In music and other disciplines, daily practice exercises for learning and bettering one’s skill with the chosen instrument or activity are sometimes called five-finger exercises: hands-on, practical training until (or after) basic skills are ingrained.
Here is a nice way to practice the Lenormand which I’ve seen described by a couple of authors. Reading the Lenormand requires reading the cards in combination, and this exercise will strengthen the imaginative or intuitive faculty that combines the cards. All that’s required is a deck and optionally a list of meanings.
1. Lay out a card. Look at it, and think about it’s meaning. If you’re just beginning look up the description or primary keywords for this card, so you start to build an association. Some people suggest speaking the card name and meanings aloud — some tarot authors advocate this as well — but I admit I never do that myself.
Ring
First card: Ring — Relationships, partnerships, contracts.
2. Now that you’ve identified the first card — I often think of this is the theme card — think about what you want to know regarding that card. You may have a specific question if you recognize the card in your life, or you can simply ask what the card is saying to you about its subject matter.
Question: What is this card Ring telling me about my relationship? (Which could be marriage, committed, or even a business partnership.)
3. Draw a second card, and it will be the answer to the question. Refer to your meanings if you are still learning the cards, and relate it to the keywords or description you have. Read this second card as telling you about the first card, or answering your question regarding the subject of the first card. I often think of this as the modifier, because it gives a specific scenario to the theme of the first card.
Ring + Whip
First card: Ring — Relationships, partnerships, contracts.
Second card: Whip — Arguments, fights, conflict, competition.
Answer: This suggests I am in a relationship of some type that currently is undergoing arguments and discord.
4. Optionally, draw a third card and treat this as the outcome of the two cards you’ve already examined. Again reference meanings if you need to.
Ring + Whip + Clover
First card: Ring — Relationships, partnerships, contracts.
Second card: Whip — Arguments, fights, conflict, competition.
Third card: Clover — Happiness, luck, opportunity.
Outcome: Although I may be having some trouble with a relationship as described above, things will likely turn out okay.
Note that you might want to let your intuition talk to you before referencing your card meanings. Who know what your inner voice will have to say!
You can try this whenever you have some free time. The main thing is to relax and have fun. Reading cards should be enjoyable, not a daily grind. That’s what work, school or other stressful endeavors are for! So it makes sense to only spend a few minutes at a time on this exercise.
I hope you find it helpful!
12 comments
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November 16, 2009 at 5:07 am
Steve
I found this really helpful. I think that we can all have a tendancy to overcomplicate readings after a while. It’s difficult to summarise interpretation down to those few really important and significant details. I think it is useful to step back and look at the cards in their simplest of terms – be that the cards themselves or the positions they fall in. This exercise has a very simple structure and you explain it very well. As I am new to the Lenormand cards, I will practice this method a little today, but will also take it into my tarot practice too. Thanks.
December 24, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Jason
Steve – I never responded to your comment, but yes, I agree that we can all overcomplicate readings. Ironically, I sometimes I think I read the Lenormand in an overly-straightforward fashion, with too much brevity!
November 22, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Marina
Wow, I really like this method! It’s simple, and wonderful for some Lenormand practice. As a Lenormand student still taking her first steps, I appreciate it’s simplicity, while it still maintains the interesting connections and combinations that are one of the Lenormand’s most charming characteristics! ;o)
December 24, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Jason
I’m glad you like it Marina, I hope you are finding it helpful. Maybe you’ve devised some useful practice exercises of your own by now. 😉
April 24, 2011 at 1:43 am
Melanie Jade
I really like this!!! I’m going to practice it right now. Thank you so much!
April 24, 2011 at 10:30 am
Jason
Hi Melanie,
I’m glad you like it, and I hope you find it helpful.
March 31, 2012 at 3:51 am
Roskia
excellent exercise. I´m so grateful you took the time to post it.
April 2, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Gina Pace
this has proven over and over to be a really helpful exercise, thank you so much for sharing it. we have a study group over on Facebook if you are on FB you’re welcome to come join it =)
April 19, 2012 at 7:10 am
Jason
Hi Roskia and Gina,
Thanks for your kind words! I will have to check out the FB group.
October 25, 2012 at 9:02 am
Zanna Starr
Wonderful exercise. I decided to post my results on my Tarot Notes blog. Turned out to be a warning that has me a bit unsettled!
October 26, 2012 at 7:21 am
Jason
Hi Zanna,
Thanks for the comment! I shared my thoughts over at your blog. I was going to link to you in a new post here, but I wasn’t sure you wanted everyone to check out your learning experience. 🙂 Of course, it looks like you’ve been blogging about tarot and other oracles for a few years now, so you have plenty of writing to share. I look forward to perusing your blog, which I hadn’t seen before.
Happy Lenormand learning!
March 27, 2018 at 10:10 pm
Laurie
This is a great little exercise. It’s taxing continually trying to come up w/ questions to ask in order to practice Lenormand… Frankly, I just don’t have that many questions about my life. Lol This is a great way to learn card meanings, and practice combination interpretations. Thank you!