A Lenormand

Companion
By Peter Vodden

Introduction
My Extended Lenormand Deck has many applications. It was
designed to be usable as :

●
A Card Playing Deck – for standard 52-card games like Poker, or
the smaller 36-card deck required for games like Durak.
●
A Standard 36-card Petit Lenormand Fortune Telling Deck.
●
An Extended 52-card Lenormand Deck.
●
A Resource for Role-Playing Games.
●
An Ideas Generator for Writers or Artists.
●
An aid to Meditation and Personal Reflection.

This companion document will describe some of the many ways in

which the deck can be used.
 1. PLAying Cards

At its simplest, the deck can be used as a poker-style deck of 52

cards. Each card is assigned a rank (A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K) in
one of four suits (Hearts, Spades, Clubs and Diamonds) – these
being the widely used International or Anglo-American version of
'French-suited' cards. Two Joker cards are included for those
games requiring them.

The design on the back of the cards is symmetrical, and the suits
and ranks are printed at top left and lower right (inverted), so it
does not matter which way up the cards are shuffled, dealt or held
in the hand.

The cards are sized at 63.5 x 89 mm, or 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Popular
games such as Texas Hold'em or Blackjack use these suits, ranks,
and card size.

For this use, the illustrations included in the inner region of the
card are decorative only, and do not affect a game.

For 36-card games, you can simply set aside ranks 2, 3, 4 & 5 of
each suit.
 2. Lenormand Card Reading
For card-based 'fortune telling' (cartomancy), the deck can be used
as a standard 36-card Petit Lenormand deck. To use the deck in
this way, simply set aside the cards numbered 37 to 52 (ranks 2
through 5 of each suit) and the two Jokers – they are not required.

Marie Lenormand is generally held to be one of the most famous

and influential cartomancers of the 19th Century. Her name has
since been applied to many decks, often based on the original 36
cards of the parlour game called Das Spiel der Hoffnung ('The
Game Of Hope'. The card titles and illustrations used in this deck
are fully compatible – beginning with card 1 The Rider, and
completing at card 36 The Cross.

The Lenormand card numbers are printed at the top right (and
lower left inverted). Card titles are also printed at the top edge
(and repeated at the lower edge inverted).
Please note that (unlike Tarot cards) the Lenormand system does
not encompass different interpretations for inverted cards.

Some readers like to read cards for other people who may be
sitting opposite them across a small table. The inverted titles
included in the deck are a convenience designed for this
circumstance, where the reader may wish to deal the cards to the
table facing away from themselves - in order that the person
seated opposite can see the images as 'upright'.

If you are just beginning with reading Lenormand cards, please

refer to the Appendices of this booklet, which will introduce you
to the basics of how to lay cards to the table and read them:

●
Appendix A – The Meanings of the Cards.
●
Appendix B – Card Reading Techniques.

I do not claim to be an expert cartomancer. Fortunately there are

many other resources (free or commercial) available online – just
search for 'Petit Lenormand Beginners Guide'.

3. An Extended Lenormand
In order to make the deck truly multi-purpose, it was necessary to
extend the number of cards up to 52. I hope that I have managed
to create an Extended Lenormand that is credible, reasonable, and
highly sympathetic to the original design of the 36-card deck.

Many people have attempted to extend and adapt the Lenormand

deck. One recent example is the scheme found in Ciro Marchetti‘s
Gilded Reverie deck (a copy of which has a special place in my
personal collection!). In that approach, 8 cards were added to
bring the deck size to 44 cards.
I have adopted the Marchetti scheme (with some very minor
adjustments), and added a further 8 cards of my own design to
bring the total to 52 - thereby creating a direct mapping onto the
standard four-suited deck of poker style playing cards as shown in
Table 1 :

01 Rider 9♥ 27 Letter 7♠
02 Clover 6♦ 28 Man A♥
03 Ship 10 ♠ 29 Woman A♠
04 House K♥ 30 Lily K♠
05 Tree 7♥ 31 Sun A♦
06 Clouds K♣ 32 Moon 8♥
07 Snake Q♣ 33 Key 8♦
08 Coffin 9♦ 34 Fish K♦
09 Bouquet Q ♠ 35 Anchor 9♠
10 Scythe J♦ 36 Cross 6♣
11 Whip J♣ 37 Clock 4♦
12 Birds 7♦ 38 Bridge 4♥
13 Child J♠ 39 Dice 2♣
14 Fox 9♣ 40 Mask 2♠
15 Bear 10 ♣ 41 Well 5♦
16 Stars 6♥ 42 Compass 5♥
17 Stork Q♥ 43 Maze 4♠
18 Dog 10 ♥ 44 Glass 3♣
19 Tower 6♠ 45 Butterfly 3♥
20 Garden 8♠ 46 Lantern 3♦
21 Mountain 8 ♣ 47 Stones 2♦
22 Crossroads Q ♦ 48 Cat 5♣
23 Mice 7♣ 49 Hotel 2♥
24 Heart J♥ 50 Prison 3♠
25 Ring A♣ 51 Scales 4♣
26 Book 10 ♦ 52 Cards 5♠

