Cult of Tarot Forum

I have a question for the Lenny readers.

I know that there are some techniques for using Lenormand to answer yes/no questions.

And I think it's reputation for "straightforwardness" (could that be a bit of the German influence?) maybe lends it better to some uses.

Do any of you find that there are certain circumstances or types of questions that make you want to turn to a Lenormand deck rather than tarot or oracle for answers?

Hi Joan Marie, I hope your question catches more attention!

As for myself, I use Lennies/sibilla and gypsy types for daily line draws and practical questions regarding safety, lost items, pets, yes/no, for people I don't know well, if I have a time constraint, etc.
Tarot is more useful for me when I have the time to meditate on the draw (esp the Majors), for friends I know well, for psychological issues or relationship questions, getting to the source of a matter, reading another's motives (tricky), esoteric, and some I can't remember atm. I don't use Tarot much, but am looking into the Marseille minors to see whether I can use them more efficiently.
And other oracles, depends on whether they come w a learning method (which means more time) or not. Can use the simpler ones anytime, but for me, mostly for fun and curiosity. But they can be very accurate (depends on how well thought out the deck is, or I am ). I like to collect interesting non-tarot decks.

I hope someone w loads more experience such as @katrinka will see this and respond too

*waves at bastetly* Hi!

When I'm not using it simply because it happens to be handy or because I feel like it, when there's an actual pressing need to use it instead of something else, I use Lenormand when there's enough at stake to require the smallest possible margin of error. I attribute its efficacy to the method rather than the deck itself.

I don't use different decks/systems for different types of questions, I don't have "money decks", "relationship decks", "health decks", etc. I think that knowing a system well means being able to use it for any kind of question.

Tarot and the other parlor fortunetelling decks work well and come second. Beyond that, I don't use cards, I use runes, I Ching, etc. I don't use what gets called "oracle decks" these days - those pastel affirmation cards with fantasy pictures, white light, and single keywords. I find them to be vague and unbalanced. If I can't find my keys, getting a non-answer like "growth" or "believe" would be frustrating indeed!

The more concrete the answer, then the more likely I am to use Lenormand. So, yes/no first and foremost and then some recent Lenny questions as you may have seen in my Lenormand Lines thread. Thinking about it, I tend to use Lenormand more for an answer that is describing what is happening at the present moment. I use tarot more often to ask about the advisability of certain approaches to a problem, advice for what to do in a given situation, and future predictions. Ironically, though, if I'm doing just a "general" reading, I'm likely to go in the opposite direction: tarot for 'what's going on right now' and Lenormand for the month long of quarter long outlet (3x3 and GT respectively, although I can't really do the GT worth a damn yet).

This is a great question, and not being a Lenormand reader myself (as of yet), it was something that I wondered about. Having read your replies, now I know that I definitely want to learn it. It just sounds so useful (not that Tarot isn't - I guess it's about using the right tool for the job Hahaha, @katrinka your comment about the fluffier affirmation oracles made me chuckle. It's so true.

Katrinka isn't shy about her antipathy to the oracle decks, but I think they are alright for the rind kind of question. Like you said, it's about matching the tool to the job. I have a "Magical Unicorns" deck that I use for things like advice on how to de-stress, ways to put a positive spin on a situation, how to be nice to somebody, etc. When reading for a live person, I'll often end with a Unicorn card just to give them something pleasant to finish with. I've also done a few experiments where I've paired up some color-heavy oracle cards with tarot, such as doing a French Cross with pips and then using a color card for the quintessence position.

Still, I think learning Lenormand really helped up my cartomancy game for any and all kinds of reading. If you learn, though, it's important to realize that there are a lot of poorly informed books that were basically written to cash in on it's recent entry into the English speaking world. Andy Boroveshengra's is probably the best but it's getting hard to find since it's technically out of print right now. Bjorn Meuris is a good complement to Andy. There are others.

Hi @CharlieBrown
Agreed, there is a time and a place for such decks. I have a number of oracle decks, and most of them are useful, and a couple are more fluffier. Although, sometimes a little fluff is needed, for the reasons you mentioned. Sometimes, I need a little coddling when reality is just a bit too much LOL.

That's a great way to use your Unicorn deck. I've been thinking of pulling an oracle card at the end of my tarot readings just to tie it all together. I see a lot of folks doing that, and it's a great way to get some use out of all my oracle decks haha.

