THREE

The Cards

Their new-invented method of knowing one’s Fortune from a Pack of Cards;
there being fifty-two Questions (and their several Answers) corresponding with
each of the fifty-two cards; each Question being governed by its proper card;
adapted to every Age and Sex; and to Persons of all Degrees and Stations in Life;
Wherein there is Diversion for the Melancholick, Wit for the Ingeneous,
Pleasantry for the Humourous, and Laughter for the Serious.

—Dr. Flamstead’s and Mr. Partridge’s New Fortune-Book, 1710

Before we look at individual cards in order, let us first try a little experiment with literal reading of the Lenormand. Shuffle your deck and remove two cards, placing them next to each other.

Exercise: Reading Literal Lenormand

Say out loud, “[Name of card 1] finds itself next to [name of card 2].”

As an example, we might pull the Lady (29) and the Snake (7) cards. I would say, “The Lady finds herself next to the Snake.” Now that will immediately conjure up a particular image and feeling—she should get away from that snake, as it probably means her no good. She may not even see it, because it is so close to her.

Or we could pull the Dog (18) and the Anchor (35) cards. This sounds immediately like the name of an English pub, “The Dog and Anchor.”21 So we say, “The Dog finds itself next to the Anchor.” What does this bring to mind? We get the idea that the dog is standing by the anchor, perhaps waiting for a ship. Perhaps the dog is guarding it. What do you think it might mean?

You can repeat this exercise for two or more cards. With three cards, you can say out loud, “(Card 2) finds itself between (card 1) and (card 3).” Really stick to the literal image of the cards before going into the meanings below. We have all been in a situation that could be described as “the Child finds itself between the House and the Garden.” It is wonderful how literal and direct the Lenormand cards will be if you allow them to speak clearly and simply.

Once you have mastered a few horizontal arrangements of two or more cards, you can work on vertical arrangements.

Lay out two cards, the second below the first, and say, “[Card 2] is below [card 1].” This might be as simple as “the Dog is below the Whip,” which would need hardly any interpretation, or slightly more obscure such as “the Sun is below the Tower.” In this latter case, perhaps we might sense that the day is late for the situation, and whatever authority or power the Tower had is now diminished. Try saying it the other way around: “The Tower is above the Sun.” What sense might that make?

A Note on the Clover

The Clover troubles us deeply. The concept of luck in the cards seems to be at odds with the actual practice of fortunetelling. There is a far deeper meaning to the symbol of the clover both in theory and practice we would like to consider at more length. Whilst it relates to the Trinity (it is a trefoil), the actual illustration is often of the white buds or flowers of the plant—which had a different significance to those who would be using the cards at the time. In the playing game from which the Lenormand cards developed, this card is the one to which one has to return if you land on the Thundercloud, the original description of card 6, the Clouds. To us, this means in symbolic interpretation that when we encounter turbulent change and bad conditions, we return to ourselves for transformation and recuperation.

The white buds of clover in the language of flowers signify “think of me” or “will you be mine?” Again, notions of self-reference and identity. The early German verses on this Lenormand card sometimes allude to celibacy (being by oneself) and the joy that can be found in friendship—certainly romantic notions rather than merely luck. There is almost a sense of the Hermit tarot card here, particularly with the druidic associations of the clover, although that is pushing our associations very far indeed.

When compared with the associated playing card on its earliest design, the Six of Diamonds, the earliest meanings of that card (1750) include the verse:

He that draws the number six
Will have sly and cunning tricks.
But if a woman draw the same,
It doth show them free from blame.

Whilst we understand that the earliest connection of playing cards with this game was mainly an economic/marketing necessity rather than a divinatory one—i.e., placing the images of playing cards, both French and German, on the Lenormand decks made them available as playing cards for many other games—it is not to say that an oracular connection cannot be constructed or conjured.

In practice, we have always found this card to relate to “integrity” and “authenticity,” particularly with regard to one’s own purpose or sense of identity. This is similar to how we saw in our beginner’s tarot book, Tarot Flip, that the unconscious “meaning” of the Magician card, for example, was “success.”22 This is implied but not obvious from the usually given meanings of “elements, channelling, willpower, resources, magic” etc. In actual practice, when we reverse-engineered readers’ interpretation of the card for readings, it turned out that most were talking about “success” in context of real questions.

This is actually also the keyword of the Clover card in Laura Tuan’s French Cartomancy book—so perhaps the tarot Magician and the Clover have something in common in this correspondence. Steinbach seems to associate it with “luck” and its more trickster element such as in gambling—again, we would see this as a divorce or split from one’s sense of self, often the root of many gambling or obsessive behaviours and compulsive patterns. The Clover tells us to be close to our own roots.

Whilst Dee suggests the Six of Diamonds as a card of optimism, we feel he goes deeper when he suggests that there will be a change in the sitter’s fortunes, and “after this transformation has taken place, the questioner will find that his mind is clearer and that he has a better vision of where he wants to be” [emphasis ours] (54). This accords with our view of the card signifying a strong self-identity and knowledge, from which all opportunities and optimism flow.

Treppner (28) also provides the meaning of “luck” for the Clover card, saying that it means some profit will be found in the day, even if not a large casino win. Other European writers extend the meaning to concepts including “time and space travel” as the magical properties of the clover (Kamm, 21). Bartschi adds the concept of endurance and vitality, known homeopathic associations with the clover, which we might add can be connected with the treatment of gambling and the state of clarity—treating a problem with the symbol of its essence, “luck.” (18)

Overall, when considered as luck, the card is only “small luck” (Kienle, 10)—to us, it is the essence of where luck arises (making one’s own luck in life)—and the Sun, card 31, is more the “big luck” card (Dos Ventos, 22). We give the Sun card the meaning of “will/purpose,” the natural extension of self-identity. The Clover grows in the Sun, the Sun places its energies into the plants, which act as resources for work and transformation (cattle and butterflies).

This deeper practical unconscious keyword is the same with the Clover card—whilst it may be taken as luck, this is a state of being, a subjective notion, and also a potentially disempowering one—if your reading involves a card signifying luck that the sitter sees as out of their hands, then what use is a reading?

In practice, we find “luck” arises from one’s sense of identity and relationship to the world—and hence we associate these with the Clover card. Those who are whole in themselves (their trefoil or trinity is unified) tend toward luck in that they become satisfied with their being in the world. As a result, rather magically (hence maybe the connection back to the Magician in the tarot), the universe seems to become a welcoming and supporting place for them.

So this card is in its essence about one’s relationship to oneself and the world; “think of me” in its most spiritual sense. The simplest keyword for this is “identity.”

And don’t forget too that the clover (shamrock) is very much part of the identity of Ireland, as is the flower eidelweiss for Austria. The daffodil is the flower of national identity for Wales. The national flower for Scotland is the thistle. There are many precedents for having a simple flower represent the essence of your identity.

Finally, it is interesting to note that in Cirlot’s Dictionary of Symbols, the clover leaf is combined with the symbol of the mountain (another Lenormand card image, quite coincidentally), where it can signify the discovery and journeying toward spiritual identity, as “when clover is located upon a mountain it comes to signify knowledge of the divine essence gained by hard endeavour” (50–1).