Table 1: The Extended Lenormand Deck

As for the differences when using an extended deck for
cartomancy, there is of course no 'correct' way – if it is to have any
meaning at all, card reading must be a deeply personal activity.
Nevertheless, I will venture a few 'rule-of-thumb' suggestions for
those who are already familiar with the standard Lenormand
deck, but as yet still curious about using more cards :

(1) You do not have to use all of the extra cards. Just add
in those that seem useful to you.

(2) As with any cartomancy deck, you should develop

and nurture your own personal relationship with card
meanings. There is no such thing as a correct or
approved interpretation.

(3) 'Just go for it'! is one option - whether you spread a

3x3 or a Grand Tableau, you can simply make the same
or a larger layout including the extra cards.

(4) Alternatively - you can set the extra 16 cards aside for
potential use as clarifier cards. Simply create a spread as
usual, then deal further cards from the extension set
onto your spread, as you deem necessary or appropriate.
In this way, the different and contrasting images of the
extension cards can be used to add further flavour and
nuance to your established interpretations.

For anyone interested in the rationale behind this Extended

Lenormand deck, and how the additional images and meanings
were selected, Appendix C – Extending the Lenormand provides
some information on the origins of the deck.
 4. Role PLaying
The deck can provide a novel and fun resource to be introduced
into your role-playing game session. It can be a refreshing change
for players at the table to have an actual physical resource that
they can handle, examine and talk about.

A Gamemaster / Dungeon Master can weave all manner of simple

or complex plotlines around a deck of cards – how their existence
is introduced, how the first few are acquired, why it becomes
important to acquire more, etc. The curious names and
illustrations on the cards themselves can be linked to quests,
clues, puzzles, spells, treasures, people or places – the possibilities
are almost endless.

The cards were designed graphically to be easily included into any

setting based around Steampunk or Dieselpunk, where they will
be highly compatible.

With a little further stretch of the imagination, the deck could be

introduced into settings where the card images, whilst not
obviously native to that setting, could represent something
strange and other-worldly that is not totally out of place
considering all the other strange stuff going on. In this category
might be:

●
The Lovecraft Mythos
●
Dungeons & Dragons (Dwarven Artifice?)
●
Victorian Mystery
●
Gothic Horror
 5. An Ideas Generator
The deck can also serve as a random ideas generator for writers
or artists. Whether you are stuck in the middle of a novel,
struggling with a poem, or involved with others in a creative
writing session, it can be refreshing to let a randomised process
simply offer up a few random ideas to stimulate your imagnation.

Unlike Tarot Cards, which were designed by a group of people

heavily into mysticism and esoterica, Lenormand cards portray
concepts that are every-day and quite familiar (at least within the
context of the kind of western European culture in which they
originated) making them very useful for this kind of application.

To begin, shuffle the deck thoroughly a few times. Here are just a
few example suggestions for using the deck as an ideas generator:

(1) Stuck for what happens next? Fan out the cards, then
select just one of them at random. Examine it, and try to
think of how the image on the card fits into your existing
narrative – reflecting some aspect of a new (and perhaps
surprising) turn of events.

(2) Need a sub-plot or a background story for an

incidental character? Deal out three or four cards to the
table in a line. Decide whether you are going to read
them left-to-right, or right-to-left (or try both!). Then
focus upon the imagery of each card in turn, attempting
to take the ideas that come to mind and weave them
together linearly into a 'bare bones' narrative that is
consistent with your setting.
(3) Need a fully realised, completely new idea? This
endeavour is more complex, and will take time – but can
be very rewarding.

The technique I suggest here is what I call reading for the

imaginary person. It is identical to the kind of 'practice
readings' that both novice and expert readers will often
carry out when alone and in a quiet place, in order to
reinforce their knowledge of cartomancy techniques,
and to further develop their relationship with the cards.

Essentially, you prepare as if you where reading either

for yourself, or for someone else (See Appendix A – Card
Reading Techniques) – except that there is no-one else
here, and there is no specific 'matter in hand' to be
addressed. Try to begin with totally calm and empty
mindset.

Choose a spread with which you are familiar and

comfortable. It should involve a number of cards such
that sufficent detail and complexity can be represented –
I suggest as a minumum you plan to have at least a
quarter of the deck eventually visible on the table.

