The Nearer the card is, the more influence it has on your Significator, whether good or bad.

What Counts As “Far”?

Technically, you should count EVERYTHING ELSE as Far (or very Far). Usually a negative card being Far is a good thing. However, it is also the case that a positive card being far away can be a bad thing too.

Both negative and positive cards are affected by the cards around them, as usual, often regardless of their position.

So let’s take a look at the main cards for LOVE!

Our Number One Cards!

The whole basis of the “Near & Far” Method (Or Method of Distance) is how close or distant the relevant cards are from our significator in the Grand Tableau. So finding your significator in the spread is always your first port of call. Here are two of the Lady and Gentleman cards from the Blue Bird Lenormand deck (there are two others, but I prefer these two today).

When you’re learning to read Lenormand with the Method of Distance, it can be really useful to have a deck that has a verse on it listing the Near and Far meanings, as this deck does, hence my use of it to illustrate this.

Near & Far Love Meanings: What Do We WANT To See?

The main three cards to look out for when it comes to a good love “picture” in a GT are as follows. Aside from the other Significator, these are cards you ideally want very close to your chosen significator, and the more of them there are, the better the prospects.

24. Heart

Near: Joy, leading to union and bliss

Far: No separate meaning given in the original Philippe Lenormand BUT some readers would suggest that means love is far away (or “not at this time”)

Surrounding Cards: n/a but Ring or Anchor in particular might suggest something longer lasting

25. Ring

Near: A happy marriage if to the right of the person

Far: If to the left of the person, a falling out and the breaking off of a marriage

Surrounding Cards: If on the right of a person, a rich and happy marriage

So the positioning in the spread is of great importance here

35. Anchor

Near: A successful enterprise at sea, great advantage in trade, and true love. Stability!

Far: A thorough disappointment in ideas, inconstancy in love

Surrounding Cards: Again check surrounding cards.

This card relates both to love and moneymaking, but its main signifier is that it represents stability, a stable base.

What If They Are NOT Nearby?

If you are looking for love and these cards are NOT nearby, it simply suggests that romance is not particularly on the cards for you at this time. The Grand Tableau, remember, tends to tell you what it wants, rather than answer the questions you want. So you might be burning to find out about love… but the cards may want to tell you that your financial or job situation is more important instead, say.

Other Helpful Nearby Cards:

Remember though, that every one of the cards in a Grand Tableau is affected by the cards around it. And, as usual, cards above generally influence those below, and cards to the right generally influence those to the left. So here are some other positive cards you might like to see near you (so next to you or just one card away) when you’re reading for love. They can also help reduce the effects of negative cards when in an influencing position.

32. Moon

Near: Great fortune, honours and fame

Far: Grief and misery

Surrounding Cards: Negative cards likely to negate good fortune indicated by the Moon.

In Love: Honour, respect, being well thought of. Adoration, even, being put on a pedestal. Obviously, in love this is usually a good thing! It can also relate to emotions, feelings, moods.

31. Sun

Near: Happiness and pleasure

Far: Misfortune and sorrow

Surrounding Cards: Clouds or other negative cards obviously show negativity

Love: Success and brightness, happiness and pleasure is obviously going to enhance any love cards if they’re nearby in your reading

33. Key

Near: The certain success of a wish or desire

Far: The failure of a wish or desire

Surrounding Cards: Careful of negative cards, but if this is nearby, has good cards around it and you were hoping for a “yes” in love – well, here’s your positive answer!

2. Clover

Near: Good luck, unless surrounded by negative cards. If so, great pain, but of short duration. But it helps to bolster positive cards and adds luck into the mix.

Far: No specific meaning given. Some readers suggest it means isolation.

Surrounding Cards: If surrounded by Clouds or other negative cards, great pain. So this one can go either way

9. Bouquet (Flowers)

Near: Happiness in every respect

Far: No separate meaning given, but still a generally positive card.

Surrounding Cards: n/a

18. Dog

Near: Your friends are faithful and sincere

Far: Be cautious, especially if surrounded by Clouds or negative cards

Surrounding Cards: If surrounded by negative cards, do not trust your friends

30. Lilies

Near: A happy life, if free of negative cards. Family life. Purity, morality, being virtuous if above the person. Many readers read this as the sex card

Far: No separate meaning given. But watch out if the card is beneath you, as others may think you immoral or unethical!

Near & Far Love Meanings: What Do We DEFINITELY NOT Want To See?

6. Clouds

Near: No meaning given, but it’s bad, and for many traditional readers, the worst card in the pack. Look at other cards and position. The closer the Clouds are to the significator, the worse it generally is.

Far: No meaning given, but look at other cards and position. The negative influence could be lessened but also look at the ‘side’ the clouds fall on as below.

Surrounding Cards: With the clear side towards the person, bad luck is moving away, but the dark side, ill fortune is upon them.

7. Serpent (Snake)

Near: Severe misfortune; deceit, infidelity sorrow

Far: The same but less severe, with easier resolution of problems.

Surrounding Cards: n/a but check them as an indication of what the nature of the problems may be.

In Terms of Love: You definitely don’t want to see this near you when you’re reading for love. This is temptation, cheating, betrayal, complications and difficulties.

14. Fox

Near: Mistrust people close to you, because deceit is nearby

Far: There is no danger from those around you; you may be being unfair. (Some readers do read this differently; more that it’s not particularly affecting you at this time, but you still need to check the cards around it).

Surrounding Cards: n/a but check the cards for nature of the problem. I’d be particularly cautious if the Book is nearby, as it suggests secrets being deliberately hidden

In Love: Again, a sign of affairs and cheating, a “player”. All is not as it seems. Caution is advised. It can also signal rivals in love and intrigue.

