AUTHOR’S NOTE: I was asked to develop a Lenormand spread that provides a comprehensive self-awareness profile for a querent who will be intentionally represented in my design by a pre-selected “Significator” card (either the Gentleman or the Lady).

I decided to separate it into an “Ego/Body Awareness Arc” based on the clockwise daily motion of the Sun from dawn to midnight, and an “Emotional/Spiritual Awareness Arc” formed by the monthly counterclockwise progress of the Moon through the heavens from New Moon to Waning Crescent. These time spans are symbolic and should not to be taken literally for the purpose of the reading. (I’m indebted to Marcus Katz of the Tarosophy Tarot Association for the basic layout that was presented in the promotional post for his most recent online cartomancy lesson, although I modified it for my own ends.) This spread would also work well with tarot cards.

The idea behind the Ego/Body Awareness Arc is to show the seeker reaching for self-realization and self-esteem at Dawn; achieving peak potential at Noon; settling into a comfortable groove at Dusk; and undergoing rest and regeneration at Midnight.

The Emotional/Spiritual Awareness Arc follows the waxing-and-waning cycle of the Moon, from emerging self-discovery at the New Moon; initial stabilization at the First Quarter; fulfillment of its promise at the Full Moon; maturation of its development at the Third Quarter; and release of its fading energy into the New Moon phase of the next cycle at the Waning Crescent.

The example reading is for a hypothetical male querent who asked “Who am I now and where am I headed at this point in time?”

In the Ego/Body Awareness Arc, the Moon card at Dawn suggests a possible new job, a promotion at work, or other related change of reputation, perhaps in some kind of teaching role (Book at Noon), about which written communication (Letter at Dusk) will be received in due time regarding an opportunity in the public sector (Garden), maybe involving evening classes (Midnight). The implication is for the closing of one chapter in life and the opening of a new one.

The Emotional/Spiritual Awareness Arc is more problematic. One meaning of the House at The New Moon is “success in all things,” but the show-stopping Coffin at the Waxing Crescent brings an early demise to any hope of lasting satisfaction; the Anchor at the First Quarter suggests regaining stability by “returning to his roots” (there are interesting astrological implications here of “going home to Mother” to lick his wounds).

The Ship at the Waxing Gibbous phase shows “raising anchor” and moving on with confidence into a period of steady economic growth but the Mountain at the Full Moon reveals that it will be an uphill struggle to make anything positive happen at the emotional/spiritual level (this card can also indicate the presence of a formidable opponent); the Crossroads at the Waning Gibbous point offers a new direction but it also imposes a decision about whether or not to leave the old path behind.

The Whip at the Third Quarter hints at “beating himself up” over what he perceives to have been a bad choice; and the Mice at the Waning Crescent shows him receiving less than what he feels he deserves for his efforts. (He may have in fact “shot himself in the foot” with that Whip.) This is a sobering outlook that doesn’t offer much emotional/spiritual gratification even if it isn’t entirely unfavorable from a pragmatic standpoint.

This spread can also be interpreted as “5 across” from left-to-right, showing receding and emerging influences in the matter, and “5 down” from top-to-bottom, displaying influences that are both outside of and within the querent’s control, thus echoing the Grand Tableau’s “internal cross,” while the rest of the cards act as a clockwise “four corners” array providing a high-level overview of future developments. (I use Andy Boroveshengra’s methods in this approach.)

A very brief summary would be that the Gentleman has been happy working at home (House + Moon) but will receive a summons (Letter) to return to work at the office a considerable distance away from his residence (Mountain). He has been feeling pressured (Whip) to obtain more training (Book) that could improve his prospects for something new, but he has also cultivated a supportive social network (Garden + Anchor) in his present circumstances and doesn’t want to lose it.

However, the “four corners” of Mice + Crossroads + Ship + Coffin suggest a flawed decision (Mice + Crossroads) that will steer him straight into disaster if he chooses to move on (Ship + Coffin). A further wrinkle would be to read the two diagonals: Mice + Gentleman + Ship portends that he will be economically and professionally diminished if he chooses to strike out on his own, while Crossroads + Man + Coffin implies a fateful decision that bodes no good. Although he is unlikely to listen, the overall advice would be to suck it up and start making that long commute.