Proceed to read the cards in the normal way – slowly

and carefully, allowing a story to evolve. Make notes if
you wish. Strive to resist any temptation to force the
story into any 'desired' direction.

What emerges may be of use to you – or not – it does not

matter. If the idea generation this time is unsatisfactory,
you have lost nothing, and you have gained practice
reading the cards. Leave it for now, and try again
tomorrow – eventually you will succeed!
 5. Meditation and Reflection
The deck can also be used as resource for personal reflection and
meditation sessions.

If you wish to use the deck in this way, I recommend the free
downloadable PDF resource which accompanies the deck –
'Memorising The Lenormand Cards'

A copy can be downloaded from this page:

https://petervodden.blog/portfolio/free-printable-lenormand-cards/
 Appendix A
Meanings Of The Cards - A Reference List

The Lenormand imagery appeals at least partly because its

images are of commonplace objects, places and experiences with
which we are all familiar (at least those of us raised in a western
European culture). Cards such as (for example) the Ship, the Dog,
the Anchor, and the Letter all have meanings that are quite
intuitive.

Arguably, this makes the Lenormand system easier and more

approachable than alternative systems such as the Tarot, in which
the cards have complex multi-layered meanings often leaning
into mysticism and hermetic knowledge. (As an aside, I also read
Tarot cards, and have done for many years – but increasingly
these days I find myself reaching for my Lenormand deck by
default; perhaps because I am getting older, and find the process
less arduous mentally?)

The (admittedly very basic) meanings of each card presented here

are my own interpretations based upon an intuitive 'averaging'
over various offerings from the Lenormand community. The list
was not created in any systematic way – these meanings are
merely distilled out of my personal experience, considerations
based on the many and various publications available, and a lot
of gut feel and intuition.

So please feel free to use this offering as a resource if you wish – it

is not definitive, and there are many alternatives available 'out
there' for the finding.
01 Rider
News, Message, Fast, Passionate, Athletic

The Rider signifies either a person, a message,

or an event (perhaps all in one) – but certainly
the arrival of news which is significant. This is
usually a positive card, indicating that the news
may re-energise you and prompt a renewed
burst of activity.

02 Clover
Opportunity, Luck, Hopeful, Optimistic, Excited

The Clover is symbolic of happiness, luck, and

sudden fortune. It’s role is most often in
modifying adjacent cards, so it will be
necessary to look around to understand the
wider picture.

03 Ship
Travel, Farewell, Adventure, Seeking, Distant

Journeys are indicated – in both the literal and

the metaphorical sense. Whether via an actual
trip, or by means of an “inner journey”, a
departure from the norm is involved. In itself a
positive card, but if adjacent to negatives my
indicate that a deal of planning and preparation
will be required to avoid delays and pitfalls.
04 House
Home, Tradition, Safe, Stable, Comfortable

Our home, family, safety and security are

indicated. If not literally relevant, then in a
wider context it may represent a desire for a
safe space – a belonging, or a nostalgia.

05 Tree
Health, Growth, Past Connection, Grounded,
Spiritual
The Tree speaks of health and well-being, both
physical and mental. A tree is chosen as a
symbol because of the implication that a sound
state of health requires both time and a well-
rooted foundation in order to flourish. Some
readers perceive an aspect of the “Tree Of Life”
archetype that is present in a wide variety of
different mythologies, including Old Norse,
Ancient Greek, and all of the Abrahamic
religions.

06 Clouds
Misunderstanding, Secrets, Confused, Doubtful,
Insecure
Swirling obscurity “clouds” your judgment. This
is the card of worrying uncertainty, doubt and
confusion. Depending upon adjacent cards, may
sometimes indicate the clearing away of clouds
when the light of truth is revealed.
07 Snake
Desire, Deception, Sexual, Seductive, Medicinal

Western tradition has the Snake as seductive

manipulator, and purveyor of uncontrolled
desires. A duplicitous person may intend harm.
Other traditions however, revere the Snake as
keeper of ancient wisdom including health and
medicine - the “Staff of Aesculapius” (a snake
entwining a branch) is the chosen symbol of the
World Health Organisation.

08 Coffin
Grief, Ending Mournful, Depressed, Trans-
formative
The scope of this card includes all degrees of
ending, and the emotional reactions we have to
such loss. It will be necessary to read adjacent
cards to gain insight into what manner of status
(or state of mind) is lost and mourned. May also
represent the “burial” of thoughts or feelings
that are repressed.

