THE SCYTHE: August 4, 2008 detailed post on the Scythe
The Scythe card has a variety of meanings. It can be a sudden ending which comes out of nowhere. It can be a long overdue removal of a situation/person. It can reflect a person’s indifference.
Depending which Lenormand deck you are reading there are many different images of the scythe. Some cards have the pointed part of the blade pointing to the left, some to the right, others to the top and still others to the bottom. You may not factor directions in your card summaries but many Cartomancers do, including myself.
Today’s review post is in response to the many questions I receive on the Lenormand cards.
Blue Owl Scythe (English verses)
The Scythe card can produce startling results which often are not pleasant. It hurts us emotionally or pricks us out of complacency. The influence is usually unexpected although. At times you know the person needs to be removed from your life or a situation is no longer healthy.
Piatnik SCYTHE
The Scythe card can release us from a bond or situation which is strangling us emotionally or restricting our freedom. Many relationships end suddenly but in the long run it’s for the best.
Mystical SCYTHE card
The Scythe card can represent a person who is indifferent or unable to offer a caring response.
Gilded Reverie Lenormand Scythe
Many Lenormand decks do not sport the playing card insets. The Jack of Diamonds ♦ has associations with the financial world. I have written about him before and have said he can be quite sarcastic. Sarcasm can hurt us if we are the type of person who wounds easily from someone’s words. The comments which are being yielded can have a slicing effect.
Don’t forget that the Jack of Diamonds could also be worker/employee connected to a cleaning up business. Lawn maintenance. Farmer. Snow removal. Etc.
Judith Bärtschi Lenormand Scythe
I am of the belief that the playing card insets are a totally different level of the Lenormand. I have not found a suitable playing cards system that fits the Lenormand card meanings. The Courts are easily placed and some of the other pips but that’s not enough for me to promote any one system on playing cards.
TIP- look to see which card is facing the point of the scythe. This card will reveal who or what is being removed. It doesn’t have to be that drastic or monumental.
In Judith’s Scythe image the toe (pointed part of scythe) faces upwards. In a reading, I would consider this direction. The card situated above this Scythe card will be getting the full experience of the energy of the scythe. The card which falls below this Scythe card will feel the energy differently. It’s not that stabbing feeling more like a dull aching result.
Traditionally, Lenormand cards are read upright.
For those who want to explore – reverse the card and see how you feel about it.
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Ask my Cards 
I have a different question – what about when it card is surrounding by positive cards – could it also not mean reaping what you had sowed before in a positive fashion. In that Mystical deck which I also have – there is a lovely load of wheat – bread coming up.
Hello: Thanks for your question. When positive cards surround the Scythe card and depending on the direct question there can be information about “results”. Do you have an example of a few cards so that I can better answer your question.
Hi Seaqueen – Hope things are well with you. I’m doing a bit of an informal survey here as I recently acquired a couple of old decks (circa 1870) with two scythes on the Scythe card. If you can’t see the image, the scythes are crossed, so there are blades pointing both to the left and to the right. http://chanahscards.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=11
How would you read that one in a layout?
Hi Chanah: So nice to hear from you. You have posed a very provocative question about the Scythe card, lol. Thanks for the link. I meditated on the image to get a feel of the card first. Knowing the traditional associations of this card and the directional meanings I also read from a psychic level. What I mean by this is that I go inside the card and experience its energy.
How would I read it? There are several things that come to me with the 2 scythes image. I feel the energy is more contained but bulging at the seams. Something unexpected can still occur to the card to the left/right of the Scythe. This bulging energy is very powerful and can push hard which leads to a separation between the cards.It’s a little different than severing or slicing motion. For example, if the Heart followed the Scythe the emotional/romantic situation experiences a lawn roller influences instead of a lawnmower. lol
Since both toes of the scythe point downwards the card beneath it will be on the receiving end of the “shock” but it feels less intimidating.For example, if the Heart card fell beneath the Scythe it suggests a rupture in an emotional/romantic situation but it will be more distributed.
IMO a single scythe in the image is more powerful. The two scythes also form an “X” with some sort of plant/flower suggesting overall productive results. I think the Jack has a green feather as well suggesting growth. Growth comes by cutting all that is no longer useful.
You will find that many Cartomancers who read image directions would probably not resonate with this card at all because the toe points downwards. Others will not read directions. Some of those who read directions may think the two scythes might mean a double whammy.
Thank you for such a considered response. I’m still working it out. I don’t read a lot of directionality, but I was taught early on that the card falling under the Scythe represented serious oppression in that area of life, and this particular rendition really shows that. That’s one meaning I’ve always kept, and experience has borne it out. The double-blade is still throwing me a bit. I’m of two minds here. On the one hand, the Scythe is a generally nasty card, and I can see it taking the cards to either side. I do think you’re right, though, that the energy in this picture feels more controlled than a single bladed scythe feels. It could be that the card to the left gets shaken, a shock, and the card to the right gets the loss. Really not sure, but I sincerely appreciate the great opinions I’ve been getting from other readers.