Lenormand Step by Step
A Course in the Petit Lenormand
Kendra Hurteau
ASIN: B07G6ZMV1K
Copyright © 2018 by Kendra Hurteau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any way without the prior written permission of the author.
Front cover design by Katrina Hill
Card Layouts, Spreads, and Lists by Kendra Hurteau
http://lenormandcards.wixsite.com/lenormand
Image Disclosure
The images in this book are slightly blurred to protect the integrity of the card decks and copyright of all materials.
Editions
There are two paperback editions of Lenormand Step by Step, a standard pages edition and a color pages edition. This is the eBook edition.
Acknowledgements
Thank you for your interest in this book and in the Petit Lenormand. I hope you find some treasure in these pages that aid your Lenormand studies.
I want to specifically thank Katrina Hill, Autumn Jeffers, and Liza Shone. They encouraged me, supported my goal to finish Lenormand Step by Step, gave me excellent feedback, and edited my work. Each individual contributed something unique to this book. It became what it is because of them. I am truly grateful for these ladies.
Table of Contents
About the Author
Our Work
Chapter 1: Introduction to Lenormand
A Short Lenormand History
The Mystery in Lenormand
Approach
Reading Method
Reading Guidelines
Chapter 2: Language of Lenormand
Terminology
Pronunciation
Chapter 3: Step 1: Keywords
The Steps
Create Keywords
Suggested Keywords
PAM List
Chapter 4: Step 2: Combinations
Step 2: Combinations
Single Cards
2 Card Combinations
People in the Cards
Work in the Cards
Money Cards
Intimate Relationships
Opposing Cards
Posing Questions
Yes/No Answers
Chapter 5: Step 3: Card Lines
Step 3: Card Lines
3 Card Line
Method 1
Method 2
Method 3
Method 4
Clusters
5 Card Line
Side by Side Readings
Chapter 6: Step 4: 9 Card Square
Step 4: 9 Card Square
9 Card Square Format
The 9 Card Square Quick Reference Guide
11 Card Spread
Other Medium-Sized Spreads
Chapter 7: Step 5: Petit Tableau
Step 5 : Petit Tableau
Petit Tableau Format
The Petit Tableau Quick Reference Guide
Chapter 8: Step 6: Grand Tableau
Step 6: The Grand Tableaus
Advanced Techniques
Nuances
The Grand Tableau Quick Reference Guide
Chapter 9: Step 7: Suggestions
Appendix
Bibliography
About the Author
Welcome to Lenormand Step by Step!
My name is Kendra Hurteau. Like you, I study the card divination system known as the Petit Lenormand. Like the lessons that follow, my personal journey with the Petit Lenormand system was a series of steps that led to the writing of this book. In addition, I have created five Lenormand decks and a video course. I trust my direct method of teaching Lenormand will help you read the system with ease and efficiency.
My Story
In 2005, while involved in other esoteric studies, I delved into the world of Tarot. I was active in The Detroit Area Tarot Guild and that is where I first laid eyes on a Lenormand Grand Tableau. In that very viewing of the thirty-six Lenormand cards, I knew I would make a deck of my own. I spent hours of each day immersed in the system, learning where it came from and how it works. I then combined my efforts with Katrina Hill, an artist and graphic designer, to create our first deck. We wanted an Edwardian feel to it and so the images in Under the Roses represent that era. Katrina, who is also my daughter, ultimately illustrated four of our five decks.
Readings by Kendra
I read for clients in person, online, and by phone. My readings are practical and down-to-earth, yet empathic and intuitive. I use divination tools such as the Lenormand, Tarot, pendulums, and stones. It is easy to schedule a reading with me. Please email me your name and contact information at [email protected] if there are any issues with scheduling.
Our Work
Under the Roses Lenormand
Katrina and I initially self-published Under the Roses Lenormand in 2012. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. later published the deck in 2015.
The allusion “under the roses” dates back to Roman times and it implies there are hidden secrets. People would say that things were “buried under the roses.” In this day and age, a similar idiom is “behind closed doors.” The deck backs are roses, implying that the secrets are underneath. In addition, we incorporated specific rose color meanings throughout the deck. For instance, the blue roses symbolize something that is unattainable or impossible. The yellow roses symbolize friendship. The white roses symbolize sympathy and spirituality. And, naturally, the red roses symbolize love.
Under the Roses Lenormand was the first Petit Lenormand to have keywords on the face of the cards (in the title area as well as the background). Though beginners loved it, many of the more experienced users of Lenormand didn’t prefer it that way. So, we issued our second edition both with and without keywords in the title area. To this day we get requests for the cards with keywords, but we no longer control the printing. However, the keywords remain in the background of the images.
