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:
Q: How Can I Get Started?
31 Sun – 10 Scythe Rx – 33 Key – 26 Book Rx – 11 Whip – 17 Storks Rx
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.
One of the things I most appreciate about Lenormand cards is their ability to provide practical, down-to-earth information about the question at hand. Unlike the Tarot, Lenormand cards illuminate the nitty-gritty. They “tell it like it is” and rarely pull any punches. Unlike the Tarot, Lenormand cards do not confuse with esoteric and/or psychological insights and are less prone to being misinterpreted. Lest you surmise I prefer Lenormand cards over Tarot cards, be assured that I do not. Each has its own strengths, weaknesses and place in the grand scheme of divination. Tarot cards were my first cartomantic love and there are plenty of times when I’ll go to them first, and/or use them to elaborate on a Lenormand card spread.
This morning, however, I chose my go-to Lenormand deck, the Piatnik Jeu de destin #194115 for some quick insight.
I simply wanted an objective progress report, a “how am I doing?” if you will, regarding my art which I’ve pursued with renewed commitment since the first of the year.
Q: How am I doing (regarding my artistic endeavors)?
I did not like seeing 36 Cross as the central card. It suggested, at best, a challenge, one that possibly has existed for a lifetime, seeing that Cross is followed by Anchor. Despite the “ouch” this information elicited, I had to admit the cards had shown me a personal truth. After a sigh, I looked further into the spread.
9 Bouquet represents my art (and sometimes represents me as an artistic person). Followed by Birds which is a relationship card, I get the sense the cards are discussing the relationship (Birds) I have with my art/ myself as an artistic person (Bouquet). As alluded to above, this relationship has been a lifelong challenge for me (Cross + Anchor). 27 Letter as the final card in a Lenormand Line of 5 refers to the process of documentation I so strictly adhere to* and seems to suggest that my continuation of this process will benefit me.
The saving grace of this Lenormand card spread was intuited from the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck), 15 Bear. In the context of the question, Bear represents power, strength, authority and protection. “Keep the faith, Baby” comes to mind. Stay strong (Bear) and grounded (Anchor) in the face of difficulties/ challenges (Cross).
So while the difficulties are clearly not over (Cross as central card), I have the power (Bear) to persevere. The continued (Anchor) documentation (Letter) of my artistic journey (Bouquet) is recommended.
And while the main topic of Living with Cards is not my artistic journey, I thought you might enjoy a peek:
Art journal page (c) 2015 Mary Hawkins
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
*I’ve been recording my card readings in daily journals since March 2012. Earlier this year, after consciously recommitting to pursuing my art work, I began drawing and sketching in various sketchbooks and journals on a daily basis as well.
Using Tarot cards or Lenormand cards to answer health questions can be a little dicey. First, if the question impacts you personally, you might inadvertently project your greatest fears or hopes into the reading which could possibly spiral you into a panic attack (!!) or lull you into a false sense of security. Second, if you’re reading for another person and you are not a doctor or a medical professional, you could be putting yourself at legal risk.
While I usually back off from health questions, lately I’ve been concerned about my elderly mother who suffers from dementia and congestive heart failure. Historically, the month of February is not kind to her, adding to my feelings of apprehension. This morning, however, feeling fairly objective, I decided on the spur of the moment to inquire about her health.
I asked:
Q: How will my Mother be doing health-wise over the next three months or so?
My first thought upon seeing these cards was “How literal!” My mother’s (Bear) aging issues (Lilies) remain constant (Anchor). She continues to suffer from anxiety (Mice) and dementia (Clouds).
As I’ve mentioned in many previous posts, when I cast a Lenormand Line of 5, I usually also pull the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) because I’ve found it almost always provides helpful additional information.
Here, 22 Crossroads as the base card indeed brings some useful information into play. Crossroads can indicate multiples. Lying under Mice with Clouds to the right of Mice, it seems to be emphasizing my mother’s multiple fears and/or anxieties. This made me feel sad, but not surprised.
From a health standpoint, Crossroads can also refer to arteries, veins and the circulatory system in general. Mice as deterioration and Crossroads as the circulatory system certainly could be interpreted as congestive heart failure and the cards could simply be suggesting that this issue continues to be a factor in my mother’s declining health. With 35 Anchor ending the Lenormand Line of 5, however, I think my mother’s health will remain stable during the time period in question.
Maybe, like me, you’ve had years where you’ve made New Year’s resolutions and years where you haven’t made any at all. This year, while I briefly entertained the thought of using my Lenormand cards to help me make goals, I’d pretty much decided to skip the process when a trip to a local bookstore yesterday set me on my ear.
While browsing through the New Age section, a book I’d noticed before and had wanted to buy but didn’t popped into my line of vision.
Channeled (I suppose) by Alexandra Solnado, The Book of Light contains messages from Jesus that uncannily address any question, concern, situation, circumstance or request for guidance you can imagine. Before you click off this post because you don’t believe in Jesus, hear me out.
Regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof, there is no doubt that Jesus is one of the heavy hitters on the religious / spiritual circuit. If you were brought up Catholic (like me) or in a Christian faith of any denomination, the concept of Jesus is hard-wired into your conscious and subconscious mind. Even if you no longer practice. Even if you’ve become a Wiccan or a Buddhist or an agnostic or atheist. Even if you’ve converted to Judaism, Islam, Native American spirituality, Mormonism, Scientology or who-knows-what-and-who-cares-why. And why wouldn’t wisdom from Jesus be any less appropriate or useful than wisdom from any other source?
