Hello there,

Quite recently I was asked “how do you read Lenormand cards and get so much info from them so quickly?” Well that’s a question with many answers let me just start there.

It takes time and study to properly read using the Lenormand system. I laugh when I read posts online and classes offering “become a certified Lenormand reader in XYZ amount of time.” First off who certified the certifier ?? Then I have to admit, and it sounds daunting but it is true, it takes many many months, yes years in fact, of practice until the Lenormand system reads with ease – and even then we get a head scratcher from time to time.

I then saw that the person asking the question wanted to know if I used a “system” to read Lenormand. Okay, now the question becomes a bit easier to answer. Lenormand is a system, so yes of course you use one to read with. If you are looking to be an intuitive reader – Lenormand is not your bread and butter deck. Not to say intuition doesn’t play a part but…… it is a part AFTER the system is used to decipher the cards.

This all said I am a student of Lenormand influenced by the teachings of Andy Boroveshengra, and Bjorn Meuris then add in a dash of Rana George and Caitlin Matthews. Mostly I read as Andy teaches in his amazing book, Lenormand Thirty Six Cards. The smallest spread I read is a three card (never one card alone and a two card is only for a quick description that I might need) all the way up to the Grand Tableau. My go to spread is the 3X3, Portrait Spread, Nine Card spread – it goes by so many names!

When I read, before I look at the Lenormand images I take note of the playing card inserts – all the decks I use must have a playing card insert. I take note how many of each suit is present, if a suit is pre-dominant or is a suit is missing from the spread all together. Each one of these scenarios of course tells me a different type of info. Example – no Hearts are present, this is not an emotionally charged issue/question and yes that is just an off the cuff example not what it means every time.

Then I read the playing card inserts again to see if there are any duplicate types of cards there and if so how many of each. Each set of 2, 3 or 4 of a kind has a different meaning. It would be too long to type here, refer to Andy’s book for a comprehensive list of meanings. Yes, 3 Kings in a spread has a meaning just as a pair of 7’s or any other cards does.

(With both of the above please note everything thing is present in a Grand Tableau so that info doesn’t apply when using that spread.)

Now I have an overall feel for the reading from the Suits with an overall or over riding message from duplicates if they are present. You can have multiple sets of duplicates in a spread – ah there is more info to glean.

Now I proceed to reading the Lenormand Cards by their individual meanings and their proximity to each other. Yes, I am a Near/Far or Proximity reader in the Lenormand system.

So that, in a nutshell is how I read using the Lenormand system. I hope that answers the question. As well here is a link to Andy’s book – I can’t recommend it more highly. I have both paperback and Kindle versions and it is never far from me.

Until we meet again,

Hugh