LOREM IPSUM

Dolor Set Amet

hen I initially started this project, I assumed that the potential audience would be
primarily deck collectors, and specifically those already familiar with one or more of the
various Lenormand systems. As such I didnt consider there would be a need for any
companion documentation with this special edition. However during the course of its
production I received considerable feedback, that suggested in fact there was growing
interest in these images from many who had no previous experience with the Lenormand
system. So I felt there was after all a need after all in providing at least some basic
complimentary material.
This e-book is intended to serve as merely a brief overview and initial introduction to
this fascinating genre of divination that is embraced under the generic category of
Lenormand. Its content has been assembled from various contributors who each have
considerable experience in this field. Nevertheless I recommend that anyone wishing to
learn and study the Lenormand systems in greater depth, to take advantage of the
hyperlinks provided throughout this document that connect to various useful Lenormand
related publications, blogs and web sites.

Ciro Marchetti.
ii

LENORMAND
A NEW CHALLENGE
Creative Approach, Process & Production
In May of 2011, I attended the Readers Studio Tarot Conference
in New York. One morning I shared a breakfast table with the
renowned Tarot author and reader Mary Greer. During our
conversation she suggested that I should consider designing a
Lenormand deck. At the time I didn't give it too much thought as I
assumed it was a fringe sub-division of Tarot and one with an
appeal limited mainly to European readers. I was also at the time
concentrating my efforts on the re working of the Gilded Tarot into
its new "Royale" version. Nevertheless Mary's suggestion did peak
my curiosity and so in between commitments to other projects, I did
dabble with producing Lenormand related images, such as trees,
books, ships, etc. However, still not convinced about a full
commitment to the entire project, I used many of those elements in
other unrelated images instead. Nevertheless, one year later at the
following corresponding Readers Studio venue, I was finally
convinced. Having overheard Rana George explaining and
demonstrating the basics of the Lenormand system, I was intrigued
and certainly impressed by the reaction and response of the
audience who were enthusiastically following her every word. So
with that change of heart, I took another look at the various images I
iii

had previously produced, or had started but not finished. I

also revisited even earlier projects, I soon realized that many
of them also contained elements that would lend themselves
perfectly to a Lenormand project. Strangely it seemed that
such a deck had been sitting there hidden from view with
images just waiting to be recognized for the Lenormand cards
they potentially could become. The challenge now would be
to see if they could be resurrected with a purpose, theme and
common visual denominator into a collective body of work.
As with my tarot journey which had started 10 years
earlier, I was (and still am) a complete novice compared to
almost everyone who is likely to be reading this. So, I am
clearly not qualified to teach, explain or otherwise shed fresh
light on the Lenormand system. Instead, I can share some
background insight into how I approached the project, both
from a conceptual and production perspective.
Over the preceding few months I had dedicated time to
learning the basic history, tradition and reading structure of
the Lenormand. I also regard these early less informed period
as useful ones, as they allow me to see things with a fresh eye,
less tainted by pre-concepts and biases of what any given
card should look like. This perspective is clearly a temporary
one that can only exists at the beginning. Eventually as one
reads and hears more of other peoples opinions, and
preferences, your own personal perspective become

increasingly influenced. So its during this early period that

is one of prolific output, involving numerous sketches and
experimentation with variations on how to best portray core
meaning, overall illustrative style, and conceptual themes.
The vast majority of these early drafts get trashed, while
others that seem promising I may post on say Facebook and
other related on line forums, and take into consideration
whatever feedback they generate. Its frustrating that some
approaches seem to work so well for one card but simply
won't for others and have to be discarded in order to
maintain a visual cohesion throughout.
The real challenge however, is one of balance, between
personal creative goals and the expectations and needs of the
audience that may use the deck. Early on it was pointed out
to me that the essence of the Lenormand is its simplicity, or
better put, its directness compared to Tarot. The cards and
their images should be less ambiguous. A Freudian cigar is
just a cigar, so to speak, or in a Lenormand context, a tree is
just a tree, a key is just a key. As such, I was advised, those
core elements should not be diluted with other imagery or
symbolism that might detract or distract from the basic
meaning. Therein lies a dilemma. First of all, taken to its
conclusion such simplicity could be reduced to a boring
blank card with a simple keyword or title printed on it. With
minimal effort, I or anyone else searching on the internet,
could find free or relatively cheap clipart, and produce an
iv

