Card Insets

[Tom]

I know that some people read Lenormand with the card insets or at least the suit and a designation on the cards, other people don’t use the playing card insets at all.  What is your preference?  I don’t have very much experience to use the insets at this point.  I’m not sure if I’m using the best book for learning fundamentals either.  For me, at this point, trying to read the insets, would just clutter up my learning process.  I watched a course on YouTube and the reader didn’t use the insets at all.  He seemed to have a very strong knowledge of Lenormand.  I’m trying to study it a little each day and doing the exercises in the book, Matthew’s really doesn’t go into the meanings of those except in the card descriptions, nor has she said anything about incorporating them into a reading yet.  I’m learning how the cards talk, and how literal and direct they are.  I’ve been told not to jump around, but I was wondering if there is a book more like training wheels that I can use to get basic readings and then go back to the Matthew’s book.  What do you think?

[akiva]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

I know that some people read Lenormand with the card insets or at least the suit and a designation on the cards, other people don’t use the playing card insets at all.  What is your preference?

I don't believe that they're there to be read in the modern way, but I do believe that they're supposed to be read in a traditional way. I have two methods for the insets.

 

The first is known as "divination via three's". The actual method varies and some are flawed. But the part that involves using the suits is as follows:

 

•Shuffle the deck

•Turn over the cards in sets of threes

•If two cards have the same suit remove the one on the left (of the same suit), and place it in front of you to start a row.

•If all three are the same suit remove them all (some say remove only the highest), and place in the row you're building.

•If all 3 cards are the same value (eg. 3 kings) they are all 3 are to be placed in the row.

•After an odd number of cards have been removed (no more than 21), and the significator is one of them, the divination begins.

 

The second is what's known as "card multiples". This is where you do a spread and notice if there are two 6's or three 7's. Those all have meaning, which is lost in modern cartomancy. In Matthew's book you'll find them on pg 163-166.

Her way is more complex than my way, but it's all down to our own preferences. 

 

1 hour ago, Tom said:

I’ve been told not to jump around, but I was wondering if there is a book more like training wheels that I can use to get basic readings and then go back to the Matthew’s book.  What do you think?

Andy B's book and the PL sheet. I'll always recommend those first, then Mattew's after if you're still feeling like to need to learn more.

 

Mattew's book is great for different spreads, pip methods and she does a great job with GT examples, etc. But there's stuff in there that's really not necessary for a beginner.

[Misterei]

2 hours ago, Tom said:

I know that some people read Lenormand with the card insets or at least the suit and a designation on the cards, other people don’t use the playing card insets at all.  What is your preference? 

I've come to use them in a limited way. For example I note if any suit is dominant.  Many clubs can show suffering or many hearts emotions. I find this is accurate to show a mood or tone -- not specifics.

[Tom]

Has anyone read The Language of Lenormand:  A Practical Guide to Everyday Divination by Erika Robinson?  I have this on audiobook and it seems less complicated than some other books I’ve seen.  

[akiva]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Has anyone read The Language of Lenormand:  A Practical Guide to Everyday Divination by Erika Robinson?  I have this on audiobook and it seems less complicated than some other books I’ve seen.  

I've just quickly glanced over the reading sample given by Amazon and it might be your cup of tea, but imo you'll get better information out of Andy B's book I linked above 😄

[Misterei]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Has anyone read The Language of Lenormand:  A Practical Guide to Everyday Divination by Erika Robinson?  I have this on audiobook and it seems less complicated than some other books I’ve seen.  

No. I have Andy B. and Rana George books in hard copy and Odete Mazza and Lisa Young Sutton books on kindle. I like all 4. The hard copy books are classics, but after reading those, I  got a lot out of the two kindle books. I especailly like Odete Mazza book. Her writing is a bit all over the place but it resonates for me. I guess i'm partial to german style. Who knew? Young Sutton book is more beginner oriented i think. There's a bunch of nonsense to ignore in that book, but her commentaries on the cards are good and she has helpful Youtubes.

Edited November 9, 2024 by Misterei

[Tom]

I appreciate your answers, I'll have to check out the book recommended above. I already have the audio edition of The Language of Lenormand, so I'm going to try that rather than buying another book. If it doesn't resonate with me, I certainly will check out the Andy B. book. I didn't want to get to off topic.

Edited November 10, 2024 by Tom