Thank you for the advice about the books. I was actually looking for books on how to get started, but wasn't sure which one to go with. Heck, I wasn't even sure which deck to go with. I picked up a really cheap Lenormand deck set (The Lenormand Fortune Telling Cards by Harold Josten) for a couple of bucks, but I thought I read somewhere it wasn't ideal to learn on, so I haven't bothered with it.

I was looking at Caitlín Matthew's book, or Alexandre Musruk - any thoughts on either? (sorry if this is OT! - I should probably go searching the forum before derailing this convo)

Anyway, I'm getting really excited about my Lenormand journey now. While I love Tarot, sometimes, particularly those yes/no questions aren't the easiest to answer with it. Lenormand sounds like it will be right up my alley. Along with all of my stuff that I lose, but now will be able to find! LOL

I don't know much about the Musruck, but I think Katrinka might. Caitlin Matthews is a solid author and reader but isn't really a Lenormand specialist. Out of the books that I have any knowledge of it would probably be my fourth choice behind the two I mentioned and then Rana George.

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 17:48 I don't know much about the Musruck, but I think Katrinka might. Caitlin Matthews is a solid author and reader but isn't really a Lenormand specialist. Out of the books that I have any knowledge of it would probably be my fourth choice behind the two I mentioned and then Rana George.

Good to know, thank you for your suggestions @Charlie Brown <----- annnnd I just realised we can't tag people here.

Venus Rising wrote: ↑03 Aug 2019, 16:28 Thank you for the advice about the books. I was actually looking for books on how to get started, but wasn't sure which one to go with. Heck, I wasn't even sure which deck to go with. I picked up a really cheap Lenormand deck set (The Lenormand Fortune Telling Cards by Harold Josten) for a couple of bucks, but I thought I read somewhere it wasn't ideal to learn on, so I haven't bothered with it.

The big issue with that is the book, it's terrible. A secondary issue is the verses on the cards, there's a lot of misinformation there. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-revi ... 1454913681 If you can COMPLETELY ignore the verses, or don't mind trimming them away (you'd lose the numbers though) the deck would be usable. But there's a selection of much better Dondorf-style decks here http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.co ... -returning

I was looking at Caitlín Matthew's book, or Alexandre Musruk - any thoughts on either? (sorry if this is OT! - I should probably go searching the forum before derailing this convo)

Caitlin's book isn't bad. She's a good reader, she gets it. Her book is respected, but not considered to be the best available.

The best is still easily gotten. I'd act now, while it's still inexpensive: https://www.amazon.com/Lenormand-Thirty ... 274&sr=8-2

As for Musruck - no. Just no. Every time that guy sees a deck trending at facebook card reading groups, he bangs out a book and a deck. It doesn't take him long, either. He's light years better than Josten, lol, but his knowledge is pretty superficial.

katrinka wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 20:38 But there's a selection of much better Dondorf-style decks here http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.co ... -returning

Caitlin's book isn't bad. She's a good reader, she gets it. Her book is respected, but not considered to be the best available.

The best is still easily gotten. I'd act now, while it's still inexpensive: https://www.amazon.com/Lenormand-Thirty ... 274&sr=8-2

As for Musruck - no. Just no. Every time that guy sees a deck trending at facebook card reading groups, he bangs out a book and a deck. It doesn't take him long, either. He's light years better than Josten, lol, but his knowledge is pretty superficial.

Awesome, thank you so much for the insight and recommendations, Katrinka. I had that Musruck book and deck in my cart so many times, but kept hesitating. SO glad I did! Going to order one of the decks from the link you posted and I've just ordered Andy's book. Thanks for the tip!

Venus Rising wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 15:26

katrinka wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 20:38 But there's a selection of much better Dondorf-style decks here http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.co ... -returning

Caitlin's book isn't bad. She's a good reader, she gets it. Her book is respected, but not considered to be the best available.

The best is still easily gotten. I'd act now, while it's still inexpensive: https://www.amazon.com/Lenormand-Thirty ... 274&sr=8-2

As for Musruck - no. Just no. Every time that guy sees a deck trending at facebook card reading groups, he bangs out a book and a deck. It doesn't take him long, either. He's light years better than Josten, lol, but his knowledge is pretty superficial.