acceptably deck in about a day. However such a process

would have no appeal to me as a project, and I suspect little
appeal to my target audience. Despite the well intentioned
advice to "keep it simple" my personal experience and
opinion is that the vast majority of the tarot community do
indeed prefer more. Entering into an images visual
richness, no matter the style, is for many an integral part of
the reading experience both for reader and querent. A key
may indeed be just a key, but this inert object can nevertheless
accurately portray vastly opposing concepts of either
imprisonment or freedom. Most images, depending on the
circumstances, may also convey a duality of meaning. As
such, scenes, elements and characters portrayed in a richer
visual way might provide an environment that is more
conducive to the intuitive interpretation and divinatory
process. The dilemma of course is that if a depicted scene is
too specific then it can become less flexible and thus
counterproductive. The reader may find their own
imagination being restricted. Its for these reasons that I
attempt to depict people in as neutral a way as possible.
Facial expressions and poses, do not suggest any specific
emotion or mood. Clothing is either minimal or nondescript
This avoids direct association with historical periods in time,
or cultural, socio economic status. Unlike many Lenormand
decks of the past, I chose to depict a Man and Woman as
opposed to a Gentleman and Lady.

Any modification or tampering with tradition can of

course be like walking on thin ice. Once again there is a
dilemma and balance involved in providing the core imagery.
Ones that readers can still use as part of the reading structure
they are already familiar with, but also fulfilling a designers
wish to create something fresh. This challenge is particularly
ironic in the case of Lenormand, where the tradition that is
considered so integral to the whole process, is actually a
house of cards (excuse the pun), a fragile structure evolved
over time more by whim and opportunistic marketing than
any genuine symbolic rational. Furthermore the evolution of
Lenormand took different paths incorporating variations of
symbolic meaning along the way reflecting cultural
deviations. For example the Bear would be considered male
in German and Spanish, but female in the French, Belgium,
Dutch and Russian traditions. Depending on the species and
countries, lilies might be considered appropriate (or
inappropriate) for either a funeral or wedding. Clearly with
such variables, a one size fits all symbolic approach is not
possible. Once I accepted that, I felt more comfortable
straying from any of the norms as it were. Nevertheless I feel
that despite the individual style and variations in this Gilded
Reverie, it is still a deck that I hope Lenormand readers,
whether they be experienced or beginners, should be able to
use with comfort.

HISTORY &
TRADITION
The Fox, The Moon and The Fish...
In the name of Lenormand
The Gilded Reverie Lenormand is a continuation of a cardreading tradition dating back to the late 18th and into the 19th
century. The design of this deck is intended to respect the tradition
whilst providing a new vision for the future. We will see that the
tradition itself has been rooted in borrowing and whim since
its inception, with an ongoing history of change.
You may be surprised to discover that these cards have little to
do with Mlle. Lenormand, famed fortuneteller of France, other
than to use her name for marketing. It is only a matter of
geography and history that give us a deck with an Anchor card
and not a Spider card, or a House card and not a Well. You
will also come to discover that the Reverie has reworked some of
the images to provide a more contemporary perspective for the
modern parlor of the 21st century and presented in a unique
illustrative style.
The story of this deck, for a story it is, begins with its
namesake, when in Alenon, Normandy, France, a baby girl,
Marie-Anne Lenormand was born to Marie-Anne Gilbert and
vii

Jean-Louis Lenormand on the 27th of May 1772. Her father

died the following year, and by the time she was five years
old she had lost both parents. Misfortune had taken grip of
her life early on, this however would appear not to have held
her back.
A child of her time, she was a mere 17-years old at the
start of the turbulent French Revolution, 1789 - 1799. These
were ruthless and uncertain times, but they were the
beginning of a society that recognized the fairness for the
man or woman on the street to seize their rights and
opportunities. This uncertainty would no doubt have stoked
an increase in oracular consultation. Indeed at this time Paris
was full of fortunetellers, in spite of a law that was in place
that prohibited divination.
We might easily draw a parallel to the turbulent times of
today, with our own economic and political upheavals across
Europe and America, when both times had their Occupy
movement whilst the cards were being introduced.
Mlle. Marie-Anne Lenormand was one of these Parisian
fortunetellers, and she knew how to recognize an
opportunity, selling certainty in a time of uncertainty. She did
not just sell divination but she sold her very self - she was a
shameless self-promoter. The cartomantic historians Decker,
Depaulis & Dummet, authors of A Wicked Pack of Cards
(1986) point out that of the 14 books that she wrote during

