Last updated: 03 October 2013
This page has always been dedicated to the meanings of the Lenormand cards as I use them. I have decided to update the page to include the two sets of meanings I have used over time. Both sets are fairly similar, as the Lenormand “schools” or traditions are not all that different. Just like people. 🙂
The first set is what I like to call “German traditional.” If you are familiar with the Treppner course or Chanah’s blog, you will recognize these. Standouts are that Anchor is the work card, Whip is a card of discussion, Lily includes sexuality and Snake may be a neutral woman card.
The second set if what people tend to call “French modern.” If you are familiar with Sylvie Steinbach and her Secrets of the Lenormand Oracle book, you will recognize these. Here the work cards are Fox and Fish, Whip is a card for sports and sexuality, and the Snake is big trouble.
If you are new to the Lenormand, I recommend you pick one or the other and stick with it. This is not meant for mixing and matching; that will lead to muddled readings. I can say this from my own experience, as well as that of many respected and experienced teachers/readers. So please, see which list resonates more and stick with it.
Consider this a start with the core meanings that I apply to the 36 Lenormand cards. I will update this page over time as I further decide how these cards speak to me.
German Traditional – Lenormand Meanings
01 The Rider: a message, news, something or someone incoming.
02 The Clover: good luck, small luck. An opportunity. Can indicate happiness.
03 The Ship: travel, distance, trade or commerce. Can show leaving something behind.
04 The House: home, family, property.
05 The Tree: health, deep rooted, long-standing (can be intertia or boredom), karmic (but positive).
06 The Clouds: confusion, anxiety, lack of clarity.
07 The Snake: a woman; intelligence, detour, backstabbing. Context is important.
08 The Coffin: illness or ending. (First in pair, I tend to see illness; second in pair, end).
09 The Flowers (Bouquet): gift, surprise, invitation. A very positive card.
10 The Scythe: danger, pain, sudden, severing or cutting. Can be a tool.
11 The Rod (Whip): discussion, arguments, strife. Can be a writing tool, or related to verbal communication.
12 The Birds (Owls): Meetings, a phone call, gossip, a couple. Anxiety like a flitting bird.
13 The Child: child, new beginning.
14 The Fox: wrong, deception, deceit. Crafty person. Sometimes work, where cunning is needed. Context matters, and I tend to read it depending on surrounding negative or positive cards.
15 The Bear: Man, person in authority; courage, strength, fortitude. Could represent a large income.
16 The Stars: hopes, dreams, spirituality or esotericism; positive, maybe successful; beware head in the clouds.
17 The Stork: Change, movement, birth. Usually a change for the better.
18 The Dog: A man. Friend, partner, companion. Loyalty, trustworthy.
19 The Tower: A large building. Government, authorities, school. Isolation, being alone.
20 The Park: public places, the public, meeting, party, social gatherings.
21 The Mountain: obstacles and delays; blockage. Can be a “shield” between two cards. Standing alone; remote.
22 The Crossroads (Roads, Ways): decision is needed; at a point of indecision. Multiple (usually two).
23 The Rat: loss, theft, illness. An “eating away at” someone or something.
24 The Heart: love, emotions, feelings.
25 The Ring: marriage, commitment, contract and partnership.
26 The Book: secrets, the unknown; books and written documents; education, training.
27 The Letter: written communication (letter, email, text message), newspaper, paper-like documents (such as a diploma or will). Could be news.
28 The Lord (Man): The male consultant; male significant other for a woman; important male in the querent’s life.
29 The Lady (Woman): The female consultant; female significant other for a man; important female in the querent’s life.
30 The Lily: sexuality, family, maturity, the “zen factor”; a catch-all card in German tradition.
31 The Sun: Victory, success, masculinity, energy, warmth, day time
32 The Moon: Emotion, intuition, femininity, dreams, imagination, night time, artistic talent, fame and recognition.
33 The Key: the “yes card” of the deck. Destiny, solution, success. Meant to be.
34 The Fish: money, cash flow, the financial or economic significator. Water. Drinking.
35 The Anchor: work, one’s job. Stability and security.
36 The Cross: Pain, grief, a burden. One’s “cross to bear.” The sense of destined or karmic; suffering that is inevitable or must be. Not a happy card.
French Modern – Lenormand Meanings
01 The Rider: a message, news, something incoming.
02 The Clover: good luck, an opportunity. Second chance.
03 The Ship: travel, distance, trade or commerce.
04 The House: home, family, property.
05 The Tree: health, deep rooted, karmic (but positive), spiritual.
06 The Clouds: confusion, lack of clarity.
07 The Snake: Big problems (as opposed to the Mice). Trouble that is seen, obvious or out in the open.
08 The Coffin: Ending, transformation.
09 The Flowers (Bouquet): A very positive card. Happiness, beauty.
10 The Scythe: Decisive, decisions, sudden, cutting. Can be a tool.
11 The Rod (Whip): sexuality, arguments, passion, recurring, physical activity.
12 The Birds (Owls): Verbal communication, a couple.
13 The Child: child, something small. Childlike or naive.
14 The Fox: Job, work, sneakiness.
15 The Bear: Money, food, nutrition, person in authority, strength.
16 The Stars: hopes, dreams, directions, possible success. Being “a star” in a field of expertise.
17 The Stork: Change, movement, birth. Usually a change for the better.
18 The Dog: Friend, partner, companion. Someone known. Loyalty, trustworthy.
19 The Tower: A large building. Government, authorities, school. Isolation, being alone. Arrogance.
20 The Park: public places, the public, meeting, party, social gatherings.
21 The Mountain: Delays of a lengthy nature. Standing alone; remote.
22 The Crossroads (Roads): decision is needed; at a point of indecision or a crossroad in life. Multiples. Two or maybe more.