Awesome, thank you so much for the insight and recommendations, Katrinka. I had that Musruck book and deck in my cart so many times, but kept hesitating. SO glad I did! Going to order one of the decks from the link you posted and I've just ordered Andy's book. Thanks for the tip!

Andy also has a blog that he is currently adding to. In July he started with a Lesson 01:01 for beginners and is now up to Lesson 02:01. http://abcartomancy.blogspot.com/2019/0 ... -0101.html
And his book is my Lenormand bible. Amazing resource he is for cartomancy skills.

Btw here is a site that sells common Lenormand decks that are very inexpensive including a Dondorf https://www.bookdepository.com/

bastetly wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 16:36 Andy also has a blog that he is currently adding to. In July he started with a Lesson 01:01 for beginners and is now up to Lesson 02:01. http://abcartomancy.blogspot.com/2019/0 ... -0101.html
And his book is my Lenormand bible. Amazing resource he is for cartomancy skills.

Btw here is a site that sells common Lenormand decks that are very inexpensive including a Dondorf https://www.bookdepository.com/

Oh that's great, thank you @Bastetly for sharing both the lessons and the Book Depository link. I LOVE Book Depository - it is a dangerous place for my wallet haha

Just a word on some of the decks there:

The Koenigsfurt is a Dondorf pattern, yes. The stock isn't very durable, though. And the Dondorf playing card insets have been replaced with other PC images, which may be OK for some but will bug others. But the price is right and its an excellent beginner deck.

Ciro Marchetti's deck is very pretty and a lot of people like it, but his Rider is a woman on a carousel. If you can remember that the Rider is actually male and the horse is real and going somewhere, it's fine.

The Piatnik and the ASS are classics. You can't go wrong with one of those.

The Owl decks are also classic. But it's kind of hard to make sure the copy you're getting has playing card insets. You might end up with a copy with verses.

The Blue Bird has both playing card insets and verses. But the verses often contradict the actual card meaning. (This could be a problem with the Owl decks as well.)

The images on the Mystical are kind of confusing. They're busy - the Ring card looks like the Birds card, since the most prominent thing on it is magpies.

It's kind of tricky picking out a beginner deck. Your best bet is to go with a reproduction of an old deck.

katrinka wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 20:14 Just a word on some of the decks there:

The Koenigsfurt is a Dondorf pattern, yes. The stock isn't very durable, though. And the Dondorf playing card insets have been replaced with other PC images, which may be OK for some but will bug others. But the price is right and its an excellent beginner deck.

Ciro Marchetti's deck is very pretty and a lot of people like it, but his Rider is a woman on a carousel. If you can remember that the Rider is actually male and the horse is real and going somewhere, it's fine.

The Piatnik and the ASS are classics. You can't go wrong with one of those.

The Owl decks are also classic. But it's kind of hard to make sure the copy you're getting has playing card insets. You might end up with a copy with verses.

The Blue Bird has both playing card insets and verses. But the verses often contradict the actual card meaning. (This could be a problem with the Owl decks as well.)

The images on the Mystical are kind of confusing. They're busy - the Ring card looks like the Birds card, since the most prominent thing on it is magpies.

It's kind of tricky picking out a beginner deck. Your best bet is to go with a reproduction of an old deck.

You are a gem, Katrinka. Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction. And surely you must be a mind reader, because I was looking at all of those and wondering which one to go with! I'm definitely going to order one or two from the Game of Hope link you sent - maybe the Lilac Dondorf one? These are beautiful!
I looked at Ciro's too, and want it as well. It's lovely. Since I know nothing about Lenormand right now, I will have to go look up 'Rider' and why it's important that it is male. Thanks again!

Venus Rising wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 22:10 Since I know nothing about Lenormand right now, I will have to go look up 'Rider' and why it's important that it is male. Thanks again!

And that, right there, is why it's probably best to avoid that deck for now. I really like the Koenigsfort, but if you're going to invest in a Lilac, then you don't need it. The price is definitely right though.

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 22:36 And that, right there, is why it's probably best to avoid that deck for now. I really like the Koenigsfort, but if you're going to invest in a Lilac, then you don't need it. The price is definitely right though.

duly noted, and thank you very much!