The Blue Bird Lenormand Cards by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. is a lovely little deck that is a pleasure to read and work with. The images on the cards are easily understandable and the verses imprinted on the cards are constructed to give a boost to intuitive insights. The enclosed LWB (Little White Book) by Stuart Kaplan includes a history of Mlle. Lenormand, a brief description of how to read the Grand Tableau (along with an example reading), and short descriptions of each of the 36 cards.
This morning I asked the Blue Bird Lenormand Cards to give advice and commentary on how to best achieve a particular goal during the upcoming months. I drew:
Note: As usual, I added a Base Card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) to the Lenormand Line of 5 for additional insights or information. Here we see 29 Woman which suggests the cards above it are of importance to the “female asking the question,” or are descriptive of the matter that is currently on the Woman’s mind. (I often get 29 Woman as a base card when asking a question that specifically involves myself. Take notice if you experience a similar correspondence, i.e., drawing a card that generally represents yourself when doing a personal reading, whether it falls as a base card or not. )
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The spread is not hard to read.
BIRDS, which suggests thoughts, words, communication and mental activities in general, is followed by SUN + TREE, giving a sense of “healthy, vibrant thinking.”
While MOUNTAIN can describe delays and obstacles, the fact that it is followed by HEART relays the probability that these obstacles can be overcome.
The central or hinge card TREE suggests “health” or “growth,” which exactly symbolizes the question I had in mind.
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Always take note if one or more cards in the spread “confirm” the question you had in mind. To borrow an astrological term, that makes the reading “radical,” in my experience. While for me, the “confirmation” card typically falls in the central position or as the base card, it can appear anywhere in the spread, and I always take it as a confirmation that the cards are in fact addressing the question at hand.
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In the context of “goals,” BIRDS + SUN + TREE + MOUNTAIN + HEART suggests that positive thinking/ declaring the word/ speaking authoritatively, etc. are what is needed to achieve the goal in mind despite any obstacle or delay. HEART at the end of the Line of 5 ensures positive results.
What I’d particularly like to point out here is that with Lenormand cards, one does not need to spend a lot of time “figuring out” what the cards are “trying to say.” Lenormand cards are very here and now in their messages. There is no esoteric layer to muddle through as there may be with Tarot cards. You ask a question, you get an answer. With Lenormand cards, what you see is what you get, which is probably why I enjoy working with them so much.
Now while I won’t go into it here, if I wanted to get more detailed, psychological commentary on how to put the Lenormand’s advice into action, I could consult the Tarot cards for additional insights. But for the moment, I’m happy with the reading and am feeling energized (SUN) and pleased (HEART) about getting on with my day. 🙂
‘Drama monitoring’ is a technique you can employ that will help take your Lenormand and/or Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards card reading skills to the next level. It’s an easy, fascinating, intuitive, and powerful way to learn how the cards want to speak to you.
So, you ask, What exactly is ‘drama monitoring’?
Drama monitoring is the intentional casting of card draws for the purpose of observing or monitoring regular episodes of drama occurring in your personal universe.
The only difference between ‘drama monitoring’ and asking the Lenormand, Tarot, orGypsy Witch cards typical questions such as “How will my day go?” is your intention to ‘drama monitor’ a person or situation before you shuffle and draw the cards. I’ll show you examples further down in this post, but first a couple of caveats:
Do not ‘drama monitor’ yourself!!!! This is because it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remain objective when you are personally going through a situation or circumstance that is impacting you emotionally.
Do not ‘drama monitor’ your husband/ wife/ boyfriend/ girlfriend/ partner/ child/ lover/ parent(s)/ family member. You are way too close to these people. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to remain objective because these people clearly impact your emotional life.
Do not ‘drama monitor’ anyone who “pushes your buttons.” Same reasons as above. You cannot remain objective and your lack of objectivity will skew your readings.
So who or what can you ‘drama monitor’?
The next door neighbors (assuming they don’t push your buttons).
The boss (assuming he or she doesn’t push your buttons).
Drama-prone co-workers (as long as you’re not in the thick of it).
Your favorite daily television soap opera characters.
Your favorite television reality show stars.
Your favorite celebrity/ politician/ musician/ entertainer — anyone in the public eye who you follow regularly on social media.
Anyone or anything that you have contact with at least several times a week, if not daily, as long as you are not emotionally invested in either the person or the outcome.
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Note: If the thought of ‘drama monitoring’ a person you know seems a little too pushy (or nosy) and/or offends your code of ethics, give options 4, 5 or 6 above a try. They work just as well.
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Example: Drama Monitoring an Ongoing Situation with Lenormand and Gypsy Witch Cards
Background: a co-worker’s daughter is going through a marital rough patch. You’re sympathetic, but not involved. Hoping to help if you can (as well as to learn more about how your cards speak to you), you decide to ‘drama monitor’ the situation.