Other Unhelpful Nearby Cards & Bad Signs For Love:

11.Rod (Whip)

Near: Quarrels at home, domestic afflictions, marital strife, fever, sickness

Far: No separate meaning given, but can indicate less severe.

Surrounding Cards: See surrounding cards for nature of strife.

In Love: Obviously a very bad sign if nearby, as you can expect arguments and conflict

10. Scythe

Near: Great danger Be on your guard.

Far: No meaning given, but some readers view it as attacks on people near the querent rather than the querent themselves.

Surrounding Cards: Lucky cards surrounding it can reduce the danger of the Scythe, but also see surrounding cards for nature of the danger or risk.

In Love: This should be fairly obvious; it’s a warning of breakups, splits and pain. Harm coming to you and your relationship. You want this a LONG way away from you ideally.

21. Mountain

Near: A mighty enemy

Far: You can rely on powerful friends

Surrounding Cards: n/a

In Love: Obstacles and problems. Always a bad sign as it signals enemies, prevention, things deliberately being put in your way.

36. Cross

Near: A bad sign, but the misfortune may not last long

Far: A bad sign

Surrounding Cards: n/a

In Love: The Cross remains universally a card of troubles, burdens, bad luck and life tests. It can signal obligation, burdens, guilt, and it adds pressure.

Looking At “Good” And “Bad” Layouts For Love In The Grand Tableau

So to put all this into practice, what might a “Good” layout for love look like? And what about a bad one?

Bear in mind that, as the GT uses ALL the cards and nobody’s life is perfect, you’re rarely going to get a problem-free reading. But you can usually see if it’s tipping wildly one way or the other.

Take a good look at these two Grand Tableaus. Using the Lady as Significator, which of the two would, at first glance, be a positive reading for love, and which looks pretty bad as far as her romantic life goes?

Grand Tableau 1: Good Or Bad For Love?

The Heart, Ring and Anchor are all far away from the Lady, and the Ring is to her left
She has the Clouds, Whip and Snake touching her, as well as the Mountain, Coffin, Fox, Book, and Whip near the Gentleman
She does have some more positive cards also fairly near her, but they’re not really romance-related
The Lilies is beneath her
The Heart has the Far Ring, the Far Birds, the Near Gentleman and the Near Sun beneath

Grand Tableau 2: Good Or Bad For Love?

The Heart, Ring and Anchor are all near the Lady, and the Ring is to her right
The Lilies is above her and nearby
She has the Clover, the Key, the Moon AND the Sun nearby
All the negative cards are quite far away from her
The Heart is surrounded by the Lilies and the Anchor.

So what do you think?

Now, if you’ve been following correctly, you should see quite easily that Grand Tableau 1 is looking pretty bad for love, and Grand Tableau 2 is looking pretty positive.

Why?

In Reading 1, we can see our Lady is going through a dark period; she has the Clouds right above her and the Mountain above that, so a very difficult time with lots of opposition and gloom. She has the Snake right next to her, showing betrayals and difficulties, the Coffin is above that, which hints something has drained of life or ended, there’s a nasty secret (Book, Snake), she’s been deliberately deceived or taken in (Book, Fox), and it looks as though she’s got to know about it (Book, Letter).She’s had strife (Birchrod) with the nearby Gentleman. Love is probably very far from her mind right now, as we can see the Heart is far away, although connected with the Gentleman in question. He looks as though he’s a bit of a player who himself is quite successful in love (Fox, Gentleman, Sun). The Ring to the left shows a broken relationship with him, even if it did seem stable at the time, his love was inconstant (distant Anchor), the Birds hint at gossip, and the Ring has the Scythe above it, so it was broken off. What a rotter! She does have some more positive things coming nearby, but they’re more in a “getting away from trouble” kind of way; Storks and Stars suggest she’ll get through it and move on to better things, but she does have the Garden and the Lilies below her suggesting that, outrageously, there may be those she knows doubting her morality! The cheek!

The picture’s much better in Reading 2. Here, the Lady has all three “love” cards close to her, the Heart and Anchor above, and the Ring to the right, so she has a commitment, possibly an engagement or marriage coming. Her nearby Gentleman brings stability and constancy (Gentleman, Anchor) in love (Heart), seems very well disposed in general (Bouquet), there is a move in the picture (Storks) towards her. Not only that, she has the Lilies right above her, showing both a happy family life and a reputation for morality, purity and decency AND the Moon beside her, indicating she’s well regarded, adored, even, by him, put on a pedestal, and it could well bring a proposal (Ring). As she has the Key below her,and the Sun and Clover around that, you can see that a big YES to something lucky is in her power, and if you see below those that there’s the Rider bringing a message (Letter) and a good friend (Dog), it could well be that she’s about to get a proposal of marriage in writing from him. There are a few negative cards far away but immediately beneath that, but the light side of the Clouds is facing her, so it’s likely that all this good stuff will be pushing any potential troubles away. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen, but for now, problems are not going to be touching her directly.

In Summary, Then, How To Check If Your Love Reading’s Good Or Bad

Check which cards are Near our Significator. Are any of them the three key romance-related cards? And if so, what’s around them? What does that tell you?
What message might it give if only some of the love-related cards are around the significator?
Check where the romance-related cards are appearing in the spread and what’s around them.
Check if any of the nearby cards are ones you really don’t want to see and what’s around them. Is anything mitigating their influences?
Check to see how far away negative cards are and what’s around them.
Is it the case that love is just not on the cards for the significator at this time, or is there something actually bad happening?

HAPPY VALENTINES!

You can find out more about Lenormand love readings in the 2nd edition of my Love & Relationships Book.

Click on the image to find out more and GET!