So about those Lenormand Cards...

Celtic Lenormand by Chloe McCracken and Will Worthington

I've been reading Tarot cards for 8 years now and obviously our love affair continues. But in the last 2 years, I became incredibly interested in Lenormand. One thing I heard from tarot readers over and over again is, "I can't understand it! It's way too hard!" and yes, it is hard. I'm going to tell you a secret about why you might have a problem learning Lenormand.

You've got tarot brain.

Yes, tarot brain! As tarot readers we are so interested in the astrological, psychological, symbolic, Kabbalahic, numerological and anything else we can see in the cards. We are DEEP people! We think deeply and we read deeply. We look at each picture and card combination and see a world of possibles for the sitter (or ourselves).

Lenormand is not asking you to do all that.

Tarot says, "Let me consul you. Talk to me, tell me your hopes and dreams, let me help you."

Lenormand says, "I'm giving you the truth bitch. Straight, no chaser." 

Lenormand isn't too considerate when it comes to your feelings, because it's like your best friend who will let you know that yes, you look fat in that dress and no, they really aren't into you.. It is straight forward and takes no prisoners. So I want to give you a few tips when learning to read Lenormand to help you on your way.

1. Read "The Essential Lenormand: Your Guide to Precise and Practical Fortunetelling" by the fabulous Rana George (and if you have ever met Rana George, you know that she is actually fabulous, she's nice, beautiful, an amazing diviner and has a killer sense of style). Now, she is not paying me to plug her book, but I'm just letting you all know that this book is basically a Lenormand bible. She has excellent descriptions of each card, examples of combinations, wonderful practice exercises, a very good section where you learn about the Grand Tableu, and some awesome person stories. Before I got this book, I went through different books, most of which just had  card combinations, and it didn't really help me learn about the cards. Rana breaks it all the way down. Read it, you will love it.
2. Shut off your tarot brain- temporarily. Don't read so much into each card. For example, the Mountain. Mountains are big, they block your way. So this indicates there is a something in your way. Easy enough right? Ok, next crossroads. Crossroads, two paths, indicates a choice needs to be made. Next, Ship. Ships move people and things. Traveling, leaving, moving. Got it? Good. See I'm making it sound easy, but it is only because after a 2 years of banging my head against a wall with Lenormand did I realize I was reading WAY too much into every reading. Now when I say shut off your tarot brain, I don't mean turn off your intuitive mind. If you are an intuitive reader, then that will serve you very well with Lenormand. But keep it simple. 
3. This is fortunetelling. Remember that. This is pure and simple fortunetelling. What happens happens and that is it. This is where my semi-issue with fortunetelling is. There is usually no advice (unless you get some intuitively) coming from your Lenormand readings and Grand Tableu. Sometimes this can leave your sitter with some anxiety about what is coming, and not with any solutions. Don't try and get something from these readings that you aren't getting, because then you may start to read way too much into in, just like we just talked about. 
4. Get a deck you adore. Look- it is always easier for you to learn something when you are using tools you like. Make sure you get a deck that speaks to you, and if you can't get one that speaks to you, get one that is attractive to you. Check out Aecletic Tarot and find a deck that is amazing.
5. Practice, practice, practice. That is pretty much the secret to getting good at anything right? There is no other super secret to getting good at reading these petite 36 cards. Lenormand takes time to learn, especially when you have been reading tarot this whole time, but you can do it!      

Ok guys, any questions? I want to see a bunch of new Lenormand readers STAT!!! Let's go. 

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