What Questions are best asked of a Lenormand Deck?

[Madrigal]

So I'm still very new in my Lenormand journey (have I even left the station lol) and have had a frustrating week with it. It occurred to me that I'm approaching the system in the wrong way and with the wrong attitude. So for now rather than asking questions I'm simply going to do daily draws until I develop a relationship with the cards.

However my understanding with Lenormand is that it's actually quite good for questions of a predictive nature or for those that would yield yes/no answers. Am I correct in this assumption? And yet looking at the, what feels like endlessly nuanced ways to interpret both the cards and their combos and placement, I'm finding it hard to understand how this could work predictively with any accuracy.

These questions come from a place of honest wondering so it would be much appreciated if you seasoned readers could help me out here and share your wisdom and experience. I'm not sure this system is for me. I can intimate that it uses a certain kind of intuitive muscle but I don't seem to be able to access that one specifically. Which I find fascinating.

 

[Tag_jorrit]

Yes, it does take intuition, but not what you think. The intuition for Lenormand is based on the thorough knowledge of the language and nuances, and then experience.

Any kind of questions should be well crafted so that the answers will not be ambiguous. If you are interested in learning the traditional methods, 'yes' and 'no' questions are not the primary way of using the cards.

If you, say, want to know about a job interview you might ask the cards, "What do I need to know about this job interview?" which should get you an interesting observation from the cards.

If you do better taking a course than just reading the books, there's a discussion in this thread: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=236651

 

[Madrigal]

Yes, it does take intuition, but not what you think. The intuition for Lenormand is based on the thorough knowledge of the language and nuances, and then experience.

Thank you for responding. This is quite a significant directive. I sense that what isn't working for me is that my intuitive voice dislikes being tied down to one particular spectrum of meaning. For example, a Lenormand Snake card is most often interpreted negatively with a few exceptions. But my my intuitive self is not on board with that. I mean I can accept that in this system that's how it's painted but when I see Snake, I experience a whole range of meanings that have to do with alchemical energy, with feminine power and blessings. That just doesn't cut it with Lenormand. And then I'm up against a brick wall.

And yet I can't seem to give it up. I'm intrigued and my stubborn self is convinced that rather than opposites these are polarities and thus capable of dialoguing with each other.

Yes
Any kind of questions should be well crafted so that the answers will not be ambiguous. If you are interested in learning the traditional methods, 'yes' and 'no' questions are not the primary way of using the cards.

If you, say, want to know about a job interview you might ask the cards, "What do I need to know about this job interview?" which should get you an interesting observation from the cards.

If you do better taking a course than just reading the books, there's a discussion in this thread: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=236651

I looked at this thread and if, after I'm done with my reading, I'm still on board lol I'll take a look at Bjorn Meuris's course. Thank you again for your help.

 

[1Eleven]

I mean I can accept that in this system that's how it's painted but when I see Snake, I experience a whole range of meanings that have to do with alchemical energy, with feminine power and blessings. That just doesn't cut it with Lenormand. And then I'm up against a brick wall

Can I poke a few holes in this?? Your understanding of Snake having to do with alchemical energy, feminine power and blessings... This was learned, wasn't it? Where did you learn this? Why would Lenormand be different? It's learned. It's understanding. It's a deep knowing that requires a foundation. You're stating your intuition wants freedom but as you mentioned above it's already limited to those views. Free range, unlimited intuition without structure is a crap shoot. (Look into the structure of Remote Viewing - it's rigid as that brick wall you mentioned but the level of detail attained is incredible) If your pure intuition is that in tune you could throw mud against a wall, read that and not even bother with a deck of cards.

Build the proper foundation THEN you can expand on that. The foundation comes first. Only always. Bjorn's course is a decent place to start.

 

[LittleOne]

I definitely struggled with Lenormand at first - after coming from Tarot and very symbolic, intepretative reading - looking at cards, tapping into the range of elements - colour, directions, numerology, astrology, etc. So I struggled a lot when first picking up my Lenormand deck.

Not to devalue the Lenormand in anyway with this analogy, but in some ways I think of Tarot as literature, a Murakami novel or something; whereas Lenormand is like picking up a Mills and Boon... hell, like flicking though a supermarket catalogue!

I guess this really goes hand in hand with the kind of question to ask: things that are more definitive. Less symbolically exploratory.

Using the anology above again. You don't go to your supermarket catalogue (Lenormand) and expect to find a revelation on the symbology of eggs.... you'll get a few kinds of eggs, a few brands and a few of prices - there's scope for decision making and choosing but within a defined range. Conversely, you might go to a philosophical text (Tarot) and find an astounding amount on information to dwell upon and process and sort through regarding something as simple as an egg - fertility, birth, Orphic Egg mysthology, elliptical mathematics, cosmological secret of humanity, hard-soft dichotomy, etc.