her lifetime that they were not about theories of Tarot or

methods of Cartomancy, but about her own career and her
association with people of importance. Therefore in reality
the only Lenormand in existence at this time was the
childless Mademoiselle herself, a walking and talking oracle
and business woman, whose name and reputation would be
her one and only lasting legacy of her presence in this world.
Her death on the 25th June 1843 conjured interest in her
myth, and as ever, opportunists came out of the woodwork;
three biographies were written, the contents verging on the
creative side. One even claimed to contain prophecies that
The Lenormand had divined before her death. There was
money to be made out of Mlle. Lenormands visions. It is
difficult to know what is truth and what is merely spin
with regard to Lenormand, as according to Decker, Depaulis
and Dummet, the proliferation of Lenormand hot off-thepress type revelations in 1845 came straight out of a
Lenormand Factory.
The irony is that as far as we know, Mlle. Lenormand
never used a 36-card deck as we commonly associate with as
The Lenormand today. This is almost of no question, as she
herself wrote in 1817, in her book Les oracles sibyllins that
she used a piquet pack, a popular game-playing deck of the
time. Interestingly too, we have little written evidence of the
meaning that Lenormand attributed to particular cards. Then
viii

there is a scant reference to tarot cards, with the oddly spelt

tharots and only three cards are mentioned in her writing
at all: Fol, Death, and Devil.
How exciting it would be for Lenormand aficionados to
be able to read somewhere in primary reference material a
mention of The Clover, The Whip, The Tree, but sadly, it
will be unlikely ever to be so. Her cards may have been
playing cards with her own handwritten astrological notes or
other symbols, and again, if they had survived and were
found, that would also be a wonderful discovery.
I can only express in the Language of the Lenormand that
there is a very strong theme of The Fox + Moon + Fishes =
Trickery and a desire for Fame and Money running
through the story of the incredible Mlle. Lenormand.
So her death, as death often does, created a celebrity out
of the Fortuneteller, with the creation of an industry of
Lenormand decks using her name and notoriety. The name
and brand of Lenormand which the Mademoiselle had so
creatively and shrewdly set up would be seized upon and
spun into an entirely new method of Cartomancy.

appears to be heavily strewn with allusions to the patriotism

of France. The Clover is depicted with two blue symbols to
represent abundance; that of the cornucopia. Above the
cornucopia is the green three-leaf clover, and ladies fly above
it, their hands linked in unity wearing gowns in the colors of
the French flag; Red, Blue and White, representing the
Tripartite motto and patriotic colors of the French flag. You
can almost hear the cry of the tripartite motto Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity in this card.
The cards all have playing card inserts upon them,
allowing the purchaser to use them as a standard playing
deck in addition to their fortunetelling use. This is a
wonderful reversal of how they originally came about, as we
will see.
The next deck to follow this same format was the
Fortune Telling Cards of the Famous Mlle. Lenormand in
Paris, printed in Germany in 1846 by J. B. Ruehe. Many
others were to follow, although the tradition has lay
somewhat dormant for many years until this recent revival in
2012 where more decks are being produced each month than
previously for years.

We know that in 1845, only two years after her death, the
first known deck in the format of what is now known as
the Lenormand was created by an unknown publisher. Not
all the cards survive, and they are hand-colored. This deck
ix

was borrowed by publishers 45 years later when

capitalizing too on the death of Lenormand. If they were not
concerned about using the name of a dead woman, they were
probably not concerned about using the deck of a dead man.

However, it has been known since 1976 that the

original deck of the exact symbols now used by
Lenormand decks existed 45 years prior to its re-purposing
as the Lenormand deck. It had nothing to do with Mlle.
Lenormand and was designed by a German brass-factory
owner named J. K. Hechtel, in 1800, shortly before his own
death. It was called The Game of Hope and was a typical
example of many such games of the time across Europe.
There are three extant copies in museums, including the
British Museum. www.originallenormand.com
The fact that Hechtel died so closely to his own playingcard game deck being published is a possible reason why it
x

So, our Lenormand deck got its pictures from a cardgame and its name from a well-known fortuneteller, both
without their intent and after their death. It was not created
by them, but from them. Curiously, the game instructions
from Hechtel contain a brief mention that the deck can be
used for divination by laying out all the cards and telling
stories from them, and Lenormand of course used game
playing cards herself. It is faintly possible that given the
dates, she herself may have seen a Hechtel Game of Hope
deck in normal play during her later life.
If the publisher had chosen another game deck to use, we
might have had a very different set of images, including The
Spider card or The Well card for example. Although many
games and decks of the time shared common images such as
The House, there were many variants. In the Reverie you
will find optional cards from such variants, including The
Bridge, The Masque, The Dice and The Clock.
Over the years there have been many changes to the deck,
removing or adding various aspects of symbolism, such as a
cross being depicted on the Ways card, or an hourglass
being shown on the Scythe. The original Whip and Birch
has been sometimes redrawn as a Whip and Broom,
causing some debate in traditional circles, as the broom
symbol is far more domestic and positive than a birch. The
original card in the Game of Hope shows blood on the birch,

