Opinions on a Lenormand Deck

[Quinn64]

Hi! I have been doing research on Lenormand decks for several days - I just now hear about them. I really love the Gilded Reverie Expanded Deck by Marchetti. I have read a little of this forum but not much about this deck. I am buying Andy Boroveshengra's book because it was recommended for beginners. Is anyone familiar with the Gilded Reverie deck and can tell me if I can learn using it? I am not a brand new oracle card user and the one deck I use the most is read like Lenormand spreads. I would love suggestions if this deck is not right for me. I fell in love with the look of this deck and it feels like it should be mine, if that makes sense. But I do not want to make a mistake and buy one that is too hard. Because of COVID, funds are limited or I would just buy them to look at. Thank you for any help!

 

The same question applies to the Lunar Nomad Oracle. It is between those 2.

Edited January 29, 2022 by Quinn64
Needed to add a deck title.

[katrinka]

2 hours ago, Quinn64 said:

Hi! I have been doing research on Lenormand decks for several days - I just now hear about them. I really love the Gilded Reverie Expanded Deck by Marchetti. I have read a little of this forum but not much about this deck. I am buying Andy Boroveshengra's book because it was recommended for beginners. Is anyone familiar with the Gilded Reverie deck and can tell me if I can learn using it?

 

A lot of people do well with it. The female Rider is a big issue, though, you'll need some kind of workaround. Discussion here:

2 hours ago, Quinn64 said:

I am not a brand new oracle card user and the one deck I use the most is read like Lenormand spreads.

 

Which deck is that?
 

2 hours ago, Quinn64 said:

I would love suggestions if this deck is not right for me. I fell in love with the look of this deck and it feels like it should be mine, if that makes sense. But I do not want to make a mistake and buy one that is too hard. Because of COVID, funds are limited or I would just buy them to look at. Thank you for any help!

 

The same question applies to the Lunar Nomad Oracle. It is between those 2.

 

Yikes. The Lunar Nomad shouldn't even be called a Lenormand. Every single card has major issues.

If it's between those two, go with the Gilded Reverie. But the best learning decks are more standard: Dondorf pattern, Piatnik, Brepols, Blue Owl. etc. Ciro has another deck called the Sui Generis that sticks much closer to standard Lenormand than the Gilded Reverie, and it's a lovely deck:

https://www.ciromarchetti.com/sui-generis-lenormand

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by katrinka

[frankie]

I'm not familiar with the Gilded Reverie, and of course, one should be drawn to (or at least not turned off by) the cards' aesthetics.

 

But something to consider as you start your studies (I'm new to it all as well!) since Lenormand is a system of reading, the more standard decks that katrinka mentions have the meanings and methods of reading encoded in them. The excellent thread she linked above explains why this matters.

 

For me, since I'm still learning, it helps to have a deck that hews as closely as possible to the methods I need to become proficient in. The Lenormand images are visual reminders of what might otherwise seem like hard-to-understand rules when one is starting out. Also, it helps me to have a deck that conforms to the book I use for my learning--I have Andy's book as well, and it's fantastic! Just something to consider.

[katrinka]

 

 

12 minutes ago, frankie said:

I'm not familiar with the Gilded Reverie, and of course, one should be drawn to (or at least not turned off by) the cards' aesthetics.

 

But something to consider as you start your studies (I'm new to it all as well!) since Lenormand is a system of reading, the more standard decks that katrinka mentions have the meanings and methods of reading encoded in them. The excellent thread she linked above explains why this matters.

 

For me, since I'm still learning, it helps to have a deck that hews as closely as possible to the methods I need to become proficient in. The Lenormand images are visual reminders of what might otherwise seem like hard-to-understand rules when one is starting out. Also, it helps me to have a deck that conforms to the book I use for my learning--I have Andy's book as well, and it's fantastic! Just something to consider.

 

Yes! It's the best book.

And the meanings and methods really are encoded in the images. That's my objection to the female Rider - the Rider can be a person sometimes, and when he is, he's male, so the card should reflect that.

 

 

The Sui Generis does have some embellishments, more than I would normally recommend for a starter deck. But for someone who has their heart set on Marchetti's art, I think it's much better than the Gilded Reverie. And I like the way he's worked the German suits into the design (though I'm not sure why he substituted cups for bells.)

 

 

 

[Quinn64]

Thank guys...Frankie, I had actually read what you suggested earlier in the day. That was what made me realize any old deck would not be the best. Thanks again though.

 

Katrinka, do you have a place you get decks from? I did a google shop search and do not see this beautiful Sui Generis deck anywhere for purchase. It fits me perfectly. It is a decent deck to learn on, especially with my book by Andy too, and it is lovely to look at. Where do I get it? I certainly am not asking you to shop for me, just wondering about suppliers. Thank you!

[katrinka]

Hmmm, it appears to be out of stock, and Ciro hasn't been around here lately.
I messaged him on facebook and asked if he had any left, or any plans to reprint. I'll let you know what he says. 🙂

[Quinn64]

Thank you, I really appreciate you checking this out for me 🙂

[DanielJUK]

Reading back through his FB posts, there is one about the Sui Generis deck in May 2020. The deck was made and sent to the printer but we were in the middle of the pandemic and he had no idea would happen printing it and getting the deck physically with production affected by Covid. The circumstances kept changing and so he made a much shorter print run as a precaution. This came and was sent out and people had positive reviews about it and the card quality, so he sent a second print run to get more quantity. Both runs were only from him and sold out. I am not sure if he will do any more. I can't find any posts about the deck since 2020 but he is having production delays with the pandemic. Maybe there will be a new batch made in future or it's picked up to go Mass market.

[katrinka]

1 hour ago, DanielJUK said:

Maybe there will be a new batch made in future or it's picked up to go Mass market.

The latter. 🙂

He says that while the self-published edition is sold out, he's taken the option to license it. Both USG and Llewellyn were interested, but he went with Llewellyn since they didn't have a Lenormand title while USG has several, including the Gilded Reverie. The deck and companion book are going to the printers soon and hopefully it will be available around mid summer, although they will probably change the title to Lustrous Lenormand (it's easier for english-speaking people.)

 

So, @Quinn64, the good news is that it will be available but the bad news is that it will take awhile.

If you don't want to wait until summer to start learning, you could get an inexpensive traditional deck to practice with until then, or just get the Gilded and when the Sui Generis is published, you can have both. 🙂





 

[WizardintheWoods]

I follow the rule of “keep it simple” when looking for Lenormand system decks. One of my personal favorites is Maybe Lenormand by Ryan Edward. Use the standard 36 cards and keep the extra 16 cards (he was going for a 52 card deck option in bohemian style deck form) for when if you want to read using that type of system. The cards are straightforward and easy to identify quickly what you are looking at. They also have the playing card insets, which is a must on a Lenormand card in my opinion. 
 

Best book to learn from is Andy Boroveshengra’s, Lenormand 36 Cards, hands down the best by far. Whatever you choose, stick with one book. Take it from me I learned the very hard way and tried multiple books at once 🙃 

 

Good luck with your Lenormand studies and drop by that area and let us see how you are doing. 

[DanielJUK]

I've moved this thread over to the Lenormand section as we are discussing Lenormand Decks. I left your other introductory thread @Quinn64 in the Introduction section so people can keep welcoming you there 🙂

We try to move discussion threads out of there and into their sections across the forum

[Quinn64]

Thank you...this is my first ever forum so I appreciate you fixing my mistake :-)

[Quinn64]

Hope I am doing this right. Thank you for finding out the info on the Sui Generis deck for me. You have saved me hours of searching, Katrinka.  

 

Wizard, I am taking your advice. I already have what everyone calls "the Andy Book" in my Amazon cart as my only book, and will get the Maybe Lenormand by Ryan Edward deck. 

[katrinka]

The Maybe is excellent. 🙂

[vulprix]

I am just hopping in to humbly add more love for the Maybe Lenormand. I wanted it last year. It ended up finding me on a local business’s shelf (almost literally—it fell into my hands and I caught it!), and I have not regretted its purchase. The art is lovely, and I also really enjoy the thoughtfully included extra 16 cards.

 

I enjoy the art on modern decks more than that of more traditional Lenormand decks, and having the playing card inserts on the cards is a huge win for me. This one is one of the best in that regard.

[frankie]

12 hours ago, katrinka said:

It's the best book.

It is. 🥰 Also, I love that collage! So many dashing men... 😉

 

11 hours ago, Quinn64 said:

Thanks again though.

No problem! It's been (and continues to be 😭😄) a steep learning curve for me and sticking to one good deck has helped. I hope you'll share more about your journey with the cards.

 

4 hours ago, WizardintheWoods said:

Best book to learn from is Andy Boroveshengra’s, Lenormand 36 Cards, hands down the best by far. Whatever you choose, stick with one book. Take it from me I learned the very hard way and tried multiple books at once 🙃 

I was in that same position, too, and yes, I totally agree! Ditto on having playing card insets. The Maybe Lenormand looks very nice! I have a preference for more scenic Lenormand decks--e.g. I like to have many stars in my Stars card, preferably in a landscape--but that's just a preference. Great to hear others have had good experiences with the Maybe. I'll keep that in mind myself. 🙂

[Chariot]

16 hours ago, Quinn64 said:

Hi! I have been doing research on Lenormand decks for several days - I just now hear about them. I really love the Gilded Reverie Expanded Deck by Marchetti. I have read a little of this forum but not much about this deck. I am buying Andy Boroveshengra's book because it was recommended for beginners. Is anyone familiar with the Gilded Reverie deck and can tell me if I can learn using it? I am not a brand new oracle card user and the one deck I use the most is read like Lenormand spreads. I would love suggestions if this deck is not right for me. I fell in love with the look of this deck and it feels like it should be mine, if that makes sense. But I do not want to make a mistake and buy one that is too hard. Because of COVID, funds are limited or I would just buy them to look at. Thank you for any help!

 

The same question applies to the Lunar Nomad Oracle. It is between those 2.

