Some Do's and Dont's for New Lenormand Readers?

[Wyrdkiss]

Greetings,

 

I've been reading tarot for nearly 28 years.

 

After a one week tryst with Lenormand last year, I have purchased a new deck. It feels really good to work with, I'm immensely drawn to it.

 

Can you offer any tips of "do's and Dont's" for new readers?  I am currently exploring books to purchased, yet would enjoy hearing

from enthusiasts with a summary of their guidance. I've done a half dozen readings so far, some with what seems to be amazingly clear and accurate messages.

 

Thanks,

[DanielJUK]

I am glad you found the right deck that really calls to you 🙂

 

these are my do's and don'ts that I learnt along the way.....

 

- practice, practice, practice, for about 2 years I did 3 and 2 card readings on the old tarot forum, this really helped me learn the combinations more than any book! I did readings for others and then when they said they could relate to my combination interpretations I knew it was right and made a note of each one for myself for future readings.

 

- try to forget tarot and oracle systems for lenormand, think of it was a totally different thing! I found it harder in my learning when I compared it to tarot. The cards which overlap do not have the same ideas as tarot (in my view it works better to not think they are exactly the same, they can have some similar ideas though but learn them as a new card), for example The Moon, The Sun and The Tower. They have a different theme and placement in this. Also think of the Lenormand cards as a chain, sometimes I read the centre card in a reading as the central answer but other than that read the combinations as the message. That is the key tarot difference, it's about the combined meaning. I see Tarot as quite a different system now and both have different purposes in my usage.

 

- There are many books and authors but Lenormand has more arguing over the interpretations than Tarot I think, I mean areas of the internet get really angry with arguing over it. There are also different schools of thought on the meanings. Work out your own way with it, what works best for you? When you have worked it out, keep to it! For example some authors see Fox representing work, others Anchor, also many cards can represent different careers and jobs. Personally I see Anchor as a 9 to 5 job (stability, security) so in my head I have made a decision that it represents that. When I read Lenormand books, authors have different ideas and also if I get a reading from a Lenormand friend they interpret differently, that is cool but try to keep to the system you have decided on. It just gets too confusing if you keep changing the core idea of each card. So decide on how it works best for you.

 

- work out about 3 keywords for each card on what they mean to you personally. Read the ideas about each card and make decision for yourself because it's about you interpreting it in the end 🙂

 

Keep using them, they are wonderful for prediction readings and a quick direct to the point reading! But explore the cards and combinations, work it out for yourself, what do they mean to you? After reading many views I came up with my own ideas and that ultimately is the best in tarot, lenormand and all divination and is how you get used to the system when learning. Enjoy it, it's a wonderful system 🙂

[NealDT]

I agree on Daniel's list. Here are my for additional advices:

 

- If you want to do a time reading with Lenormand, don't rely on the time templates on Pinterests or any website. It's not they're bad, but they're just examples and they don't have high accuracy. Try to practice time reading with your own experiences, they will bring you surprises.

 

- With my experiences, Lenormand can both do fortune-telling and give you advises if needed. Don't hesitate to try it, sometimes advises from Lenormand cards can be easier to understand than Tarot cards thanks to their meaning and images.

 

- Try to keep it simple. I love reading Lenormand because of its simplicity and straightforward. Lenormand doesn't require deep knowledge like Tarot or some Oracle decks, but it requires tons of life experiences to fully understand the cards. If you can, try to connect the cards with your daily life, it will definitely help you a lot during practicing.

 

Good luck on your learning!

[katrinka]

22 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

There are also different schools of thought on the meanings. Work out your own way with it, what works best for you? When you have worked it out, keep to it! For example some authors see Fox representing work, others Anchor, also many cards can represent different careers and jobs. Personally I see Anchor as a 9 to 5 job (stability, security) so in my head I have made a decision that it represents that.

 

Yes. Anchor, Moon and Fox are used for work. These are accepted traditional meanings, just regional variations.

DO pick one set of meanings and stay with it, at least for the first few years. Find one good book (I recommend Andy Boroveshengra's. Rana George's book is also good. And the Treppner course can be downloaded free of charge now) and work through that. With Lenormand, too many sources will muddy the water.  And about 95% of the websites are awful.

DON'T try to memorize combination lists. Those are examples. Read through them and think about how the person arrived at a particular combined meaning.

