Tag Archives: 17 Storks

Astrology, Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Forensic Astrology & Cartomancy: Missing Child A.J. Freund

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It may come as no surprise to some of you that it took a Missing Child case to drag me back to Living with Cards.

Little five year old A.J. Freund from Crystal Lake, Illinois has been dead for two weeks now and I’m still brooding over the disturbing facts surrounding his case. I didn’t know A.J. There was nothing I could have done to prevent his death. Still, the little guy got to me. Enough to make me draw up his Reported Missing and Last Seen charts last week and throw a few cards. I didn’t like what I saw but as I said, there was absolutely nothing I could have done about it. Andrew (A.J.) Freund was already dead by then, murdered by his parents. That’s what the charts and cards said. The police confirmed a day later via televised press conference.

Missing child A.J. Freund, age 5, reported missing from his Crystal Lake, Illinois home on April 18, 2019. Found dead April 24, 2019 in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic. http://livingwithcards.com
Andrew “A.J.” Freund, age 5 reported missing from his Crystal Lake, IL home on April 18, 2019. Found dead April 24, 2019 in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic.

 

The Facts

For those of you who are into facts, here’s the timeline:

  1. June 2012: first family contact with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services – more than a year before A.J. was born – when his mother was investigated for drug abuse and neglect of a foster child.
  2. October 2013: two days after A.J. was born both he and his mother tested positive for opiates and benzodiazepines  causing DCFS to remove A.J. from the home for the first two years of his life.
  3. After his return to the family, DCFS intervened multiple times, responding to reports of abuse and neglect of A.J. and his siblings. All of these investigations were “closed … due to lack of evidence.”
  4. December 2018: four months before his disappearance and death, A.J. wound up in the Emergency Room with “cuts, welts and bruises” that were, at first, attributed to a snarl-up with the family dog. But an ER doctor who had examined A.J. told DCFS what the child had allegedly told him: “Maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe Mommy didn’t mean to hurt me.” Eventually, similar to previous investigations, the abuse allegation was deemed unfounded due to lack of evidence.
  5. DCFS was called in again when A.J. allegedly went missing. According to Freund Sr.’s 911 call to police on Thursday, April 18, 2019, the last time he saw his son was the evening before, Wednesday, April 17th, “around 9:30” when the child went to bed.
  6. After determining a kidnapping was unlikely, police attention turned to the parents. By Tuesday, April 23rd, public reports came out that canine units had hit on A.J.’s scent in the trunk of his parents’ car. By the next morning media outlets reported that multiple police vehicles had converged in Woodstock, IL, seven miles northwest of A.J.’s home. They removed a mattress and a shovel. They found the little boy’s body in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic.
  7. On April 24, 2019, both parents were arrested and charged with first degree murder and are being held in jail on $5 million bond. A.J.’s younger brother was placed in a relative’s care. Court documents allege that A.J.’s parents killed him by making him take long, cold showers and beating him. An autopsy determined A.J. died of blunt force trauma to his head. He had been struck multiple times. Date of death was determined to be on or about April 15, 2019, three days prior to the 911 call.

[Sources: WTTW Chicago, USA Today ]

It was just as hard for me to write out the timeline above as it probably was for you to read it. I had to step away from the keyboard and collect my thoughts. Now that I’ve had a moment to clear my head, I’ll go over some of the astrological highlights, followed by the cartomancy of this case:

Astrological Highlights

A.J. had already been missing for a few days when I decided to draw up the charts. I really didn’t want to go there. Just from the news that had already been released, I had a bad feeling, made even worse when I learned that canine units had picked up A.J.’s scent in the trunk of his parents’ car. With so many reports of abuse already public and made factually available, who needed an astrology chart or a card deck to figure out what had probably happened? Despite this, I felt compelled to cast the charts.