We will now look at individual meanings of the cards whilst remembering that they are components of a bigger language, best read together.

1. The Cavalier/Messenger/Rider

Figure 18. The Rider

We begin at the beginning with the Rider; he is the carrier of news, the messenger, who can herald change in your life. This card can be indicative of an actual person of influence coming into your life. The Rider card traditionally brings good news; something of importance you have been anticipating and waiting on will come about. The positive influence of the Rider can be negated by the cards around it; for example, the Rider followed by the dark shadow edge of the Cloud is the ominous delivery of bad news. It is a warning of bad influence entering the sitter’s life. Literally speaking, this is saying, “The Rider brings dark clouds.” All is not doom and gloom in the Lenormand; this combination can have some light thrown on it by the appearance of the Sun card. Take a look at how the following can foretell “sun after rain”:

• The Rider + The Clouds + The Sun
  Literal reading: The Rider brings dark clouds, followed by the sun.

If this card is all about you, there is an emotional imperative that you are not acting upon, where action needs to be taken. You need to express how you feel and stop dragging your heels; you can only do this by moving onward. However, it is important to keep your poise and centre or you could be easily thrown off your course. As a general interpretation, this could involve receiving a visitor who has some good news to impart.

2. The Clover

Figure 19. The Clover

The card of luck, as seen traditionally, and as discussed earlier in this chapter. We take it as being fortunate, as being given a “little luck,” and a positive card in a reading. It is an encouragement to try something new, or to receive (particularly when combined with the Bouquet/Flowers) an offer of assistance.

In financial situations, it is a card of lucky returns or a good investment, depending on the surrounding cards. The obvious and literal meaning of a House card, a Clover card, and a Heart card needs no explanation! If you add the Gentleman and the Ring, and present the Lady card, no doubt you would expect the Child card to follow!

This card is a reassurance that all is well, and that the situation you are in is secure and will bring peace of mind. You can relax and spend time enjoying this security. Treat yourself and be kind to yourself—you deserve the best.

This card says for you to keep positive; you are in for some good luck and great abundance.

3. The Ship

Figure 20. The Ship

The Ship is a signifier of travel and movement. This card can signify potential and opportunities out there. If there is a situation or project you have been wary of acting upon, now is the time to set sail and embrace the change and progress that will be yours. Have you found yourself settling into a mundane routine? If so, you need to make changes, think about where you see yourself in the future. It is never too late to do the things we have been putting off!

Moving on, the conditions are perfect and the timing is right to move forward. The journey will require a certain amount of skill as you navigate onward, plotting through difficult conditions to ensure a safe passage. Harness the power of natural resources; the wind brings change and movement—do not shy from making the changes. A new life could be yours!

We would also like to extend the meaning of this card in a way that can be repeated for all cards in the Lenormand: look at the original gaming meaning, and interpret it in five levels, starting with the literal, then moving through a simple, symbolic, extended, and secret interpretation.

No. 3: The one, who throws 3 pips and thus gets to the Ship, will be happily taken by this ship to the Canary Islands, where the well-known beautiful birds are at home, no. 12.*

In the original game, we see that the dice may take one to position 3, the Ship. Here we are instructed that we can move our marker all the way to position 12, the card of the Birds. This is a very fortunate card, which brings far faster progress by luck alone—we are carried by the ship farther than we could go alone.

It is a very favourable card and takes us to a good place.

4. The House

Figure 21. The House

The House in the Lenormand is sanctuary, security, and most of all “home, sweet home,” which gives it a very positive context. It is shelter from the turmoil of the outside world and signifies familiarity. However, as with all the Lenormand cards, its positive aspect can be influenced negatively by the following combinations.

• The Whip + House = Strife in home
• The Fish + Whip + House =
  Money-related strife in home
• The Anchor + House + Key + Snake =
  Stable home open to threat

This last combination is a warning to beware of snakes at your door. Take care not to invite anyone into your inner sanctum you cannot trust.

Consider the saying “home is where the heart is.” This card is one of stability and strength, an indicator of a good life, the perfect combination of family contentment and emotional well-being accompanying it. If this card appears in relation to a query on making a commitment to a relationship that has come into your life, the card is optimistic that there is healthy compatibility.

5. The Tree

Figure 22. The Tree

This card is all about tradition, lineage, and ancestor wisdom, the wisdom of the ages that stands the test of time. Think of the enormous life span of a tree, such as the Methuselah Tree, which is thousands of years old, and has stood solid and strong through many changes that have brought famine, war, and turmoil. It has seen all around it alter for good and bad, man has encroached upon its sacred space, but still it maintains its dignity. It has staying power; this card is advising you too to have staying power. The Methuselah Tree is known to have a survival strategy that has enabled it to do this; it “spreads its roots and expands its crown,” and to make the most of the resources it absorbs to survive.

Take a leaf from this old tree, and do not bend and give up when all around you is out of control; reconnect to the wisdom that is within you, the wisdom that has been passed down through your own family tree from your ancestors. Honour them and they will honour you.

6. The Clouds

Figure 23. The Clouds

The Clouds card in the Lenormand is traditionally a harbinger of uncertainty. It could also indicate a state of confusion, of thoughts and emotions, air and water. We all have heard of someone who walks around “with their heads in the clouds”—they are in a state of mental and emotional detachment that makes them unable to see what is really going on in a situation. The confusion of the Clouds cards could be lent some clarity, if it was placed in close proximity to the Sun card, especially directly above it. The sun would burn the clouds away.

The shading around the edge of the cloud card can also point out if the uncertainty is moving towards the sitter or away from them.

A cloudy sky can portend good or bad weather. When we see dark and angry clouds in the sky, we are made aware of bad weather coming our way, and we prepare our day accordingly. This card then is very much about being aware of what is going on in our environment and reading and acting upon the signs that we see. The image on the card usually depicts cumulus clouds, dark and light. This could say there will be change ahead, good and bad equally. This card can then imply that the time is right for issues that have been brewing to be brought out into the open, dissipating the pressure that has built up.

7. The Snake

Figure 24. The Snake

The Snake card stands for a significant other person in the sitter’s life, usually a woman, and usually up to no good. This is in part due to the biblical association of the snake with Eve’s temptation. There is certainly cause for concern if the Snake card is found lying (literally) underneath the sitter’s card.

“Take care where you step.” The Snake is strong but silent, stealthy, and ready to strike when least expected. It warns us to be ready for the unexpected. If this card makes itself known with regards to relationships, it could signify that somebody may find themselves drawn into a highly sexual and magnetic entanglement.

On a more abstract level, this is a card that favours regenerative healing. If it turns up in response to health, things bode well. Be strong and discreet, cautious, and especially take care to respect the confidentiality of others.

There is no other way to begin the interpretation of the Snake card than with a pantomimed hiss, and there is no getting away from the fact that the Snake is seen as trouble. When used as a person card in the Lenormand, the Snake expresses negative character traits, such as being manipulative and slippery by nature. Traditionally it could signify the presence of a jealous woman, a rival in love in the equation. There is betrayal here.

8. The Coffin

Figure 25. The Coffin

Traditionally the Coffin is symbolic of loss through ill health and death. However, one must remember that when the cards were first devised, illness and death played a brutal hand. You would be considered fortunate to live to the age of forty. Women frequently died in childbirth and infant mortality was high. The attitude to illness and death was one of reconciliation; it was something people of the time were quite understandably very preoccupied about.