23 The Rat: Small problems, stress, anxiety, excitement. Industriousness. An “eating away at” someone or something.
24 The Heart: love, emotions, feelings.
25 The Ring: marriage, commitment, contract and partnership. Payments, solutions.
26 The Book: secrets, the unknown; books and written documents; education, training.
27 The Letter: written communication (letter, email, text message), newspaper, paper-like documents (such as a diploma or will).
28 The Man: The male consultant; male significant other; a male figure.
29 The Lady (Woman): The female consultant; female significant other; a female figure.
30 The Lily: The “zen factor”. Peacefulness, age, longevity.
31 The Sun: Victory, success, masculinity, energy, warmth, day time, electricity. Ego (think Leo).
32 The Moon: Emotion, intuition, femininity, dreams, imagination, night time, artistic talent, fame and recognition. The arts. Psychism.
33 The Key: the “yes card” of the deck. Meant to be. Karmic inevitability. Positive solution.
34 The Fish: Business. Independence.
35 The Anchor: Stability and security. Something anchored, old. Suggests a solution, one that can be arrived at with perseverance.
36 The Cross: Pain, grief, a burden. Sadness and depression. One’s “cross to bear.” Often not a happy card. Religous; religion.
16 comments
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April 3, 2011 at 2:08 am
John Nauss
I just notice that this list and meanings are very similar those of Titania’s Fortune Cards published in 2000. Is that the source?
John
April 3, 2011 at 8:52 am
Jason
Hi John,
It’s not surprising; for the most part, Lenormand meanings are similar across traditions.
I’ve not been influenced by Titania’s Cards though. I don’t own them, although I know of them.
December 30, 2011 at 2:27 pm
John
I like the positive symbology you have ascribed to these cards. I wonder why you have chosen to keep the limited ones? That they are fated or prejudiced. This is something I have always had an exception to. The reader needs to bring the questioner to a point of neutrality as to the meanings of the cards and discover their choices and how to solve it from a spiritual point of view. For example:
19 The Tower: A large building. Government, authorities, school. Isolation, being alone. Arrogance.
The tower can mean protection from a hidden power, or something destined. It bestows good. It lends strength and gives the person a place to go and contemplate and be closer to heaven and positiveness.
From this one can ask the question, and this is on the part of the reader, lets look at the contrast, then help to identify that contrast and percentage the person believes in it. That helps to shift their outcome and gives courage that they have a choice. Some say they are trying to be objective. That is ok as long as we realise objectivity is an illusion and self created and self imposed.
Am I making any sense?
February 19, 2018 at 5:32 am
Fabian
No, John. This is not Tarot. Lenormand has positive and negative cards whether you like it or not. Lenormand has a system and consistency accross readings. Lenormand tells it how it is.
February 25, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Isa*
Just like in Tarot seemingly positive cards have also a negative side…
August 10, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Jess
You can’t make your own meaning for all Lenormand. They have extremely limited meaning, period
June 19, 2012 at 8:56 am
justice1309
I’ve been trying to understand the Lenormand cards for a couple of years now, and always ended up confused. This is the first list of meanings I’ve seen where I can actually make sense of the readings. Thanks!
June 20, 2012 at 10:44 am
Jason
Thanks, I’m glad to hear these are helpful to you.
September 17, 2014 at 6:56 pm
AlyZen Moonshadow
Thank you, that was very insightful!
September 18, 2015 at 6:10 am
vanessa
My readings have been picking up on people around me, eg: relationships breakdowns ect , why is this happening ? can I stop it ? how can I make my readings “mine” ?
August 13, 2016 at 5:58 am
Heber
This helped me a lot. I have been reading Lenormand for about 3 years, and I get very stressed-out when books come up with different meanings for the work card. I have also read that the moon card also represented work, but I just got confusing readings. I’m sticking to the German tradition now! Thank you!!!
August 13, 2016 at 7:38 am
Jason
I’m glad you found this page helpful. Thanks for letting me know!
April 1, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Stacey
Thank you for listing both traditions. I have been driving myself crazy trying to figure it out for myself and I have only just learned of Lenormand within the past couple of months!!!
Again, thank you and I look forward to hearing more from you
July 12, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Jason
I’m glad you found this page helpful. Thanks for letting me know, and I hope your Lenormand journey is going well!
July 12, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Benny
Are there any advantages or disadvantages in picking one tradition over another?
July 12, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Jason
In my opinion, not really. Whichever one resonates with you will be the best. If you have books or card-reading friends/communities that all use a certain set of meanings then it can help if you’re all talking the same language; but even there, that’s only a few cards that noticeably differ. Do stick with whatever core meanings you adopt, though. If you switch too soon while you’re still learning the system, or try to mix-n-match, you’ll find your readings get muddled. 🙂