The first chart I cast was the Reported Missing to Police, for which I had an exact time due to the fact the 911 call was released to the public. A.J.’s father called the Crystal Lake, IL Police at 9:04 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2019 to report his son missing. He stated that he had last seen A.J. the night before, “around 9:30 when he went to bed.”

A.J. Freund Reported Missing Astrology chart. Missing child astrology chart, forensic horary astrology. http://livingwithcards.com
A.J. Freund, age 5, Reported Missing from Crystal Lake, Illinois 9:04 a.m. Thursday, April 18, 2019 forensic astrology chart with markups – Living with Cards © 2019.

 

I am not going to go into microscopic detail regarding this chart, but I do want to point out a few things. For those of you who are not astrologically oriented I will highlight in red plain English observations. First, notice the degree on the ASCENDANT, 22 Gemini. This is the Kill or Be Killed degree according to Serbian astrologer Nikola Stojanovic (22° of any sign). I have seen this degree prominent in other cases involving death/ murder. [The Ascendant degree is associated with death/ murder.]

In a Reported Missing chart for children I usually assign the ruler of the 5th House to the child. This is because the 5th House rules children. In this chart, A.J. is symbolized by Mercury, the ruler of the 5th House of Children. A missing child (or person) can also be signified by the Moon. Here, the Moon is intercepted (hidden) in the 5th House of Children and quindecile (165°, an aspect of obsession/ compulsion) both the Sun (the event) and Mercury, the ruler of the 5th House of Children. [The Moon, which symbolizes the child, is “hidden” in the chart and thus the child may be “hidden” in reality since in astrology, “As above, so below.”]

Notice Mercury (A.J.) is conjunct Chiron, an asteroid symbolizing woundedness. In forensic astrology charts Chiron often is connected with death.

Further, Sun (the event) is conjunct Uranus (accidents) in the 11th House of Circumstances Beyond One’s Control. This gives me the sense some sort of “accident” happened. With the MARS/SATURN midpoint at 01° Aries smack conjunct Lord 5 the Child Mercury, I fear the “accident” involved a brutal attack. (MARS/SATURN is a cruel, heartless, brutal testimony in forensic astrology.)

The Arabic Part of Death at 19 Virgo is exactly opposite Black Moon Lilith 19 Pisces and parallel Chiron, two more strong death testimonies.

But it is the nodal axis and attending planets that disturb me the most: the Nodes are at 21 Cancer/Capricorn, with the South Node in Capricorn conjunct Saturn and Pluto. All three of these are death indicators — South Node, Saturn and Pluto. And this entire aspect pattern is exactly square A.J.’s natal Sun at 21° Libra. This is compelling evidence of death.

Usually, the Reported Missing chart will tell the tale. I also look at the Last Seen chart, if available, which should agree with and/or at least complement the Reported Missing chart. I’m not going to show that chart but would like to mention that the alleged Last Seen time of “around 9:30” p.m. when the child supposedly went to bed had me beyond suspicious that the father was fabricating a tale. 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 in Crystal Lake, Illinois gives an ASCENDANT of 20°31′ Scorpio — mere minutes past the malefic (evil) 19th degree of Scorpio. This degree is referred to as Serpentis, “the accursed degree of the cursed sign.” In over 20 years of examining astrology charts from a forensic perspective, I have never seen a positive ending when this degree is prominent.

 

The Lenormand Card Reading

After evaluating the testimonies given by the charts I decided to throw a few Lenormand cards. I was rattled enough to ask a compound question, which can be tricky to evaluate.

Exact question: “Where Is He? / What Happened?”

 

Lenormand cards drawn for Missing Child A.J. Freund, reported missing from Crystal Lake, Illinois April 18, 2019: 17 Storks - 08 Coffin - 36 Cross - 04 House - 11 Whip http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand cards drawn for Missing Child A.J. Freund, reported missing from Crystal Lake, Illinois April 18, 2019: 17 Storks – 08 Coffin – 36 Cross – 04 House – 11 Whip

 

Card deck:  Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Deck of 36 Cards

I have to admit Storks threw me off a bit. Generally a positive card, it couldn’t be here. Not with Coffin, Cross and Whip in the spread. I decided it referred to repeated abuse (Storks + Whip) since Storks can indicate repetitions and recurrences according to Anna K., a published Lenormand deck creator. The rest of the cards told me that abuse (Whip) in the home (House) led to death (Coffin, Cross).

Andy Boroveshengra, author of Thirty Six Cards: An Introduction to the Petit Lenormand, suggested that Storks + Coffin would indicate grief over a change or past error and Coffin + Cross would be a total loss as a consequence.

Andy’s interpretation really hit me hard and I appreciate that he took the time to offer his insight on my reading. Now, in retrospect and knowing the outcome, I can also see Storks as an indicator of a change of location, which actually is what happened. I think this was Lenormand’s answer to the “Where Is He?” portion of my question. Storks is connected to moving, moving house. The parents moved A.J. to another location after allegedly killing him within the premises. So the cards gave Storks + Coffin, change of location necessitated by death.

Concluding Thoughts

In the hope that perhaps in some small way I could help prevent even one tragedy similar to what happened two weeks ago in Crystal Lake, Illinois, I’d like to call your attention to one more astrological testimony I observed in the charts: little A.J. was born with the asteroid Dejanira partile conjunct (in the same degree) his natal Sun. Dejanira is an asteroid of victimhood and the Sun represents one’s very life. So what we have here is potential for a lifetime of victimization. While this particular conjunction does not and would not result in such a horrible outcome for everyone having the placement, it could be a serious indicator of abuse that perhaps should be investigated should it be noted in someone’s chart. I’ll go as far as to suggest that such investigation could be critical in helping save some other child’s life.

 

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

 

 

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Lenormand Cards

Lenormand Cards Weight Loss Advice: 1 Rider, 19 Tower, 15 Bear, 33 Key, 2 Clover, 12 Birds, 17 Storks, 25 Ring, 34 Fish

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Those of us who tend to view life through a magickal lens know we each have, to some degree or another, the power to change our circumstances. This is why I lean towards using the cards (Tarot, Lenormand, Playing cards or Oracle cards) for self-understanding rather than prediction — although there certainly are times when prediction is exactly what is needed!

On that note, last Sunday morning, after yet another night of mindless munching in front of the television set, I pulled out my recently-acquired Celtic Lenormand card deck by Chloe McCracken and Will Worthington and asked (in a pitiful, whiny voice): “WHY am I overeating when I really want to lose weight?!”

I decided to cast a Lenormand Square of 9 where Row 1 would represent the problem, Row 2 would give the solution, and Row 3 would provide advice or further commentary. Additional information gleaned from the way the cards fell would be icing on the cake (Gahhhhhhh!!!)

Here’s what I got:

Q: Why am I Overeating (& What Can I Do about It)?

Celtic Lenormand 1 Rider - 19 Tower - 15 Bear - 33 Key - 2 Clover - 12 Birds - 17 Storks - 25 Ring - 34 Fish
Celtic Lenormand Weight Loss Advice:1 Rider – 19 Tower – 15 Bear – 33 Key – 2 Clover – 12 Birds – 17 Storks – 25 Ring – 34 Fish

Celtic Lenormand by Chloe McCracken & Will Worthington

Side note: I think I am in love with these cards! They are gorgeous!

Row 1 – The Problem: 1 Rider, 19 Tower, 15 Bear

Celtic Lenormand 1 Rider - 19 Tower - 15 Bear
Celtic Lenormand Weight Loss Advice Row 1: 1 Rider – 19 Tower – 15 Bear

Since 15 BEAR, an appropriate card for weight gain, falls at the end of Row 1, I sensed the first two cards in the row were the factors leading up to the condition of being overweight: namely, lack of movement (RIDER) and isolation (TOWER). As usual, the Lenormand cards pulled no punches. I spend too much time alone (TOWER) and I don’t move around enough (RIDER).

Row 2 – The Solution: 33 Key, 2 Clover, 12 Birds

Celtic Lenormand 33 Key - 2 Clover - 12 Birds
Celtic Lenormand Weight Loss Advice Row 2: 33 Key – 2 Clover – 12 Birds

This row prompted two thoughts:

  1. The solution (KEY) is to look for opportunities (CLOVER) to socialize (BIRDS), particularly in the evenings (I noticed the Moon on the BIRDS card), which is when I do most of my overeating.
  2. My key to dieting success (KEY) would be to focus on salads, leafy green vegetables (CLOVER) and fowl (i.e., chicken & turkey) (BIRDS). Low-carb dieting came to mind. I’d had success with that approach in the past and these cards suggested I’d profit from giving it another try.

Row 3 – Advice, Factors to Consider: 17 Storks, 25 Ring, 34 Fish

Celtic Lenormand 17 Storks - 25 Ring - 34 Fish
Celtic Lenormand Weight Loss Advice Row 3: 17 Storks – 25 Ring – 34 Fish

The first two cards, STORKS and RING, seemed easy enough to interpret: “positive changes come with commitment” or “commitment is needed to bring about positive changes.” 34 FISH at the end of the row threw me off. Eat more fish? That would go along with the low-carb dieting approach indicated in Row 2.

Perhaps FISH was also referencing the concept of “quality over quantity” (FISH is plentiful, expansive). Maybe if I were to focus more on the quality of the food I eat, I’ll have a better shot at reaching my goals.

Additional Info I Pulled from this Reading:

In addition to socializing, BIRDS represent electronic communication, the media and anything that travels over the airwaves including television. I couldn’t help but notice that Row 3 read vertically (BEAR + BIRDS + FISH) suggested “an excess (FISH) of television watching (BIRDS) leading to weight gain (BEAR).”

True dat.

Conversely, FISH + BIRDS + BEAR suggested an expansion (FISH) of social activity (BIRDS) could help resolve the weight issue (BEAR). This also rang true. Maybe I could schedule evening activities once or twice a week to break up the pattern. A Continuing Ed dance class? A Meet-Up group? Those ideas had crossed my mind before, not that I had given them much more than a passing thought.

2 CLOVER, the central card in the Lenormand Square of 9, seemed to be showing me that a wealth of opportunities to get a handle on my problem existed. Move around more (RIDER). Stop isolating yourself (TOWER). Get out more often & socialize (BIRDS). Improve the quality of your eating (STORKS, FISH, BEAR); eat more greens (CLOVER), fowl (BIRDS) and fish (FISH). Commit (RING) to a diet plan that will bring you success/ improvements (KEY, STORKS).

Lenormand Clarification Cards for Weight Loss

The information I pulled out of the reading wasn’t dramatic. Rather, it was quite matter-of-fact. Lenormand cards are known for “telling it like it is” and they rarely beat around the bush. This is an attribute I very much appreciate. That notwithstanding, it didn’t stop me from wondering whether the cards had anything else to say, so I decided to  pull clarification cards using my go-to method, which is to add up the card values in the spread and reduce them to a number equaling 36 or below:

1 + 19 + 15 + 33 + 2 + 12 + 17 + 25 + 34 = 158 = 1 + 5 + 8 = 14 = 14 FOX.

I then located 14 FOX in the remaining deck and selected it along with the card before and the card after.

Celtic Lenormand Clarification Cards 20 Garden - 14 Fox - 6 Clouds
Celtic Lenormand Clarification Cards – Weight Loss Advice: 20 Garden – 14 Fox – 6 Clouds

I immediately noticed two things: all that food laid out so temptingly on the blanket in the GARDEN card — and the fact that the FOX was looking right, toward the CLOUDS. Despite the food feast on the GARDEN card, I also had to consider its standard meanings: socializing, parties, public activities, etc.

Two important messages came to mind:

  1. My fears/ doubts about socializing / reluctance to socialize (GARDEN, CLOUDS) are contributing to the problem (FOX).
  2. “If you’re trying to convince yourself this is not about overeating (GARDEN), you are deceiving yourself (FOX + CLOUDS).”

Once again, in plain language, the Lenormand cards provided a highly informative analysis regarding a matter of concern. With CLOVER as the central card in this Square of 9, I realized I’d need to act on the messages Lenormand so graciously provided, and not just let the “wealth of opportunities” to resolve my issue fade away from lack of attention.

**********************************************

“An opportunity is only positive if we seize it; otherwise, it will disappear as quickly as it came.” -Celtic Lenormand LWB (Little White Book) re: 2 CLOVER

***********************************************

***Note from Mary: The reading prompted me to start the Atkins “40” low carb diet plan which is a “tweak” of the plan outlined in “The New Atkins for a New You,” link below. Wish me luck 🙂

As to whether my social calendar will begin to fill up, that remains to be seen…

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

 

***Another Note: The Celtic Lenormand card deck offers three versions for 12 BIRDS: Songbirds, Chickens and Owls. Chickens would have really driven home the message about eating fowl, but if I hadn’t pre-selected Owls as the BIRDS card, I would have missed the “night-time eating” clue provided by the Moon on the Owls card image.

The Celtic Lenormand card deck features three versions of 12 BIRDS: Songbirds, Chickens and Owls
The Celtic Lenormand card deck features three versions of 12 BIRDS: Songbirds, Chickens and Owls


Astrology, Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Lenormand Cards

Forensic Cartomancy: Lenormand Cards Discuss Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr

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As anyone who’s ever cast and read a simple three card Past-Present-Future spread knows, the cards can certainly “speak” to something that has happened in the past, as well as suggest the probable future concerning the question(s) at hand.

I normally use astrology to ascertain the energies surrounding missing person cases. From time to time, however, when prompted, I may also throw a card spread or two, to clarify, confirm or refute information I’ve gleaned from astrological analysis.

If you follow missing persons cases, you likely know that on July 10, 2015 in Leadore, Idaho, DeOrr Kunz, Jr., a healthy 2-1/2 year old child, disappeared into nowhere while on a camping trip with his mother, father, great-grandpa and family friend. As of the date and time of this post, DeOrr Kunz, Jr. has not been found.

DeOrr Kunz, Jr. missing from Leadore, Idaho July 10, 2015
DeOrr Kunz, Jr. missing from Leadore, Idaho July 10, 2015

Theories as to what happened to this child include (in no particular order): stranger abduction; harm suffered at the hands of one or more of the caretakers and subsequent cover-up; wandering away from the campsite and either (a) drowning or (b) getting carried off by a mountain lion.

The problem with all these theories is that there is no credible evidence that any of them could have happened. Yet, on the other hand, children (or adults for that matter) simply do not “disappear into nowhere.”

So what really happened here?

I’m not going to go into what I first ascertained from careful analysis of the pertinent astrology charts other than to say that there were strong indications of death, likely due to drowning. A few days later, still mulling over the charts and their “testimony,” it occurred to me that perhaps a Lenormand Square of 9 could provide additional information. I cast the spread specifically to address these questions:

The Questions for Lenormand:

  1. What (really) happened to DeOrr Kunz, Jr.?
  2. Who (or what) is responsible?
  3. Will he be found?

I pre-decided that the cards in Row 1 would address the first question, the cards in Row 2 would address the second question and the cards in Row 3 would address the third question. Any other information I could gather from the way the cards fell would be a bonus.

Here’s what I got:

 

Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz, Jr.: 11 Whip - 23 Mice - 6 Clouds - 34 Fish - 12 Birds - 17 Storks - 30 Lilies - 21 Mountain - 16 Stars
Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz, Jr.: 11 Whip – 23 Mice – 6 Clouds – 34 Fish – 12 Birds – 17 Storks – 30 Lilies – 21 Mountain – 16 Stars

 

What Happened? 11 WHIP – 23 MICE – 6 CLOUDS

 

Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Row 1: 11 Whip - 23 Mice - 6 Clouds
Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Row 1: 11 Whip – 23 Mice – 6 Clouds

These cards suggested a frantic runaround: frenzied activity, running around in circles, stress, exhaustion, confusion. In simplest terms, the Lenormand cards seemed to suggest that the child wandered off and got lost.

Who (or What) is Responsible? 34 FISH – 12 BIRDS – 17 STORKS

 

Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr Row 2: 34 Fish - 12 Birds - 17 Storks
Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr Row 2: 34 Fish – 12 Birds – 17 Storks

I immediately keyed into the people cards: King of Diamonds (34 FISH) and Queen of Hearts (17 STORKS) — dad and mom. With 12 BIRDS in the middle of the row and as the central card in the Square of 9, there was likely a communication issue with Great-Grandpa (King of Spades – 30 LILIES), who from news accounts may have been suffering from some degree of confusion (6 CLOUDS). Because of the positioning of 23 MICE + 6 CLOUDS, I sensed a miscommunication or a lack of communication.

It’s interesting to note this row starts with 34 FISH. The “story” surrounding DeOrr’s disappearance is that the mom, dad and family friend decided to go fishing. The parents allegedly asked the child if he wanted to come along or stay behind with Great-Grandpa (30 LILIES) and DeOrr chose Great-Grandpa, who somehow lost track of DeOrr (6 CLOUDS) and then mistakenly assumed the child had changed his mind and followed the parents.

Will the Child Be Found? 30 LILIES – 21 MOUNTAIN – 16 STARS

 

Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr. Row 3 - 30 Lilies - 21 Mountain - 16 Stars
Lenormand Square of 9 for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr. Row 3 – 30 Lilies – 21 Mountain – 16 Stars

Both LILIES and MOUNTAIN suggest a long time, with MOUNTAIN additionally suggesting obstacles and delays. [Note: LILIES can sometimes be a death marker. WHIP, FISH and LILIES read vertically suggests a struggle in water that leads to the grave.] 16 STARS at the end of the row points to success, so I think, yes, DeOrr Kunz, Jr. will eventually be recovered, after a “long time” and many delays and obstacles.

I noted with interest that the card numbers assigned to Row 3 reduce to 13 (30 + 21 + 16 = 67 = 6 + 7 = 13), which equals 13 CHILD. That prompted me to flip over cards in the remaining Lenormand deck until I found 13 CHILD, which I selected along with the card before and the card after:

 

Clarification Cards for Lenormand Square of 9 Spread for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr - 22 Crossroads - 13 Child - 10 Scythe
Clarification Cards for Lenormand Square of 9 Spread for Missing Child DeOrr Kunz Jr – 22 Crossroads – 13 Child – 10 Scythe

This combination suggests the child may have suffered an accident or, in some other way, was suddenly separated him from his caregivers (SCYTHE) while “on a journey / taking a walk” (CROSSROADS). The cards appear to support the message contained in Row 1 which indicated the child simply wandered away and got lost. Unfortunately, SCYTHE to the right of CHILD does not point to an eventual happy resolution.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins



Card Reading 101, Lenormand Cards

Reversed Lenormand Cards: What Do They Mean? 31 Sun, 10 Scythe, 33 Key, 26 Book, 11 Whip, 17 Storks

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?

Piatnik Lenormand 31 Sun - 10 Scythe Rx - 33 Key - 26 Book Rx - 11 Whip - 17 Storks Rx
31 Sun – 10 Scythe Rx – 33 Key – 26 Book Rx – 11 Whip – 17 Storks Rx

Piatnik Jeu du destin Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Deck of 36 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.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

 

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