09 Bouquet
Social Life, Gift, Beautiful, Charming, Inviting

The happiness experienced when someone

gives you a considerate and meaningful gift is
typical of the kind of pleasant occasion denoted
by this very positive card. Friendship and
gratitude are signified. When adjacent to
negative cards, may indicate insincerity.
10 Scythe
Warning, Accident, Sudden, Dangerous,
Definitive
The Scythe cuts swiftly, and definitively - it tells
of a sudden ending. At moments like this, the
karma accumulated from our previous actions
may be significant – a “harvest” is being
gathered and weighed. Such a closure may or
may not be welcome.

11 Whip
Conflict, Discipline, Scolding, Argumentative,
Angry
Arguments and aggression are indicated. A
negative card which speaks of discord and
disharmony. More figuratively, can indicate
that someone needs to sort things out and “get
in line”.

12 Birds
Communication, Relationship, Restless,
Anxious, Gossipy
Excited chatter is indicated here – a noisy,
gossipy exchange. Mass communication or
social media may be the source. In a negative
context, may indicate distracting chatter that
interferes with concentration.
13 Child
New Beginning, Children, Innocent, Naive,
Playful
If not literally a child (or person with child-like
qualities), then may indicate some manner of
fresh outlook. A degree of wonderment,
innocence, or naiveté could be inferred,
depending upon which cards are adjacent.

14 Fox
Selfishness, Lies, Clever, Cunning, Deceitful

The Fox is a trickster, shrewd and devious – but

supports its cubs, and is surviving by any
means in a world where its natural habitat is
being encroached upon. Don’t trust him, but
don’t rush to condemn him.

15 Bear
Boss, Leader, Strong, Dominant, Influential

Power and strength, or a person displaying

those characteristics. A leader who nurtures.
Negative influences may indicate the over-
assertive, or the bully.
16 Stars
Wishes, Progress, Hopeful, Inspiring, Optimistic

A very positive card, the Stars represent dreams

and aspirations, hopes and wishes. Ambition
and success are portended, but some resolve
may be necessary if one is to “stick at it” and
remain on the right path.

17 Stork
Transition, Relocation, Dynamic, New

The Stork embodies the idea of cyclic change -

the bird that returns each each year to its
nesting place (perhaps delivering new life!).
Literal or figurative transitions are indicated.

18 Dog
Friend, Pet, Devoted, Loyal, Supportive

If a person, then the deep friendship of a loyal

supporter is indicated. If modifying adjacent
cards, it may give a trust-based or supportive
“flavour” to some event such as an act of
kindness. A negative interpretation might
involve unwarranted or slavish devotion.
19 Tower
Government, Ego, Arrogant, Lonely, Established

A person outside the Tower sees it as a symbol

of institutional authority – for example,
corporate or governmental. A person inside the
Tower sees it as their protection, a fortress of
preservation which may possibly isolate them
from the world.

20 Park
Community, Event, Popular, Performative,
Cultured
The Park indicates all things which are open,
communal, and accessible to all. Depending on
context, it may be a physical meeting place, or
more loosely a community (in the real or in
digital). If advisory, then the action indicated is
to “get yourself out there”.

21 Mountain
Obstacle, Delay, Stuck, Stubborn, Challenging

The Mountain represents a challenge or

obstacle that must be taken on, overcome, or
avoided. Not necessarily a negative card, the
Mountain simply requires one to adopt a
strategy – will you boldly meet it head on, or
find a way around?
22 Crossroads
Choice, Trip, Hesitant, Independent, Indecisive

This is the card of opportunities and decisions.

In every life, sometimes things happen to
engender a situation wherein a choice is
presented that may not be avoided. It will be
important to set aside doubts and hesitancy, in
order to step boldly forward in your chosen
direction.

23 Mice
Loss, Disease, Stressed, Costly, Damaged

Indicated here are instances of seemingly

harmless but actually detrimental affects which
– if left uncorrected – can eventually lead to
destruction and loss of value. The Mice have
access to the store cupboard. Something is
wrong, and is slowly corrupting - tainting the
situation, or perhaps damaging a relationship.
Take care!

24 Heart
Love, Romance, Forgiving, Caring, Gentle
As a generally positive card, the Heart often
refers to romantic situations including fondness
and affection – but not necessarily. In some
contexts, the implication may be simply a
compassionate or sympathetic viewpoint. If
negative cards are nearby, it may express
caution against permitting love to be too
“blind”.
25 Ring
Contracts, Marriage, Committed, Stable,
Promising
All manner of commitments may be indicated,
including business, contractual, or personal
arrangements. The Ring represents a pledge,
promise, or a “transaction” of significant value.

26 Book
Education, Research, Informed, Knowledgeable,
Secret
This card draws attention to the power of book
learning. It is the card of the student, the
researcher, or anyone seeking to learn from
already documented knowledge. The Book may
have only a strictly limited readership, in which
case a degree of secrecy is implied. In a
negative context, intellectual elitism can be a
character fault manifested by some academics.