A woman (LADY) appears to be depressed (COFFIN), worried/ stressed (MOUSE) and confused (CLOUDS) over a domestic (HOUSE) matter. The Base Card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) suggests support is being sought (SHEPHERD), likely from a family member (HOUSE + SHEPHERD). The Gypsy Witch cards accurately mirror and confirm the situation under ‘monitoring.’
Second Draw:
[Note: The second draw was done with Lenormand cards, four days after the first draw. Prior to drawing the cards, it was pre-decided that the central (hinge) card would be “superimposed” onto the House of the Ring, making any card that fell into that central position descriptive of the marriage. Here, we see decisions or choices (CROSSROADS) has “landed” in the the House of the Ring, giving us decisions or choices about marriage.]
The first two cards point to the issues in the marriage that are causing problems. BEAR and SNAKE suggest control issues, including, perhaps, jealousy and/or sexual issues that are factoring into decisions being made about the marriage (CROSSROADS in the House of the Ring). SUN + MICE does not auger well. Instead, it suggests deterioration and eventual loss. It seems that (at the time of this draw) a decision to recommit to the marriage (CROSSROADS in the House of the Ring) will falter after some initial success (SUN + MICE). TREE as the Base Card shows the situation causing the distress is deeply rooted and/or has built up over time, perhaps five months or even five years. Basically, TREE shows that the situation under ‘monitoring’ is not a new development.
Third Draw:
[Note: A subsequent draw using the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards was performed three days after the second draw. It suggested that despite the ongoing marital difficulties, there was hope for recovery. No cards (or houses) were pre-selected.]
The GENTLEMAN and the LADY have their backs to each other, showing they are not seeing eye to eye. LETTER + CLOUDS points to divorce papers, if not a serious lack of communication. However, the spread ends with Gypsy Witch 38 Flames on the Hearth, which, according to the ‘fortune’inscribed on the card, “…neutralizes the evil of near lying unlucky cards and increases the value of lucky ones.”This suggested that (at the time of the card draw) there may be hope for the marriage, The Base Card, 42 Amor, supports this conclusion, suggesting that despite their problems, love and attraction could still exist between them.
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The ‘drama monitoring’ card readings clearly show that the co-worker’s daughter is obviously unhappy and that she is confused about what she really wants (or needs). You might suggest that the daughter hold off on making critical decisions concerning her marriage until she sorts out her feelings. Your input may or may not help the situation, but that is not under your control. The real value here from a cartomantic point of view is that ‘drama monitoring’ has given you a deeper understanding of how the Lenormand and Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “speak” to you.
Summary
A series of ‘drama monitoring’ readings (five altogether) using either Lenormand cards or Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards were done over an approximate two week period to monitor the energies surrounding an ongoing marital issue.
The card readings clearly showed fluctuations in energies producing changeable outcomes, exactly mirroring the subject’s emotional ups and downs during the time period the ‘drama’ was ‘monitored.’
Conclusions
Obviously, I could have included the Fourth and Fifth Draws, but I think the three examples given have probably clarified how the process works. If you decide to try this method, you can continue to ‘drama monitor’ any situation to which you have access until resolution is reached or you lose interest, whichever comes first. The point of ‘drama monitoring’ is not to vicariously participate in someone else’s misfortune. Rather, it is a highly effective and powerful way to strengthen your intuition and improve your card reading skills.
If you prefer, you can use the ‘drama monitoring’ technique with tarot cards. The process is contingent upon the intention to elicit information about the energies surrounding any particular situation, and not upon the particular card system used.
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
Note: Learn more about working with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards by clicking on the links below or using the Gypsy Witch link under Categories in the side bar to your right.
I had such an experience this morning when I threw a Lenormand Line of 5 to get a “heads up” on how my son’s art show opening reception this evening would go.
Background
My son is an emerging artist who’s recently completed his second year of a three year graduate fine arts program out of state. In the past, he’s had some success showing and selling his work at regional venues. He’s back in town for a few weeks and the opening reception for his latest art show is this evening.
Beyond curious as to know what the sales potential for tonight’s festivities might be, I couldn’t help but throw a Lenormand Line of 5 with the Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand cards this morning to get the skinny.
The spread starts out with some fears and worries, perhaps some pre-show jitters, about low attendance or potential lack of sales (COFFIN + MICE). The central or hinge card, 25 Ring, however, augers “contracts,” and in combination with 34 Fish, these are likely sales. (FISH, in and of itself, is a money card, confirming that the cards are indeed addressing a money question.)
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Note: As usual, I included the Base Card (bottom card of the shuffled deck), which I’ve found gives extra insight to the Lenormand Line of 5. In my experience, the base card either modifies the hinge (central) card or clarifies the focus of the reading. In this spread, it does both.
