Erna Droesbeke's Four Quadrants (Full-Board/GT).

[Guest]

@katrinka 

 

In her seminal work, the Oracle of Mlle Lenormand, Erna Droesbeke presented two reading methods for reading the full-board or grand tableau.  Essentially, these are the past, the present and the future variation and classical proximity.  The former was titled the four quadrants, which Droesbeke also illustrates with a classical carré of 9.  

 

The carré is a good primer for her full-board method as it presents the scheme.  It is laid out as indicated below.

 

The first card refers to the recent past which affects the present.

 

The second card indicates the present influence.

 

The third card is the future development.

 

The fourth card is the Querent’s influence at this time.

 

The fifth card is the link between the past and present with an emphasis on the Querent’s action.

 

The sixth card links the first and second cards with an emphasis on the consequence of past events shaping the present moment.

 

The seventh card is the present moment handing over to the future.

 

The eighth card is the possibilities for the future, which Erna Droesbeke tended to see rather positive or best case scenario.

 

If done as a carré a ninth card is placed over the Significator and indicates the end of the day or circumstances. 
 

 

*Please note, I no longer have the text and I am going on memory and experience of using it.  I will post my reading over the weekend, but would encourage people to have a go.  It is a learning exercise!

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

The Full Board or Grand Tableau
 

For the quadrant method, Erna Droesbeke utilised the 9 x 4 (four rows of nine).  In the fourth GT she combined part of the four quadrants with the near/far method.    
 

Here is a full-board I did earlier today for a woman (Ace♠) using the method as I wanted to have a proper example.    I apologise for my rather worn out cards, they are well-used.  

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

The Significator’s Contact Cards:
 

During her explanation, Droesbeke advised that you draw a box around the Significator.  Depending upon where it fell, there can be between three and eight cards.  

 

In this GT, the Lady card fell in the fourth vertical column, so there are eight cards around her.  

 

For Droesbeke, the cards above, below, left and right described the Querent's visible circumstances.  The oblique cards were the forces behind events and unknown to the Querent.  As you will see, later on, Droesbeke uses these in an interesting way.   

 

 

Edited March 25, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

The Method of the Cross

 

Erna Droesbeke did not (in this work at least) use the Significator to determine the past, the present or the future.  The past was whatever fell to the Significator's left, and the future was to the right. 

 

 The column the seeker fell in described the present moment.  The cards above were linked to outside influences (what you can expect), whereas the cards below were under the seeker's influence (what you can influence).

 

In her readings, Droesbeke noted which row the Significator fell.  The lower down the Significator fell, the less influence the seeker has on events.  The reserve is true, the higher up it falls.  If the seeker fell on the far right in the ninth vertical column, Droesbeke said the seeker clung to the past.  On the far left, the reverse is true: the seeker has little interest in anything but moving forward.

 

Erna Droesbeke stated that if the Stork fell in one of the corners, the Querent or their Partner experiences a significant change. 

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

The Cross of Fate or Karmic Cross

 

After reading the past, the present, and the future, one can then turn their attention to the Cross of Fate.  This reading utilised a diagonal cross and emphasises cause and effect.  

 

The cards that are to the left are causes, and the cards to the right their effect or consequence.  These often refer to external influences or matters outside of the Querent's control.  

 

In reading I would go:  the Fox, the Mice, and then Fishes.  These are the causes.  
 

For those on the right:  the Lilies, the Sun, and the Bear.  These are the consequence of the causes.  

 

I cannot remember if Droesbeke gave an order.  But that makes sense to me.   

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

The Four Corner Cards:

 

Erna Droesbeke, as far as I am aware, was the first author to write about the four corners.  Nevertheless it is essential to remember that the emphasis on the corners came from pairing, which even Mlle Le Normand did (from her writings).  
 

Erna's take is a little eccentric:

 

• The top left card describes the cause or background of your situation.  
• The top right card is how this evolved in the recent past.
• The bottom right card is how the situation is developing at this time.
• The bottom left card is the future outcome.

 

Erna Droesbeke then advises that we look at the three contact cards touching each corner card for further information.  

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Guest

[Guest]

Answering a Question:
 

Finally, should you have still unanswered questions, you find the appropriate significator in the tableau, e.g. for finances, the Fishes, for love you go to the Heart and so on.   

 

You then draw the square around the card and read it much as the carré above.  
 

From memory, Droesbeke focused on the cards above (external influences), below (your influence), left (the past) and right (the future).  

 

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Guest

[katrinka]

On 3/25/2021 at 3:04 PM, timtoldrum said:

For Droesbeke, the cards above, below, left and right described the Querent's visible circumstances.  The oblique cards were the forces behind events and unknown to the Querent.

 

I like this. I feel like I've seen it someplace before (posibly even from you), but I never got around to incorporating it. 
It makes sense, I'm going to give it a try.

 

On 3/25/2021 at 3:55 PM, timtoldrum said:

From memory, Droesbeke focused on the cards above (external influences), below (your influence), left (the past) and right (the future).