DO be patient. You're learning a language. The 10,000 hour rule applies.

DON'T try to innovate. It's a genius system, perfectly balanced, and it's been refined and perfected over 200 years. It's timeless, so don't worry that it won't address current issues. The Rider can represent your car as well as it can a horse - one of the meanings is "transportation". People in the 19th century were the same as people now, they were just forced to be less open about things like sexuality. But the cards are capable of addressing those issues.

DO predict. That's where Lenormand really shines. It's what the system was designed for.

And do keep practicing.

Edited October 13, 2020 by katrinka

[Wyrdkiss]

Thank you all for the detailed Responses. Extremely helpful.

 

I appreciate how different the Lenormand apprach is -- it is a nice change of

pace from Tarot.

I also enjoy certain Oracles, so my bases are covered well it seems.

 

I'll try to contribute some sample readings and the like soon. I'm also going to post a thread for

the lovely Thelema Lenormand I'm using. Seems to be a bit under the radar right now.

 

Thanks again,

~ WK

[DownUnderNZer]

Wonderful advice given above! 🌞

 

In addition:

 

I would suggest keeping a journal or notes on what you read on so you can reflect, dissect and make sense of what the cards mean at the time or perhaps to just look back years later to see how much you have evolved and how they connect or not.

 

I have received feedback even 10 years after a reading that I didn't keep notes on!!! 🧐

 

Importantly:

 

Don't side track from a question and change the whole scenario all together. Keep to the question and meanings as much as possible.

 

No intuition as such.

 

EXAMPLE:

 

How likely am I to get that job promotion I have put in for? (Female)

 

28+24+04+01+13

 

How Not To Read:

 

Looks like you are going to fall madly and passionately in love with someone in your workplace and move in with him shortly thereafter.

 

In less than a month actually!.

 

There are children in your near future with him - like really near future.

 

What if that sitter batted for the other team?

 

I have seen a few readings like that in my time from some that didn't have a strong understanding of the base meanings and chose to go with intuition. Or...just on seeing the HEARt card they went with that flow of it instead.

 

Start Out Simple:

 

The Lenormand can be read to the point and also on a much deeper level.

 

What can you tell me about my son's mental, emotional and psychological status? 

 

(Querent already knows the answer).

 

06+32+08+22+14

 

SIMPLE:

 

I am wondering if he is confused, emotionally depressed, conflicted and not honest with himself or people. There could be drug or substance abuse going on...

 

DEEP:

 

I am wondering if your son suffers from manic depression and/or has a bi polar disorder. He may very well have a Jeckyll Hyde type personality and also substance abuse going on in his life.

 

Once you understand it and work with it for a long time - you can keep it simple as simple gets or take it to a stars are not your limit level.

 

Don't Step On...

 

Try not to step on the toes of traditional traditionalist readers that are truly some of the best to learn from when it comes to the Lenormand.

 

They have pearls of wisdom and techniques passed down from generation to generation, but some (not all) may not be open to other types of readers and/or approaches so this will not sit very well with them at all.

 

If, however, you get the opportunity to learn from a well taught traditional reader - dont let that opportunity slip through your fingers.

 

 

DND 🌞

 

[gregory]

Lenormand IS traditional. isn't that the whole point. This from DownUnderNZer  looks much more like tarot.

 

Not that I would presume to pontificate, as I am not a "well taught traditional reader". But I think finding one to ask about this is important. It is a hugely different tradition, and can't be messed with in the way that tarot can. Katrinka and Daniel are far closer to the mark. And leroidetrefle - who may have changed his name here again... - would be an excellent source of information.

[katrinka]

Yes. It's folk cartomancy that's been refined and perfected, and come down to us near-intact. That IS the whole point - we've had something very precious fall into our collective laps. And this is pure pop psychology Tarot:
 

1 hour ago, DownUnderNZer said:

 

06+32+08+22+14

 

SIMPLE:

 

I am wondering if he is confused, emotionally depressed, conflicted and not honest with himself or people. There could be drug or substance abuse going on...

 
Clouds Moon Coffin Roads Fox

What was simply a bad reputation, a reputation as a troublemaker, ends with a wrong decision. This could be jail or worse, depending on context, The whole thing centers around a nasty shock.

Another reader might come up with something slightly different, but in the main, it's an event, not a diagnosis.