27 Letter
Conversation, Document, Communicative,
Expressive
Not necessarily a traditional letter - rather
representing any physical or digital form of
communication. It will be necessary to read
surrounding cards in order to determine
whether this represents a formal document, or
just a simple message. The Letter represents the
object (or channel), whereas the Rider is usually
the event of news arriving to change things.
28 Man
Man in the Querent’s Life, Masculine
A reference to a male (or someone with
masculine qualities or characteristics). Maybe
the querent themselves, or a significant other –
it will be necessary to read around the card to
find out who is represented.

29 Woman
Woman in the Querent’s Life, Feminine

A reference to a female (or someone with

feminine qualities or characteristics). Maybe
the querent themselves, or a significant other –
it will be necessary to read around the card to
find out who is represented.

30 Lilies
Peace, Passion, Virtuous, Sensual

The Lilies is a card with two faces, and only

context will reveal which aspect is to the fore
on any given occasion. On the one hand it
embodies sex, pleasure and material comfort.
But it can equally represent purity, morality
and peaceful serenity. Interpretations can
range all the way from hedonism to chastity.
31 Sun
Success, Recognition, Happy, Fortunate, Warm
This card brings a sense of happiness, light and
optimism. Energising and revitalising, the Sun’s
light brings hope and powers progress. It
projects a very positive influence onto all
adjacent cards.

32 Moon
Subconscious, Imagination, Artistic, Emotional,
Attractive
The Moon illuminates the mysterious world of
dreams, emotions, and the subconscious mind.
It is the card of the poet or the artist - reflecting
the fame, the delights and the agonies of those
blessed or cursed with the gift of creativity. In a
negative context, it can represent our
innermost fears and dark desires that must be
addressed if we are to become a whole person.

33 Key
Resolution, Spiritual Connection, Open,
Liberated, Destined
The Key is the card of new possibilities opening
up, and freedom from past restrictions or
obstacles. In some contexts, it may be seen in its
inverse meaning – of locking something away
for “safe-keeping”.
34 Fish
Wealth, Business, Water, Abundant, Luxurious
The Fish card represents resources and money.
The wealth here may be material, but could be
more emotional or spiritual. If a warning is
indicated, then there may be a danger of
focusing solely upon amounts and quantities,
whilst failing to perceive true value.

35 Anchor
Foundations, Achievement, Faithful, Resilient,
Secure
Stability, security and protection are indicated.
You are advised to “stick to your path”, and to
face down any obstacles or distractions. In a
negative context, there may be a danger that
you are too inflexible and not open to
alternatives that might be beneficial.

36 Cross
Principles, Religion, Dutiful, Suffering, Burdened

The Cross is symbolic of suffering dutifully

endured – perhaps due to some powerful
underlying ideology (which may or not be
valid). The “cross we have to bear” may be your
responsibility, or it may not – depending upon
your personal belief.
37 Clock
Time, Progress, Measuring, Patient, Urgent
The Clock is a device for measuring change, so
its presence tends to imply either a sense of
urgency, or a need for patience with respect to
whatever is changing. Adjacent cards will help
to clarify the meaning.

38 Bridge
Transition, Rite Of Passage, Meeting,
Reconciling
A physical bridge connects two spaces, thereby
overcoming an obstacle such as a river or a
chasm. It eases or permits travel, meetings and
reconciliations that would otherwise be difficult
to achieve. In the metaphorical sense, the
“building of bridges” is performed by
mediators, counselors and those engaging in
compromise to develop a mutually acceptable
resolution.

39 Dice
Chance, Risk, Fun, Game-playing, Gambling

Fun and games are indicated by the Dice. A

willingness to engage with “lady luck” may
have a positive or a negative outcome, so it will
be necessary to read adjacent cards to
determine whether this is an encouragement to
have playful fun, or a warning to take care, and
not to stray into obsessive risk-taking.
40 Mask
Concealment, Deceit, Fake, Pretending,
Disguised
The Mask indicates duplicitous pretense. It does
not overlap with Fox, since he is not
dissembling – he merely follows his nature. The
Mask by contrast, is a warning against things
almost certainly being other than what they
seem to be.

41 Well
Wishes, Hidden Depths, Resourceful, Hard
Working
The image of a well is a powerful archetype.
They are critical to life and health, but to create
one requires skills and much hard work, and
may need communities to pool their resources.
The depths of a well appear mysterious, and
give rise to superstitions. This card exhorts you
to look deeper in, and work hard towards
towards your objective.

