Fate Keeps On Happening: Lenormand & Logic (blog)

Lenormand & Logic - As usual, Stella is spot on. A copy of this, and the Philippe LeNormand sheet (pictured), should be included with every Lenormand deck sold!

Esmeralda Lenormand com 13 Ciganos

I spotted a Facebook post of Karla Souza's yesterday and was reminded how beautiful and magickal her Lenormand is.

⁘ To achieve domestic harmony and personal contentment you will have to face down your demons. ⁘

Esmeralda Lenormand with 13 "Gypsies", by Karla Souza (Brazil 2015)

I found some "Rocks"!

Back in my Random Reading #111 post, I noted the inclusion on the Hand in Hand card of a reference to a Rocks card that didn't actually appear in that deck. I suggested that perhaps the 12-card deck was an abridged version of a larger one.

But the title "Rocks" was a puzzle. There are Mountains in Lenormand and its off-shoots, but I wasn't aware of a deck with a Rocks card. Actually, I felt I had seen a Rocks card but I couldn't recall where and was prepared to accept that I was making it up.

Ta da!

From Jozefa Seaqueen's post "Gypsy Bijou fortune telling cards – N & F method"

“The Gypsy Bijou Fortune Telling Cards” with a guide by Minetta 

(Foulsham & Co, 1910; republished 1969)

I even "Liked" the post sometime in the past apparently, so this must have been what I was vaguely remembering.

The Rock card is numbered 21, the same as the Lenormand Mountain card, and the meanings are very similar. Its verse reads "The rock announces a false friend. Be prudent, for he is powerful." The Philippe LeNormand sheet says "The Mountains, near the Person, warn you against a mighty enemy; if distant, you may rely on powerful friends."

If the 12-card deck Rocks is in some way related to the Mountain card, only its positive aspect was applied to its relationship with the Hand in Hand card - "Hand in Hand means friendship, which will grow to love; if near rocks, staunch friendship".

Apart from the two cards shown, the "Gypsy Bijou" is in all other respects a standard Lenormand, so it's still not the "mother" deck of my little 12-carder. Maybe one day I'll spot her somewhere.  

But now, here's another little mystery. In Jozefa's deck, card #8 is Broken Mirror rather than the usual Coffin. And yet, in all the images I've been able to find online (not many) where card #8 is present, it's clearly a coffin. Maybe at the time of reprinting the deck (1969) the publishers felt the image of a coffin was too "grim" for the public sensibilities of the day. If anyone knows of a pre-1969 Gypsy Bijou with a Broken Mirror card I'd love to hear about it.

Random Reading - #112

One of the rabbit holes I explored recently led me to Waldfee.net. I found an interesting 3x3 variation there, which I'm going to use for this week's RR. My interpretation of the spread (the site is in German) follows the reading, for those who are interested.

⁘  Bottom row – The answer:
In order to maintain your reputation and influence you need to tap into your "feminine" side – empathy, nurture, receptiveness. (Yes, highly sexist, but you have to work with the cards you've got. Pretend this card is "Yin" if that helps.)

Middle row – Details:
Relying on strict discipline provides only short-term advantage. You can't keep that up…

Top row – Outcome:
… Otherwise you won't get anywhere with others. 

Summary – What you're hoping to achieve requires that you stop being a control freak and start listening to others, or they won't stick around.  ⁘

Waldfee's (Uta Dittrich) Individual Questions or 9-Way Spread 

Shuffle and cut the pack into 3 roughly equal piles. Turn the piles over so that the cards are face up on top

Place the top card of each pile - cards 1, 2, and 3 - across in a row [note that these cards are all "the cut", so the cut provides the answer]

Place the second card of each pile - cards 4, 5, and 6 - in a row above the first row

Place the bottom (not third) card of each pile - cards 7, 8, and 9 - in a row above the second row

The first column gives further explanations and information on card 1
The second column gives further explanations and information on card 2
The third column gives further explanations and information on card 3

Pay special attention to card 5, the middle card, as it is the focal point of the statements, i.e. the main topic

deck used: Petite Clé Lenormand, by Maximilian Eggstein (https://www.librairie-invisible.de/petite-cle/)

Random Reading - #109

This week I find myself the very happy owner of a beautiful Petite Clé ("Little Key") Lenormand, thanks to the kind generosity of its creator, Maximilian Eggstein.