[gregory]

I KNEW I didn't get it. That's why I don't do it ! (I am reading up - but until I do and have someone like katrinka or Andy to keep an eye on me, I'm not messing with it.

[Raggydoll]

28 minutes ago, gregory said:

I KNEW I didn't get it. That's why I don't do it ! (I am reading up - but until I do and have someone like katrinka or Andy to keep an eye on me, I'm not messing with it.

I’m thinking that if I had more time then I’d try to set up private Lenormand training with Katrinka. You’d be invited 😊 Oh well, need to finish my deck first. But maybe in 2022? 😁

[gregory]

10 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

I’m thinking that if I had more time then I’d try to set up private Lenormand training with Katrinka. You’d be invited 😊 Oh well, need to finish my deck first. But maybe in 2022? 😁

 

Actually - yes please.

[Raggydoll]

6 minutes ago, gregory said:

 

Actually - yes please.

Then it’s settled! (We should probably ask Katrinka first but how could she possibly resist?! 🤣)

[katrinka]

Ask yourselves - do you really want to do that?

[Grace]

I'm up for @katrinka punishment... I mean teaching!!! 🤣 

 

At this rate I won't have time to devote serious attention till 2022 so that is fine with me!

[Raggydoll]

8 hours ago, katrinka said:

Ask yourselves - do you really want to do that?

[Decan]

Can we already reserve our ticket for this event? 😄

[DanielJUK]

On 10/21/2020 at 9:37 AM, gregory said:

Lenormand IS traditional. isn't that the whole point. This from DownUnderNZer  looks much more like tarot.

 

Not that I would presume to pontificate, as I am not a "well taught traditional reader". But I think finding one to ask about this is important. It is a hugely different tradition, and can't be messed with in the way that tarot can. Katrinka and Daniel are far closer to the mark. And leroidetrefle - who may have changed his name here again... - would be an excellent source of information.

 

But some readers have a more modern take, more modern method, that is the hmmm trying to think of the perfect word here, let's use the tension in the community, traditional vs modern. This would lead to huge arguments on AT and strict moderation of the Lenormand area. I think DUNZer is really right about if you have a more modern way of reading the cards to not ignore the traditional ideas or to ignore a traditional teacher, you can only learn from it! My reading method sometimes uses intuition and intuitively reading the card art because this method works so well for me with every divination system. But I really needed to learn the traditional frame work of each card, like the original idea. Some people don't even read using that but it works for their readings good for them. The tricky part is moving the cards from the 19th Century to modern times with modern readings and to fit diverse people and that needs interpretation by the reader.

[gregory]

We have tarot for that... It was never as precise as Lenormand.

[DownUnderNZer]

On 10/21/2020 at 7:37 PM, gregory said:

Lenormand IS traditional. isn't that the whole point. This from DownUnderNZer  looks much more like tarot.

 

Not that I would presume to pontificate, as I am not a "well taught traditional reader". But I think finding one to ask about this is important. It is a hugely different tradition, and can't be messed with in the way that tarot can. Katrinka and Daniel are far closer to the mark. And leroidetrefle - who may have changed his name here again... - would be an excellent source of information.

 

Tarot came years after Lenormand for me so can't relate to the point you make in the way you do.

[DownUnderNZer]

On 10/21/2020 at 8:00 PM, katrinka said:

Yes. It's folk cartomancy that's been refined and perfected, and come down to us near-intact. That IS the whole point - we've had something very precious fall into our collective laps. And this is pure pop psychology Tarot:
 

 
Clouds Moon Coffin Roads Fox

What was simply a bad reputation, a reputation as a troublemaker, ends with a wrong decision. This could be jail or worse, depending on context, The whole thing centers around a nasty shock.

Another reader might come up with something slightly different, but in the main, it's an event, not a diagnosis.

 

 

The Lenormand is not limited to "events" only.  

 

"Pop Psychology Tarot" I cannot relate to unfortunately as I learnt the Lenormand years before Tarot and never mixed the two.

 

So, maybe it is "Pop Psychology Lenormand", or even better, how I have chosen to embrace it after doing Traditional and not so traditional for years.

 

Taken the best from both!

 

DND 🌞🌞🌞

 

By the way - your answer would not answer the question asked at all, but it is indeed an interesting break down of what the cards could mean if done in a general sense.

 

"What can you tell me about my son's mental, emotional and psychological status?"

