Lenormand: 36 Cards, Plainer Than Tarot
A Lenormand deck lay open on the table: a rider, a clover, a ship, a house, a tree, a dog — it looked like a set of children's word cards. My friend told me to draw three at random. I drew letter, ship, house. He said nothing mystical, just: news arrives, then a long trip, and then you come home. My first reaction was that this was oddly specific.
What This Method Looks At
Lenormand uses thirty-six cards whose images are drawn from everyday objects and roles. Unlike tarot, it does not work mainly through symbol and the narrative of stages; it gives fairly concrete descriptions through combinations of cards, which is why people often call it plain-speaking. It needs no birth information, only a question.
How It Differs from Tarot
Number of cards: Lenormand is fixed at thirty-six; tarot has seventy-eight.
Orientation: tarot leans towards symbol and psychological unfolding; Lenormand leans towards describing a concrete situation, and most of its card images are nouns.
Combination: the core of Lenormand reading is chaining — two or three cards placed together make one sentence, and the meaning of a single card on its own matters comparatively little.
Reversals: traditional Lenormand reading generally does not use reversed cards, whereas reversed readings are common in tarot.
How to Chain Three Cards
The usual positions for three cards correspond to cause–course–result, or to you–the relationship–the other person. When reading, string the three cards into one description in order: letter, ship, house, for example, first gives a chain of actions, which you then replace with the specific people or events of your question.
Five cards and the nine-card grid are also common layouts. The more cards there are, the more the question itself has to be focused, otherwise the reading easily produces statements that contradict each other.
Origins
Lenormand takes its name from the nineteenth-century French fortune-teller Mlle Lenormand, but the thirty-six card deck in use today has a different source: it is generally thought to come from a European card game of the late eighteenth century, which was later turned to divination and spread across Europe and the English-speaking world. Records of related early decks and publications can be searched in the German National Library's catalogue.
Its Limits
Lenormand's descriptions are fairly concrete, which also means they are easy to over-read: read one sentence too literally and a possibility becomes a certainty. Its conclusions work well as an angle for observation, but not as a basis for real decisions. On top of that, systems of card meaning differ between traditions, so it matters that you choose one set and keep to it consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which suits a beginner better, Lenormand or tarot? Lenormand has fewer cards and more direct images, so it is quicker to pick up; tarot has richer layers of symbolism but more to memorise. It depends whether you want a concrete description first or a more open reading.
Q: Should I read reversals? Traditional Lenormand generally does not. If you are used to reversals you can keep them, but stay consistent within the same deck.
Q: How many matters can one spread cover? One question is advisable. Lenormand describes through chaining, and the more single the question, the clearer the sentence the cards form.
Q: Why do two people read the same set of cards differently? Because chaining replaces general images with the specific content of your question, and a different context gives a different landing point. You can use the contrast to see which explanation fits your actual situation better.
Where to Start
If you have a specific question, you can go straight into the process here: state it clearly and the system will suggest a method. You can also specify Lenormand, then see the spread and a chained reading, and export it if you want to keep it. In the Zhanbu Mizhi process, the spread positions and the evidence for the reading are both given.
Disclaimer: This article covers traditional culture and folk custom. It is for entertainment and self-reflection only, and does not constitute medical, psychological, investment, legal or marital decision advice. Please do not submit sensitive personal information such as ID numbers or detailed addresses. If you experience persistent insomnia, anxiety or physical discomfort, please consult a doctor or a qualified professional.
Sources
- German National Library (DNB) catalogue search entry, for early decks and publications: https://portal.dnb.de/opac/simpleSearch?query=Spiel+der+Hoffnung (accessed 2026-09-17)