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I'm sure there is a bunch on it already, really. There must be. It's just how things are at the moment. And of course, there is the urge to experiment here and there (it once got me using a Black Pete pack - it still gets me occasionally), and while often the experiment itself doesn't stick, I found them worthwhile. If only to know for sure that this'n'that doesn't work for me or to experience which tendencies carry over and by virtue of that qualify for examination of what constitutes the core relied upon. @timtoldrum and @Moon-Hermit , when you speak of the "Game of Hope"-Method, is that the same thing I'd call "houses-method", in that you use the numbers on the card and their line-up to determine which house is where and what it speaks of or is it yet another thing?

I would certainly not use that with the Lenormand, especially the psycho astrological stuff, lol. I think that because Lenormand seems to be easier than the other systems at first glance, a lot of those that are newly introduced to it are tempted to experiment and see if they can enrich it with additional stuff (if it even needs that in the first place). I know that after some time I did (for a while I tried incorporating geomancy and everything that can come with it into my readings); while it seemed fun and fascinating and all that, it really didn't add anything significant to what I was doing. It was unnecessary, in other words. I feel the same towards the master method, at least when it's being used heavily. The couple of times I used it myself I had to constantly look through my book to find the associations and naturally, what I was trying to say ended up sounding very much disconnected. If a reader can make it work smoothly, though, I'd certainly admire them. I enjoy watching Malkiel's videos, even though I don't understand German and have to rely on captions.

Thanks for being so kind. Ooh, that clarifies things! I had come across a book that was about the Gong Hee Fot Choy when I was first learning how to read with the playing cards, though I never sat down to study the thing extensively. Seems like a revisit is in order 🙂 It has been the same for myself as well, i.e. using the Game of Hope method if I decide to look at the houses in a GT. While I certainly appreciate the detail that the master method can offer, I feel it makes the reader focus more on the pips than the actual Lenormand images. Besides, there are so many associations, and I'm afraid I don't have the memory required to memorize them all, lol.

Currently, at least in Germany, we see the emergence of a crop of readers putting heavy focus on it, especially online. It seems some like to use the Master-Method as the foundation of their personal blend; there's been an upspike ever since Malkiel opened his course. And it is blending all right, maybe so much that it's safe to say they already practice the "houses-method" instead of what strictly constitutes the MM. I am sure it blended so much that some come to the cards thinking that's the way to read them, the one you gotta know - Well, it is what it is. Personally, I am waiting for the emergence of the Psycho-Astrological-Houses-Master-Method, it'd be a very german thing to do. Is it alround already?

Of course. I’m always happy to answer questions and discuss the cards. Unfortunately, that must be a typo. It should read several. I know of four systems: the Game of Hope, the Master Method, the Gong Hee Fot Choy and one used by a reader Sarajevo. The latter is much like the master method, but the houses’ significations are different and include family, enemy, blessing and curse. The Game of Hope and master method tend to be the dominant systems. If I use them with the Petit Lenormand I keep to the Game of Hope, but I use the master method with the Petit Cartomancien and tarot pips.

@timtoldrum , since this is a topic concerning the houses, may I ask you a question related to that if it’s okay? In appendix #5 of your book you mentioned that there are seven house methods. I searched a lot but could never find anything other than the master method and the normal game of hope houses. May I know where to look for the other five methods? Even though I do not use the houses that much in my own practice, I am curious regardless. Thank you

All of the various methods of forming combinations, whether through counting, mirroring, knighting, or the use of houses, produce different results and are best employed with discernment. Of these techniques, the use of houses is the one I rely upon least, and I genuinely believe it is rather overused. Whether one adopts the 8 × 4 + 4, 6 × 6, or 9 × 4 layout should, in my view, make very little difference. I tend to think of the tableau as a large house containing thirty-six rooms, each belonging to a particular card. Every room is enclosed by four walls and is defined by the character and essence of the card that resides there. Thus, the House of the Birch Rod is the house of correction. If the Cloverleaf falls within that house, there may be an opportunity to correct something swiftly and successfully. More often than not, however, this tells us relatively little, as it remains merely a two-card combination in isolation. What appears in House 10 or House 12 is largely irrelevant in terms of house interpretation, because each room is confined by its own walls and therefore by its own essential meaning. If one is employing the Master Method, then the traditional essence of the house is replaced by the meaning assigned to it within that system. There is also no reason why the houses cannot be randomised. I vaguely recall Tali teaching something along those lines. Ultimately, they are your cards, and you are free to work with them in the manner that best serves your practice. The key, however, is to use all of these techniques with purpose and discrimination. The objective is not to apply every available method simply because one can, but to employ those techniques that help uncover the information one actually needs. For me, most tableaus can be read primarily through proximity, master cards, attendance (vertical, horizontal and diagonal) and counting. I only use other techniques if I need further information.