So what does the Coffin really mean? It can literally be the “end” of something such as a relationship or marriage, money problems, a job, hardship and strife, being taken for granted, or even the end of your travels.

The card also reminds us of ritual farewell, the end of an era, acceptance of something being done and finished, adopting a way of being that accepts the inevitable, or out-worn regrets needing to be put aside. This is the card of initiation, shedding old attachments, and learning to be less egotistical. Await the rebirth of a new you. With regards to timing, completion is near. However, there could be a sense of mourning or sadness at the prospect of change.

9. The Flowers/Bouquet

Figure 26. The Bouquet

Traditionally the Bouquet symbolises joy being presented into one’s life. You will receive a token of appreciation that will make you happy, one that could take you by surprise. In the past, flowers were used as a secret code to relay a person’s intentions to another in their life, especially of a romantic nature. The different combinations in a bouquet of flowers spoke in a Lenormand-like way in a special coded message. We must remember that hidden symbols were very much in the psyche of the people of the day. In the so-called language of flowers, we would see the iris, red rose, and ivy together mean a messenger (iris) of passion (rose) and fidelity (ivy).

“Say it with sentiment or not at all.” A sign/expression of appreciation, it could be for romantic considerations or merely for services rendered. Take care to express how much you value a thing or individual in your life; have you a special occasion or celebration coming up? This card is a reminder of being alive and aware of nature’s simple beauty, and taking time to “smell the flowers.” It could be advising you to take a simplistic, natural approach to gaining that certain somebody’s affections; avoid the materialistic way (leave the Caribbean trip till later). A thoughtful act may bring about positive changes. Feminine energy is swirling. If clarity is needed with regards to a venture or project, good dividends will be rewarded after your work is done.

10. The Scythe

Figure 27. The Scythe

Traditionally in the Lenormand, the card of the Scythe cuts and clears; it is an indication that something will be cut out of your life, and will be no more. It may come as a shock. However this clearing is not all negative, as it will allow the growth of something new. It could be a new lease on life. This can be in regards to a relationship; the heartbreak of the end of a relationship opens you up to new opportunities, and you may have the chance to meet somebody new. If this is applied to work, the loss of a job can lead to you reassessing your life and the taking up of a whole new career.

“A blunt blade makes work.” This card speaks of a call to action and to be prepared for the work ahead. That very thing you have been delaying will soon manifest and will need dealing with before it gets out of hand. Do not underestimate the work involved and what you will be up against. This card’s appearance in a layout draws attention to the cards around it, highlighting timing; it can be an indicator of a need for expediency. Placed next to the Snake, for instance, it could be saying to act as soon as possible to confront an individual who has been quietly devious. If the Scythe is placed to the left-hand side, hold back, take a more logical approach, try to reason. If on the right-hand side, confront in a more emotional way.

11. The Whip

Figure 28. The Rod, Birch, or Whip

A card of trouble, bad words being spoken, unrest, and argument. In some cases it can signify service.

“No pain, no gain.” This is a card that heavily emphasises the importance of motivation and discipline resulting in achieving our goals. There are ways and means of making progress, and they rarely involve an easy route to success. We have to master our own weakness and turn it into strength to serve us in our endeavours. The ancient Egyptians associated the whip with the emblem of power; therefore this card speaks heavily of self-mastery. Additionally are there areas of our life that we need “whipped into shape”; if so, this card is saying “get to it!” If this card is placed next to the Scythe, this is a double whammy.

The Whip can bring strife and disagreements. There may be a battle for somebody in the relationship either at home or at work to maintain the upper hand, the “whip hand.” Such a power struggle in a relationship could manifest as a difficult boss, and the card that embodies this is the Bear. Also be very wary if this card appears in close proximity to the Snake—betrayal could be in the cards.

In a very literal sense, a reprimand is on the way. You may have to pay for some past transgression. The whip is a hard task master that commands discipline. The traditional meaning of the card is strife and disharmony, and it indicates that turmoil will be “whipped up.” If the discord is at work, it could mean that morale is at a low, and back-biting and disagreements are making the environment a very unhappy one indeed. This card could also indicate that something or somebody is being whipped up into a frenzy. It could speak to a need to control things in your life.

12. The Birds/The Owl

Figure 29. The Birds

The Birds card signifies conversation, communication, and chatter.

“Age-old wisdom, being awakened when others are asleep.” This card conjures up Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, especially the scene where the heroine looks out to see the birds that have lined up on the wires. This was very much a metaphor of communication—are we getting the message? If you think about this a little bit deeper and look at it from the view of the original short story by Daphne du Maurier, this story was about the danger of not being in tune with the natural order of things, being spoilt by technology.

This card is saying “listen to your intuition,” that which comes naturally and is not forced. The law of correspondence works on all levels. Block out the external noise, and listen to the wise one, the hidden, and the sacred. See beyond, starting from within.

In modern use, this is the card of chatter, gossip, backchat, and real-time communications (unlike the Letter). The card is full of buzz being passed along the grapevine from one person to another.

The Birds means that news spreads fast (particularly with the Rider), via telephone, text message, Facebook, and of course—Twitter.

Where the Birds card appears, everything close to it is already in the air or being broadcast; there is no stopping it.

13. The Child

Figure 30. The Child

The Child card literally represents a child in the sitter’s life or, at a symbolic level, a childlike nature. This is innocence and play-power.

“First tentative steps into the world—a living legacy.” True honesty, integrity, pure heart, being nonjudgemental and authentic, this is a state of being untainted by cynicism and bitterness. Make a fresh start; it is never too late to learn new things. Be part of new experiences, cast aside the fear that holds you back, go for childlike abandonment. Have trust in the process; those first tentative steps are only just the beginning. The focus for relationships is to be more trusting, authentic, and to come from the heart, not the head.

In a work-related question, this card will show that spontaneity and fresh ideas are needed.

14. The Fox

Figure 31. The Fox

The card of cunning and trickery, something is always afoot when the Fox is in play. The position of this card in a reading will dictate whether it is you who must be wary, or if others are already out-foxing you. Either way, it is a call to prick up your ears.

The Fox is the entrepreneur of the Lenormand deck; he does not miss a trick, and in fact he is ready to play a trick at any time. The qualities of the fox are quick-wittedness and dexterity in avoiding taking the flack in any situation, especially so at work.

We all know a Mr. (or Ms.) Fox in the workplace; he is full of good ideas, innovation, and has an attitude of self-preservation in life. He is the one waiting to take your promotion when your back is turned, and he will always take the last slice of cake on the plate. All in all, this sort of behaviour has given him a lousy reputation, and he has a good few enemies in life and in the workplace.

The Fox possesses energies you either love or hate, and when he is in a position of influence in your reading, you may be a little wary of what he is up to! However, remember that he’s not all bad, and if you put the Fox with Clover for example, it could be foretelling “innovative ideas that come up lucky.”

15. The Bear

Figure 32. The Bear

The Bear is a symbol of power and authority. It can stand for a male figure of stature in the sitter’s life, such as a boss. It can also, when combined with the Lady, signify the Mother, and the Gentleman, the Father.