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20 Garden can be interpreted as “a public event” and here represents the art show itself. 2 Clover ending the Lenormand Line of 5 suggests success and a positive, likely profitable, outcome.
In a nutshell, “stresses and fears that attendance may be low or that sales might be poor (COFFIN + MICE) will dissolve/ dissipate/ end (COFFIN). My son will “get lucky” and likely experience a profitable outcome (CLOVER). The show (GARDEN) will bring in sales (RING + FISH)”.
To gain clarification and/or additional information, I quickly added up the cards’ numerical values and reduced the sum to a number equaling 36* or less:
* 36 is the number of cards in a Lenormand deck. If I had been using a Tarot deck, I would have reduced the sum to a number equaling 22 or less, the number of Tarot cards in the Major Arcana.
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I then found 4 House in the remaining deck and selected it along with the card before and the card after.
SCYTHE is literally “a cut.” HOUSE symbolizes the venue. Literally, “the house gets a cut”(their commission on sales) and everyone walks away happy (SUN).
I was pleased with the card draw and can hardly wait to see how this goes. I’ll let you know! 🙂
Stay tuned,
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
Update
Woo Hoo!! Opening night was a success! SUN and CLOVER came through with flying colors 🙂 — Attendance was fabulous, sales were made (so oh yeah, the house got its cut), opportunities for future shows at other venues are likely, the gallery owner is extending the show dates … all in all very positive and my son is very pleased at how things went.
Unlike Tarot cards, Lenormand cards are not meant to be read in the reversed position. You are supposed to make sure all the cards in your deck face one way before you shuffle and draw. If despite this, one or more cards show up in the reversed position, you are supposed to disregard this and read the card(s) in the upright position.
At the risk of horrifying the Lenormand experts, I have actually found the information gained from analyzing reversed Lenormand cards to be amazingly useful. I’ll show you why in a minute…
As I’ve probably mentioned before, I like to use the Lenormand cards when I need or want a “second opinion.” Unlike a friend, family member or co-worker, the Lenormand cards have no hidden agenda or bias concerning their answer. They won’t try to spare your feelings. If they “tell” you your idea/ decision/ direction/ plan is unrealistic or ill-advised, they’ll almost always tell you why. And in my experience, they will almost always be spot on.
A couple days ago, I asked the Lenormand cards for insight on how to get started with some ideas I had. I wanted to know specifically how I could put my ideas into action. I drew the following cards:
I was surprised to see the reversed cards. I always mix my cards a certain way and they rarely change direction. My first impulse was to read the reversals but knowing “the rule,” I decided to begin by reading the cards straight as if they were all upright.
Sun + Scythe suggested positive decisions leading to success (Key) and improved circumstances (Stork). Book + Whip suggested repetitive projects, or “whipping out projects,” one after the other. So the cards (read as if they were all upright) seemed to be saying that I should begin by making positive decisions and whipping out my projects one after the other to achieve success and a positive change in circumstances.
But that interpretation left me a little flat.
I kept staring at those three reversed cards and suddenly it hit me. The reversed cards were highlighting the facts that I was not making decisions, let along good ones (reversed Scythe + Sun), and that I was not cranking out projects one after the other (reversed Book + Whip). And as long as I was not making positive decisions nor cranking out projects, I would not achieve a successful change of circumstances (Key + reversed Storks).
The reversed Lenormand cards clearly revealed what I needed to do in a way I might have missed had all the cards been in their upright positions.
Once again, I couldn’t help but shake my head in amazement at how helpful (not to mention literal) Lenormand cards can be.
Tuesday afternoon my younger daughter texted, inviting me over for coffee. I blew her off, weakly promising her catch up with her “tomorrow.”
Wednesday morning, I pulled the following Lenormand cards for my daily draw:
Mlle. Lenormand Jeu de destin No. 194115 (c) 1986 Piatnik
As the central card in the draw, 20 Garden suggested some socializing was on the agenda. 11 Whip + 21 Mountain showed the recent past: action (Whip) delayed (Mountain), and the cards to the right of 20 Garden suggested a commitment (Ring) would be kept or honored (Sun).
As I’ve mentioned before, in addition to drawing a Line of 5, I often use the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) to clarify the reading or show additional information. In this draw, 5 Tree as the clarification or additional information suggested I would “reach out” (Tree) and fulfill my social obligations (Mountain + Garden + Ring).
What Actually Happened:
It turned out to be a bright, sunny day (Sun). This went a long way in improving my mood and bolstering my energy levels, making it easier for me to get off my duff, overcome my inertia (Whip + Mountain) and fulfill my social obligations (Mountain + Garden + Ring) by “reaching out” to family (Tree).
The visit (Garden) with my younger daughter and grandson turned out to be fun and I was glad I had “reached out” (Tree).
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
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