I am glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you

I hereby thank you for your amazing book!

You are welcome! I will start appropriate topic moment we have more info! atm his family & friends are looking for publisher in France if possible? but it's not easy because it's Big 100card deck & Big size cards not standard tarot +Big illustrated book! Hopefully they'll make it for Gaby!💖✨

What do I need to focus on this weekend? The female personality card of the deck! I need to focus on myself, I thought immediately. The watch is apropos: I think a lot about time at the moment, its inevitable passing, and how to spend it meaningfully. The owl is a bird of wisdom. The card seems to be saying: spend your time wisely.

Good to know that you are feeling better! Welcome!

The Conference is getting closer 😻. Last week I watched a youtube of TABI's 1st ever podcast (Tarot Association of The British Isles). 2 admin members interviewing Liz Dean. Now Liz Dean is a favourite, so I was very happy to listen to her recount how she became a Tarot celeb. She's released her own deck now, The Heart's Path Tarot - and will be at the conference this year (I bought it immediately 🤗).

Thanks for letting us know about it @reall It's quite a big discussion currently across the tarot communities online and his family are trying to get the artwork printed as a deck. A project to watch and support in future with trying to get the deck made to remember him ❤️

I did not even knew about it before it was over....

LOVE it. I'm there right now. Thanks for the heads-up @KiMo .

Welcome back @BrightEye! Good to see you again 😀

It had occurred to me that I could have attempted watching it out of my 2nd floor window as we're on a hill. Anyway then I was just browsing through facebook and saw on 'Tarot History' someone pointing out that Pamela Coleman Smith was alive during an eclipse and apparently put it in 2 of her cards - 2 of Swords and 8 of Cups. Now though I have a whole book on RWS symbolism on my shelf - it's one of the many books on there, that I've not read...yet (retirement will be busy with reading 😂). ....Interesting....

Pretty much EVERYTHING is now a world shaking drama. Me I was with my daughter on the way to meet someone off a train; we stopped off in a supermarket car park and viewed it through four pairs of polarised sunnies. It was beautiful. The end. (though we were disappointed in how dark it failed to get !)

THIS! I am not an astrologist and blissfully unaware of how the planets may be affecting *Every astrological happening is now a world shaking drama.

I’m in with Christephania’s Kipper Oracle. It’s new in my collection. I have seen it get a lot of bad press from traditional Kipper readers, probably for good reason. However, the reworked Kipper system is meant to act as a bridge between oracle and Tarot, so suitable also for one-card readings, which doesn't work with traditional Kipper. So I’m giving it a go to see whether it works. What do I need to know today (19/8)? Military Officer Military Officer is a card of discipline, doing the correct and ethical thing, having a sense of duty. But it can also mean being inflexible and rigid. I identify with this card to the point that it’s my personality card. In this rendition of the card we see a scene in the heart region of the officer: a group of three people enjoying the sunset over the sea. Perhaps a suggestion to take time out occasionally so I don’t burn out?

Very true. Also, I have seen that there is a large divide between practitioners who believe you must never do magic during an eclipse, versus those who feel like it’s a time of power that shouldn’t be missed 🙄.

@Misterei Thank you for the explanation. <3

When I use Houses, which is rarely, it is only to see what House the Significator or Clouds has landed in. That sometimes can make sense of a GT that seems to be making none.

What a lovely story. Yes, I often read 4 wands as a wedding card for exactly this reason. I suppose many cultures have married under such canopies but it is most famous for Jewish weddings. i've largely given up on the idea of defining or identifying spirit Guides. As someone removed and disconnected from my ancestry--ancestral guides aren't necessarily a thing for me. Still, in particularly deep meditations I often get a sense that I am healing generational trauma. I have an intuitive sense of extending the healing 7 generations back. Usually through the maternal line. Nothing to do with spirit guides per se--just a thing that organically happens during intense self-healing sessions.