which is placed on a block, making clear its negative

connotation.
Similarly, when the cards were originally developed,
there were generally known myths and fables, which would
have been familiar to any family playing the game in their
parlor. Such tales as the Frog-King and the Stork, or Reynard
the Fox would have been instantly recognizable in the cards.
As these cards are brought to a new generation, you will
rediscover these stories in the card descriptions and their
meaning for your readings.
There are also a number of traditions of reading the cards,
both in the methods used and the interpretation of the
symbols. These are often known by their nationality, although
it is not a hard rule; there are variations from one author or
teacher to another even whilst sharing nationality.
Whilst there are commonalities of meaning, there can be
significant differences; the Bear card, for example, may be a
mother or a strong man of authority, depending on the
tradition. There are variations to cards of health and wealth,
and work, so it is recommended that one chooses a single
tradition and stick with its congruent set of meanings before
trying another. There are ways of choosing your tradition in
the Learning Lenormand book.

xi

In the Reverie, we explain each card in its most generic

manner, allowing some play of meaning for you as a reader,
based on experience of a number of traditions and actual
practice. Where there are significant and useful differences,
the deck contains variant images, such as the Owl/Birds.
Another recent innovation taken up in the deck is to
provide two Gentleman cards and two Lady cards for samegender readings.
For existing Tarot readers, when comparing the
Lenormand deck to Tarot cards, there are only four common
symbols; the astronomical/astrological images of the Sun,
Moon and Stars, and the Tower. It is important to see these in
their original context and not compare them directly to their
tarot equivalents as you will see in the card descriptions, the
Tower in Lenormand is very different and far more utilitarian
than the biblical Tower of the Tarot.
It is hoped that this Gilded Reverie deck provides you a
wonderful tool of fortunetelling, divination and discovery,
giving you access to an antique tradition in a contemporary
presentation. As the Lenormand tradition is revived, these
cards will come to speak more fully, and you are now part of
that oracular voice, returning from the ages. Allow the cards
to tell you their story and in doing so, discover your own.

Tali Goodwin
xii

In the following pages, each card of the Gilded Reverie is

shown and accompanied by initial brief key points provided
by Rana George, www.ranageorge.com followed by
a d d i t i o n a l s u m m a r i e s f r o m Ta l i G o o d w i n
www.tarotspeakeasy.com In some cases I edited the text to
better reflect a personal take on the image. Nevertheless these
descriptions are intended as generalizations. Variations on
these description will be influenced by cultural traditions and
symbolic associations along with the particular circumstances
of the querent and question of the reading. Intuition and
consideration based on adjacent and related cards, the
position of Houses beneath each card, etc., will add further
nuance. The combined variables from all these factors will, in
the hands of the reader, result in infinite possible meanings
for each card.
You may also notice a color variation between the cards
shown and the physical version you have in your deck. This
is a deliberate and intended variable. Several cards were
produced in two color versions. Either of the two were
selected randomly during the assembly process which was
done by hand. This methodology resulted in each deck
almost certainly being unique in its final combination of
cards. The chances of anyone else having an identical
combination of colored cards as you are more than 1 in 8000.

14

RIDER

I am always bringing news, look around me to see what

it includes. I might be coming to visit or bringing you
some changes. I am fast and always on the move. If you
see a negative card close by, you will probably not enjoy
the reply.
The Rider of the Lenormand brings news. It is the first
card and announces new things. In the Reverie we behold a
dreamy female Rider who sits astride a carousel horse; the
horse who in fairytale stories is the conveyer of messages.
She may even be Iris, the Greek messenger of the Gods.
The fastened messenger bag across her shoulder may be
suggestive of additional messages for different destinations
along her nights voyage. In her hands she grasps a white
letter, one that is out of the bag and ready to be delivered for
the current reading. The carousel is the ideal metaphor as this
card is a new cycle being initiated and an ending of the old
state.
The ups and downs of the carousel also symbolize the
magical flight that powers this messenger to its destination.
Freed from the ever-revolving Merry-Go round of life,
whose circular motion is also defined by the laws of physics
as acceleration, our rider symbolically reflects the pace and
speed of information by which our lives are increasingly
defined.
xv

CLOVER

I bring you luck, and happiness. I make things better,

and as long as there isnt a negative card after me, I will
turn difficulties to opportunities. I am the nice surprise
and the happy sighs.

In this card is depicted an explosive reverie of clover.

