Donnaleigh's Tarot

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives."

  ~Clay P. Bedford

Above, the French Cartomancy Lenormand deck, border removed and cards glittered.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN TAROT!

So you want to learn how to read the Lenormand Deck? If you have searched for how-to books, you may have found that it can be difficult to find resources in English.

HERE is a blog explaining some of the differences between Tarot and the Lenormand.

Below is a list to get you started on your Lenormand-learning journey. I'll update this page as resources continue to become available, and as I continue to discover them myself. Feel free to contact me with your suggestions if you've found good resources I've not listed here.

Do note that many books and resources have different card reading systems. Take what you like, leave what doesn't fit you. I tend to like to stick to the traditional system as much as possible (as I continue to learn), which is quite different than how a tarot card is read.  You need to pick what fits you.

LENORMAND STARTER TIPS:

1. Get a deck that has images that are easy for you to see. Traditional decks are great to start. I happen to like the French Cartomancy deck, and the Lo Scarabeo Lenormand deck, but several others like them are also great. Unlike tarot, the imagery itself does not alter the meaning of the card, except in a very few cards that may have directionality. Find one you feel is attractive and with clear imagery. Here is information on how to choose your first Lenormnand deck.
   
2. Learn the individual card meanings, or get a sense of understanding them in singles before trying blending two cards. A great place to start is Helen Riding's blog where she posted a Lenormand Dictionary.
   
3. Learn 2-card combination blends -- it gets exciting here!
   
4. Then get on your journey as to how to read the cards deeper in spreads, and these resources will help you with the blends and the spreads.

If you don't have a deck (or if you have one and want a faster set up for a Grand Tableau spread, see Melissa Hill's Grand Tableau widget (online reading generator).

FORUMS

• There is a Facebook Lenormand Card Study Group 
  
• AECLECTIC has Lenomand forums, both for those who want to use the stricter, traditional methods, and for those who want to learn a looser, wider oracle use for it:
• Facebook Lenormand Cards Community
  
• Tali Goodwin is teaching a free class in the Tarot-Town forum, files are accessible there. Go to Forums and look for "Lenormand." The "Files" section at top of Tarot Town holds the PDF's for each lesson. She is also releasing a book on learning the Lenormand, expected publishing release date in early 2013 (Llewellyn).
  
• The Cartomancer's Forum, Lenormand Section
• Cartomancer's Cabinet
  
• Learning Lenormand Facebook Group
• Lenormand Cards Community on Facebook
• forum.learnlenormand.com/
  

WEBSITES:

• DL's free classes: from Beginner to Advanced HERE.
  
• One-card meanings for beginners at LearnLenormand.com
• One-card meanings, my beginner video tutorial
  
• One-card meanings by AndyBC
  
• AndyBC's MyFortunae, an excellent Lenormand site...blogs, reviews, instructions and more.
• One card Meanings by Rana George,for Ciro Marchetti's Gilded Reverie Lenormand
  
• More on card combinations, order matters (Jase on Cards)
  
• Melissa Hill's "Little White Book" of the Lenormand
  
• The Language of the Lenormand
• LearnLenormand.com - super fantastic site
  
• Online Lenormand Dictionary, "My Wings of Desire"
  
• Serena's Guide to the Cards of Mme Lenormand
• The Lenormand Oracle
• Mary K. Greer's post on Mme. Lenormand
• Jozefa Seaqueen's Learning the Lenormand Cards  
• Janna's Lenormand Card site
• Lenormand Oracle Cards
• Jase on Cards
• www.learnlenormand.com  (and their forum is listed above at )
• Confessions of a Freaky Fortune Teller
• Lenormand Divination (use a language translator)
• Alyna's Lenormand Oracle Journal
• Language of Lenormand
• Lenormand Speak
• Lenormand timing suggestion by "Confessions of a Freaky Fortune Teller"
  

ONLINE COURSES:

• DL's free classes
  
• Britta's Courses (and deck)
• Treppner Course --  People who don't speak German will need to use Google Translate or BabelFish to read the page, because the website is entirely in German.
• Melissa Hill's Video Course: fabulous, and only $35, accessible via download on your computer:
• Sandy Cristel's Interactive Lenormand Oracle
• Cartomances' Cabinet - A free online Lenormand Study (and forum)

Below is a sample of Melissa Hill (Sassy Sibyl)'s Lenormand 101 Class mentioned above (HIGHLY recommended!).

 

BOOKS

• THE GAME OF DESTINY - Fortune Telling with Lenormand Cards By Mario dos Ventos
  
• Caitlin Matthews is currently writing a book, soon to be released
• Tali Goodwin has a Lenormand BOOK expected to be released in May, 2013, published by Llewellyn Publications, and can be preordered HERE.
  
• As is Rana George with Llewellyn Publications, expected book release 2014 (and heloped coach the creation of a Lenormand deck by Ciro Marchetti)
• The Secrets of the Lenormand by Sylvie Steinbeck (some complain this is not true to the traditional system; I read it  and found it okay, but confusing conflicts are in the book if you're using other systems and add this as a resource).
  
• Tarosophist International Summer 2012 Volume 1 Issue 15 (special issue on Lenormand). Download HERE.
• Ciro Marchetti's FREE downloadable book that accompanies his Gilded Reverie Lenormand can be found at his website HERE. Card descriptions are written by Tali Goodwin and Rana George.
  

YOUTUBE:

The first of a series of classes in English on the Lenormand Classes, by HexeClaire

FREE LENORMAND DECKS:

If you want to give the Lenormand a go, but you don't have any cards and aren't sure about buying....Melissa Hill,, the Sassy Sibyl, has very generously put together printable and digital decks you can shuffle and read either on your computer or on your table.

• Minimalist Deck PRINTABLE Version
• Minimalist Deck Digital Version
• The Sassy Sibyl Grand Tableau Generator (features the Postcard Lenormand and the Melissa Lenormand)
• Do you have an old Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Deck collecting dust? You can use that as well! Here is how.
• Mystique d’époque Petit Lenormand by Pepi Valderrama
• These antique cards make a cute set as well.

TAROT TRIBE/BEYOND WORLDS, FREE LENORMAND PODCASTS

At Tarot Tribe: Beyond Worlds, we are bringing you lessons on the Lenormand to get you on your feet and beyond. Click below to access the free audio podcasts, which aired on May 19 and 20, 2012:

1) Beginner's Lenormand Class with Melissa Hill  -  Handout here

2)  Advanced Lenormand Class with Rana George   -  Handout here

Follow a list of more of our Free Lenormand Podcast Classes HERE.

For more information on how to read the Lenormand Oracle, CLICK HERE.

"I am learning all the time. 

The tombstone will be my diploma."

~Eartha Kitt

Here's wishing you a magical world of Lenormand discovery!

Warmly,

Donnaleigh

www.Donnaleigh.com

Learn more about the secrets of reading tarot at our award-winning educational tarot podcast.

See a listing of all show topics HERE.