In alchemy, the Bear corresponds to nigredo, a blackening process. Therefore this would indicate a cruel and crude energy at play in a situation that is plaguing the sitter. This entanglement could result in primitive instincts being awoken, the sitter or somebody around them being quick to anger, or a situation that could easily become troublesome if not handled with care.

Be wary of not expressing your dark shadow, for as Walt Kelly so wisely wrote, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” The most we have to fear is that which lurks within.

The Bear can be symbolic of business and finance—take for example, a “bear market” in share trading, where when the value of stocks is down, which is seen by some in finance as an opportunity to take advantage by buying up shares when they are at a low, later selling when a profit can be made.

16. The Star

Figure 33. The Star

The Star is the possession of clarity in all things near and far, and a longing for hope and wishes to come true. It is vital to maintain a positive outlook in work-related ventures. Be aware that just because something looks desirable, appearing to offer abundance, big and brash as it may be, do not take for granted that in reality it is so. In astronomy, it is known that the brightest, largest stars are the ones running out of fuel.

The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long—and you have burned so very, very brightly,
Roy. Look at you: you’re the Prodigal Son; you’re quite a prize!

—Tyrell, from Blade Runner
(dir. Ridley Scott, 1982)

The Star card advises us that we need to assess our lives; are we living at too fast a pace, are we too driven to be brighter and better than others at the expense of our own well-being? If we apply the science of a star to ourselves, we are, like the star, at risk of burning out too soon, using up fuel too rapidly in order to maintain our brightest appearance. Remember to plan for the long game!

In general readings, the Star is a card of clarity and vision, blessed with a destination in mind. Follow that which inspires you, do not live life without a sense of purpose, and do not let yourself stray from your destiny.

Take the joy and bear the sorrow,
looking past your hopes and fears:
learn to recognize the measured
dance that orders all our years.
—Archilochos: To His Soul, translated from the Greek by Jon Corelis

17. The Stork

Figure 34. The Stork

The presence of this card in a reading indicates deliverance from a difficult situation, or the delivery of good productive news. The Stork was believed to have significance to the Romans, who considered it a symbol of filial piety.

Within the Lenormand, the Stork may speak of the delivery of good or bad news, influenced by the cards in its proximity. The news could materialise in many ways, the most obvious one being the news of a birth. There is an emphasis on a strong family or friendship, one that may imply that your family and friends will be there for you; they can be relied upon in a time of need, and this help could come in the form of a gift.

On the other hand, you may find yourself in a situation where the presence of the Stork may mean you receive news of something being taken away from you for someone else’s benefit. For example, you could receive news that you will have to find new accommodation because your landlord is moving his family into the apartment. If the Tree, House, and Scythe appear too, the influence is stronger.

Any reading will make more sense if we look at the character of the Stork; it has a reliable reputation and it will return each year to the place where it has always nested. The Stork is known in the Hebrew language as chasidah, the “faithful one.” She is one who will always come back, and it is interesting that the word “chasidah” also relates to the Hebrew chesed, which for those of you who have some knowledge of Kabbalah means “loving kindness.” The stork is known to naturally show acts of kindness toward its fellow storks by its propensity to gift food. However, this behavior is of a selective nature—the stork steals food from other species of birds to fulfil this “kind” act!

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming.

—Jeremiah 8:7

18. The Dog

Figure 35. The Dog

The Dog symbolises loyalty, dependency, and the presence in your life of a trusty friend or loved one. This is the person in the sitter’s life who gives unconditional love, but may be a little overly needy. In a more negative way of reading, is there a certain somebody you have welcomed into your life who may end up biting the hand that feeds them? There is a need to take charge and let others know you are top dog!

The dog is a faithful companion who coexists naturally with humans yet still maintains a primal nature. Dogs are able to make the best of both worlds—primal and domestic. If you look after a dog well, it will reward you with endless attention and an open, loving heart. However, the dog is a pack animal: it needs to know its place in the pack, otherwise it takes leadership, thinking you are of a lower rank.

When combined with workplace or authority cards, this card can bring to our attention issues of hierarchy and group in-fighting.

19. The Tower

Figure 36. The Tower

The Tower indicates a need to be aware of what is going on around you, to be ready for any eventuality. It is true that forewarned is forearmed. This card is saying you have the upper ground; you are in a good position to ensure that your security is safe and sound. The Tower is the place to be—you find yourself in an elevated position. This is a card of caution, expressing the importance of maintaining higher ground in a situation.

This card could speak of an overly defensive stance that could leave you well-protected but out of favour. If this card appears in relation to a health issue, it could be indicative of the immune system’s defensive role. It could also indicate the need to withdraw physically as well as emotionally from other people in order to rest and recuperate.

From another perspective it can be about the need to look beyond the present situation we are in to project our situation into the long term. We need to be more analytical and more objective in our planning, maybe even strategic. If the Ring followed the Tower, it would be saying, “Plan and survey before committing yourself to a contract.” A signet ring would apply the seal to the deal! In combination with the Letter card, the need to be sure of the situation before going ahead is consolidated.

The Tower can speak of power and bureaucracy and having to face something far greater than ourselves. We may find ourselves up against a well-established system that is unyielding and seemingly uncompromising. It could manifest itself in the form of a tax department. If we are protected by the system, we become part of the machine itself.

20. The Garden

Figure 37. The Garden

The Garden card is about getting out into the world and being social in some capacity. It is the card of networking, sharing, and coming together with like-minded people. In the matter of romantic relationships, this could indicate a romantic date or a place with other people such as a party or a meal out.

More generally, the card, particularly in the French tradition, tends to signify a “natural life,” a life of cultured appreciation. It is often pictured with a fountain, which nourishes one’s capacities to enjoy life, and in return is nourished. If this card appeared in a workplace situation, it would indicate that all would run smoothly and harmoniously, even creatively.

It could be indicative of marriage and union, especially when close to the Ring, which is about pledge and commitment. Throw in the Heart and Clover, and it may be a marriage made in heaven, though it will take effort and dedication to maintain, just like the loving care and work put into nurturing flowers and plants in a garden.

The Snake close to the Garden literally speaks of lies and betrayal lurking in a social environment. This is a reflection of the story of Eden, however in mundane terms it is a workplace or the world of social media: Facebook, Twitter. We know that not all news is good news, and a Snake and Garden combination warns of being manipulated by others who only have their own best interests at heart.

Be heartened if the Stork is close by; it could ease the situation. Storks are known predators of the Snake, so their proximity can negate a malicious situation.

21. The Mountain

Figure 38. The Mountain

“Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.” The Mountain can represent an obstacle or a diversion. When attempting to reach a goal or commitment we sometimes have to surmount various challenges. A particularly difficult blockage or obstacle can tempt us to retreat, but the context of this card will tell us if retreat is best or if we should find some other way to get over it. Invariably, the best line of action is to grit our teeth, head on up, plant our metaphorical flag, and get to the other side.

The Mountain is also a symbol of durability and the might needed to withstand life’s constant wear and tear. The Mountain is seen in some traditions as representing the structure of bones, i.e., the bones of the earth. In relation to health, this could point to rigidity and being inflexible. It could relate to issues with the spine.