42 Compass
Goals, Directions, Seeking, Guiding

The Compass represents anything that can

serve as a pointer or indicator that helps orient
someone toward their goal. It will be necessary
to investigate adjacent cards to discover what
manner of indication is relevant. There may be
dangers if you proceed without a “map” and a
“guide”.
43 Maze
Puzzle, Mistake, Wrong Turn, Challenging,
Frustrating, Solving
Mazes are enjoyed by people for fun. The
symbolism here is of a tangled puzzle or
problem which will require some strategy.
Some will attempt a “trial-and-error” approach,
some will attempt a methodical approach.
Either way, you will likely make mistakes, and
have to put in effort in order to succeed.

44 Glass
Focus, Scrutiny, Investigating, Detecting

The implication here is that something needs to

be examined in greater detail. You may be
missing the essence of the matter by incorrectly
concentrating on superficial aspects. An
alternative meaning of “glass” is the older
usage of that word to mean a mirror – you may
need to look to yourself for deeper
understanding.

45 Butterfly
Emergence, Beautiful, Free, Fleeting
This card embodies the incredible power of
complex energies that can transform a
caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Rebirth
and spiritual awakening are indicated, also the
cyclical nature of life and death. A positive card,
the Butterfly offers hope that your current
struggles can be shrugged off as you change,
and emerge renewed in your true form.
46 Lantern
Applied Learning, Intellect, Reasoning

The image of a Lantern is used to represent the

historical “Enlightenment” - the emergence of
science and natural philosophy as powerful
ways of thinking in a world long held back by
superstition. The message here is that careful
observation, diligent analysis, and clear
thinking will guide the you in the right
direction.

47 Stones
Old Knowledge, Memory, Calendars, Seasons

More permanent than books, more powerful

than stories – the henge is a testament to
ancient understandings of time, nature, and
change. This card symbolises respect for elders,
the wisdom of experience, and the importance
of tradition. If something is truly valuable, then
it is worth investing monumental effort to
curate and preserve it.

48 Cat
Intelligence, Stealth, Graceful, Agile, Independent

Ancient Egyptians venerated cats. Elsewhere,

cats have been cast as villains - perhaps simply
for being both graceful and a fiercely
independent. The Cat card advises you to be
smart, to listen to your own counsel, and to
conserve your energies, in order that – when
the time is right – you may move swiftly and
with great agility toward your goal.
49 Hotel
Accommodation, Haven, Comfortable,
Convenient
The Hotel is symbolic of the island in the
stream, the oasis in the desert. A positive card
that indicates a much needed holiday or respite
– a temporary escape from the troubles of the
world. If encountered in a negative context, it
may indicate you are attempting to hide away
from your responsibilities.

50 Prison
Punishment, Deterrent, Restricting, Isolated

A (usually) negative card that represents an

actual - or potential - enforced separation.
Consider carefully your planned course of
action, because you may be straying onto a
morally or ethically suspect path. On a positive
note, it may be that simply considering the
consequences can sometimes be sufficient to
cause us to review our stance.

51 Scales
Balance, Justice, Redress, Considered, Assessed,
Proven
The Scales represent the ideal of “blind” (i.e.
impartial) justice. In a positive context it
represents the resolving of disputes via the
relevant due process. In a negative context it
warns that someone’s wrong-doing needs to be
exposed and dealt with appropriately.
52 Cards
Self Awareness, Meditative, Reflective, Open
Minded
In this expanded deck the Cards are granted the
freedom to describe anything – including
themselves. This the card of “wheels within
wheels” - of infinite reflections, and strange
complexity. A period of quiet introspection is
called for. There are deep matters to be
considered, and your personal approach to the
mysteries of life will lend shape and shade to
the meanings implied by this card.
 Appendix B
Card Reading Techniques

I am not an expert reader. The following advice comes from my

own experience, and does not represent an authoritative
viewpoint. There are many excellent services and resources
available online, both free and paid for.

Beginners Hints & Tips

It is not easy to read cards in a noisy or distracting environment.

Especially when starting out with a Lenormand deck, you should
try to practice in a place where you feel safe, secure and relaxed.
You will need your deck, and a flat surface such as a table.

Memorising The Cards

Don't stress yourself trying to commit to memory all the cards and
their meanings before commencing. While practising, you can
have a reference list to hand. If you do wish to memorise all the
cards, then the document that accompanies the Extended
Lenormand Deck called 'Memorising the Lenormand Cards' can be
a help to you.

The Querent

The person that you are reading for is usually referred to as the
Querent. The querent can be you. You can also practice reading for
an imaginary querent.
A Significator

Before commencing a reading, some readers like to select a single

card from the deck to represent the essence of the 'matter in hand'
– the question, the concern, the statement of curiosity – or
whatever the reason is for the reading occurring. For example, if
the querent is facing a major decision, you might choose Card 22
Crossroads as most closely describing the matter.