Back to the bookstore experience: so there I am, scanning the titles in the New Age section, when The Book of Light pops into view. Okay, I silently tell the book. If you give me a good enough reason to buy you, I will. Then I picked the book up and ran my thumb against its pages until it felt right to open it up to a selection.
Here is an excerpt from the page that was presented to me:
ATTRACTION. You are entirely responsible for everything that you attract. You attract everything that happens to you.
That was all I needed to read to make my decision to buy the book. I had attracted this book to myself for a reason and I’ve learned enough on my long and winding journey through this 3-dimensional experience we call life to know this particular book held value for me. Certainly as much value as my Tarot cards or Lenormand cards or Playing cards or Oracle cards. Another tool for my toolbox, so to speak.
After reading the “instructions” upon arriving back home, I found myself mindfully focused on receiving guidance to help me fulfill and achieve heartfelt needs and desires for the upcoming year — so much for skipping the resolution process — and was “told” three things:
1. Reinvent yourself.
2. Live in the Present.
3. Express Gratitude.
While I could understand and relate to living in the present and expressing gratitude, the concept of reinventing myself seemed a little out of reach and curiously un-understandable. How am I supposed to do that, I wondered.
So, being the card reader that I am, I decided to ask the Lenormand cards to clarify the messages that I had received from The Book of Light. Here’s what I got:
Q: Some insight, please, on reinventing myself: what does it mean, how do I start, etc.?
Clouds show confusion, Key is an answer or solution and Stars bring clarity or vision. Garden can show “many” or “multiples” referring to the card to its left and Storks bring improvements and positive changes. Tower, according to Andy Boroveshengra, can refer to longevity, old age or long term plans.
The Lenormand cards suggested that although the concept of reinventing myself is now confusing, I will succeed in gaining clarity (Clouds + Key + Stars). Many directions (Stars + Garden) resulting in positive growth or changes and improved circumstances (Storks) are available to me. Tower, symbolizing my retirement years and long term plans, is quite appropriate as a “theme” or general focus of the reading.
As I often do, I further examined the spread for an additional message by consulting the playing card insets on the selected Lenormand cards. I do this by turning a Line of 5 Lenormand spread with Base Card (six cards total) into a Playing card Answer Spread:
Playing Cards Answer Spread: King of Clubs – 8 of Diamonds – 6 of Hearts – 8 of Spades – Queen of Hearts – 6 of Spades
The Playing cards show that investigating the process (King of Clubs + 8 of Spades) will be rewarded, allowing me to create and attract the desirable future I wish for myself (8 of Diamonds + Queen of Hearts), as long as I “stay on the right path” and not let myself be distracted or thrown off course (6 of Hearts + 6 of Spades). According to Kapherus, 8 of Diamonds can refer to vision, both literally and seeing into the future. This gave me the impression that visualization practices (including art journaling) might prove beneficial as I proceed with the 2015 challenge of “reinventing” myself. Serendipitously, I had also purchased a lovely 2015 weekly planner yesterday (at clearance pricing, 75% off!!) and have already embarked upon what I expect to be a year-long experiment in self-growth and personal and artistic development.
At the risk of overusing the word “serendipitous,” it certainly felt like a happy coincidence that I got the idea to combine messages from The Book of Light with messages from the Lenormand cards. And with that in mind, I wish you all many magical and serendipitous moments and a rewarding 2015 filled with happiness, success, health, prosperity and blessings galore. 🙂
The Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards is a strange little deck. It’s been described elsewhere as “deviant.” “Quirky” might be another accurate description. I purchased this deck back in 2009, threw a handful of spreads with it and promptly relegated it to some storage container or another.
Curiously, earlier this week, out of nowhere, an image of this deck’s garish orange box popped into my mind. I brushed it off and went about my business. As the day progressed, however, I kept seeing images of the cards — or least what I could remember of them — and that stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb orange box. The cards seemed to be begging me to locate them and throw a spread or two. Finally, tired of being nagged, I started looking for them.
Do I really need to tell you how much time I spent annoying myself half to death searching all the usual places I stash cards before I finally found them, buried beneath and behind various other decks on a shelf I normally don’t pay much attention to?
Let’s just say it was more than a minute…
After finding them and then browsing through and tossing aside the lamest excuse for a LWB (Little White Book) that I’ve ever seen, I decided to ease back into a relationship with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards by asking a simple question: “Can I Substitute You for Regular Playing Cards?” My underlying and unspoken question was “Do You Want to Work with Me?”
“Can I Substitute You for Regular Playing Cards? (Do You Want to Work with Me?)”
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards: Hand-in-Hand (King of Hearts), Tree (3 of Clubs), House (6 of Hearts), Dog (4 of Diamonds)
Just from looking at the pictures, even a beginning card reader can see it looks like the start of a happy and fruitful relationship. 🙂
The spread consists of three cards, color sequence RED-BLACK-RED and a RED base card. The preponderance of RED cards augers a “yes” answer to the question(s). To summarize, I can expect that working with the cards will be satisfying and rewarding (Heart – Club – Heart – Diamond).
Specifically, the cards read, “YES, you can read us as playing cards and YES, we will work with you (Hand in Hand). The relationship between us will grow and flourish (Tree) and be successful (House).” The base card, Dog, shows the cards will be friendly and supportive, as well as rewarding (Diamond).
I was delighted at the reading and wanted to use the cards again as soon as possible. I didn’t have to wait long. Male X’s wife gave me an update on his ongoing employment saga and I decided to cast an Overview Spread using the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards to gain insight into this recent development.