If the Mountain card is placed alongside the Mice, an obstacle that may once have seemed great and insurmountable will be put into perspective, and the problem will be seen for what it is. This is especially so if the problem is related to a verbal obstacle or a stubborn situation, where neither party is prepared to give way. There may have been a falling out or words spoken that were threatening and have caused fear.

Take note of these words taken from Aesop’s fable, the earliest version as below:

A mountain had gone into labour and was groaning terribly. Such rumours excited great expectations all over the country. In the end, however, the mountain gave birth to a mouse.** 

If you ask the Lenormand about your lack of progress in your career and the Mountain appears close by your significator, it is confirming that you have an obstacle to overcome. However, what you really want to know is how you can overcome this obstacle to progress. If the Mountain is followed by the Mice, it is telling us to carry on gnawing away and producing results. Combined with the Moon it signifies “recognition” and if those are then followed by the Bouquet and the Fish, it would denote that appreciation is due in the form of money.

The Mountain can speak of the need to rise above where you are at the moment. You need to be elevated, and you may find yourself elevated above others, maybe in the promotional sense. New, lofty heights will be reached, but only with struggle.

22. The Ways

Figure 39. The Ways

“Where there is a will, there is a way.” The Ways card is symbolic of choices and decisions to be made as we make our way through life. This card can indicate that you have reached this point in your life, and that now is the time to act. It can speak of a dilemma, a problem that is difficult to solve, or times when you simply cannot get to the crux of the matter. This card when in a place of influence in a reading is summoning the enquirer to exert their will to find a way forward.

When we consider a Lenormand card as indicating somebody’s character (for example, when a card appears above or below their significator in a Grand Tableau), then we would see this card as showing an erratic character. It literally indicates somebody always on the move, yet never knowing their destination. It can also be (in one German tradition) a sceptic. Certainly it is somebody we cannot pin down to one place. If it were found in combination with the Ship, it might indicate someone with itchy feet, and with the Anchor it would show someone afflicted with unfulfilled wanderlust.

The Ways is reflective of its own nature in a reading; it is influenced by the cards around it, thus it could indicate willpower, bravery, and courage to follow one’s way in the world (if combined, say, with the Bear, the Ship, or the Heart). Combined with the Child, the Tree, the House, or the Mountain, however, it might indicate someone who prevaricates, it is neither one thing nor another, and cannot be found to make a fixed decision.

23. The Mice

Figure 40. Mice

This card is negative, and it warns of missing details whilst being distracted by the big picture. Those mice are already eating away at your resources, your confidence, whatever they’re nearby. If it’s the Ship, for instance, your holiday plans may be unravelled by missing one piece of essential detail (tickets, anyone?).

In a professional or family context, the Mice card shows that people we have recently come to know may be nibbling away at our position. If combined with or in proximity to the Snake or the Fox, then this is certainly a warning card. We would look to the Bear to see how our authority could be maintained in this war of the animals!

The Mice also indicate loss, lack of resources, and poverty. In modern parlance, this might be “limiting beliefs” but we see the literal Lenormand as just that—whatever the cause, psychological or spiritual, the result is the same: you are not going to be able to afford to attend that retreat centre if the Mice are not run out of the House. If the Mice are close to the House, it may even indicate a theft of some kind, in traditional usage.

The Mice card possesses the energy of productivity and doing tasks in bite-sized pieces. The mouse is a tiny little thing but is capable of infesting a whole house in no time at all without you even knowing about it. This card in a position of influence could be drawing attention to something going on in your environment you are not managing. You may be letting little things overwhelm you, so much so that you are going to be left with an out of control situation. Come down from that chair of avoidance and fear so you won’t be a mouse in your own house!

24. The Heart

Figure 41. The Heart

The Heart of course speaks for itself; it is a symbol close to us all. When this card is heavily prominent in a reading, it is all about love, relating, and creating a union of some sort, especially when close to the Ring, the Garden, and the Clover.

We tend to look at the Heart’s situation between the Gentleman and Lady cards to indicate the nature of a relationship, if such is the question asked. We would obviously prefer the heart to be the only card between the two people in relationship! Truly, every three out of five questions you will be asked as a sybil will be of this nature.

In a question with regard to a profession, this card would signify to us that someone is looking well upon the sitter, that they are a likely supporter and sponsor on an emotional and connected level, rather than simply a logical or practical one. The combination of the Bear (power), Tower (authority), and Heart (harmony), would show us a very passionate and powerful workplace.

When the Heart is around other positive cards, its influence is magnified; here it truly shines as the centre of attention—our emotional world is fully satisfied. However, if it is drawn close to negative cards, particularly a majority, rather than “tempering” the cards, as we might be tempted to do in proactive tarot reading, it unfortunately and literally indicates that the heart will be open to negativity. Thus the sitter will experience suffering as a result, more so than if the heart were not in that position.

Generally speaking, in all traditions, the Heart is a peaceful symbol of harmony, whether between two companies in a merger, siblings, romantically involved people, or the result of a court case. The Heart stands for equality and satisfaction.

25. The Ring

Figure 42. The Ring

The Ring is symbolic of making a commitment, a pledge, and forging a bond. It can relate to love and marriage, matters of work, contracts, and business generally. As with the Heart card, we would look to the Ring and its position between the Gentleman and Lady cards to denote the nature of a relationship in terms of commitment. If the Ring and the Heart were found only behind the Lady, and the Gentleman was rather close to a Snake, we would have a very recognisable situation. If his card, the Ring, and the Tower were all close together with the Bear or the Fox (if self-employed), he may be wedded to his job too much. Of course, this applies to the Lady card also.

However, this card could be looked at as if somebody is stuck in a situation where they feel that somebody else is “running rings” around them. This goes hand in hand with the traditional image of a ring expressing the commitment of marriage or betrothal, but in a negative view it can be seen as being a habit that is difficult to break.

The sitter could find him- or herself in a situation from which they are having difficulty extricating themselves, such as being unable to get out of a contract they have signed. However, if the sitter asks about signing a business contract, this card followed by the Anchor, Clover, and Bear speaks of a commitment to a secure, successful (lucky), and powerful business.

As an example of how the Lenormand cards can be interpreted in a health reading, the German reader Iris Treppner sees this card in such a reading as indicating a family bind, something about an illness being connected to the family or environment.

26. The Book

Figure 43. The Book

The Book is a card of secrecy and knowledge. If your deck has the book “open” then perhaps it indicates more about knowledge and revelation. If it is “closed” then it depicts more of the hidden nature of knowledge. Some readers use the direction in which the book is “open” to read what knowledge is being disclosed. As an example, if the book was drawn with the spine to the left of the image, and the card to the right was the Child, then it would indicate a childhood secret or old secret about to come out into the open.

This is a card of learning and using the imagination to go beyond what we know. A book of fiction can transport us to a whole new world where we can experience life beyond our wildest dreams. Nonfiction book can teach skills ranging from the most mundane to the totally way-out—basket-weaving to accessing the secrets of the universe. The Book is power and a ticket to liberty, bringing learning, and learning brings freedom. Therefore, it is a key to unlocking ourselves, particularly when combined, obviously, with the Key.