The chosen card then becomes a 'centre' for whichever spread is

laid to the table (see below). The deck is then shuffled thoroughly,
and the reading proceeds with further cards dealt randomly. Note
however, that the Significator approach is not essential, and some
readers do not use it.

Types of Spreads

A method for dealing cards to the table is called a Spread.

3 Card Spread

One of the quickest and simplest spreads involves dealing 3 cards

(A, B, C) in a line from left to right. (If using a Significator, then the
centre card is already on the table.)

The reading is then created by:

1) Noting the meaning of each card individually.

2) Pairing up the cards (there are 3 pairs A:B, B:C, & A:C) and
interpreting the meaning of those pairings.
3) Assuming that time is passing left-to-right.
4) Assembling all of the above into a meaningful whole.
3-Card Spread Example

Let us imagine that the querent has asked 'how can I fix the
problems I am having with my in-laws?'. You have chosen a
significator to be card 11 The Whip. You then shuffle and deal 2
more cards as below:

Single Card Meanings:

Tree: Health, Growth, Past Connection, Grounded, Spiritual

Whip: Conflict, Discipline, Scolding, Argumentative, Angry
Maze: Puzzle, Mistake, Wrong Turn, Challenging, Frustrating,
Solving.

Card Pairings:

Tree/Whip: You have a desire for a healthier, more grounded

relationship – perhaps things may have been better in the past?
Whip/Maze: You feel angry partly because the way out of the
situation is unclear to you.
Tree/Maze: Important connections with the past may become
apparent if you can identify the 'wrong turns' that occurred.

Overall Reading:

Were there times when things were not so bad? To improve your
relationships, try to identify and better undertsand specific
occasions where things started to go wrong.
 9-Card Spread

A 9-card spread allows you to add another 'dimension' to your

readings (literally!). When I spread 9 cards in a 3x3 grid, I like to
retain the basic 'past on the left / future on the right'
interpretation. So in the 3x3 the spread shown, the cards in the left
column (Cat, Snake & Woman) all pertain to the past. The cards in
the right column (Moon, Bear, Ring) pertain to the future.

I then define the other dimension (the rows) to be read as

whatever I deem most useful, considering the matter in hand. So,
depending upon the circumstances, I may decide:

Lower row = Subconscious factors providing context.

Centre row = The matter as it appears be on the surface.
Top row = External factors that may have influence.

Or alternatively:

Lower row = The pessimist's view.

Centre row = The matter being addressed
Top row = The optimist's view.
There are many possible dimensions that can be applied. Having
decided the extra dimension, I now have 6 sets of triplets to
examine (3 rows, 3 columns, 3 cards in each). Each triplet is
examined in very much the same way as we did for the 3-card
spread.

15 Card Spread

If a more in-depth reading is appropriate, I sometimes lay out a

15-card spread:

Having 5 cards in each row introduces the possibility of adding

more nuance to the reading. Again, there are various ways to use
the extra columns, including;

Timespan. Representing a greater time span, column 4 = the near

future, column 5 = the far future.

Context Use a card in column 1 to add context to the meaning of

the pairing you found in columns 2 & 3. Similarly, a card in
column 5 adds to the meaning of the pairing in columns 3 & 4.

Triplets. Each row now contains 3 triplets (Columns 1,2,3 / 2,3,4 /

3,4,5) for a total of 14 triplets overall.
Greater/Lesser.

This is one my personal favorite uses for the outer columns of the
15-card spread. I nominate columns 2 and 4 to be the 'greater'
cards, and columns 1 and 5 to be the 'lesser' cards that add nuance
to the meanings of the greater cards.

Thus for example, the triplet (Man, Bridge, Lantern) occuring in

columns 3,4 & 5 is read differently to the sequence (Man, Lantern,
Bridge) in those same positions. Assuming Man is the querent:

(Man, Bridge, Lantern) = The way to reconcile these matters will

become clear to you in the future. The Bridge-building (the greater
card) will happen, we add context by saying that the path to it will
come clear to you in the future.

Compared with:

(Man, Lantern, Bridge) = Careful observation and study is critical

in order to bring you to the reconciliation you desire. (It is the work
that goes in which really matters - Lantern is the greater card, to
which is added the context of building bridges in the future.
Other Spreads

If you extend the rows and columns approaches described here to

the ultimate, you end up with 4 rows of 9 columns – the Petit
Lenormand 'Grand Tableau'. The Grand Tableau deserves more
examination than I can afford in this simple guide – but you can
easily learn about it from online resources.

