Mlle. Lenormand Jeu de destin No. 194115 (c) 1986 Piatnik
The Lenormand cards seemed to be following up on a situation I’d heard about yesterday when I was alerted that an older gentleman friend had wound up in the hospital after experiencing what appeared to be a stroke.
This morning’s cards showed the sudden (Scythe) hospitalization (Tower + Coffin), and went on to indicate a potentially slow and possibly challenging recovery (Mountain + Clover). Rider as the base card suggested I will get an update on the situation sometime this week.
While Clover at the end of the Line of 5 is encouraging and suggestive of recovery, I know this card has a temporary influence, so I can’t help but worry a bit about my friend’s long term prospects.
On the other hand, perhaps Clover is simply saying that this old boy will luck out & be sent home as good as new. I think I’d rather focus on that outcome for now.
At first I thought the cards were giving a message about my son’s upcoming online interview with one of the grad schools he applied to. The cards seemed to suggest that the University (Book + Tower) would provide him with a reassuring update (Rider + Anchor) after the online interview ended (Coffin + Birds).
But then it occurred to me, maybe the cards were commenting on something else entirely…
My son is an emerging artist. His work has been featured in several local and regional art shows over the past couple years. Last week, to his shock, he discovered a local business had stolen one of his images (probably copied it from his blog) and used it in an advertisement poster which they then placed in their front window.
Needless to say, my son was not happy.
My son’s girlfriend’s mother works for a law firm and he asked her to discuss the situation with one of the attorneys. My son doesn’t want to start a lawsuit. He just wants the company to take down the artwork they stole from him.
In that light, I read the cards as follows:
The law firm (Book + Tower) provides reassuring news (Rider + Anchor) about ending (Coffin) the advertising (Birds).
It could take a few days before either of these situations resolve. The online interview with the University is Thursday, and it may take a few days after that to hear back from them. It also may take a few days before the law firm responds to my son’s request for advice.
I’ll update once I know the results.
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
Update 2/28/2014: The cards began manifesting quickly. By late afternoon on the day of the draw, I learned the lawyers (Book + Tower) were all over the “stolen art” situation like crows on roadkill. They told my son (via his girlfriend’s Mom) they would draft a cease and desist letter (Rider + Anchor as encouraging or supportive news) instructing the business owner to take down the advertising (Coffin + Birds).
My son received the draft and the letter was mailed out to the business owner today.
As far as the interview with the University (Book + Tower), my son received an encouraging email (Rider + Anchor as supportive feedback) after the interview ended (Coffin + Birds).
Looks like the cards killed (Coffin) two birds (Birds) with one stone — so to speak!
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…
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
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