I already read Tarot and some Oracle cards.  I’ve wanted to learn Lenormand for a long time now.  I started a book on it, but I was side tracked by an Old Cartomancy Deck learned that instead.  I have several Lenormand Decks and just ordered Gilded Reverie Lenormand Expanded Edition, I also have a couple of more traditional ones and the Green Glyphs Lenormand.  I guess what I want to know is it easy to get started using YouTube videos?  I am very busy right now and I haven’t had a chance to get back to the book, I’ve been studying Tarot in depth instead.  Can I start doing preliminary readings without an extensive course?  If not I can put it on the back burner for after I move next month.  I retired last month and I want to read professionally and thought that Leonormand would be a good divination system to offer my clients.  

How long is a piece of string? Have a look at the FAQ at the top of this section, there are some books and decks recommended which have more traditional artwork and are easier for beginners. The Green Glyphs is on the list.

The key to it I think is learning the tight interpretations of each card if you want to read in the traditional Lenormand cartomancy way. So learning each card and then trying it out. Practising with it all the time! Also choose one book or author and stick to it. Stick to one method and ideas whilst learning. When you feel you have an understanding of each card, try to do readings all the time and see if you can get the combinations right. You can always join in the monthly Lenormand circle here to try it out when you feel you want to.

 

Some people see the Philippe (published 1903) Lenormand instruction sheet as the "original instructions" and interpretations of each card.  It's here -

 

 

I recommend checking your card meanings with those ones. They are brief meanings of the cards but since I have tried to always keep my meanings aligned to those, my interpretations have improved.

 

How hard is it? Ultimately it is about learning and practice, over and over.

2 hours ago, Tom said:

... just ordered Gilded Reverie Lenormand Expanded Edition, I also have a couple of more traditional ones and the Green Glyphs Lenormand.  I guess what I want to know is it easy to get started using YouTube videos?

I started reading LN with nothing more than the Gilded Reverie and the Art Nouveau decks and their respective guidebooks. I found combo lists on various blogs which helped get the gist of it. I started ONLY with 3-5 card readings. Very simple.

 

To me, LN is much easier than Tarot. WYSIWYG. However, I stayed at a simplistic level for many years [which was enough for my business model. It was an add-on to the Tarot reading]. I never got into advanced spreads like Tableaux.

 

Recently I got into REALLY studying LN. At this more advanced level, like anything else, it takes years to get good. So, I will say my experience is that simple LN is much easier to grasp than Tarot, but advanced LN takes time & effort.

 

By its nature LN only has 36 cards and no esotericism to learn--so its always going to be easier than Tarot--but the advanced spreads like Tableaux are quite challenging in their own way.

@DanielJUK pointed you to the faq and sticking to one resource as you learn so it's not contradictory and confusing, and I wanted to second that. You mentioned youtube, and -- although I haven't used it -- one of the resources is on youtube (below). Personally I learned from Andy B's book but the main thing for me was not second guessing everything by looking at multiple sources for each card while I was starting out. Also not importing the way I read tarot, and instead reading in Lenormand's cartomantic way that doesn't alter from reading to reading.

 

Quote

'Lenormand Thirty-Six Cards: An Introduction to the Petit Lenormand' by Andy Boroveshengra
'The Essential Lenormand' by Rana George
Hexe Claire's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXpxAm1MRsk-2JkiAnz60hJXqPUgc04d7

The Treppner Lenormand course (now available for free): https://www.spirisfeed.com/lana-download/lenormand-course/

 

4 hours ago, Tom said:

I guess what I want to know is it easy to get started using YouTube videos?

There's a lot of rubbish out there. When you're new it can be hard to discern the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. So it's probably better to find a book you like and stick with the one material as a foundation. When you're more comfortable, then is the time branch out and see how other authors/readers do it. 

 

Authors do vary in card meanings. So it pays to have a hunt around, finding one you like. 

 

Andy B has been mentioned, but there's also Rana George, Caitlin Matthews and Björn Meuris (3 volumes).

 

Waldfee also have an extensive Lenormand section but you have to pay for access and it's in German. Though it's easy to translate in browser.

 

If you must use YouTube, then I second Hexe Claire. Her channel is often recommended, and has quite an extensive playlist of videos to work through. 

 

4 hours ago, Tom said:

I retired last month and I want to read professionally and thought that Leonormand would be a good divination system to offer my clients.  

I wouldn't worry about doing professional readings yet. It takes time to grasp Lenormand. It can be incredibly simple to read, but there's a bit of a learning curve regarding the cartomantic style/method. Especially when you come from tarot. It's worth it though 😊

18 minutes ago, akiva said:

... I wouldn't worry about doing professional readings yet. It takes time to grasp Lenormand. It can be incredibly simple to read, but there's a bit of a learning curve regarding the cartomantic style/method. Especially when you come from tarot. It's worth it though 😊

Yep. I use simple LN spread [5 card line] as a quick clarifier to a a Tarot reading for some clients [started this practice with about 1 year of LN study.]

 Tarots I read for 15+ years before I went pro.

