Tradition: Belgian/Dutch w/a little bit of French.
This is my evolving dictionary of Lenormand meanings to apply to readings. The Lenormand reading system is much more about the method than about the cards in any artistic or visual intuitive sense, even though there are now many interesting thematic card decks to choose from these days. More than for Tarot, it’s about combinations, but the cards do each provide their own contribution to a combination. Here are my working keywords for each card.
1: Cavalier (9 of Hearts)
Keywords: delivery; youth; fast; young
As Person: youthful man, dapper and attractive; with Lilies = new lover
2: Cloverleaf (6 of Diamonds)
Keywords: luck (little); lucky; happy news; happy
3: Ship (10 of Spades)
Keywords: voyage; slow; longing; international
4: House (King of Hearts)
Keywords: home; secure; people you live with; prosperous
As Person: older and/or wiser male; sponsor; as ex-partner, still a friend
5: Tree (7 of Hearts)
Keywords: health; healthy; patient; ancestry/roots
6: Clouds (King of Clubs)
Keywords: confusion; confused; complications; changeable
As Person: difficult man with hidden agenda; ex-partner from bad breakup; father-figure or colleague like this
7: Serpent (Queen of Clubs)
Keywords: complications, twisting; treachery and deceit; roads, lanes
As Person: older possibly, intelligent but aloof female, possible “other woman” after Fox. With Clouds, a couple
8: Coffin (9 of Diamonds)
Keywords: endings, finality, sickness (especially diagnosed or long lasting), headaches and migraines, musical and artistic gifts
9: Bouquet (Queen of Spades)
Keywords: gift, perfect happiness, pleasant surprise, spring
As Person: friendly, warm, charming female, same age or older; mother, stepmother; good relationship
10: Scythe (Jack of Diamonds)
Keywords: danger; cutting; accidents; aggressive behaviour; harvest and suddenness
As Person: aggressive, hurtful bully-type; same age or younger
11: Rod/Whip (Jack of Clubs)
Keywords: talking and conversations, frequently strife and arguments; writing and signatures
As Person: eager young male usually, blunt, moody, teen and all that goes with
12: Birds/Owls (7 of Diamonds)
Keywords: telephone calls; electronic communication; gossip; sometimes stresses and worries; pregnancy
As Person: couple, normally older, related to querent
13: Child (Jack of Spades)
Keywords: new and fragile; little (bit); small; youthful and short
As Person: child or young person
14: Fox (9 of Clubs)
Keywords: wrong; manipulation; rivalry; survivors’ instinct and stealth; particular aspects of job and being clever with it
15: Bear (10 of Clubs)
Keywords: strength; personal finances and income; protection of wealth and self
As Person: mother, mature and i woman; protector
16: Stars (6 of Hearts)
Keywords: direction and guidance; hope and wishes; divination and astrology; night, north and science
17: Storks (Queen of Hearts)
Keywords: movement; change; relocating; promotion; restlessness; and, sometimes birth
As Person: friend, sister, near age of querent; or ex-partner, but friendly parting
18: Dog (10 of Hearts)
Keywords: a man; a friend; warmth; friendliness and fidelity; a family dog (or dogs)
As Person: warm, friendly, kind male; any age; lover or husband or friend
19: High Tower: (6 of Spades)
Keywords: authority; official; ambition; influential and powerful structures; distant institutions
As Person: father, grandfather; aloof and influential patriarch
20: Park/Garden (8 of Spades)
Keywords: community and society; many and gatherings; open spaces; friendships, socialising; parks and gardens
21: Mountain (8 of Clubs)
Keywords: obstacles, barriers and blockages; borders and landlocked countries; mountains, hills, cliffs
As Person: an enemy; someone creating an obstacle
22: Road (Queen of Diamonds)
Keywords: choices, often important; two of something; figurative or literal pathways; midlife crises
As Person: young or same-age-as-querent woman with uncertainty surrounding her; for female querent, a rival, for male, an on/off girlfriend
23: Mice (7 of Clubs)
Keywords: losses, emotional as well as physical; gnawing (structural, mental and emotional) theft; undiagnosed ill health
24: Heart (Jack of Hearts)
Keywords: love and affection; caring for someone deeply on all levels; where you are invested in; flirtation
As Person: friendly, charming, attractive of opposite sex but near age of querent
25: Ring (Ace of Clubs)
Keywords: commitment; marriage; contracts and bindings; repeating cycles
26: Book (10 of Diamonds)
Keywords: secrets; knowledge to be learned; secrets kept (spine): projects; books
27: Letter (7 Spades)
Keywords: messages and post; newspapers; e-mails and faxes; paper and cards; superficiality
28: Gentleman (Ace of Hearts)
Keywords: represents male person
29: Lady (Ace of Spades)
Keywords: represents female person
30: Lilies (King of Spades)
Keywords: sex and sexuality (particularly male); family; protection; social care and health; age and maturity
As Person: male lover or older male; counselor, protector; father, uncle
31: Sun (Ace of Diamonds)
Keywords: success; big luck; ambition; a gain; happiness and confidence; electricity
32: Moon (8 of Hearts)
Keywords: work; fame; success and recognition; honours; creativity; emotional; work i on career as whole
33: Key (8 of Diamonds)
Keywords: destiny; certainty; options or lack of them; mastery; “yes”
34: Fish (King of Diamonds)
Keywords: money; prosperity; business; abundance; deep and deepening; water; alcohol
As Person: boss, business partner (male); good relationship; same age or younger
35: Anchor (9 of Spades)
Keywords: stability; security and grounding; knowing you’re safe; building for the future; work i on security and stability concerns
36: Cross (6 of Clubs)
Keywords: burdens, difficulties; tests; full stop; hardship and challenges