It's really a mental hurdle to move past. You kind of just have to say to yourself: my Lenormand deck is purely utilitarian, and I'm going to use it like I would use a knife and fork - accept it's form and function and use it how it was designed.

 

[Madrigal]

Can I poke a few holes in this?? Your understanding of Snake having to do with alchemical energy, feminine power and blessings... This was learned, wasn't it? Where did you learn this? Why would Lenormand be different? It's learned. It's understanding. It's a deep knowing that requires a foundation. You're stating your intuition wants freedom but as you mentioned above it's already limited to those views. Free range, unlimited intuition without structure is a crap shoot. (Look into the structure of Remote Viewing - it's rigid as that brick wall you mentioned but the level of detail attained is incredible) If your pure intuition is that in tune you could throw mud against a wall, read that and not even bother with a deck of cards.

Build the proper foundation THEN you can expand on that. The foundation comes first. Only always. Bjorn's course is a decent place to start.

Okay, I can run with that. But I'll push back a little and say that yes, my understanding was learned but it was learned through experience, not through reading someone else's ideas about snakes but through direct interface, through dream and vision and meditation. There is an authentic cellular, embodied experience here and I absolutely bring it to the table when I encounter that card. Of course I can't say the same for the other cards which feel much more prosaic.

That said, your points are valid and I'll ruminate on them as I work my way through some of my resources.

I definitely struggled with Lenormand at first - after coming from Tarot and very symbolic, intepretative reading. Looking at cards, tapping into the range of elements - colour, directions, numerology, astrology, etc. So I struggled a lot when first picking up my Lenormand deck.

Not to devalue the Lenormand in anyway with this analogy, but in some ways I think of Tarot as literature, a Murakami novel or something; whereas Lenormand is like picking up a Mills and Boon... hell, like flicking though a supermarket catalogue!

I guess this really goes hand in hand with the kind of question to ask: things that are more definitive. Less symbolically exploratory.

Using the anology above again. You don't go to your supermarket catalogue (Lenormand) and expect to find a revelation on the symbology of eggs.... you'll get a few kinds of eggs, a few brands and a few of prices - there's scope for decision making and choosing but within a defined range. Conversely, you might go to a philosophical text (Tarot) and find an astounding amount on information to dwell upon and process and sort through regarding something as simple as an egg - fertility, birth, Orphic Egg mysthology, elliptical mathematics, cosmological secret of humanity, hard-soft dichotomy, etc.

It's really a mental hurdle to move past. You kind of just have to say to yourself: my Lenormand deck is purely utilitarian, and I'm going to use it like I would use a knife and fork - accept it's form and function and use it how it was designed.

Thanks, LittleOne, that's both helpful and encouraging.

 

[LittleOne]

Thanks, LittleOne, that's both helpful and encouraging.

No worries. I thinking more about your specific question on what kind of questions to ask...

I guess for something like the egg analogy again, applicable questions might be:
Lenormand: what eggs should I buy this week?
Tarot: why have I been seeing eggs everywhere this week?


I mean - really you can ask the same questions of Tarot and Lenormand, but the answer style is going to be a bit different. For example: a question you could ask both Lenormand and Tarot - why didn't x reply to my email?

Hypothetical Lenormand answer is likely to be more specific, eg. Clouds + Mountain = they were unsure of how best to reply (Coulds = uncertainty) so they didn't (Mountain = block).

Hypothetical Tarot answer, eg. King of Cups rx + Eight of Swords = they are not in tune with their emotions regarding how your email made them feel (KC rx). In their head cannot think what the best forward step to make is and don't want to make the wrong move, so they didn't reply (8S).

 

[LittleOne]

There is still interpretive quality to it though. I was doing daily draws for a while and I remember one distinctly: Snake + Garden. I was thinking: I'll meet a deceptive person in public. What actually happened: A friend of mine (a older, dark haired woman = in line with the Lenormand Snake meaning) told me there was an eco-festival (Garden) happening that day.

Another - I asked what X was doing at that moment? I got Birds + Book + House. I was thinking he was secretly worrying about his home. Turns out Birds = Siblings, and Book + House = a house I don't know. I've never been to his brothers house, but that's what he was doing... visiting his brother.

So there is still plenty to learn and some interpretitive scope. I think that it is a long term practice to connect with Lenormand cards and tapping into your intuition to get the correct answer and very difficult to do even within it's limits. Kinda like mathematics, definitive but with the potential to be very complex within it's own rules.


