7 Day Lenormand, page 6
Optionally, select another area, such as work; and read around the FOX, BEAR or ANCHOR as seems appropriate.
If you are asking about relationship, look at the distance and positions of the LADY and GENTLEMAN, and the cards between them.
C. Conduct a chain from the LADY or GENTLEMAN card, using the houses. You can also chain from any other card, such as the FISH for finances, etc.
Example of a Grand Tableaux
I now give a real example of a difficult work situation which required specific advice – and show how the Lenormand clearly gave advice which the client followed – successfully.
This reading was conducted as a detailed follow-up to the client who had asked about early retirement. They wanted more advice about how they responded to the situation, so I conducted a GT.
Q. Should I take retirement or fight over the overpayment that is being taken back from me by my work?
The FOX (Work) sits next to the LADY. It is a pressing matter.
The LADY is looking for new direction as she faces the past card of the STAR (navigation/direction) and this sits next to the WAYS of Choice.
I then look at the WAYS card and see it is in the house of the RING - she needs to be committed to her choice, with no half-hearted measures.
As I like to make sure I tell the sitter a little bit about their future at the beginning of the reading, I look to the cards to the right of their personal card, i.e. the LADY.
Ahead of the LADY is the FOX + SUN + TOWER + SCYTHE + WHIP.
A Grand Tableaux
I read these as a line and say that there will be good luck (SUN), as this “lying near, points to happiness and pleasure, as it beams spread light and warmth”.
The TOWER is very clear as it shows an institution - a school – which is the Sitters place of work. I apply the cards to the right and this shows that she will need to cut away (SCYTHE) from the school and end the strife and conflict (WHIP).
I now turn to look at the main card for the situation, which I chose to be the FOX. This is also because the Sitter is in a situation where their own personal ability is being challenged. I need to know how the FOX will deal with cutting away from the TOWER.
The FOX is in the house of the GENTLEMAN.
This tells me – and is immediately confirmed by the Sitter – that the whole issue of her own ability relates to her partner. There is some issue between them, likely an issue of power in the relationship. The FOX does not probably like being in the house of the GENTLEMAN.
I now link the GENTLEMAN in a chain of Houses to explore that situation in more depth. This can sometimes (as it will in this reading) be a long chain, particularly when several issues are all bound up together. In some readings, a chain will come to an end very quickly, usually meaning that the response is obvious and just needs some actual action.
I see that the GENTLEMAN card is in the house of the SNAKE.
I recognise this as a gentleman who seeks to undermine the Sitters own will. The Serpent is a traditional symbol of temptation and devious devices. In Lenormand, it is a hidden threat, sometimes right under your feet.
We can find out more about this danger by following the chain of links through the houses and cards.
The SERPENT is the house of the KEY.
I interpret the KEY as “success coming from a wish or a plan”. The fact that the KEY is in the House of the SNAKE signifies that the Sitter must unlock the situation themselves to avoid being bitten by the snake.
The theme of self-determination is being repeated in several of these links, as it often is in a Lenormand reading.
To see what action will unlock the situation and avoid the snake, I follow the chain of the KEY card.
The KEY is the house of the FISHES.
According to the Phillipe Sheet, the FISHES represents “the acquisition of large fortune and series of successful undertakings”.
So, it seems as if the Sitter needs to use and somehow hold on to money (or their other resource, time) as the most important factor in unlocking their position and avoiding danger.
The Sitter again understands what this means, as they explain they have been given money (by the TOWER) but also asked to return it. They would usually have done so, but the reading is suggesting that it is important to hold their position and not be undercut by any Snakes.
Looking to see how the sitter can protect her resources we look to see where the FISHES card is placed. The FISHES card is the house of the CHILD, this is interesting because the sitter works with children and the cards are telling her that she has done well from this work.
The FISHES being in the house of the CHILD can also be read as suggesting that the sitter must be true to her own authentic truth. She has always acted in good faith and with pure intent. The resources the FISHES will materialise if she sticks to her true feelings.
“The person moves in good society and is full of kindness towards everybody”, and the Sitter should be true to this.
Because of this reading, the Sitter chose to ignore her partners advice, stick to her guns, and the School backed down from their repayment demands, actually releasing her with a good settlement.
There were also several self-empowerment and other issues that emerged from this reading which were of relevance and use to the Sitter.
Well done! You can now approach a GT reading with Lenormand in just seven days, even if there’s a lifetime of practice and discovery ahead of you in the cards! I recommend the book Learning Lenormand for your next step into intermediate and advanced methods, and the full history of the deck.
