The Charming Oracle

Lenormand: A Quick & Dirty Reading Guide

 

This guide is for those who are new to the Petit Lenormand and it is just what the title says, Quick & Dirty. If you have experience with reading the Lenormand deck of cards, you likely have the knowledge this guide covers.

 

For more depth and an even greater understanding, we highly recommend The Essential Lenormand by Rana George. A copy can be obtained at your local bookstore or order it at East West Bookstore (also available as an ebook here).

 

The first thing that is important to grasp is that Lenormand is not Tarot. Say it with me now because it is really important: “Lenormand is NOT Tarot.” These cards have their own language and vocabulary. As you get to know your deck of cards and your charms you will see that this is the system you use for direct, specific, and literal answers.

 

Formulating the right question is the key to success in getting an accurate reading. The more direct your question, the more direct the answer. By the same token, if your question is vague then your answer will be vague. Make sure that while you are shuffling you focus on your question and pay close attention to the way you have worded it. “Does he like me?” is a different question than “How does he feel about me?”. The cards will always answer the question you asked not the question you meant to ask. You want to remember this when you have a spread in front of you.

 

If you are asking “Will my presentation go well tomorrow?” the Sun + Clouds would be success is uncertain. However if you were just pulling cards for a general daily draw those same cards could be telling you that it’s going to be a cloudy day, maybe even a forecast for rain.

 

The Lenormand is designed to be read in sets of two or more cards. If you are looking at a two card spread the 1st card is always the noun and the 2nd is always what describes it (the adjective) For example:

 

Birds + Ship: A change in a meeting’s location

 

Ship + Birds: Traveling a long distance to a meeting

 

When you are first starting out you will want to pick one noun and one adjective for each card and stick with them to help develop your system. You will find that being consistent in the meanings you apply to a card will help you to learn the cards more quickly and, as an added bonus, your cards will become programmed by the energy of your intended meaning.

 

As you continue practicing your pairs, you will find yourself naturally discovering new meanings and themes related to your first association, growing your reading vocabulary as it were.