The influence of the Book in a reading can be a prod to learn something or become better informed. There is something you should know—cards around it would tell you where that knowledge may be obtained: the Tower, for example, would be a school or institution; the Fox, someone with natural ability in the subject of interest.

The Book in close proximity to the Birds and the Rider card says that you should look out for signs (Birds) and the arrival of news (in the form of the Rider) that will inform you of something of which you should be aware.

27. The Letter

Figure 44. The Letter

The Letter signifies to us the written word. It is thus a literal card of connecting in a concrete manner, be it email or any other written form. In the French tradition, it is a card signifying invitations, such as to a dance or party. If received for an employment question, it would indicate at least a response, the cards around it indicating the nature of the response—the Sun and Moon being positive in this respect, for example, the Mountain and Ways being a resounding negative.

The Letter is a card that literally puts pen to paper, a form of communication and expression that requires considerable care and sentiment. There is something quaint, old-fashioned, and almost precious about letter writing. It calls up images of bygone times when the world was a much smaller and slower place. A letter would be the only way of keeping friends and loved ones informed of your life.

This card expresses the importance of communication, especially the formal written kind. Close to the Ring, it symbolises a contract, whereas next to the Birds or the Rider, it could signify email.

On the negative side, this card modified by the Fox or the Snake could mean difficulty in the fine print of things, particularly if joined by the Mice.

28. The Gentleman

Figure 45. The Gentleman

The Gentleman in the reading can be the male Significator or the significant other of the female sitter. In a wider sense, it is a sitter’s brother, father (combined with the Bear), or close male friend (combined with the Dog).

A few readers use the court cards of the tarot on the Lenormand cards to indicate people and their relationship to each other. We cover this in our courses, as it probably would require a book in itself given the possible combinations and different schools of reading playing cards.

It can also be symbolic of forceful male energy. This could indicate the need to be more assertive in a situation, or be even less so; say for example if a sitter asks advice on how to deal with a situation where they feel they are being taking advantage of in some way, causing anger and temptation to confront the aggressor. If the Gentleman card is behind the Scythe, it may mean that the sitter needs to “cut” the aggressive behavior.

29. The Lady

Figure 46. The Lady

The Lady in the reading can be the female significator or the significant other of the male sitter. In a more general sense, it is the sitter’s sister, mother, or close female friend (particularly combined with the Dog). If combined with the Child, it is obviously a younger lady.

As with the Gentleman card, the Lady is given more detail by surrounding cards. A Lady close to the Garden and the Birds is someone who enjoys social gatherings and gossip. A Lady close to the Bear and Tower may have issues with authority, and so on.

At a more abstract level, it can also be symbolic of
nurturing feminine energy in a situation, an energy which needs to be applied to resolve a problem.

30. The Lily

Figure 47. The Lily

We find the Lily one of the strangest cards in the Lenormand for its symbolism, as it can range from the sacred to profane. It can represent purity or sex, it can represent a good spirit or passion. In effect, it is a placeholder for the whole range of virtue.

The Lily card in a reading can symbolise fertility, or pure and virtuous intent. If the question posed is regarding someone’s integrity, the Lily could imply “virtuous intent” followed by the Heart, which is symbolic of love and union, or “all will be well” if followed by the (lucky) Clover.

31. The Sun

Figure 48. The Sun

The Sun is a highly positive card in Lenormand readings, and predicts success in our work, particularly after effort (Scythe), struggle (Cross), obstacles (Mountain), or troubles (Mice). The Sun can radically turn a reading into a positive situation when it appears at the end of a line of cards. It shines, saying it will all be worth it.

So, here comes the sun! The Sun is the life-giver and provider of warmth and well-being. In a reading it symbolises growth on all levels and maintaining a positive face to the world; it promotes confidence and willpower. The Sun’s influence in a reading is its ability to throw light on a situation. Next to the Moon card, it is indicative of perfect balance. If these cards are on either side of the Heart card in relation to a question about emotional well-being, this is very good indeed.

The Sun and Moon on either side of the Fish is indicative of a good balance with money, finances, and resources. The Sun above the Garden is good for nurturing growth. The Sun as a timing card is a year.

In a professional context, the Sun indicates advancement and recognition, although again with the Moon, it would provide prediction of a publically recognised advancement. The Sun is a pat on the head, while the Moon is a round of applause.

32. The Moon

Figure 49. The Moon

The Moon is symbolic of emotions and creativity. It can also represent the idea of letting ourselves be carried away by dreams and fancy. The Moon followed by the Mice can indicate the presence of an emotional obsession that has become repetitive (Mice), rather like the constant chewing of nails—a symptom of some other stress.

We are heavily influenced by the Moon itself, from the ebb and flow of the tides cycles, to the influence it exerts on our physical and emotional states. In regards to an enquiry on a relationship issue, the combination of the Heart, Moon, and Clouds together can indicate that the Heart is heading toward emotional change (Clouds). It certainly sounds like an emotional storm is up ahead for our sitter. The Moon can be used as a timing card, indicating a period of twenty-eight days, or around a month.

This is also a card of needing recognition and appreciation. Such a state is highly reactive and always results in constantly looking around to see what others are doing or thinking. Worries of being unable to exert enough influence on others may follow.

33. The Key

Figure 50. The Key

The Key denotes opportunity, a figurative unlocking of a situation, although some may read it as a locking up also. To receive the Key and the Heart, for example, means a literal unlocking of the heart by someone, whereas the Book and the Heart might signify someone keeping themselves closed off from you. In the latter case, they are a “closed book” to you, emotionally. The Key and the Ways cards together provide opportunity and choice.

The Key is symbolic as a tool for unlocking something that is closed to you. In times of old, a certain status of authority was attached to the key. The lady of the house would be given the keys to all the doors of the house for safekeeping. In a reading regarding moving house and security, the Key card followed by House then Clover indicates the opening (Key) of the new property (House) will be secure and content (Clover).

The Key can also be symbolic of unlocking knowledge. In a reading, it can confirm that something will be unlocked, and you will be able to make sense of something that has until now puzzled you; you’ll have a “Eureka!” moment. In a reading with a question similar to “Will I be able to sort out my current problems and have a peace of mind?” one might receive it as a positive response; the Ways “dilemma” unlocked by the Key, followed by the Star, would indicate the bringing of clarity to the situation.

34. The Fish

Figure 51. The Fish

The Fish card is symbolic of money and good fortune. It is a literal symbol of resources that can be drawn upon and used in plenty to “feed the people,” as was told in the biblical parable. Sometimes in a reading this can represent time as a resource, or other capital. For example, as combined with the Moon in a business situation, this card would represent good will or the recognition of ability as a resource.

The Fish announce a change in the tide, bringing a realisation of projects, particularly those with material results. In a reading relating to emotions and relationships, they can indicate the relationship’s almost playful nature (or person whose card they affect), seeking joy in life through being with a partner.

In a more psychological interpretation, the Fish swim in the depths of the unconscious, so they represent hidden desires, feelings, and deeper currents. In a Grand Tableau, where the cards above the significator can show what is beyond their control, this card in that position would indicate the person was being driven by needs not fully known to themselves. If it were found below the significator, it would perhaps indicate a person in touch with their deeper emotions and currents.

