This morning, randomly, I started thinking about the recent rash of TV commercials that start with the word “honestly” and how much they annoy me.

“Honestly? Who can say they don’t want to be tan?” (Kardashians tanning commercial)

“Honestly? I’m a little old fashioned. I love chalk and erasers…” (Microsoft Surface commercial)

Honestly?! Ask me how fast I can press the mute button…

Then I got to thinking. Why does the word “honestly” annoy me so much? Could it be because sometimes I’m not completely honest with myself, embarrassing as that might be to admit? It then occurred to me that maybe the Lenormand cards could give good insight into what we might have to gain if we were willing to be brutally honest with ourselves.

Here’s a phrasing you might use if you want to give this approach a try:

If I were being honest with myself about [situation/ circumstance/ issue], I would realize .

For example, say you were having a relationship issue. You could ask:

If I were being honest with myself about my relationship with X, I would realize …

Or a job situation:

If I were being honest with myself about the current dynamics at my workplace, I would realize…

If you’re willing to drop your defenses and really look at yourself, you could use this basic wording for insight on how you might be shooting yourself in the foot or hiding your head in the sand in just about any situation/ circumstance or issue that’s causing you concern. Of course, it goes without saying, if you really don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask the question…

On that note, here’s a personal example:

I decided to use the honesty phrasing in a Line of 5 Lenormand layout where the situation/ circumstance/ issue would be my own card reading abilities.

If I were being honest with myself about my own card reading abilities, I would realize…

 

Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) (c) 2008 Konigsfurt – Urania

 

I immediately see my commitment (Ring + Moon) to Lenormand. I also see confusion (Clouds) that’s blocking (Mountain) my progress (Tower) or clouding (Clouds) my judgement (Tower).

If I look at the clarification card* in relation to the central card of the spread, it’s easy to see I’m confused (Clouds) over which path (Paths) to take/ school to go with, and that my tendency to mix meanings from the different schools is holding me up (Mountain) and clouding (Clouds) my judgement (Tower).

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*Clarification cards are a tarot reading technique, not a Lenormand reading technique. Some Lenormand experts teach that using a base card (bottom card of the deck) or another clarification card in a Lenormand reading is simply not necessary. Others take a harsher viewpoint, stating it pollutes the integrity of the reading.

I disagree. I often use the base card as a clarification card in a Lenormand Line of 5, and it usually provides useful insights regarding the reading.

You might want to try the technique for yourself and determine whether it works for you.

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I’ve been working with Lenormand cards for almost six years now, and my “hit rate” is not as high as I’d like it to be. If I’m going to be honest with myself, I’ll admit I tend to cherry pick meanings from the various Lenormand schools, using meanings that suit my purposes at the time of the reading.

The cards in this “Honesty Spread” made it clear: if I were being honest with myself, I’d realize that choosing one particular Lenormand approach and sticking with it would improve my accuracy — at least for now. I could always make a different decision later on, should circumstances warrant.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins