#4 House Lenormand

#4 HOUSE

KING of HEARTS

The House card can be read on several levels.  One thing to note is that the cards from a standard deck that correspond to the 36 Lenormand images do not always match up with the scene/meanings depicted.

In this case, the King of Hearts fits in quite nicely.  He is related to the Tarot King of Cups to some degree. This particular King has a long time association with a male member belonging to the family circle.  He can be a father, husband, brother or son.  Usually he does not represent an in-law unless that person has taken on the responsibilities of being a “dad”.

Often he will be a very caring man who belongs to a church or community group where he is a leader for a worthy cause.  When you get stumped trying to figure out who he is look to the cards falling above or to the left of him to get more information.  The cards beneath or to the right of him will reveal his involvement in situations which are indicated by the “following” card.

The House card represents all that is related to the home -where you live.  It can be anywhere that you consider your home.  The actual structure of the residence doesn’t matter unless you are interested in real estate, then it is an actual house, condo, apartment, townhouse.  It can be a cottage if the SHIP card is next to it.  What you need to remember is that only you can decipher that.  If you are interpreting the cards for someone else, it is a good idea to get some background prior to the reading. 

I think it is such a waste of time, trying to identify what it is.  A card readers’ role is not to guess at the possibilities, it is to offer guidance around specifics.  When you go to the doctor, he/she always asks you questions first so that he/she can give you the best advice based on what your needs are.  When the person in the medical  field does not know - you are sent for further testing.  He/she remains a professional doctor despite the fact the prognosis is inconclusive.  A card reader should ask questions not for the sake of getting the answers handed to them on a silver platter… and what would the point of that be anyways.  

It is OK to ask a person to clarify what exactly the house is.  Reading the cards is not about trying to impress anyone.  If the other person is unwilling to confirm information and you find yourself struggling - leave the reading for another time.  Many people do not know just how much energy is expended in coming up with proper identification in the cards … especially the Lenormand and other sibillas.  There are so many “it could be this” and “it could be that”.  The only time this is acceptable is when you are telling a person about situations in the future lines.  In this case, there is the unknown factor involved.

The House card should be pretty easy to read.  There are no big startling secrets regarding the suggestive meanings.  You can take it a step further.

From a spiritual aspect, the House card can be your own physical body.  The house/temple within.  Again, this angle will only make sense to those people who want to read this deck in that manner.  Questions like, “what is going on inside of me right now?”  It’s up to you to decide how you want to read the House card. The basic and traditional meanings of this card are simple to understand.  Use the keywords for any cards that fall with the House card.  Tell a story by stringing the keywords together like a pearl necklace. 

There are no right or wrong ways to read cards with perhaps the exception of the Tarot and even so, the Tarot is no longer a mystery as it once was.   I’m sure Madame Lenormand made up stuff as she went along and for that matter she had so many symbols on her original cards that one of those would eventually make sense. She incorporated numerology, astrology, flowers and other shorthand symbols of her own.

Keep all this in mind.  You are not restricted by “book meanings” or other people’s perspectives.  It is what you think and feel about the card that is more important.

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#1 The Rider

9♥  The Rider #1

The Rider card is all about news or messages that are on their way.  It can be results or information that you are waiting for.  This card by itself is neutral energy because it is influenced by the card preceding it, either before or above it in a layout.

Many combinations can be ascertained that are common sense just by looking at the images or by using traditional key meanings.  It is more adventurous to step out of the box and try to formulate meanings that are not so obvious.  When you do this you are exercising your psychic muscles and it is good practice to do this as often as you can. In time you will be able to do it naturally and won’t need to rely on books or other people’s meanings.  The meanings become your own and when you test them you will find out how close you were in the prediction of events.  

The Rider card brings news situated to the left of it just like the Stork card brings the changes from the card preceding it.  Often this card suggest travel as well but not long distances, more like errands.

Traditionally if the Rider card accompanies the Snake+ Clouds cards there will be an announcement of some type.  It can be an engagement or marriage. Frankly, I don’t see the connection because I think the Heart or Ring cards should be very close to these cards as well.

Perhaps it is a meeting  with a travel agent because the Rider does represent matters that are  foreign in nature. 

In romantic situations there is the suggestion of being introduced to someone new, especially if the Child card is involved.    If you are a female (Lady card) and the Rider is beneath or following you can be sure that you will receive a telephone call or email from a male that wants to get together most likely on the same day. When you are a male (Gentleman), the Rider will be a buddy or even a brother.

In career questions there is an indication of a job offer with the promise of growth.  Look for the Anchor card to verify this.  Cards negative in nature following will reveal to you if strong opportunities will be available or not. Other work cards are the Fox and the Fish.

Bad news:   Scythe, mountain, coffin and cross are the cards that influence the Rider’s meaning to be negative.  

We all know the Clover card is about speed or within a short time.  If you are wanting an answer to a problem you can expect a fast solution and it will be crystal clear when the Key card joins the duo.  

With this particular style of Lenormand, I see the Rider to represent a greeting.  Someone popping by to say hello.  A chance meeting in a mall or in the grocery store.  It is all about synchronicity. It is believed that you meet up with the people you are suppose to for a reason. There is an exchange of information necessary.  I see this card to be Karmic in nature.  Often we run into people who share things with us that we were  just wondering about and presto you get a name, location or referral.

In regards to situations that feel Karmic in nature, the old DEJÁ VU feeling can be experienced as well.

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Lenormand #30 Lily

I was looking over some of my Lenormand posts that I have linked to the cards + meanings in the tab under the header called “Lenormand”.  There are a few cards that I did not link to detailed posts, and #30 is one of them, The Lily.  Actually I did write about it when it was in combination with other cards but perhaps not as a stand alone card.  Thanks Noelle for sending me an email pointing out that a few links were not functional.  I have since corrected this.

King of Spades - The Lily.

Traditionally, this card is about a harmonious influence, the family and an older loving man which the King of Spades is rarely associated with.  Many of the European sites suggest a sexual connection with this card as well.

The cards will lend a “helping hand” or support to the neighboring cards.  Here is an energy that you would want as a contributing factor in a layout especially if it follows those “bad” cards. In one word - encouragement. There is wisdom and experience contained within the card’s essence. 

Combinations to consider:

• Next to the Stork, #17 being on the right side or beneath, it signifies the return of an old flame. Look to the card following the Stork to see what will materialize.  Is it the Scythe? (the whole thing blows up in your face)  Is it the Clover? (nothing permanent will occur) Is it the Cross? (unfinished Karma)
• Coupled with the Child it foretells of a new love or relationship. It is important to consider the following cards to see what happens.  The same applies here as with the Stork + Lily combo.  There are many other cards as well that will usually give you a specific direction.
• With the Fish card there is a promise of a growing bank account or steady improvement in finances. Possibly investments with a good return.  Also with the Anchor card- securing a job with room for growth within the company.
• Near the Heart, an admirer. The Book nearby - a secret admirer.  Does this admirer profess his/her love?  (look for the Key or Letter cards)  Will the admirer remain a secret?  (look for the Mountain or Coffin cards)

Spiritually - beside the Snake the suggestion is that the Kundalini energy has been activated.   I would recommend that you do not play around with the energy of  Kundalini unless you are absolutely sure that you can handle it or are receiving assistance from a more experienced practitioner.  This meaning is only applicable if you are looking at the cards on another level.   In a more mundane explanation the Lily + the Snake would suggest a powerful sexual attraction or experience.  You know the kind that knocks your socks off.    

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#8 Coffin Lenormand

COFFIN.  9 of Diamonds.

The coffin is primarily a negative card and it’s influence is less positive in nature. The other cards will reveal to you what has ended. Endings are not always a bad thing. Sometimes when a person is suffering or struggling an end is a relief and provides closure.

Through the death of something comes the opportunity for another direction.  Many times there is no choice in the matter and we often do not really know why.  

The coffin also means a test.  A situation that challenges your inner fortitude.  A hurdle to jump over.

Traditionally when the coffin is beside the lady (if you are a female getting the reading) and gentleman (if you are a male getting the reading) it signifies a serious health setback that can be physical in nature or even emotional.  Other cards such as the Scythe, Cross and Mountain must fall within close proximity to the Coffin in order for this “meaning” to be even considered.  OR the same applies to your significant other (the person you are involved with).  

FOX - if you read the fox to mean work as one of it’s meanings when combined with the COFFIN it will suggest the end of work.  Completions of work come in many ways such as retirement, the fulfillment of contractual work, lay offs and even getting fired (but this is more likely if the SCYTHE is involved).  

If you read the FOX to mean “wrong” or not true there could be false information when combined with the COFFIN and you should not accept anything as final.

ANCHOR - this card suggests security and from that we can conclude “something solid”.  When combined with the COFFIN it can depict “something solid” in the body, like a growth.  The TREE card needs to be very close in order to consider this theme. 

If you read the ANCHOR to represent work/career then the meaning suggests an occupational illness.

CROSS - one of the meanings is a situation that points to “suffering” or a burden.  Coupled with the COFFIN, there is pain associated with an ending.  Often this comes through a tragedy or unforeseen circumstance that induces a major emotional response.

When the CROSS precedes the COFFIN the pain will end.  When the CROSS follows the COFFIN there is more to come and the situation repeats itself. For instance, the HEART involving a relationship.

GARDEN - I know from experience what this duo means.  It is a funeral home and/or cemetery. The celebration of the death/life of someone.   Many times you can deduce it to mean a hospital when combined with the COFFIN.  Usually the TREE card is close by.

There are a variety of Lenormand decks and not all of them have the coffin with the drape over it.  If your card does, pay attention to which card the drape points to.  The card facing the drape is what is ending. The card facing the open part signifies the new beginning or opportunity.

A coffin is usually a decorative box.   There might be someone inside and there might not be.  We don’t know for sure just by looking at the image.   I think that there is room to stretch the imagination on this point because it casts an uncertainty and small doubt as to the contents of the coffin.  What exactly are you grieving?

It is not truly over until all the emotions have been experienced and you get to the point of acceptance.

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Lenormand History

Don’t forget to visit Mary K. Greer’s blog

(author of “Tarot Reversals”)

 

&

Read about the history of Madame Lenormand

as well as many other exceptional posts.

Sssssnake-

 

Who would be afraid of such a cute Snake?

The Snake card is one of my more interesting cards that I enjoy interpreting because of the various levels of meanings.  Not all Lenormand decks have the regular card insets.  

#7 The Queen of Clubs is associated with the symbol of the Snake.  It all depends on your own particular perception of what a snake means to you.  Do you consider it evil?  I tend to use both the positive and negative meanings of the snake.  Initially,  I do not see the Queen of Clubs to be someone that you should fear, that would most likely be the Queen of Spades since she has a reputation of being someone that you should not provoke.  

When I see the Snake card in my own reading, I use it to represent my daughter and the activities around her.  You will have to decide for yourself what works for you but it is important to have some sort of system to follow.  It does not have to be the traditional way, either.

In the image below you can see the Snake card belonging to the Petit Astro-Mythological Lenormand. The Queen of Clubs is depicted as a “kind, generous, carefree and obliging woman”.  In the negative aspect of this card she is seen as a rival or representing distrust (which is in keeping with the snake).

This card has a pink inset  and this means it is considered a positive card according to the little booklet that came with the deck.  The main scene on this card shows an apple orchard.  Here we see three females called the  Hesperides.  They are suppose to guard the golden apples.  

Apples on trees have had a long time association with temptations -  look what happened to Eve in the garden of Eden.  I can see why the “snake” is attributed to this card.

In the lower right hand of the card stands a fine looking lady with a mirror. Mirrors can represent vanity, which is also one of the meanings of “snake” particularly in Chinese Astrology.

On the other side of the card is a full length mirror.  At first I thought it was a calf standing in front of it     and after doing some further research the animal is said to be a panther.   The panther is an intelligent but ferocious animal.  The snake is similar in personality. 

One of the meanings of the SNAKE card is intelligence.  (to outsmart, outmaneuver)

Queen of Clubs- This queen usually represents a relative, co-worker or casual business acquaintance. When she falls near negative cards the suggested meanings of deceit & treachery are assigned to her.  She will be highly jealous and strike with venom.   It is not a good idea to enter a confrontation with her - you will lose.

On the other hand, if surrounded by positive cards she will be someone that will give you intellectual support.  If you are a male, the Snake card can remain a platonic girl friend even after you have experienced romantic intimacy.   

Try to experiment with this card to get a feel of the essence contained within.  Follow your own gut feelings.  

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Anchor #35 - Lenormand

Anchor - Lenormand #35.

About the Card

Many readers of the Lenormand cards give the meaning of job/work/career to the Anchor card.  I often refer to this meaning as well.

When interpreting this card in a layout and the meaning of work is not applicable it can indicate some sort of security.  In love or relationship questions it promises a steady and solid connection.  In business related questions that are not necessarily related to work it will bring encouragement that is based on reliability.

The Anchor has multi level meanings as with most cards in the Lenormand deck.  It provides a “grounding” to a situation.  One interesting thing to note is that if you are anticipating change in regards to a circumstance or even a person this card will not lend hope to that.  There will be no obvious change.

If you look at the image (French Cartomancy deck) you will see the anchor with a long chain that is not attached to anything. At one time it was secured to the boat in the background.  The boat lies still in one spot too and it is not adrift.  Both these images suggested “staying put”. It would take a strong gust of wind to move both these objects and it would take an even bigger shift in direction to change a situation.

I look forward to seeing the Anchor card when it is place next to most of the cards in the deck.  There are some exceptions, of course.  If it were to lie next to the Tree card it might indicate a potential problem with the health that would be difficult to diagnose or treat.  Other cards must accompany this duo that will reveal some kind of unpleasant issue.  

Is the Scythe card powerful enough to rattle the chain of the anchor? When the Scythe fall behind or before the Anchor card it will foretell that a severance was necessary to bring back some stability. This could actually mean the loss of a job.

If the Scythe card falls beneath or after the Anchor card it will portend a job with no future. When you are using some of the other meanings for the Anchor, this duo could hint at surgery if the Tree card is very close by. Let’s say there is no health issue, then this duo can mean that you will meet someone through a work related circumstance.

However, if you decide that the meaning of “work” is not applicable, the duo will tell you that it is time not to stay put any longer and to apply some quick action in order to restore some sense of confidence  in the situation or with a person involved.

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Whip #11 Lenormand combinations

Playing Card - Jack of Clubs

The Lenormand Whip card represents many different traditional meanings such as conflict, aggressive behaviour, heated discussions, debates, arguments or a younger dark haired male who is found in the business world.

Some suggested combinations for this card are as follows:  ————>

For Julie - simple layout using Lenormand

Coming up next the Lenormand in my Simple Layout

For JULIE

I will interpret this reading using “simple” keywords since I designed it to be a “simple” layout.

It’s good when you have a question you need answered about a specific situation or person.

I’ll do the reading for the purpose of demonstrating this layout and how the cards can be read. II am only offering the “simple” version of it. But knowing me and my love of “reading the cards” I might get carried away.

Julie says “My question was to do with a close relationship, the cards fell as follows”

Past - Cards 1,5,8 describe the recent past-the last few days or the recent circumstance around your question. —————>

Tips on reading cards

First of all you will need to select a deck of cards that you resonate with and want to learn how to read. It can be one of the many Tarot decks, oracle cards or the European sibilla style cards. Take each card and look at it while you are reading the booklet that comes with it or the accompanying book. This usually can’t all be done in one session and actually it is better to divide the time up so that you remember the gist of the card.

The easiest way to remember a few core keywords is to test your memory after each section of study. Even though journals can become bothersome they are a valuable step in the process of learning. After you go through this initial process some of what you have tried to memorize will stay with you but not all of it.

Everyone is anxious to do a layout right away even when they don’t know what the cards mean in any depth. This will require that you keep referring back to the book/booklet or your own personal notes.——>

Coffin #8 Lenormand- Le Petit Jeu

These two cards are a wonderful contrast in artistic perception depicting the Coffin card.  The Le Petit Jeu Lenormand (9 if diamonds) and the Mystical Lenormand (VIII = 8th house). 

 

Delays, hindrances, worries, quarrels, temporary drawback, loss and separation are some of the keywords.

In our story ——>

Ace of Hearts- The Man

The last Ace of the series belonging to the Le Petit Jeu Lenormand.

#28. Ace of Hearts-The Man. This card is the male getting the reading. It will also represent the special man in a woman’s life. Depending on which layout you are using or where the Man (gentleman) falls within the spread, it can portend a future meeting with someone totally new. ————->

Ace of Spades- The Woman

This is the first time I have really studied the imagery in the small Lenormand Astro Mythological deck in quite such depth.  I am enjoying this experience very much and want to share my findings with you.

The next Ace on tonight’s list is the Ace of Spades #29 depicting the female.  ——>

Ace of Diamonds- the Sun

#31 Ace of Diamonds- The Sun.

Our scene shows Mercury picking up a letter from Harpocrates who coincidentally is the transformed Egyptian new born Sun, a child called Horus. Horus’s parents are Isis and Osiris. Now this is where it gets confusing because Horus could also be the man with the falcon’s head whose left eye was injured during his fight with his uncle Seth who murdered Osiris, his father? And this make Horus the brother of Anubis. ———>

Ace of clubs- the Ring

 

This post will feature one of the  4 aces belonging to the Lenormand Astro Mythological cards ( Le Petit Jeu Lenormand 37 deck) which is the smaller version of the Le Grand Jeu de Mlle Lenormand 54 deck.  The imagery is identical with a few differences such as complimentary meanings are left out as well.  There is a letter of the alphabet in the upper right hand corner instead of the name of the card.  —->

Petit Lenormand

 

Block of 9 layout using the Petit Lenormand.  B.P. Grimand © 1976

The block of 9 layout is quite diverse.  You can designate many meanings to the rows and columns.  I find this deck fantastic to work with and only wish I remember all the characters in the Mythology depicted in the cards.  

Each card has a standard playing card inset in the top left hand corner. Here lies the general meaning and the number of the card.  Also, 2 special meanings -one positive & one negative and this applies to it’s combination with the lady or gentleman.  There is a unique flower/plant in the lower half of all the cards. Apparently Madame Lenormand was very knowledgeable in botany .  There  are several prophetic scenes on the lower half of each card (about 3/4 of it) which are part of the Grand Lenormand deck (54 cards). The cards are divided into two shadings.  The pink is a beneficial card and the white is more negative.

The card representing the lady (center) is white.  Interestingly the meaning is also negative in nature and I think this is due to the influence of the Ace of Spades.   This is the only deck that is somewhat in keeping with some of the traditional meaning of the standard playing (skat) cards and many of the Tarot minors.

The  writing on these cards is so tiny I can hardly make out what is written let alone read the French.

THE LAYOUT- when you first look at the image above you will notice a predominance of pink which means the influences tend to be more positive in nature.  The image(s) are not very clear because in order for them to fit into this space I had to downsize the entire picture.

Let’s pretend…………

Lenormand Clover