I will now finish by giving ten tips for your future experience and wish you a grand adventure with this wonderful deck!
Ten More Ways to Learn Lenormand
1. Read Books.
The more the better, and the more in different languages that you can, the better. Many readers across Europe learnt from books, or books have written down what other readers have used in their readings.
In writing “Learning Lenormand”, Tali Goodwin spent two years purchasing and reading French, German, Portuguese and Brazilian books. Although it can be initially complex, dealing with ambiguities of language and contradictions (sometimes within the same book, never mind between different authors), it soon pays off – your readings will be deeper, more flexible and fluent as you create your own accent of the literal Lenormand language.
2. Study the History.
The Lenormand has developed over a shorter period of time, and in a more constrained way, than Tarot, for example, until recently. It makes it far easier to trace the development of the lexicon and grammar of the card meanings, starting with the Game of Hope. We can then range through cartomantic meanings and associations, and symbolic systems such as dream interpretation and coffee-grind readings, etc. This will again widen your ability to appreciate the symbols and create readings.
3. Practice.
There are many online venues, such as the LEARNING LENORMAND study group on Facebook, where you can practice with others.
4. Compare Notes.
Read what experienced readers have to say on their craft. Whether they learnt from their “grandmother” or picked it up over four decades of reading from their home, making it up from what worked, everyone has an opportunity to share their methods and styles.
5. Stick to a Deck or Two.
To start, don’t get too carried away with deck-purchasing unless you are a collector or enthusiast for different decks. Whilst we promote the innovative and beautiful new decks now appearing on a weekly basis, for a beginner, we recommend the Piatnik, Dondorf, Blue Owl, the Original Lenormand (from the original 1800 game of Hope by J. K. Hechtel), or whichever deck appeals most to you. Once you have got reasonably confident in one deck out of maybe three or four you have purchased, then dive into the cartomantic ocean waiting for you with many possible new decks!
6. Take Courses.
As with any subject, you will learn differently with different teachers, no matter what the content. It is important you find someone who teaches in a way that works for you. There’s nothing more frustrating than good content presented badly, or in a confusing manner. If you are paying for a course, then check whether you are getting value compared to “free” content online. A paid course should be so because it features an experienced teacher in the subject, high quality research or material, or high production values – or a combination of those things, which cost money to produce.
7. Ignore Talking about Tradition.
Ignore anything you might read about “tradition”. Stating that there is a definitive singular tradition (whether based on language, geography or teacher) is a very difficult thing to prove. There is a lot of ongoing research into this, and until it is published, there will be a lot of “noise” about “THE German tradition” or “THE French tradition”. It would be fantastic if we could get ten different (and isolated from each other) readers in Germany, speaking German only, each of whom we could demonstrate learnt from several generations back. We could then interview them, and their parents and grandparents.
We could then compare their lexicon (card meanings, i.e. FISH = MONEY), and grammar (card combinations, i.e. FISH + CLOVER = Luck in Money). We could then check that all 36 meanings and any combinations were IDENTICAL across all ten readers, and their parents and grandparents. We could then ensure that they were NOT identical to anything published or had consistent variations. THEN we could begin to suspect an entirely separate oral tradition, belonging to a particular language or geography – and we could then look to trace any written source, such as cartomantic manuals in old German dating back to the last several centuries. A big job …
8. Stick to One Approach.
Stick to one set of “rules” or meanings. Read left to right, or right to left, read the Bear as Money, a job or mothers, but only one of those things (meaning you’ll need another card for the other things), and so on. But stick to one set. Read, practice, and over time you’ll calibrate that to your experience.
As an example, one reader (in tarot) always read the 5 of Pentacles as “poverty”, but consistently got financially comfortable people for whom that card was coming up. He started to ask them about their situations, and soon discovered that the card was more about “deferred comfort”, that’s to say, people investing for the long-term, going on an expensive course so they couldn’t enjoy the comforts of life, etc., planning for the long-term. So now, for him, that card means that, rather than “poverty” as he started using. Just test one set of meanings until it snaps into place.
9. Read More Cards than One at a Time.
Use as many cards as you can. In Lenormand, I feel, I learnt best by starting with the Grand Tableau, even though I only read a few cards in it to begin with. I then branched out, rather than got frustrated with trying to make sense out of two or three cards. It was avoiding what I see often with beginners, “Oh, I am doing two cards for my daily draw, and I got “CLOVER + FISH”, lucky money, or money bringing luck, any other ideas?” Well, that’s it, really! I’d be more interested then to know where that was coming from, how I could recognise – or indeed – encourage this situation. And I’d need more cards to tell me; where’s the Fox, the Bear – is it an opportunity at work? Where’s the Mountain, the Snake, the Cross – anything to stop it happening? And so on. At least with starting with the Grand Tableau you have the opportunity to read outwards as and when you can, and with context.