Sorry.... went on a bit of a rant there. Just so many thoughts springing to mind!

 

[dancing_moon]

If you don't mind a non-seasoned reader chiming in... I had similar problems with Lenormand, coming from Tarot myself. I think the main difficulty for me was to stop trying to read Lenormand like Tarot, where I'm used to filling the gaps and connecting the dots through free association of the symbols in the images. This simply won't work in Lenormand, especially if you're still vague with the meanings.

The meanings were another significant issue. As much as I wanted to expand them into the metaphysical realm, they just wouldn't budge. So, Lenormand Snake could be an intelligent woman, a cunning woman, an evil woman, a helpful and wise woman, a lady boss or a female relative, it can even represent long and flexible objects, like a rope or a garden hose, but hardly anything to do with alchemy, kundalini or blessings. Lenormand card meanings, the way I see them, are more 'tangible', more down-to-earth, and that's exactly what makes them so good for day-to-day matters. I love LittleOne's analogy of literature vs. supermarket catalogue, it's very close to my perception as well.

As it was mentioned above, precise questions are very important, and questions that are more about facts/events, rather than motives and feelings (though those are possible to be read on as well), e.g. What will happen? Where will we meet? How will the meeting go? What will they buy for me? And then learning to read the cards in combinations and according to their positions in the spread.

And, of course, being patient and kind to yourself are important. It'll take much more than a week of meaningful learning to really start understanding what's it all about.

Good luck on this fascinating journey!

 

[Madrigal]

There is still interpretive quality to it though. I was doing daily draws for a while and I remember one distinctly: Snake + Garden. I was thinking: I'll meet a deceptive person in public. What actually happened: A friend of mine (a older, dark haired woman = in line with the Lenormand Snake meaning) told me there was an eco-festival (Garden) happening that day.

Another - I asked what X was doing at that moment? I got Birds + Book + House. I was thinking he was secretly worrying about his home. Turns out Birds = Siblings, and Book + House = a house I don't know. I've never been to his brothers house, but that's what he was doing... visiting his brother.

So there is still plenty to learn and some interpretitive scope. I think that it is a long term practice to connect with Lenormand cards and tapping into your intuition to get the correct answer and very difficult to do even within it's limits. Kinda like mathematics, definitive but with the potential to be very complex within it's own rules.


Sorry.... went on a bit of a rant there. Just so many thoughts springing to mind!

Thanks, LittleOne, it's helpful to hear the actualities of a micro-reading laid out like this with detail.

If you don't mind a non-seasoned reader chiming in... I had similar problems with Lenormand, coming from Tarot myself. I think the main difficulty for me was to stop trying to read Lenormand like Tarot, where I'm used to filling the gaps and connecting the dots through free association of the symbols in the images. This simply won't work in Lenormand, especially if you're still vague with the meanings.

The meanings were another significant issue. As much as I wanted to expand them into the metaphysical realm, they just wouldn't budge. So, Lenormand Snake could be an intelligent woman, a cunning woman, an evil woman, a helpful and wise woman, a lady boss or a female relative, it can even represent long and flexible objects, like a rope or a garden hose, but hardly anything to do with alchemy, kundalini or blessings. Lenormand card meanings, the way I see them, are more 'tangible', more down-to-earth, and that's exactly what makes them so good for day-to-day matters. I love LittleOne's analogy of literature vs. supermarket catalogue, it's very close to my perception as well.

Dancing_moon, this is also super helpful, particularly the highlighted. One of the things I love about Tarot (and PCO) is just that experience of connecting the dots and filling in the gaps with free association. I think I'm still not ready for the fixity required by Lenormand. At least it feels like fixity to my inexperienced eye. And your comment about "they just wouldn't budge" is very resonant. I feel like I'm up against a bit of wall. Which is, of course, my own obtuseness lol.

Interesting that you comment about Lenormand being for 'down-to-earth' matters as this is not one of my strong points. I work hard to keep all those details straight. I can do it fairly well but it's an effort. So perhaps I need to go a lot slower here.

As it was mentioned above, precise questions are very important, and questions that are more about facts/events, rather than motives and feelings (though those are possible to be read on as well), e.g. What will happen? Where will we meet? How will the meeting go? What will they buy for me? And then learning to read the cards in combinations and according to their positions in the spread.

And, of course, being patient and kind to yourself are important. It'll take much more than a week of meaningful learning to really start understanding what's it all about.

Good luck on this fascinating journey!

Yes, more than a week lol. Thanks again for your encouragement. Still not sure it's for me but I'm willing to plug away at it and the responses have the feeling of chipping away at some of my own rigidity around this system.