Three and four leaf clover bearing white flowers are set
against the backdrop of an idyllic day. All is vibrant green,
fertile and promising growth and luck. The white of the
flower symbolizes the purity of luck. Where this card is
placed, all is well. When taken in the context of flowerlanguage the white of the flower is known to be a symbol too
of remembrance; the card can be think of me from someone
afar.
The three-leaf clover is commonly known by the Irish as a
Shamrock and is associated with luck. The four-leaf clover
being considered less prevalent, the act of finding one
naturally in the wild is considered very lucky.
The clover is also known to have associations with love,
passion and abandonment; Medieval poetry was full of
passionate trysts between young lovers in fields of Clover. So
here we also have the state of being lucky in love. However if
Clover card lies next to the Scythe (10) card, expect the luck
of love to be short-lived!
xvi

SHIP

I take you on a vacation or a business trip. You will need

a suitcase for where we are going. Distance is what I am
known for, and I am constantly in motion. Look at the
cards next to me for the clues and cues to the changes I
bring in your lifes journey

A journey is to be embarked upon. There are new horizons

to be explored and preparation is required to ensure smooth
passage. In the original Game of Hope where we have the
first publication of the symbols of the Lenormand, this is
indicated to be a favorable journey, as the traveller will be
happily taken by this Ship to the Land of the Birds. This
augers well!
In the Reverie, we see this card as a flying ship, a propellerpropelled briganteen, taking us to new vistas and landscapes.
Whilst the original card image may have been a ship, later
decks have modified it to whatever the latest mode of
distant transportation may be, such as a train or airplane. It
generally signifies distant travel, in any manner.
The nature of the journey will usually be pleasant and
well-favored, such as a holiday, depending as ever upon the
cards which surround it.

xvii

HOUSE

I am your family and your base, your ground and your

home. I give you stability and comfort. I am your living
arrangement and environment. I am what surround you
and your estate. The cards around me will give you signs
on my present state, or what the future will dictate.
A sanctuary is to be found in the House, showing us
family and home; the sanctuary that offers us shelter from
the world. In the Reverie we have the House depicted in such
a way to entice us home again to the nostalgic place of
fairytale. The build of the House is one of gnarled roots,
speaking of a place of permanent fixture and security. The
open garden gate speaks of an opening being made available.
The House can be one of the most interesting ways to date
a Lenormand deck, as each deck tends to either hark back to
the past or chose a contemporary building to be depicted.
Some decks have very utilitarian buildings on them, others
have a more aspirational mansion house. However it is
depicted, it represents what we think of as our home, our
dwelling, our security.

xviii

TREE

I am here to stay and grow. I am the health of your body,

mind and soul. Look for the cards next to me to find out
more about me. When negative cards are close, pack
some tissues for your nose.

A sign of health and longevity, and the imperative to put

down ones roots to ensure a secure future. The cards
presence could indicate a health condition that is inherited.
Combine this card with the previous card of the House (4)
and we have a Tree House that speaks of security, but great
family responsibility, and possible ill health through stress.
The Tree here also depicts the Tree of Life, an ancient
symbol that has its roots in the most ancient civilizations.
Whether it be Babylonian, Egyptian or Jewish images of the
Tree, it speaks here of antiquity and ancient roots.
The card carries these meanings too in the rainbow,
perhaps suggesting that true health is to be found in aligning
ourselves between that which is above and that which is
below. The harmony of the colors reflecting through the Tree
symbolizes the holistic nature of healing and life itself.

xix

CLOUD

I am dark on one side and light on the other. Conflicts

and doubts I am sure to bring. You will not be able to see
clearly, I will block your perception and let confusion
reign. One thing for sure I promise is that I will pass
because the sun always shines after the thunder has
elapsed.
A card symbolizing foreboding and change, the negative
or positive influence is expressed by the direction the dark
aspect of the cloud faces. In the Reverie we have the glorious
breakthrough of the sun and the ascending birds on the righthand side of the card. This promises liberation from
uncertainty. The card can also warn of the obscuring of a
truth; there is a lack of clarity with regards to a situation,
something needs to be revealed. A revelation may be in the
offing.
The darker aspects of the card are to be found in the lowerleft where we see the lightning striking the Tree of the
previous card. In this face of the image is uncertainty,
confusion. In some systems of Lenormand reading, the bright
and dark edges of this card are used to tell us if the confusion
is before or behind us, in the Reverie we are also able to tell if
it is above or below us. This is particularly useful in a Grand
Tableau reading where we are looking at diagonals a more
advance means of reading.

xx

SNAKE

Watch out for me because I am always hiding, you can

never trust or believe me. I am cheating, deceiving, and
will betray you in a heartbeat. Be careful where you are
treading, my fangs will surely have you dreading.
The Game of Hope makes it clear to stay safe from the
bite of this dangerous Snake. Be afraid, very afraid, as
betrayal may very well be on the cards where this card lies!
Watch out for a superficial person, one that is prone to be
malicious, particularly when combined with the Dog card,
quite literally, a bitchy best friend meaning you harm. Lets
just say here that duplicitous behavior, and a two faced
person could be a problem. The card warns to be wary and
watch where you tread.
Our Snake here in the apple tree also alludes to the Garden
of Eden, the original breakup of the happy relationship we
saw in earlier cards, such as the House. The Lenormand
cards, like many others, including Tarot, are firmly rooted in
Christian tradition such as the Cross (36), and even the
Garden (20) is seen in the original game as a biblical place.
So be wary and look to the cards around the Snake to see
what is the nature of the evil in your situation.

xxi

COFFIN

I am the painful change and transition, you will feel me

through your body, your mind, and certainly your wallet.
Depression, loss, and bankruptcy are my specialties. I
am sickness and bed rest. I am all endings and
sometimes death.

