Barleywine
And what does he designate as the work card?
The Moon, along with its meanings of honor and fame.
And what does he designate as the work card?
Yes, I'd like to know too. I often think about buying his book, but never seem to do so. I have Rana George's book though and found it very helpful. Does Andy also have a website?
I most always lay a 9 x 4. I use all the methods you mention for the 8 x 4 + 4 except for reading the last for cards.
I do not understand what you are saying about the 9 x 4 starting at the sitter's card or a main house and follow through from there. Can you elaborate? Thank you.
If the sitter is asking about himself or herself then I would look at the MAN and/or WOMAN first as well as their corresponding houses, then the S.O. if there is one, and that person is being asked about too.
Or...
If the sitter wants to know about "Work" first and upmost - I would looking for "Anchor" (German) or "Fox" (French) and their houses etc.
Depends on the situation.
DND
There was an interesting discussion with mkg a while back where Mary said she's careful not to offer a "complete" GT reading to anyone, and just hits the high spots (specific topic areas) as they come up in the conversation. It's all too easy to say "This means you," "This means work," "This means health," "This means money," "This means family," "This means love and marriage," etc, and then "OK, what do you want to know about?" In trying to sound knowledgeable, we can scuttle our own boat, since they will inevitably want to know a bit about everything!
And that is why I progressed on to learn a more freer style of reading.
As a more analytical than intuitive reader, I love the intricacies of the GT, even when I'm not trying to answer a specific question (which is most of the time, actually). I see a very strong "fluid dynamic" in the GT that doesn't have a whole lot to do with fixed structure, more with the interplay of reinforcing and countermanding influences. I like to talk about the "rocks in a pond" metaphor, but I really do read it that way - as interpenetrating ripples. Near/far does put some necessary restraints on my exuberance.
I just thought of another difficulty with Lenormand.
When reading the Grand Tableau, one of the things you pay attention to are the 4 corners. Which IF you read the GT in a 9 x 9 layout, the 4 corners would be cards #1, 9, 28 & 36. But what if you use the 8 x 4 layout? Would the 4 corners be #1, 8, 25 and 32 or #1, 8, 33, and 36?
I use the 8 x 4 layout. I have been using the 4 corners as #1, 8, 25 and 32, but today while doing a G.T. for someone, I came to that part of the reading and I think, hmmmm...is it RIGHT to read the cards in 25 and 32 or is it better to read the cards in position 33 and 36?
What say you? I'm very interested to see what people do in this case.
For the 4 x 9 I do not read the corners, but for the 8 x 4 plus 4 I do. Feels like I am doing math! So,with the 8 x 4 I read "1, 8, 25, and 32".
I am sure others have their own ways of doing GTs, so it would be interesting to see who uses corners or not etc.
DND