What is Lenormand?
Lenormand is a cartomancy system named after famous fortune teller Mademoiselle Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand (1772-1843). There are two distinct systems of Lenormand, the Petit Jeu (small game) and the Grand Jeu (big game). The Petit Jeu is the most common system of Lenormand and has only 36 cards. The Grand Jeu contains 54 cards and is a much more complex system, incorporating Greek mythology, astrology, flowers and other symbols. Despite both systems being named after Mlle. Lenormand, she did not use either of these systems, instead reading with a traditional playing card deck.
Brief History
The Petit Jeu Lenormand originated as a German parlour game called the Game of Hope. First published in 1799, the Game of Hope was designed by Johann Kaspar Hechtel and involved laying out the 36 cards and rolling a pair of dice to determine what card you would land on. To win the game you had to land on card number 35 (The Anchor). The guidebook also mentioned using the Game of Hope as a divinatory oracle and references a card layout which is known today as the Grand Tableau in Petit Jeu Lenormand. The cards used in the Game of Hope include the emblems found in coffee ground reading, so the cards do have foundations in divination.
After Mlle. Lenormand died, the Game of Hope was re-marketed as a divination deck called Le Petit Jeu Lenormand, a re-branding strategy designed to capitalise on Mlle. Lenormand’s famous name. Similarly, Le Grand Jeu Lenormand was also published around the same time, although, unlike the Petit Jeu, it has been suggested that the Grand Jeu is likely to include influences from Mlle. Lenormand’s reading style.
Petit Jeu versus Grand Jeu Lenormand
Apart from both cartomancy systems being named after Mlle. Lenormand, there are virtually no commonalities between the Petit Jeu Lenormand and the Grand Jeu Lenormand. The Petit Jeu is a simple and straightforward system, using only 36 cards. In contrast, the Grand Jeu Lenormand is highly complex and uses 54 cards, none of which are found in the Petit Jeu.
When the term “Lenormand” is being referenced, it is virtually always referring to the Petit Jeu. There are a few reasons for this. The Petit Jeu is much easier to learn, there are many more decks on the market, and there is significantly more information available on this cartomancy system than on the Grand Jeu. Personally, I have never read with the Grand Jeu Lenormand and my knowledge on the subject is minimal. Therefore, from here on, whenever I use the term Lenormand (in this post and anywhere else on my website), I am referring to Le Petit Jeu Lenormand.
How to read Lenormand?
Le Petit Jeu Lenormand has 36 cards, each with a familiar symbol, making it easy for beginners to grasp the general meaning of the card. For example, The Clover represents short-term good luck and gambling, The Dog represents loyalty and friendship, and The Snake is untrustworthy. Every card has different associated meanings, including nouns, verbs and adjectives, but the meanings are relatively intuitive. The cards are read in combinations, generally pairs or triplets, and they are read like a sentence.
If you are reading the cards as a pair, they are traditionally read as Card 1 = Noun and Card 2 = Adjective. For example, Dog + Snake = an untrustworthy friend, or Clover + Dog = a friendly bet. There are different methods of reading triplets, which I will explain in a separate post, but it’s the same general idea.
I will note that there are different “schools” of Lenormand reading. Some of the card meanings from the French tradition differ from the German tradition, which differ from the Dutch tradition. So, if you come across one source that describes The Fox as a cunning person and another that describes The Fox as a career card, that is because the different traditions have some alternative card associations.
In a reading, Lenormand cards can be laid out as a vignette (a small group of cards), a tableau (a larger group of cards, generally in a box formation) or in a grand tableau (all 36 cards, traditionally in an 8x4+4 layout as originally referenced in the Game of Hope guidebook). I will discuss some of the different Lenormand spreads in a separate post, but the main point is that Lenormand cards are always read in combination with other cards, never solo.
Lenormand versus Tarot
Lenormand and Tarot are completely different cartomancy systems, each with their own unique reading styles. Below are some of the key differences:
Petit Lenormand has 36 cards; Tarot has 78 cards.
Lenormand cards have set meanings. The House means the same thing whether the artwork is depicted as a mansion or a houseboat.
Tarot is read intuitively, and the artwork can influence the meaning of a card in a reading.
Lenormand is read systematically, like constructing a sentence. The position of the cards in relation to other cards is significant, including the distance between cards.
Tarot cards are read more fluidly depending on the style of the reader.
Lenormand cards are always read in combinations; Tarot cards can be read individually, especially in a spread with set positional meanings.
Lenormand deals with practical matters and is read literally; Tarot provides a bigger picture view and is read metaphorically.
If you want to learn a cartomancy system and are trying to decide which one to pursue, Lenormand has less than half the number of cards to learn compared to the Tarot. The meanings are also a lot more straightforward, which makes them arguably easier to learn. That said, the structured reading approach doesn’t suit everyone, and the readings generally cover practical matters rather than diving deep. If you want a less rigid reading style where there are more opportunities to follow your intuition, the Tarot would be a better choice.
Recommendations for Beginners
If you are interested in learning the Petit Lenormand, I recommend starting with the Cute Little Lenormand by Sara M. Lyons. It is a fantastic book that explains everything you need to start reading Lenormand and it also comes with a deck. You can read my review of this deck here.
The Cute Little Lenormand is currently in print and can be purchased through most mass market deck retailers. For anyone located in Australia, you can purchase this deck through my shop.