The Coffin of the Reverie deck harks back to the Egyptian

period. Whilst traditionally seen as an ending, finality, this is
also symbolic of an initiation, bringing a final reckoning of
our life purpose. It is often when we are faced with lifechanging events or illness that we weigh up the important
aspects of our life.
Here in the Reverie world we have the coffin in the form of
a sarcophagus and it is flanked by the imposing figure of
Anubis, the God of embalming and protector of the dead. He
also has the role of assisting the weighing the heart to
ascertain the worthiness of the person to enter the
underworld. The significance of this card can be the actual
ending of something as we know it.
One very old German Lenormand deck in private
collection has a child card which is designed to look very
much like a sarcophagal figure, perhaps indicating that
indeed every end is a new beginning.

xxii

BOUQUET

Beauty and a happy face is what I bring. I am the gift that

warms your heart. I am your recovery and your well
being. No matter what card is before me, I will always
change it positively.
What is it like when someone gives you a gift? This card is
the fragrant smell of joy and happiness, a show of
appreciation that could be on its way. The image here of a
bouquet of pink Tulips speaks the Language of Flowers. In
the Victorian era, flowers were used as a medium of
communication; they became the code of lovers, a perfect
way to express love, passion and appreciation covertly.
The Tulip, way before the Victorian period was valued
very highly and induced something called Tulipmania, it
was so desirable to possess. Therefore, the presence of this
card signifies a gift that is to be given or received and is
valuable in some way. That the label here contains the name
of the deck is a nod to earlier decks which often had the
publishers stamp embossed on one of the cards. Several
early Lenormand decks contained the flag of the city of the
publisher on the Ship (3) card, for example.
When combined with a card such as the Rider (1) or the
Letter (27), see later, we have a beautiful invitation and if
then further combined with the Garden (20), it would be an
invitation to a party. If it were however the Tower (19), it
might be a more unwelcome invitation to a hospital
appointment. At least you will get flowers in your room.

xxiii

SKYTHE

Be careful I am swift and sharp. I cut through with

precision with a strict and clear vision. I am an accident,
a sharp cut, a break, or sometimes a decision that needs
to be made. I can bring good harvest or danger. Look at
what I am cutting nearby, it just might be your wager.
To everything there is a season, And a time to every
purpose under the Sun.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
This item is a simple agricultural tool used to clear away
grass and gather the wheat at harvest time. In the world of
the Lenormand it symbolizes; a sudden trauma or shock that
will take one by surprise. A swift clear cut will be made!
It is dangerous too, as it is sharp. We must be careful
where this card points, particularly in a Grand Tableau. The
cards next to the blade-tip moderates its influence, making it
more or less extreme in its impact. For example, the Scythe
next to Clover (2) would make the shock less. It is almost as it
literally the cutting through Clover (luck) blunts the blade.
This symbol can represent a call to action, particularly
when combined with cards such as the Rider (1).

xxiv

WHIP BROOM

Be warned of high temper, I bring conflict and strife. You

will find me in competitions because I work with
repetition. Arguments and quarrels are my patent, but I
am not always a villain. I can be found in the gym or in a
lusty bed on a whim.

This card is one of the troublesome cards in the

Lenormand. Unlike Tarot, there are definitely favourable and
unfavourable cards in this system. Where the whip comes,
frenzy will be whipped up, creating discord and a person
will be quick to anger. The card is trouble, strife, disharmony,
conflict, argument, particularly when seen with the Birds (12)
and all things stressful.
A crack of the whip will be exerted either by you or
against you. The Reverie depicts the curling whip and the
Birch, a bundle of branches tightly bound which was used to
reprimand and castigate. Birching was used in France during
the French Revolution, and during the time of Lenormand
herself.
In its most positive sense, we have here a card calling us to
bring our forces and attention together, to get focus, to get all
our ducks in a row.

xxv

BIRDS

A phone call, a text, or a date that is how I communicate.