A lot of people do some variation of that, with left and below sometimes being more sinister. I wouldn't combine that with Erna's method, lest the past be all bad and the future all good. I do check if the Ring is on the left or right, when that's relevant. And I like to see if the Lilies are above or below. (We have different ideas about "virtue" now, but I as long as the partner is ethical and aboveboard, I can call that "virtuous")

But I'm going to try it this way and see how it goes.

The Germans have a funny one: when the Lady is directly above the Gent or another male card, she "kicks" him, meaning she disrespects him.

Thanks for all this!

Edited March 27, 2021 by katrinka

[Guest]

1 minute ago, katrinka said:

I like this. I feel like I've seen it someplace before (posibly even from you), but I never got around to incorporating it. 
It makes sense, I'm going to give it a try.

I do use it and did teach it in the Cabinet courses. It has its antecedent in some older conventions, that are universal — I saw lots of older readers (mostly illiterate) counting and looking at the cards above and below.
 

The oblique cards aren’t “seen directly” so they came out of the blue.

 

A lot of the older techniques have their basis in visualisation.  Counting is counting events.  Mirroring is a 360 degree view of how something lies, and so on. 

 

Erna’s Cross of Fate stuck with me. I’ve found it quite useful.

 

Her method is quite simple — especially outlined here by memory — but the more you do it, you start to see lots of different levels. 
 

I do prefer the older all present and future method but her ppf remains the clearest I’ve seen. 

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, katrinka said:

The Germans have a funny one: hen the Lady is directly above the Gent or another make card, she "kicks" him, meaning she disrepects him.

Lol. 

[Guest]

On 3/25/2021 at 8:04 PM, timtoldrum said:

The Significator’s Contact Cards:
 

Ordinarily, we would jump straight into the main cross. But I think it might be best to look at the contact cards, here.

 

Straight away, we see the Birds. The Querent has experienced a difficult and upsetting period. The Mice and Fishes cards fall above and  below the Birds card, respectively.  It is, therefore, clear that her troubles are financial and might have made it hard to pay her rent or mortgage (Mice next to House). Nevertheless she has turned a corner now, with the support of a man (House and the Lilies). This has let her take steps to destress and safeguard her life (Tree below) and start to get her life sorted and move forward (Tree + Bear).  There are important decisions awaiting which will require careful consideration and advice (Paths).

 

[Guest]

On 3/25/2021 at 8:29 PM, timtoldrum said:

The Method of the Cross

 

For clarity, I’ll try and keep this fairly structured.

 

The past is we find the Scythe, the Ring and the Birds cards.  Clearly the Scythe and the Ring show a separation.  For Erna, cards above are external influence. The Serpent over the Ring would infer that the separation involved the influence of another woman which led to the Lady pulling back (High Tower). This is supported by the Stork beneath the Scythe.
 

This has led to a period of upset (Birds) and her financial woes (Mice and Fishes).

 

The present influences are the Key and House cards. At this time, the client has found assistance and safety in the form of a man (House and Lilies). The Key above the House card shows that some practical solutions are being applied to her difficulties. It is quite likely she has moved in with a relative.

 

That has allowed her to prioritise her own well-being (Tree), which has likely taken a hit (Mice and Birds near the Tree).

 

Going to the future we find the Paths, the Stars, the Moon, the Anchor and the Flowers card. 

 

The Paths show that there is some important decisions to be made. These are necessary for her to move on (Stars = clarity) and realise her own happiness (Lilies). The Heart over the Stars are a sign of trusting her gut. 

 

Considering the Moon and the Anchor fall side-by-side the Lady will be looking for greater stability in professional circumstances. The opportunity comes through the agency of a man (Gentleman and Cavalier over the Moon). 

This should help her financial difficulties and make life more comfortable (Flowers).

 

In addition, we can see a new man on the scene (Gentlemen Cavalier and Heart + Cavalier). He will likely be met online or through a dating app (Heart, Moon and Park).  It doesn’t seem too serious, though (Mountain and Cloverleaf over the Anchor). The Park is far from the Lady, which rather than being negative is more likely social distancing. 

[Guest]

On 3/25/2021 at 8:37 PM, timtoldrum said:

The Cross of Fate or Karmic Cross

 

 

Droesbeke held firm that the cartomante kept whatever the main cross, corners, or the cross of Fate revealed you should not let one influence the interpretation of the other.

 

That is not unfair. But you will find that they all relate in the end.

 

If we look at the causes we find the Fox, the Mice and the Fishes. There has been a financial loss through theft or fraud. 

 

Ordinarily, the Fox negatively affects the two cards after it (right, diagonal and beneath). The Fox and the Mice indicate fraud and/or threat which have come to light (Mice after the Fox). The Fishes indicates this was financial.

 

As a consequence of this we find the Sun, Lilies and the Bear. The Lady had to/will seek assistance from either family or an official agency. Probably both. 
 

The Sun indicates that the assistance brings her to a better position. The Lilies can indicate an official or protective agency, which will help her regain her financial position (Bear). This will be supplemented by an older family member (Lilies = family Bear = senior). 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2021 by Guest