Tag Archives: Piatnik Lenormand

Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Lenormand Cards Progress Report: 9 Bouquet, 12 Birds, 36 Cross, 35 Anchor, 27 Letter, 15 Bear

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)?

Piatnik Lenormand 9 Bouquet - 12 Birds - 36 Cross - 35 Anchor - 27 Letter - 15 Bear livingwithcards.com
9 Bouquet – 12 Birds – 36 Cross – 35 Anchor – 27 Letter – 15 Bear

Piatnik Jeu du destin Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Deck of 36 Cards

 

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 http://livingwithcards.com
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.

Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards, Playing Cards

Lenormand Cards Elaborate on Book of Light Messages: 6 Clouds, 33 Key, 16 Stars, 20 Garden, 17 Storks, 19 Tower

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.

The Book of Light: Ask and Heaven Will Answer

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.?

Piatnik Lenormand 6 Clouds - 33 Key - 16 Stars - 20 Garden - 17 Storks - 19 Tower http://livingwithcards.com

6 Clouds – 33 Key – 16 Stars – 20 Garden – 17 Storks – 19 Tower

Piatnik Lenormand Jeu du destin Cartomancy Deck

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 http://livingwithcards.com
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. 🙂

See you next year,

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Lenormand Cards Pick the Topic: 33 Key, 12 Birds, 29 Woman, 15 Bear, 14 Fox, 4 House

As I’ve mentioned, I pull cards every day. When I can’t “think” of a specific question, I usually ask the cards to tell me something that “will happen,” that I “need to know,” or simply give me a general “heads up” about a situation or circumstance that may impact me.

One morning back in September, after mulling over whether I should re-involve with this website (I’d let it slide over the summer), I decided to give the cards free reign. You pick the topic, I silently instructed, and tell me something I need to know. I pre-decided that the central card of a Line of 5 would symbolize the topic.

I’m using an actual page from my personal journal to show you what the Lenormand cards dished up:

Piatnik Lenormand 33 Key - 12 Birds - 29 Woman - 15 Bear - 14 Fox - 4 House, http://livingwithcards.com
33 Key – 12 Birds – 29 Woman – 15 Bear – 14 Fox – 4 House

Mlle. Lenormand Jeu de destin No. 194115 (c) 1986 Piatnik

 

Note: in addition to drawing a Line of 5, it’s my personal preference to also include the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) in the layout, since I find it usually provides helpful information and/or clarifies the reading. 

It was obvious the reading was about me (29 Woman as the central card, symbolizing the topic). Since Woman was surrounded by Birds and Bear, money worries or financial stress was factoring in. Key mirroring Fox suggested the solution (Key) was a job (Fox).

I thought about what the cards were saying, wondering why they would suggest a job, perhaps a managerial job or something to with accounting or numbers (Bear + Fox), I could do from home (House). The suggestion left me flat. I’m retired, but I still want and need to bring a little extra cash in each month to supplement social security. But a job? A boring, clerical job?

Suddenly, the light bulb went off.  4 House could also be symbolizing my “home page,” or my website. When I initially set this site up,  the plan included monetizing it to provide a little extra retirement cash. The cards were simply reminding me:

The solution (Key) to the money stress (Birds + Bear) is to work (Fox) on the website (House).

 

Once again, the Lenormand cards provided clear and insightful information I can use to help me accomplish a practical goal. I encourage you to develop your own card reading skills so that you, too, can learn to work more productively with your subconscious mind.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Lenormand Card Meanings & Combinations: 7 Snake

As you work with Lenormand cards in your daily draws, you begin to experience patterns in which the cards personally speak to you. This happens with Tarot cards as well, or any other cartomancy system with which you work regularly.

It’s always a good idea to make notations in a personal journal as to what the card combinations mean to you. This helps you build your own cartomancy vocabulary and assists you in becoming a more accomplished card reader.

The Lenormand card, 7 Snake, is an interesting card that has a generally negative meaning.

