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

frenchcartomancy_25_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

frenchcartomancy_11_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

frenchcartomancy_02_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!