As suggested previously, if you wish to include cards 37 through

52 in a Grand Tableau, then you can either call upon them as
additional Clarifiers whenever needed, or simply extend your
Tableau to 13 columns.
 Appendix C
Extending The Lenormand Deck

My ambition when planning to extend the Lenormand deck to 52

cards was to create a deck that would be as 'multi-purpose' as it
could possibly be, whilst remaining comfortably compatible with
three well established 'standards' :

●
The ubiquitous 52 card poker-style gaming deck.
●
The Russian/Bavarian 36 card gaming deck.
●
The Petit Lenormand cards 1 through 36, with their card names
and established relationship to the suits and ranks of the 36 card
deck.

I also desired that each card should be easy to identify, even when
inverted in the hand or on the table, and that the deck also be a
comfortable size for handling, shuffling and dealing.

There are many extant examples of extending the Petit

Lenormand. One approach that I consider of particalar merit is
found in Ciro Marchetti‘s Gilded Reverie deck. That system adds 8
cards to the original 36, bringing the deck size to 44 cards.

I adopted the Marchetti scheme, and added a further 8 cards to

bring the total to 52, thus creating a direct mapping onto the
standard poker deck.

In this endeavour I have attempted to adhere to the approach of

looking to early board games for inspiration for the additional
images – particularly the Game of Goose.
The following is a set of brief design notes and insights for the
extended section of the deck :

Card 37 Time I have rename as the Clock - my reasoning here

being that the original Lenormand does not make any effort to
deal with abstract concepts such as space and time. By my
estimation, the Petit Lenormand comprises:

●
15 Objects
●
12 Creatures/Botanicals
●
5 Places
●
4 People.

(that is, if we include the Rider as a person, which is perhaps

more correctly an Occupation.) My instict is that Clock is a better
fit.

Card 38 Bridges I rename in the singular – Bridge. Pedantic

perhaps – but I feel this is also truer to the Game of Goose.

Cards 39 Dice, 40 Mask, 41 Well, and 42 Compass are unchanged

from the Marchetti scheme.

Card 43 Labyrinth I rename the Maze. Again, arguably truer to

the Game of Goose, but also avoids any unintended reference to
Ancient Greek mythology.

Card 44 Magnifying Glass I have renamed simply Glass – for

entirely more prosaic reasons. Being somewhat obsessive about
patterns and structures, I simply did not wish to have the only
card title in the deck that is afforded two words rather than one! I
justify my character faults by arguing that it allows me to read the
card more generally – as a magnifier, as a mirror, or just as
something transparent.
The final 8 cards are my personal additions, comprising :

Card 45 Butterfly. The Game of Goose includes Death – but I shy

away from including that as a title, since I have found through
experience that cards with that name can be unsettling during
readings. Instead I include the Butterfly. By this method, I have
split out two aspects. The first (related to loss and mourning) is
already embodied in card 08 Coffin. This leaves 45 the Butterfly
to symbolise the aspect of Death that covers real and metaphorical
transformation – moving on to a new form.

Card 46 Lantern. A personal choice. I am at heart a scientist and a

rationalist, so it helps me personally to have this meaning
available in the deck. Here is a device that symbolises the light of
reason.

Card 47 Stones. Places such as Stonehenge in England, or

Newgrange in Ireland, fill me with awe, and a powerful feeling of
respect for the knowledge that our distant ancestors curated.

Card 48 Cat. Anyone who appreciates felines will agree that this
card rectifies a rather obvious omission!

Card 49 Hotel. Adopted from the Game of Goose.

Card 50 Prison. Adopted from the Game of Goose.

Card 51 Scales. This is the only cross-over from Tarot (XI Justice)
that I felt justified in including.

Card 52 Cards. I have always been fascinated by self-referencing

systems. As far as we know (yet) humans are the only creatures
that can ask a question like “what does it mean to be human?“.
The inclusion of this title adds a missing additional dimension to
my deck.
 Acknowledgements
The original concept for a 52-card Lenormand and all of the
design and publishing work, and the themes for cards 45
through 52 are my own invention.

The idea for the themes for cards 37 through 44 were first
proposed by Ciro Marchetti and his associates. I don't suppose he
will mind my plagiarism, because I find the Lenormand
community to be a tolerant and generous one, and I do provide a
plug for his excellent products which you should check out at:
https://www.ciromarchetti.com/shop

A.I. generated the basis for the artwork, which I then adapted,
modified, and asembled to create the thematic illustrations, the
card frames and borders, and the card reverse image.

The Extended Lenormand Cards are free for you to use, adapt,
and redistribute (non-commercially with attribution) under
Creative Commons licence.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

For more information please visit my project page at:

https://petervodden.blog/portfolio/free-printable-lenormand-
cards

Peter Vodden 2025