This is a method I have been using in order to discover the cards, and their combinations. I came up with that idea as I had to find something a little bit more interesting than take the first card, (the rider) and associating it with all the others one by one, then take the card number 2 (the clover) and make all the associations all over again. I basically needed something that would push my knowledge of the cards, and keep the process funny. Indeed, this way is a good way to brainstorm away. So all you need is your deck, paper and pen, and your brain cells 😀
Here I am going to show you in details one of these brainstorming sessions.
You shuffle the deck, and cut. I turn over the upper part of the deck to unfold the card. And then I take 5 cards from the second part of the deck.
example :
the Mountain, (21)
the Key (33), the Tree (5), the Birds (22), the Woman (29) and the Ship (3)
The Mountain and the Key
Put them side by side : what is your first thought ? Before reading my take on it below, you may note your own feelings about it … And then compare.
My answer :
Something very big and something very small.
Something natural and something manufactured.
The Mountain suggests there is something big in the way, something you’ll have to climb or turn around… Most of the time, it symbolizes an obstacle or a delay. (Not always, for example, it can sometimes be very literal : associated with the Sun, it meant my trip to the Grand Canyon !).
The Mountain cannot be moved, while you can carry the Key around.
The Key is something little, but it symbolizes something important. A solution to your problem or just a certainty.
In that way, The Mountain and the Key both means something that is there and cannot be avoided.
You need the Key (Tool).
You need/have to climb the Mountain (Fact).
In the design of the card, there is a background and a foreground in the Mountain card. The key card, well there is just that standalone object. And nothing else.
the Mountain + the Key
There will be an obstacle to face.
Then I took the 2 next cards : the Tree and the Birds.
Again, you may take note of your impressions and then compare with mine below.
The first thing that came to my mind was : this is like a close up !
The birds are in a nest that is located in the crown of the tree.
Second thing, both are cards related to the nature.
Main difference : “The tree have roots. The birds are free to fly and take their own direction.” I meant by that, that we are the result of our upbringing, education, environment but we are also free at one point to take our own responsibilities and fly in a direction that we choose.
The tree is a symbol for something that brings you an insight, a stability, something that is growing. It stands on this earth for a long time, some actually are several centuries old. Also something that protects you as you can sit next to it. Think about the feeling of peace that one can feel as one walk in a luscious green forest. The feeling of immensity when looking at the top of a sequoia …. I actually saw my first sequoia in California as a child, and I still remember feeling something bigger than life. When one is stressed, one can actually take a great relief just being around trees in a forest. Green is a color that is well known for its calming effect.
The Birds are making noise. They stand for conversation : whether it is a serious conversation or a little chat and gossip. Birds and their singing conveys the idea of chatting.
Birds and Tree are both alive. Related to environment which has to be more respected. Roots and branches. The tree and the birds both makes me think about education : “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”, the birds are making a nest to welcome their little ones. Education and what we give to the next generation.I noted “fruitful conversation, education, message” also, on the paper.
The next step is to take these four cards. I put them sides by sides, changes their order on the table, take note of other details on the images. I try to make one single unit out of these 4 parts. The single unit can be an event, an action, a storyline …
My answer :
In the tree card, there is a house in the background : at least, in my deck. There several versions of the little Lenormand deck. Details in the design may vary ! I connected the house in the tree card to the key : the house keys, of course. The tree card seems to depict a location which is in the valley, as opposite to the mountain. A little storyline could be, going to the other side of the Mountain, in order to go back home or visit someone. Enjoying nature, the beautiful views, the wilderness of the surroundings, the sounds of the wind inside of the tree, the sound of the birds singing, and finally after a long walk, opening the door of that little refuge.
Some further thought that came to my mind :
While the house in the tree card is in the valley,the house of the birds are located at the top of a high tree.
The opposition of “high” and “low” places considered both though as being a home made me think that people comes from all walks of life.
The next 2 cards : the woman and the ship.
My Answer :
The woman is standing. The human form is the main thing to notice within the card.
The ship is in movement, and the human form is secondary here in the design. (please again note the variation between several deck : in mine, some humans are on the ship, it is not the case in every deck !).
“Vertical” is seen is the card of the woman.
“Horizontal” is seen in the card of the ship.
The common element here to me is that both are longing for something. The ships longs to travel the see. It longs for the wind to carry itself away. The woman seems to be waiting for something.
The next step is to classify the cards by categories. The name of the categories are suggested by the notes you have been taking all long until now. What would be your categories now ?
My answer :
– Moving and Standing still
– The ones that suggest sounds and those who suggest silence
– Big, small
– Nature and manufactured. Made by nature, created by man.
The last final step is to make combinations, I proceed this way :
The mountain with each of the other 4 cards.
Why the mountain ? Because it was the cards from the upper part of the deck as I made the cut at the very beginning. Again, this is my method, you just play with the cards as you feel. These are guidelines that I found effective for myself; experiment until you seek some way that suits you. This is a suggestion, not a strict rule to be followed.
And finally, I mix all the cards and make combinations 2 by 2, flipping them over and coming up with a meaning.
Conclusion about this method :
I came up with this method, as I was learning the cards a long time ago. It is definitely drawing you closer to your deck, much more than reading a book that includes all the combinations of the cards. This method requires you to be active with your deck, and not passive and ingesting the theory coming straight of a book. Also, if you have friends who enjoy this deck; you can use this method in order to learn together in an afternoon or evening session. Everyone brings his/her own deck, pull the cards, and explain his/her ideas to all the others. I intend to make classes (or seminars), on Tarot and Lenormand cards some day, and this is a method that I would use. Especially when people don’t know each other at the beginning of a class; it is a nice way to kick start conversation and start learning in a fun way altogether !
Hope you enjoyed reading this post,
Cheers,
Jayce
Jaycetravel's Weblog 