I have just started doing Lenormand (did my first two readings yesterday ...yikes, totally accurate!)  One of the two decks I used was the Gilded Reverie Expanded Deck.  I love the Grand Luxe Tarot by Marchetti, so I bought the Gilded Reverie also by him, just on spec.  I didn't realise it actually has more cards in it than a 'traditional' Lenormand. And one of the cards that appeared in my reading yesterday was one of his 'new' ones (the Birds that shows the Owls) and it was spot-on, as to meaning.  I'm hooked.  Of course I'll need to work more with Lenormand, but my Old Style Lenormand deck by US Games Systems and my Gilded Reverie by Ciro Marchetti both worked a treat yesterday.  This is exciting stuff.

I will always love tarot, but Lenormand is very different, and very worthwhile.

Edited January 29, 2022 by Chariot

[Quinn64]

2 hours ago, vulprix said:

I am just hopping in to humbly add more love for the Maybe Lenormand. I wanted it last year. It ended up finding me on a local business’s shelf (almost literally—it fell into my hands and I caught it!), and I have not regretted its purchase. The art is lovely, and I also really enjoy the thoughtfully included extra 16 cards.

 

I enjoy the art on modern decks more than that of more traditional Lenormand decks, and having the playing card inserts on the cards is a huge win for me. This one is one of the best in that regard.

Sounds to me like that is the only deck you should work with if it literally fell into your hands.

[Quinn64]

I have looked at the Maybe deck that everyone loves and I have to be honest, I find it ugly. I am going with The Easy Lenormand by Marcus Katz. The cards look simple and boldly show the corresponding playing card. Between that and the book and all of you helping me, I think I am off to a good start.

 

If I am doing something wrong like not replying correctly or posting wrong, please do not hesitate to tell me. I am brand new to any kind of forum so I am wading in the dark here.

[katrinka]

Are you sure?
Some of the reviews say that the Dondorf deck shown on the box isn't what you get. The photos show a different deck with no insets.
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0738747122/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar

Other photos do show a Dondorf. It's a gamble.

And IIRC, the cards are oversized. That's a problem when you start doing larger spreads. Plus you'd be stuck buying that book with it. Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin write terrible Lenormand books.

You'd do better to order these, and they cost less, too:
https://www.loscarabeo.com/en/products/cartomanzia-francese

 

 

 

[joy]

 

How about this one? This is a great one I find it is a great price and shipping is free

 

https://www.bookdepository.com/Grand-Tableau-Lenormand-Lo-Scarabeo/9788865277256?ref=pd_detail_1_sims_b_p2p_1

[Quinn64]

45 minutes ago, katrinka said:

Are you sure?
Some of the reviews say that the Dondorf deck shown on the box isn't what you get. The photos show a different deck with no insets.
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0738747122/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar

Other photos do show a Dondorf. It's a gamble.

And IIRC, the cards are oversized. That's a problem when you start doing larger spreads. Plus you'd be stuck buying that book with it. Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin write terrible Lenormand books.

You'd do better to order these, and they cost less, too:
https://www.loscarabeo.com/en/products/cartomanzia-francese

 

 

 

Thanks...I went back and looked at more reviews and I think you saved me some money. 

[Quinn64]

37 minutes ago, joy said:

 

How about this one? This is a great one I find it is a great price and shipping is free

 

https://www.bookdepository.com/Grand-Tableau-Lenormand-Lo-Scarabeo/9788865277256?ref=pd_detail_1_sims_b_p2p_1

I have seen that one many times and I really like it but I am not sure if this is just for the grand tableau or can be used for that and other spreads.

[Quinn64]

I have narrowed my search down to two. 

Golden Lenormand Oracle     https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/073875689X/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

and Grand Tableau  https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0738769614/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

The Grand Tableau are really small, which everyone says is good for when you use all the cards, but I am thinking that I may not be ready for that for quite a while. I also have old eyes. The larger Golden Lemorand has simple but gilded cards and are much bigger, but would this be too big? The old eyes would be happier, but should cards be smaller for other spreads? Since you all have so many years of experience a push in the right direction would be appreciated, but I have the feeling you all are going to say it boils down to personal preference on my part 😞

 

[katrinka]

The Grand Tableau Lenormand can be used for any spread. It's a reproduction of an antique Piatnik Lenormand, and a very good deck, I use it a lot. 😉

It's the standard size for Lenormand.

The Golden Lenormand is really big, like large oracle cards. Big Lenormands can be awkward, even if you're not doing a Grand Tableau. Even a line of 7 cards or a 3x3 spread would require some space. But the art on that one is taken from the Blue Owl Lenormand, which is a regular sized deck. The Blue Owl doesn't have the gold glitter, but it's much easier to work with.

One problem with the Blue Owl, though - some decks come with playing card insets, but others come with verses on them, and the verses are really bad. That could be confusing, so if you get a Blue Owl, you want to be sure to get the one with playing card insets. I don't know where to get them any more, but I'm sure someone here does.




 

Edited January 30, 2022 by katrinka