I am in meetings, or interviews, and I like to negotiate. I
can be your sibling, lover, or mate. Couples is what I
indicate.
This card may be symbolic of jabber, gossip or the passing of
information of a positive kind, as ever dependent on the
cards in which company it is found. Many voices together are
louder than one; it is also the modern view of crowdsourcing or mass communication. It can be as simple as
an announcement that travels quickly or is distributed
widely, say when with the Rider (1) card.
This too is the ever-growing world of Facebook, and
Twitter communication. The card is literal in Tweeting. There
may however be miscommunication with the ChineseWhispers effect. In Fairy Tales characters are sometimes
given the ability to understand the Language of the Birds
and it could be that the card signifies a misunderstanding,
particularly when combined with the Whip (11).

xxvi

CHILD

I am young, I am new, I am playful and immature. I am

a baby, a kid, or a teenager. Small, short, or tiny are
other ways to describe me.
The Child is one of the literal people cards in the
Lenormand system, indicating a young person. To be honest,
we also take this as a symbol of a childlike nature or someone
who is young at heart. No-one wants to do a business
reading and be advised to choose a young child as a
corporate partner perhaps we should think a little less
literal in some cases.
The child inhabits a place of Wonderment, innocence, hope
and the ability to just play at something, just for the fun of it.
It is another time and the place where imagination is
unchained and reality is taken at face value. It is the early
stages of development where changes can be made and a
positive future formed. The Reverie depicts this wonderment
with an open book of fairytales with start of Once upon a
time, the remaining are blank pages yet to be populated. A
fairytale castle can be seen with hope in the form of a
rainbow an image that occurs throughout the deck,
alluding to the original game of hope from which all
Lenormand decks derive.

xxvii

FOX

When I am not your job, I am youre your red flag for

some deviousness going on. Look around your circle in
your hall, I might be planning your fall. I am master of
manipulation and I am going to fool you all. Craftiness is
my fame, and sneaky sneaky is my game.
In the original Game of Hope, it is written that the
cunning Fox leads the player astray. This is the trickster
card of the deck and its presence brings cunning and
plotting, for good or ill dependent on its position.
The Fox here looks back upon his prey perhaps the
cockerel thinks he is the only one awake so early. The Fox has
prepared his ruse though, and is sure to get his bird. At the
time of the conception of the Lenormand deck, a popular tale
was of Reynard the Fox. These collections of tales depicted
Reynard as a false prophet, and many traditional
interpretations of the Fox card still carry this sense of false
gospel. So beware of trickery and deception. The Fox in the
Lenormand symbolises these traits and more, beware of the
charmer who makes you smile, all is not as it seems. The Fox
next to the Bouquet (9) could warn of deception and flattery,
be even more wary if the Heart (24) and Scythe (10) cards
come into the equation. In our literal Lenormand way of
reading this is deception and flattery leads to a cut-up
heart. You have been warned!

xxviii

BEAR

Power and strength, large and big, only but a few words
of how I am a bigwig. Your finance is my field, your food
is my intrigue. My bad side comes out when you see
negative cards around.

The Polar Bear is a fitting symbol of the indomitable

dignity signified by this card, whether it be read as an
authority figure, a mother, or purely as strength. The Polar is
the most powerful of all the species. Furthermore its colour is
symbolic of the pure spirit it embodies.
The Bear can relate to a person who is in a position of
power in the Business world. The Bear can also be
Matriarchal. In China the Polar Bear is known to represent
Russia. The Bear may also be a symbol of officialdom and
brute force. This card could be telling us to push something
through sheer force.
An interesting combination would be the Bear and the
Bouquet (9), an Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove, for example.

xxix

STARS

Shiny sparkles, guidance, and healing is what I promise

through a gentle feeling. I am reassurance, inspiration
and a new path for your exploration. Wish upon a star,
for I bring hope and light from afar.

In the Game of Hope, we make progress along a snakesand-ladders type map of life, at this stage arriving at the
Star of good prospects. Here we see the Stars mapped out
on the Zodiacal Compass, indicative of this very journey
though life.
The Stars in the Lenormand can be interpreted as a fixed
course, something that is preordained. The Star indicates the
need of vision and the need for wish fulfilment. We have all
heard the saying about someone who has Stars in their
eyes, and that we should follow our own Star. Therefore it
is a card of optimism and ambition. The Star card is a card
that portends Success and much promise, and thanking
ones lucky stars.

xxx

STORK

With movements, upgrades and improvements, I bring

spring and the change of seasons. Sometimes my symbol
stands for a new family addition or simply a new state of
evolution. I can be your move, or your next promotion.
The Stork is a predictable creature, even though it is fabled
to bring change, for example with the delivery of a child. In
reality it returns home like clockwork to its same nest every
year. The Stork is a very favored creature and is looked upon
with affection. Its return to the nest at springtime is the
reason for the association with birth and delivery, which is
very much its meaning in the Lenormand system. The Stork
and the Rider (1) will bring news for sure, particularly
combined with the Letter.
The image conjured by the Reverie here depicts a pair of
storks at home in their nests with the blazing sun breaking
through the clouds. They are looking up towards the lifegiving sun, one of the other cards in the deck.
The process of birth and life, and then death brings
inevitable change. Depending on the cards around the
Stork, it is a lifestyle change, for example combined with the
House (4) might mean a change of dwelling.