Lenormand 7 Snake meanings and combinations http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand 7 Snake

 

By itself, it warns you “something is up,” likely in an unpleasant sort of way. With 3 Ship, 1 Rider or 22 Paths, 7 Snake can symbolize something as mundane as roadblocks or traffic snarls, particularly in a daily draw where the card meanings are of a “lighter” variety. In a health question, 15 Bear + 7 Snake could represent a digestive issue. If 21 Mountain is close by, it could be constipation.

In general, however, 7 Snake symbolizes deceit, betrayal, and complications, particularly in a relationship reading. With Queen of Clubs as the playing card inset, it also is one of the person cards, symbolizing a woman who may or may not be older than the querent and who may be devious or mysterious in some manner. As a woman, 7 Snake often wears glasses or contact lenses. 7 Snake can represent a woman with psychic abilities. It may also represent the partner in a lesbian relationship, or the “Other Woman” in a love triangle.

The following example shows how 7 Snake may play out in a reading:

A female querent wanted some insight on a male co-worker who’d recently joined the company where she worked. She found the man attractive and wondered if a possible romantic relationship could develop between them. He appeared to be “footloose and fancy free,” didn’t wear a wedding band, and she hadn’t heard any gossip that he was already involved in another relationship. They worked together in the same department and as far as she could tell, had plenty in common. She could already imagine herself in bed with him, but before she went any further, she wanted some reassurance he was as “available” as he appeared to be.

 

Is Male X romantically available?

Lenormand Piatnik 7 Snake 26 Book 29 Woman
7 Snake – 26 Book – 29 Woman

Mlle. Lenormand Jeu de destin No. 194115 (c) 1986 Piatnik

 

The Lenormand cards selected at random for this reading were quite literal: “No, he is not available!”

7 Snake shows deception or complications and 26 Book shows secrets or hidden information. The cards clearly indicate that this man is deceiving (Snake) our querent by hiding (Book) his relationship with another woman (Woman).

She’d do best to steer clear of him…

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins



Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Lenormand Relationship Advice: Online Dating?

 

A divorced female who’s been out of the dating scene for a few years is being nagged by her adult children to sign up for an online dating service.

She’s been resisting the idea but admits it sounds intriguing. Can the cards tell her if this is a good idea for her or not?

Lenormand Advice Relationship Issue: Online Dating? http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand Advice Relationship Issue: Online Dating?

 

Since there are few decisions or choices in life that are irreversible, as I mixed the cards, I certainly wasn’t anticipating the answer would be particularly negative.

On the contrary, after turning over the first four cards in a Line of 5 layout, the commentary seemed quite positive.

The fifth card, 36 Cross, however, brought my thought process to a screeching halt, and the base card, 11 Whip, offered no comfort.

 

Lenormand Cards Piatnik 27 Letter - 20 Garden - 24 Heart - 35 Anchor - 36 Cross - 11 Whip http://livingwithcards.com
27 Letter – 20 Garden – 24 Heart – 35 Anchor – 36 Cross – 11 Whip

Mlle. Lenormand Jeu de destin No. 194115 (c) 1986 Piatnik

 

Ouch.

How cruel of this Line of 5 to end in 36 Cross, a card of grief, pain and burdens, when the preceding cards pointed to social interactions and dates (Letter + Garden) and love (Heart), possibly even long-lasting or permanent love (Heart + Anchor).

The cards, however, clearly suggested the “permanency” (Anchor) of the relationship would become a burden (Cross) and the querent would ultimately regret her foray into the social world of online dating (Anchor to the left of Cross).

Whip as the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck) spoke of arguments, strife, animosity and perhaps even emotional abuse (Heart + Whip) on the increase.

I pulled one final card to illuminate the result and 12 Birds showed up, suggesting worry, stress, anxiety and disappointment with a relationship started via online dating.

Lenormand Piatnik 12 Birds
12 Birds

 

When I explained what the cards were saying, the querent was silent for a moment. Then she thoughtfully replied that she wasn’t really that surprised, for the cards had mirrored her inner conviction that another relationship (whether initiated online or through more conventional means) would ultimately prove to be oppressive and burdensome.

She actually seemed somewhat relieved that the cards didn’t give her a green light!

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins