What is Traditional Lenormand? Traditional Lenormand refers to the *craft* of card reading with the Petit Lenormand. It includes: 1. The 19th century ...
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What is Traditional Lenormand?
Traditional Lenormand refers to the *craft* of card reading with the Petit Lenormand. It includes: 1. The 19th century 36-card Petit Lenormand decks with the standard imagery and numbering, and more more modern recreations or reprintings of these old decks. While some new designs may follow these old models closely, in general we ask that you stick with these older designs for work in this group. (See list of “Heritage Decks” in the “About” section.) 2. The original method of working with the cards as described in the 1845/6 Philippe Lenormand Instruction Sheet. This includes card meanings that may vary based on "distance" (how near or far they are from the significator) and on the effect of adjacent cards. (See the Files section for a copy of the PL Sheet: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/LenormandHeritageInternational/files/ ) 3. The Grand Tableau (described in the PL Instruction Sheet). We also include shorter layouts that derive from it and so are often used as training layouts that demonstrate segments of the Grand Tableau. Short layouts that have proven themselves to be viable in their own right and therefore are used for specific questions include 3, 5 or 7 card line readings and the Square of 9 (or 3x3) layout. Other layouts, especially those based on classical cartomancy may be introduced. In addition, the following more modern conventions are followed by most “traditionalists” here: • Modern meanings for the cards that have evolved out of 18th and 19th century emblematic usage and are obviously derived from the original intent or which have become standard
over the years are welcome (Birds for conversations and gossip, Ship or Rider for cars). Personal associations, puns and modern cultural references are not (Fox is not a ‘foxy lady,’ Mice are not cute). • Some techniques, adapted from cartomancy, are used: mirroring, knighting, houses, counting. • Most interpretations are derived from combining the meanings of two or three cards, therefore card combinations are extremely important but are not set in stone. You will learn some common combinations that are helpful to know. Unless there is a reason to do otherwise, combos are read with the noun or subject card on the left and a modifier card to the right. • Directionality is optional, although in some cases can be helpful. Some people read past and future based on the direction the Significator faces. Certain cards are felt to have slightly different effects based on their being to the left, right, above or below another card (Lilies indicates morality or immorality based on whether it is over or under the significator; Clouds has a worse side and a less bad side). The more common of these will eventually be listed in a file. • Due to the popularity of certain authors or local traditions, some cards have developed secondary meanings that vary from those of others. For instance, some define Bear as mother while others define it as father. Work can also vary and is defined as Moon, Anchor, or Fox. Please note when using a significant variation. Criteria for valuing a resource are: 1. It works, 2. It has lasted. 3. It has acquired depth through practice. 4. It is recognisably related to (or not in conflict with) the original instruction sheet. 5. It is acknowledged in many in different countries. 6. It still speaks to us. Intuition is seen as an important part of reading and arises naturally when someone has developed knowledge and experience in traditional Lenormand. We see intuition as immediate cognition based on a solid foundation of learning, a recognition of patterns that resonate.
The advantage of traditional Lenormand is that a layout can be read almost identically by people from different countries and different time periods (given the understanding of a few standard variations). This is the form which has been maintained, because it works, for close to 200 years. Please read the Lenormand History File. As a site for learning, posts should always include your reasons for coming to an interpretation, even if those reasons are only recognized after-the-fact. Interpretations based on personal opinion, feelings or spirit messages that are not connected to traditional meanings and techniques are not appropriate to our learning purposes here.