10. Have Fun.
Have fun, explore, take your time, and bring your own voice to the cards. We feel the Lenormand has a unique “literal Lenormand” language in the world of cartomancy. It will be a while before the current interest settles into longer-term usage in a wider audience. Some things will re-surface and be taken up by a lot of people, other things will remain peculiar to just one reader. There are still new discoveries and insights to be made, and this will take time. Don’t waste it by doing anything other than enjoying your own personal studying and reading of the cards.
Conclusion
In this book I’ve shared the first essential steps to get you reading your Lenormand cards with confidence. It will take practice, but if you are kind to yourself and keep going, it will be easy to soon have these cards as your personal friend!
I hope you have found this book to be informative and thank you for taking the time to purchase and read it.
My key aim to share genuine, fresh cartomantic teaching techniques that leave you wanting to learn more. If you have liked what you have read and would like to learn more about fortune-telling please do come along and join me and many thousands of other readers in the www.tarotassociation.net website where you will discover a wealth of friendly, innovative and lively fun with the cards.
Wishing you a full and happy life journey.
With love Andrea x
Kindle Tarot Books & Series
Check out all these other books and series for original and exciting ways in which you can use a deck of tarot cards to change your life.
Gated Spreads Series
Set 1
Book 1: The Tarot Shaman (Contact Your Animal Spirit)
Book 2: Gates of Valentine (Love & Relationships)
Book 3: The Resurrection Engine (Change Your Life)
Set 2
Book 4: Palace of the Phoenix (Alchemy)
Book 5: Garden of Creation (Creativity & Inspiration)
Book 6: Ghost Train (Explore Your Past)
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Tarot Temple
Book 1: Create a Tarot Dream Temple
Book 2: The Sacred Altar
Book 3: Tarot Temple Tools
Book 4: Banishing Negativity & Unbalanced Forces
Book 5: Purification of your Temple & Life
Book 6: Consecration of your Temple & Life
Book 7: Divining with the Gods
Tarosophy KickStart Series
Volume I.
Book I: Tarot Flip - Reading Tarot Straight from the Box
Book II: Tarot Twist – 78 New Spreads and Methods [paperback]
Book III: Tarot Inspire – Tarot for a Spiritual Life
Tarot Life Series
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11. Your Keys to Freedom
12. The Depth of Divinity
Also in Print and Kindle
Tarosophy: A ground-breaking book packed with original ideas. The book also includes 50 unique exercises for Tarot and an extended method of using the Inner Guide Meditation as given here.
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Websites & Resources
If you enjoy new learning and want many more ways to use your Tarot deck, we encourage you to explore our websites. You are also welcome to join us in the Tarosophy Tarot Association, where as a member you will instantly receive thousands of pages of materials, and tarot video courses for every level.
We look forward to seeing you soon on your Tarot journey!
Tarosophy Tarot Associations
http://www.tarotassociation.net
Tarot Professionals Facebook Group
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Free Tarot Card Meanings & Spreads
http://www.mytarotcardmeanings.com
Hekademia Tarot Course
http://www.tarosophyuniversity.com
Tarot Town Social Network
http://www.tarot-town.com
Tarosophy by Marcus Katz
http://www.tarosophy.com
The Tarot Speakeasy Blog
http://www.tarotspeakeasy.com
Tarot Book Club
http://www.tarotbookclub.com
The Tarot Review
http://www.thetarotreview.com
TarotCon International Tarot Conventions
http://www.tarotconvention.com
Fortune-Telling Laws
http://www.fortunetellinglaws.com
The Original Lenormand Deck
http://www.originallenormand.com
Learning Lenormand
http://www.learninglenormand.com
* * *
[1] See Goodwin, T. & Katz, M. The English Lenormand (Keswick: Forge Press, 2013).
[2] Translation by Steph Engert, http://www.starlight-dragon-tarotdeck.eu
[3] This section has a deeper significance for advanced readers. I have used variations of four ways of reading each card. These are the four levels; literal, symbolic, extended and secret. Readers of Tarosophy books will see these are Kabbalistic levels. To illustrate these four levels, I have used variations of “is” (literal), “means” (symbolic), “brings” (extended) and “reveals” (secret); so “The Tree is health” is a literal reading, whereas we could also say “The Tree brings stability” which is an extended reading. Advanced readers might find insight and inspiration when experimenting with these four little words for the levels.