 

[katrinka]

7 hours ago, Decan said:

Can we already reserve our ticket for this event? 😄

They'll probably put it on Pay Per View - like these guys:

3 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

 

But some readers have a more modern take, more modern method, that is the hmmm trying to think of the perfect word here, let's use the tension in the community, traditional vs modern. This would lead to huge arguments on AT and strict moderation of the Lenormand area.

 

Well yes, it was a war zone in 2012-2013. Before that hardly anyone was into it. Then all of a sudden there was this big bandwagon, everybody piling on and wanting to "innovate" - without comprehending the system. Lenormand isn't a deck, really, it's a system. A genius system, and it's folkloric and complex and refined to perfection, and people were just fighting tooth and nail to pollute that because it was trending and they all wanted to make a quick buck and/or make a name for themselves. It got ugly, again and again.
 

Quote

My reading method sometimes uses intuition and intuitively reading the card art because this method works so well for me with every divination system. But I really needed to learn the traditional frame work of each card, like the original idea. Some people don't even read using that but it works for their readings good for them.

 

Everybody uses intuition, in the sense of catching on to things without having to consciously work them out. Your brain just does that if you're very familiar with something - like driving, you don't think "Now I am going to step on the clutch and move my right foot off the gas pedal and put it on the brake..." - if you need to brake, you just brake. It's a reflex. 

But reading off the pictures the way some people do with Tarot isn't Lenormand. You don't say "The Dog is chained, I feel that he's sad and neglected." The Dog is your friend and a helper who enables you to put food on the table. He's highly valued - his owner would be insane to neglect him. It's a card of real friendship and loyalty, not sadness and neglect.

 

Quote

The tricky part is moving the cards from the 19th Century to modern times with modern readings and to fit diverse people and that needs interpretation by the reader.

 

???
The Man, Woman and Child are just that - they're not the white man, woman and child. I have decks with Black significators, and it would be wonderful if there were more like that, but as far as what the cards mean, the Man is just a man. He can be any race, he can be gay, straight, bi...people had various sexual orientations in the 19th century, obviously. It's all built into the cards. As for the other cards that can represent people like the Bear, Dog, Snake and Fox, the same thing applies. 

And as for technology, the cards will stretch to fit. One of the Rider meanings is transportation, so it can be a car as well as a horse. The Letter is written communication, so it can be email, texts, DMs, etc. You have everything there in the original 36.

[katrinka]

35 minutes ago, DownUnderNZer said:

By the way - your answer would not answer the question asked at all, but it is indeed an interesting break down of what the cards could mean if done in a general sense.

 

"What can you tell me about my son's mental, emotional and psychological status?"

 

That's a question for a qualified mental health worker, not a card reader. 

[DownUnderNZer]

2 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

 

But some readers have a more modern take, more modern method, that is the hmmm trying to think of the perfect word here, let's use the tension in the community, traditional vs modern. This would lead to huge arguments on AT and strict moderation of the Lenormand area. I think DUNZer is really right about if you have a more modern way of reading the cards to not ignore the traditional ideas or to ignore a traditional teacher, you can only learn from it! My reading method sometimes uses intuition and intuitively reading the card art because this method works so well for me with every divination system. But I really needed to learn the traditional frame work of each card, like the original idea. Some people don't even read using that but it works for their readings good for them. The tricky part is moving the cards from the 19th Century to modern times with modern readings and to fit diverse people and that needs interpretation by the reader.

 

@DanielJUK

 

Agreed and put so eloquently and thoughtfully.

 

There is something in the traditional method of learning that is for sure and there is no experience like it. 

 

As I see it - there is room for both traditional and modern. However, there has to be a sound knowledge of base meanings regardless of whether it is French, German, Belgium, Russian or whatever region of the world one comes from and/or has readily at hand.

 

DND 🌞

[DownUnderNZer]

2 minutes ago, katrinka said:

That's a question for a qualified mental health worker, not a card reader. 

 

But remember - the client already knows.... 😁

[DownUnderNZer]

Anyways, it is really fantastic to see such a great respect and appreciation for the Lenormand - that is for sure.

 

After all these years - it is still number one to me and obviously for a good reason.

 

I am still crossing fingers that Mary Greer publishes the Lenormand book she had in mind - that is something I would like to know more about.

 

ADDING - Or if it is still something she is working on.

 

 

DND 🌞

Edited October 22, 2020 by DownUnderNZer