If the sitter asks about the likely success of a business trip, the Ship card would indicate travel and speculation, perhaps the Whip would signify “work in service,” and then the Fish “resources, money, and good fortune.” All in all, these cards would be indicative of a successful business trip.

35. The Anchor

Figure 52. The Anchor

The Anchor is the key symbol of the Game of Hope; it is the card of hope. In the game, landing on it was the aim, rather than overshooting, which would mean landing upon the Cross.

In the German tradition, this card is the symbol of work in the sense of one’s vocational career—the anchor to life, something that provides stability in a storm yet can also keep you in one place. The card is thus, as are all cards in the Lenormand, modified by the card next to it and surrounding it. The Anchor is a fixed point in a reading, whereas the Ways is the freedom of choice. Where these two cards are in relationship to each other and the sitter’s significator card can tell us a lot about their ability to make choices in their current situation. The cards around the Anchor and Ways can also tell us what influences their decisions.

In a literal interpretation, this card can be the significator of career and chosen employment, whether it be through working for a company (Tower or Bear) or for oneself (Fox).

The Anchor is a stabilising influence that takes into account the conditions at play. It is urging caution, especially if the Ship and the Clouds’ uncertainty and change are close by. It may be a time to reassess the situation that you are concerned about before venturing into uncharted waters! If this combination was followed by the Sun, it could indicate a waiting period of up to a year, but this could also imply that there will be positive growth with the Sun’s presence when the time is right.

36. The Cross

Figure 53. The Cross

In the Christian backdrop of the original Game of Hope, written into the rules of the game is the notion of the Cross as suffering and adversity. It is more the cross of the gravestone than the cross of sacrifice. It is symbolic of finality without redemption, rather than the more positive reconceptualisation as faith. The Cross, then, is read as struggle, perhaps asking us to maintain faith in the advent of difficult times. It is very much about getting down to the crux of the matter, and is also a card of restriction, fastening us to one place, person, or situation. When combined with the Anchor it may denote a long-term burden.

It denotes the issue burdening us, weighing us down. It could be something on our mind, something we need put down. It is also a card that—as the Stations of the Cross—indicates a whole string of obstacles, one after another; more so than the Mountain, which is one big obstacle, causing us to seek a diversion. If the Cross is combined with the Mice, it is a series of small setbacks causing cumulative trouble.

The Ways is also of importance to this card’s meaning when combined together, especially when taking into account the crosslike appearance of the signpost on some illustrations of the Ways, particularly in The Original Lenormand. The Ways alleviates the Cross somewhat, providing some option of movement. If the Cross indicates staying true to faith through burdens, the Ways will keep you true to your path.

Now that we’ve looked at each card individually, we will look to further ways of getting you to explore your own meanings for the cards with the use of fortunetelling verses based on traditional forms.

Exercise: Fortunetelling Verses

Many older cartomantic and fortunetelling books use a particular verse form for their oracles. This is not quite the same as used in German verses for the Lenormand cards, nor English equivalents such as those on the US Games Systems deck, whose verses were written by Stuart Kaplan himself.

The other interesting note is that these verses were often in two couplets, the first applying to a man using the book, the second to a woman.

Your exercise is to create verses in this particular format for your Lenormand cards—it’s fun and helps you learn the cards. It could even provide an oracular game in and of itself at parties: people choose a card and you read them their verse from your own fortunetelling book.

The format of the verses is very simple, and those who have been on our other courses will know we teach a lot of poetic patterns from haiku to Norse sagas, so this is another to add to your repertoire.

For each card, write a four-line verse composed of two rhyming couplets. The first couplet applies to a gentleman sitter, the second to a lady. The lines of both couplets should be seven syllables. This gives a very simple meter and stress to the verse, suiting it to our salon-style delivery. As an example of the form:

It’s very easy to do
Writing this for me and you.
The deck you can make complete
With these rhymes so short and sweet.

And here’s one from a fortunetelling book:

By this four we clearly see
Four brats must be laid to thee.
She who gets the same will wed,
Two rich husbands, both well-bred.

Or another on the Ace of Spades, boding ill for both ladies and gentlemen:

Thou who gets this Ace of Spades
Shalt be flouted by the maids,
When it is a damsel’s lot,
Love and honour go to pot.

So have a try, remembering in each that the first two-line couplet applies to a male sitter, the second to a female sitter. Here’s one for the Bear card:

When the bear is pulled by you,
Health and wealth are in your view,
When faced by a woman’s wiles,
It portends a life of smiles.

Exercise: Triplets

As a further exercise for this chapter, we’d like to encourage you to continue to work in montages and scenarios. So here’s a practice method that can build up what we call “chains” in the skillset of the Lenormand sibyl.

• Shuffle your deck.
• Take three cards.
• Lay them out face up in a triangle.
• Create a story, scene, or situation involving all three cards.
• Take another three cards.
• Create a separate story for these three cards.
• Now look at both triplets and chain one card from each together by seeing how the two stories might connect through those two particular cards. It can be obvious or surreal—there is no need to make meaning, only connection.

Here is an example, where the storytelling remains as a fable.

Figure 54. Two Triads for Triplets

We drew the Fox, Bear, and Bouquet for the first triad.

“The fox had a lousy reputation; it puzzled him greatly. Wherever he went, his reputation dogged him; there was no getting away from it. He only ever lived up to his own nature, and that is not a bad thing to do. People criticised him for being crafty, manipulative, and cunning; they said he was not ever to be trusted. How was his natural behaviour any more unacceptable than the Bear, who was often seen as cute and cuddly when in reality he was a big, brutal beast? All the Fox wanted was some recognition of his good qualities; it would be good to receive a show of appreciation, like a bouquet of flowers.”

For the second triad, we drew the Key, Mountain, and Stars.

“Once upon a time there was a rumour that at the top of the tallest mountain in the world was hidden a key that held the secret to possessing vision that normally only the stars can see.”

Now here is how we bridge the two stories together:

“The Fox asked the Bear how he managed to give the impression that he was such an affectionate creature who was portrayed as being lovable. The Bear said, ‘Well, it’s easy, I journeyed to the top of a mountain and discovered a Key. It unlocked another side of me—the side everyone sees’.”

You can keep adding triplets, chaining them through the same or different cards, so long as it is one card only from each triplet to one card from another.

This practice builds up another essential skill in the cartomancer’s toolbox.

Exercise: Popular Sayings of the Lenormand

In this exercise, journal what comes to mind from popular culture for each card. We can start with listing contemporary sayings that go with each card. You can also consider song titles, famous pieces of art, even advertising jingles. Anything that associates meaning for you with the card image will deepen your ability to extend that card in context to real life.