I would hazard a guess it will take me 3-5 more years to master advanced LN spreads to where I could read LN for clients as a stand-alone [i.e. not just Tarot add-on]. And that's assuming I keep studying diligently and get more accurate!

2 minutes ago, Misterei said:

Yep. I use simple LN spread [5 card line] as a quick clarifier to a a Tarot reading for some clients [started this practice with about 1 year of LN study.]

 Tarots I read for 15+ years before I went pro.

I would hazard a guess it will take me 3-5 more years to master advanced LN spreads to where I could read LN for clients as a stand-alone [i.e. not just Tarot add-on]. And that's assuming I keep studying diligently and get more accurate!

It's like anything, it takes time to be proficient. A line of 5 clarifying an existing spread is easy to get a handle on (eventually). A fresh GT or Russian Star with the added pressure of a paid client can be daunting when you're just starting. It's always good to know our limits and be realistic in our current abilities. Those 3-5 years will pay off in the long run and you'll be glad (and so will your clients) that you took the time to really dive in and learn the system! 

 

There's so many people that try to learn Lenormand as quick as possible, then start teaching it or writing books. It should be treated the same as any other study topic 🤣

17 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

@DanielJUK pointed you to the faq and sticking to one resource as you learn so it's not contradictory and confusing, and I wanted to second that. You mentioned youtube, and -- although I haven't used it -- one of the resources is on youtube (below). Personally I learned from Andy B's book but the main thing for me was not second guessing everything by looking at multiple sources for each card while I was starting out. Also not importing the way I read tarot, and instead reading in Lenormand's cartomantic way that doesn't alter from reading to reading.

 

 

It did save that video playlist in YouTube but haven’t watched it yet.  The only Lenormand YouTube course I have watch has been one by TarotOracle, but he definitely has his own method of card reading which may or may not be traditional. 

Thanks for the answers so far.   I did start reading The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook: Reading the Language and Symbols of the Cards.  The author, Caitlin Matthews, said that I could choose any deck I wanted as long as it has the playing card correlations on each card.  She had exercises to understand card combinations, etc.  I like this book a lot and will, in the future stick with this one.  

 

The bottom line is that I shouldn’t dabble right now, I should wait until I’m settled from my move and be able to do all the exercises.  Of course I’d like to be active on the Lenormand forums here.  Any advise is always welcome.  I did read the faqs for Lenormand Newbies and I just wanted clarifications when I made this post.  Until I move I will continue to work with tarot and easier oracles, especially since Tarot is going to be primary when I do read professionally, which I intend to start doing next year.

 

For a 36 card deck it certainly seems more complicated.  When I do learn if a deck has extra cards, I won’t use those until I have advanced using  the standard 36 card deck.  It’s only been after months that I am able to interpret Folk Cards of Destiny that things are clicking in—why should I expect this to be different?

Edited June 16, 20242 yr by Tom

Personally, I started learning Lenormand after I learned Tarot. 
It really depends on how you look at it. Tarot can be harder because it has lots of symbolisms and astrology involved. Even if you don’t want to get deep, you have get yourself involved with a little bit of esoteric subjects to understand it. But with Lenormand, all you have to do is basically study the cards meanings, and there’s nothing too complex to explore. (On a side note, playing card associations can be hard for some people to learn and interpret. Personally, I don’t use their playing card associations and only interpret the spreads with the Lenormand meanings and the imagery where it’s necessary.)

On the other hand, Lenormand can be considered harder than tarot because it’s not as intuitive. You have to form sentences with it, whereas in tarot a lot of the interpretation comes from your own intuition rather than strict keywords. This was a huge setback for me personally, and I found myself to be constantly interpreting a Lenormand spread like one would interpret the tarot cards. As a result, it took me longer to get the hang of it, and I had to practice harder.

 

As for the decks, I didn’t have any lol. I made my own deck, which is a handmade sketch from the classic cards on basic paper. I still use it when I’m feeling like doing a physical reading, and I stick to the online decks the other times.

My learning materials were only two books: The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Caitlín Matthews, and The Essential Lenormand by Rana George. Personally, I found Rana’s book a lot easier to understand for beginners. As for videos, I haven’t come across a good channel for Lenormand. Would be happy if you recommended.

I have the Lenormand Oracle Handbook, I started to read it but then decided to learn another oracle deck instead.  I have several Lenormand decks in my collection.  I will wait until the winter before I take that one.  I want to be a professional card reader, and I think that Lenormand would be a good deck to offer readings to my customers with as well as Tarot.

Edited August 30, 20242 yr by Tom

12 minutes ago, Tom said:

I have several Lenormand Oracle Handbook, I started to read it but then decided to learn another oracle deck instead.  I have several Lenormand decks in my collection.  I will wait until the winter before I take that one.  I want to be a professional card reader, and I think that Lenormand would be a good deck to offer readings to my customers with as well as Tarot.

I hope you’ll be successful on your Lenormand learning journey, Tom. Indeed, I think many clients would appreciate Lenormand, because it offers much more practical and “everyday” advice, and would work miracles when used alongside the Tarot. 😊👍