Katrina and I were encouraged by the amount of positive feedback we received when we shared Under the Roses Lenormand. That led us to developing our other decks.
Under the Roses Lenormand can be found at Amazon or U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Images from Under the Roses Lenormand used with permission of U.S. Games Systems, Stamford, CT 06902 c. 2015 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Under the Roses Lenormand App
Under the Roses Lenormand is now available as an app. It is a great bargain, so check it out!
The Under the Roses Lenormand App can be found through app stores and online through The Fool’s Dog.
Halloween Lenormand
Our spoof deck titled “Halloween Lenormand” (a Lenormand Oracle spin-off) was a hit. It was the first holiday-themed Lenormand deck ever sold. The system of Lenormand is very direct and serious, but we wanted to have some fun with it. We want you to laugh when you see it. Initially, I didn’t think people would understand it, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised that so many people perceive the humor in the deck.
Halloween Lenormand can be found at The Game Crafter.
Yuletide Lenormand
Our third deck, “Yuletide Lenormand,” was made right after Halloween Lenormand. It is a quaint Christmastime Lenormand Oracle. I don’t think this little gem gets enough attention because it lacks the word “Christmas” in the title. It’s delightful and warm. Sometimes I take it out mid-year just to see it again. To this day, it’s my favorite Lenormand Oracle.
The deck has a few alternate cards (cards that can be used in lieu of other cards). For instance, the Ring can be replaced by the Wreath and the Lady can be replaced by the Snowlady.
Yuletide Lenormand can be found at The Game Crafter.
Kendr
a’s Vintage Petit Lenormand
In 2013, I explored how I would create a deck of my own. I love ephemera and wanted a deck with original images that did not contain clipart. Initially, I had planned to print it for myself alone. However, when I began sharing images, my colleagues encouraged me to again self-publish.
Kendra’s Vintage Petit Lenormand was issued with four cards numbered 37. Those cards represent subject matters that aren’t normally in a Lenormand deck. People who preserve the use of the traditional thirty-six cards can easily take the extras out.
Kendra’s Vintage Petit Lenormand is available as a bridge size deck and a mini deck which can be found at The Game Crafter.
Lenormand Silhouettes
Because I wanted a deck that was elegant and direct, Lenormand Silhouettes was born. This deck is a traditional user’s dream. The images are uncluttered and easy to identify. This deck is perfect for those who prefer the clear images the Lenormand cards are known for.
Images from this deck are used frequently in this book.
Lenormand Silhouettes is available as a bridge size deck and a mini deck that can be found at The Game Crafter.
Lenormand Step by Step:
A Crash Course in the Petit Lenormand
Naturally, my involvement with Lenormand includes presentations and teaching. Because of that, “Lenormand Step by Step: A Crash Course in the Petit Lenormand Oracle” was developed. Lenormand Step by Step, or LSxS for short, is an online course consisting of seven short videos and an invitation to join a closed Facebook group. The total viewing time is less than two hours and the videos may be watched at any pace. The members are also encouraged to contribute to threads and participate in the group. The goal of the course is to get members reading the Grand Tableau with ease and efficiency.
This instruction manual is an elaboration of the video course. If you are interested in connecting the book and the videos, join us online.
Lenormand Step by Step: A Crash Course in the Petit Lenormand can be found at:
http://lenormandcards.wixsite.com/lenormand/course.
Other Pursuits
Katrina and I both paint fine art. If you would like to follow our work, though our current art endeavors are not related to Lenormand, you can find our projects online at:
https://www.katrinakayart.wixsite.com/katrinakayart
https://kendrafineart.wixsite.com/kendra
Chapter 1: Introduction to Lenormand
A Short Lenormand History
The Petit Lenormand, a thirty-six card deck, was first published in 1846. This card system is based on a previous set of emblematical cards and coffee ground meanings (similar to tea leave readings).
The Petit Lenormand was likely modeled after the Das Spiel der Hofnung (aka The Game of Hope). The Game of Hope was a German game which included a card deck with French suits. It was published circa 1800. Images of the original deck are viewable online at the British Museum.
Very interestingly, there may be a forerunner to the Game of Hope that was published in 1796. Tarot author, Mary Greer, has found an older deck that she calls “The Viennese Coffee-Cards” in The British Museum archives. The Viennese Coffee-Cards are a British fortune-telling deck that was published in London and sold for three shillings. The deck was originally titled The Diversions of The Court of Vienna, in which the Mystery of Fortune-Telling is Unravelled, by Means of Thirty-Two Emblematical Cards, with a Book of Suitable Directions. It contains most of the images of the Petit Lenormand with a few exceptions. This card deck is also viewable online at the British Museum.