I'm smitten with the art style and the colouring, the use of German suits for the insets, and the individual and appropriate "personalities" of the face cards. Even the backs are gorgeous. Standard Lenormand size with a linen-finish that shuffles and fans like a dream.

Now let's put it to work. 

⁘  Someone is casting aspersions on the Woman (you or a woman significant to you) in order to cause difficulties and gain influence. Fear not - the Bear fell out as I shuffled. The Woman has the personal strength to deal with it, and the strength of character that ensures that those she's close to are unlikely to be taken in.  ⁘

I plan to make a flip-thru video of this deck once I've had a chance to familiarise myself with the cards a bit more.
30 June - Done! Petite Clé Lenormand Flip-Thru

Free Reading - for Mary 15Oct18

Mary, your question was "What would be the outcome if I apply for a secretary job at the health clinic?"

16. Stars - 3. Ship - 32. Moon - 21. Mountain - 23. Mice

I'm attempting to read these cards with the "Idalia" meanings. That said, even with standard Lenormand meanings the beginning of the line looks very promising, but the end foretells of obstacles.

If we take the central card as key to the situation, it speaks of fun and frivolity and nothing very serious. It makes me wonder if you have any serious intent to apply for the job or whether you're perhaps just toying with the idea. Or you're not seen as a serious contender.

Leading up to the central card the Star and Ship show good fortune coming, recognition of your business abilities and a successful future career. I'll come back to that last bit.

The following cards, however, tell me that you have an "enemy" blocking your way. Someone who wants to rob you of your success. This could be someone at the health centre with a grudge against you specifically, or someone who may simply have their own person in mind for the position.

It could also be someone closer to home... The LWB meanings are definitely a product of their time, i.e. sexist, and the Ship states: "You are a clever business man, or if a woman, a good housekeeper or arranger of social affairs." Ugh!! But maybe they, or even you, don't want you working outside the home. Or if you already do, maybe this job is seen as too demanding of your time.

As an exercise, and because I know you're a "cardie" and will be interested, I'll quickly apply the LWB's 5-card method - Your success is blocked by someone who sees you as frivolous and wishes to impugn your reputation.

I don't as a rule use the quintessence (adding the numbers of the cards and reducing them to a figure between 1 and 36) or the shadow/bottom card with Lenormand, but again as an exercise, they were Fox and Garden, respectively. A deceiver in your circle of friends, perhaps?

My overall impression from these cards is that now is not a good time to make an application. There's nothing disastrous here, and you're welcome to try, of course. Never let the cards "tell" you what to do. But the gentle suggestion 😏 is that for now you enjoy yourself and make the most of your time. The Ship promises success "in the future". Think about what you really want to achieve - Stars + Ship tells us you are capable of great things.

< < < < < ¤ > > > > >

Dear Mary, thank you for taking part. If there is anything further you would like to know or have clarified about this reading, please contact me.

Idalia Fortune Telling Cards, published by Geo. W Pilkington & Co, circa 1910.

Freebie Friday - #3

### We have a winner! Better luck next time. ###

It's that time again. And I'm changing it up a bit this week 'coz Mama's got a brand new deck. 😁

Instead of tarot or playing cards, I'm offering a 5-card reading with these little lovelies -

Idalia Fortune Telling Cards

"Idalia" is a Lenormand variant printed in England around 1910. Lenormand works best with clear questions about practical matters. So if you have such a question...

The first person to leave a comment* on this post will receive a free card reading**.

* Please comment with your question. You must be 18 or older, and not have had a reading here in the past 90 days.

** I will pull 5 cards for your question and post the reading here on the blog. In addition, I will answer one follow-up question if needed. I reserve the right to decline a request without explanation.