1. Rider—Never look a gift horse in the mouth, no news is good news
2. Clover—Rolling in clover
3. Ship—Ship shape
4. House—As safe as houses
5. Tree—You cannot see the woods for the trees
6. Clouds—Every cloud has a silver lining
7. Snake—A snake in the grass
8. Coffin—Another nail in the coffin
9. Bouquet—Coming up smelling of roses
10. Scythe—Make hay while the sun shines
11. Rod, Birch, Whip—A rod for your own back
12. Birds—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
13. Child—Child’s play
14. Fox—Cunning as a fox, foxy woman
15. Bear—Bear with a sore head
16. Star—Wish upon a star
17. Stork—He who invites storks must have frogs in the house
18. Dog—Dog-tired, a dog’s dinner, a dog’s life, a dog’s breakfast, dog-eat-dog
19. Tower—Towering above others
20. Garden—How does your garden grow?
21. Mountain—Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
22. Ways—Where there is a will, there is a way
23. Mice—As quiet as a mouse
24. Heart—Heartsick, broken heart, full of heart, absence makes the heart grow fonder, losing heart
25. Ring—Running rings around someone
26. Book—In the book, book learning
27. Letter—A red-letter day
28. Gentleman—A gentleman gentle does
29. Lady—Faint heart never won fair lady
30. Lily—Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds
31. Sun—The sun always shines on TV, sunny-side up
32. Moon—Mooning around, moon-faced
33. Key—The key to everything, it’s a key part of the plan
34. Fish—Fishing for compliments, a fishing trip, see what we catch
35. Anchor—Anchors aweigh!
36. Cross—A cross to bear, we all have our crosses, don’t cross me

Exercise: Scenes from a Life

In this exercise, in which we start to learn combinations of cards, simply take a scene from real life or a movie and try and describe it in two to four cards only. If we think of a famous scene from the movie E. T., we might consider it quite aptly described by the Child, the Moon, and the Key, as the government agent in the film was identified by the jangling keys on his belt. Any Lassie film can be summed up by the Dog card!

What about trying it the other way around? If you had a scene involving the Lady, the Gentleman, and the Ship, which film or event might come to mind?

Figure 55. Three Cards for a Film

Exercise: Performing a Simple Literal Reading

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the cards, let’s see if we can perform a simple practice reading using the idea of similies. This is also a good journal exercise that can lead to real readings. You do not have to have every keyword memorised; you can do this by literal interpretation of the cards when using this method.

Consider a situation about which you require some clarity and direct advice. It can be as simple or complex as you wish. In our example, we will consider having a lot of deadlines to meet—we wonder if we should drop some projects now or continue with all of them and attempt to meet the deadlines.

Consider the situation as two separate aspects, “my deadlines” and “my projects.” It does not matter which order you place these two aspects in the sentence to follow, so long as you write it out first.

Write “[My projects] are to [my deadlines] … ”

Considering these two aspects, shuffle your deck and select out two cards.

Complete the sentence “My projects are to my deadlines as … [card 1] is to [card 2].”

We pulled out the Bear and the Snake.

We write “My projects are to my deadline as the Bear is to the Snake.”

Now consider the actual reality of the literal objects on the Lenormand cards, or use their keywords from whichever system with which you are working.

In a literal sense, a bear rarely encounters a snake. If it did find one threatening, would likely kill it. The weight of the bear would probably make it reasonably immune from a poisonous bite.

As such, we can divine that our projects and their scale (pardon the pun), outweigh the insidious thoughts of deadlines—which may poison the work slowly, even killing it. We therefore write to one publisher and tell him his project requires a change of deadline to be done properly. This was not something we had considered in our original question, but it now seems very obvious—and works!

The Lenormand appears very literal, and it can be used to dictate immediate action in its stark simplicity. We hope you have found this chapter encouraging in the way you choose to learn Lenormand, tarot, or anything else. Do not forget—there is no “is.”

Exercise: Five Levels of Reading a Card

Whilst we can keep Lenormand pretty literal, we can also layer readings. We will look at an example of reading the Ship on five different levels: literal, simple, symbolic, extended, and secret.23 You can repeat this exercise for all cards, as your own extended and secret levels of the card will be unique to you—this is a great journal exercise.

• Literal: A person arrives to board a ship. Setting sail from port to
  travel to an exotic island, all aboard are happy to go on the journey.
  The destination is the Canary Islands where the yellow-feathered
  Canary bird lives. The ship takes us quickly without trouble—all is well.
• Simple: Will hear good news about future travel. Will go on a trip.
  Will move. Will be taken by somebody else to a good place.
  Transport. Journey. Travel.
• Symbolic: Somebody will be lucky enough to find their way in life. Transport or journeying, moving, on your way but in between two worlds. There is a haven of happiness waiting; you will find contentment, a place of your very own that you can call home, where you feel you belong. Be aware however that you may find yourself amongst those
  who may gossip about you, perhaps they may envy your happy life—shown by the bad side of the Birds card.
• Extended: It has been said in Greek myth that the Canary Islands were one of the so-called Fortunate Isles or the Isles of the Blessed (Hesperides), a blissful winterless paradise, the santuary of mortals who were deemed to be heroes and had been reincarnated thrice. This card
  of the Ship then brings us perhaps for the third time to a place of blessing. We may have ignored the signs before or been offered an opportunity previously, and now it calls for us again—will we board
  the ship this third time and transform our lives?
• Secret: Another connection with the ancient world is that the Canary Islands were supposed to have given birth to the Greek myth of the Garden of Hesperides. Legend also has it that one of the twelve labours of Hercules was to go to the end of the world and bring back golden apples guarded by the Hesperides (daughters of evening), offspring of Hesperis and Atlas, the latter a Titan in Greek and Roman mythology who gave his name to the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlas mountain ranges in Morocco. Hercules supposedly had to go beyond the Strait of Gibraltar (named the Pillars of Hercules after his smashing the mountain, forming the pillars) to reach the paradisiacal home of these maidens. Hercules carried out his task and returned from what many later thought could only have been the Canary Islands—about the only place to fit the ancients’ description.

It is interesting that the twelve labours correspond to the twelve of the Bird card, which the Ship leads to, and the Ship is 3, corresponding to the threefold reincarnation of the heroes. Those who played this game originally and used it for parlour divination would have been very aware of the classical legends, and it is no surprise to see them connected in this way.

In a deep reading then, this card signifies the potential we all have to engage in a heroic journey, if we can give up the daily burden (as Hercules gave Atlas the world to hold upon his shoulders). Can you discover what responsibilities are attachments and remove yourself from them to discover yourself?

Before we conclude looking at the individual cards, we can also consider them in sets of meaning, which helps us learn the cards in groups and provides more weight for their meaning in a reading.

Negative, Neutral, and Positive Cards

In the Game of Hope and following traditions, certain cards in the Lenormand have a definite positive or negative (favourable or unfavourable) connotation. There is no layering of “this is not a problem, it is an opportunity” language into the literal Lenormand. A snake is an evil and poisonous creature, a mouse will eat you out of house and home. We will list here the various cards in these groups:

• Neutral Cards: 1, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29
• Positive Cards: 2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
• Negative Cards: 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 (in some traditions
  this is a very negative card), 21, 23, 26 (generally), 36

Whilst these associations may be tempered somewhat by the overall context of the cards, as we will see in the following chapter, to stay close to authentic use, they should be treated in the style of definitely good, bad, and indifferent. These groupings may be used to denote if a single or few card layout is generally answering a positive or negative outcome to a straight fortunetelling reading.24

We will next start to put these cards together in context, when they really start to speak.

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* This quote is taken from the English translation of the Game of Hope instructions, available with deck at: http://www.originallenormand.com.

** From Aesop’s Fables: http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/perry/520.htm