While we will be studying the Petit Lenormand, there are actually two “Lenormand” decks; the Grand Jeu de Mlle. Le Normand (aka Astro Mythological Lenormand) and the Petit Lenormand. The decks are very different and not interchangeable because of their images and card counts. The Grand Jeu Lenormand, a fifty-four card deck, was issued in 1845 in France.
Both of the Lenormand decks were named after an infamous card reader and sibyl named Mademoiselle Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand. She was born in 1772 and died in France in 1843. Mlle. Lenormand did not actually use either of the Lenormand decks. Instead, she used the Petit Etteilla, Tarot, and playing cards in her readings. She used astrology and other forms of divination as well. Mlle. Lenormand authored several books between 1814 and 1833. Her gifts were considered a “black art” and she was imprisoned for short periods though she maintained a large clientele. She claimed to have given readings to people like Empress Josephine and Tsar Alexander I.
The Mystery in Lenormand
The Petit Lenormand is like a puzzle. Once a puzzle is assembled, it creates a clear image. The placement of the cards determines how they are viewed and relate to each other.
Lenormand readings are like mysteries to be unraveled. Every reading tells a story we must interpret. We make deductions and derive conclusions. Who is the main character? What is causing their actions? What are they worried about? Is someone else hurting them? Haunting them? Loving them? What prompted them to get a reading? Are they partnered? A parent? A business person? All answers that the cards are more than happy to divulge through observation. Each card is a clue and it is affected by the cards/clues next to it. Then, by observing the reading as a whole, the mystery is revealed
Approach
For those of you that say “I’ve tried to read Lenormand, but I just don’t get it,” I encourage you to continue reading. If you are analytical, use deductive reasoning, or simply enjoy doing puzzles, you will be able to use the Petit Lenormand. This system is also good for people who think they can’t read Tarot because they lack the intuition they believe they need.
Because the seasoned Tarot reader is used to Tarot methods, it is actually more difficult to teach them the Lenormand system than a novice reader. They know to search for a story, use their intuition, and put things together in a magical way. They have practiced their talent and studied the suits. None of that applies at the beginning of your Lenormand lessons. However, when approaching Lenormand with a fresh perspective, understanding typically comes quickly.
In any form of card divination, there are several different reading styles. Some people rely on book interpretations and there are those who do not. Some people base their readings on what they know while others base their readings on what they feel. We are all individuals; therefore we all have a different perspective when using the cards.
This course is a blend of traditional Lenormand methods and my own experience of what works. I have added my own techniques throughout the book. However, you are welcome to use the system in the strictest sense.
Some Lenormand readers use their intuition while others don’t. Should you choose to add your personal intuition to your Lenormand interpretations then, that is your choice. It is card divination, after all.
When using Lenormand, my preference is to make assessments and deductions first, then use my intuition after that. When using Tarot, I use my intuition first and then apply all I know about the Tarot cards.
Like the Tarot, Lenormand is expanding and evolving. The two systems can both be created with different themes. Other Oracle decks are not cloned in that way. Tarot has evolved as a result of people designing themed and/or modern decks. There is some debate about modifying Lenormand decks in that way. The argument is that the Lenormand system is a set of symbols and changing those symbols could muddle readings or compromise what constitutes it as a Lenormand deck. As a result, some people want to hold onto the original methods exclusively. Still, some would say they want to see Lenormand explored, expanded, and improved upon.
So, why read with Lenormand? Lenormand is more analytical than Tarot. Like Lenormand, Tarot addresses subjects from a deep and philosophical stance. Lenormand may talk about things in one’s everyday life as well. This makes it a very useful divination tool. So, be prepared to be surprised and wowed.
Reading Method
Lenormand is a system that requires a method of use, though variations of the art exist. Thi
s is my method of teaching the Petit Lenormand Oracle. It is based on traditional methods but has a non-traditional start with slight modifications. It is a way to produce clear and detailed readings in a timely manner.
I’ve heard new Lenormand readers accuse Lenormand of being “boring” or that they don’t really “get it.” This may be a simple matter of perspective. There is an expectation to get something magical out of the Lenormand cards, but the cards can offer something more practical.
In this course, our objective is to be able to read any Lenormand layout with ease and accuracy. Therefore, it’s imperative, as you follow this course, that you thoroughly understand the lesson you are working on before going to the next. The first few lessons, which cover foundational information, would be lost by skimming or skipping them. By the time we get farther into the lessons and use larger layouts, it becomes clear how the lessons have built on each other. Practice each lesson until you are comfortable. This will save time later when we study spreads. And… enjoy the process along the way!
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