xxxi

DOG

Loyalty and friendship is what I stand for. I am

protection and trust, support and reliance. When negative
cards are around, make sure to take a closer look. I could
be your counselor, your pet, or the lover in your bed.
Depicted here is the dog, a reliable, faithful friend who can
be trusted and who loves you unconditionally. The Dog is
self-contained, it is more than content with its role, and holds
the lead, with a ball in the background, as if you say, you
know what to do. It is a symbol of companionship.
This card in close proximity to the Gentleman (28) or Lady
(29) is pretty reassuring as to their intention. The Ring card to
the right will consolidate the relationship.
The Dog can signify a close friend in a reading, one who is
trustworthy. It brings this sense of loyalty and faith to the
cards around it, for example if it were combined with the
Letter (27) it would be a communication you could trust. The
Dog and Tower (19) might signify a company or authority
that is looking after your concerns.

xxxii

TOWER

Corporations, organizations, institutions and

governments come under my influence. I am boundaries
and restrictions, so be mindful of isolation. I describe
your ambitions as well as your expectations, and lets not
forget your higher educations.
Unlike the Tower in the Tarot, the Lenormand Tower is
symbolic of a structure that offers protection and security. In
the Game of Hope it is a Watchtower built on high ground
for surveillance over the countryside beyond. At the time of
the decks devising these places were also for border control,
or control of passage to the city. As such they have multiple
meanings, ranging from authority to education, to places of
power and legal dealings.
The Tower then is a seat of power, and often bureaucracy.
When combined with the Letter it is a dreaded form to be
completed, even worse when accompanied by the Snake.
Read the small print of that insurance policy!
In some books, it can be symbolic of a place of isolation,
such as a hermitage. It then carries occult meanings and the
remote Towers of the Reverie carry too this connotation. It is
sometimes within oneself that the watch needs turning.

xxxiii

GARDEN

When you are going to a party, a concert, or a business

meeting, I am sure to show up in your reading. You will
find me in a reunion or a retreat, a riot or a picnic meet. I
like crowds and public events, so naturally I am good
with all your networking intents.
In the time of Lenormand, the park or garden was a social
venue, a meeting place. It was a space for getting out and
about, sharing and networking, a place where relationships
were forged. As in the Reverie, the card is often depicted as a
cultured garden with a fountain, perhaps an echo of
Nuremberg from where the Game of Hope first sprang.
The card means public; and whilst it may seem strange
that there is no-one in the image, it is because it is the public
space which is being depicted. When this card is read, it adds
the public to the cards in its vicinity; the Garden and the
Tower (19) would signify a public organization, the Garden
and the Book (26) would show public education. It is best to
stick with the literal Lenormand. This card can suggest the
importance of being social, and maybe it is saying you need
to promote yourself more, particularly if combined with the
Moon (32). A contemporary meaning of this card with the
Heart (24) might be online dating. If we had the Garden, the
Heart (24) and a Letter (27), in the 21st Century this would be
that email from Dwayne for which you have been waiting.

xxxiv

MOUNTAIN

I come to bring you challenges and obstacles with

blockages and resistance. I will make you late for your
date, and my coldness will take emotions out of the plate.
Pay attention and beware I can be the enemy in your lair.

The Mountain is symbolic of obstacles in our way. Whilst it

may be there to be conquered, as we see from the animal
looking upon the mountain, it is certainly in our way. In the
Reverie, the mountain appears to us as an almost impossible
obstacle, according with its origins as a card of detour;
slowing us down. In fact, when combined with other cards, it
shows that we might abandon our planned route and take
another path.
Consider the Mountain with the Tower (19); a delay from a
government-related body, or the Mountain with the Cross
(36), a completely uphill struggle.
Other cards of a similar nature include the Crossroads/
Ways (22), offering choices rather than detour and delay, or
the Stars (16) which offer good prospects and clearer
navigation.

xxxv

CHOICE

Decisions and choices is what I offer. Alternate directions

are what I augur. I speak in multiple and double, and
when Im under a relationship I might be trouble.
There comes a time when one needs to make the choice of
going one way or the other, neither way is right or wrong,
but only one way can be taken. Here in the Reverie we have
steps that take us upwards and onwards toward this point of
deliberation. Stairs and steps are symbolic of ascending to a
higher place, a much better place, where once you are
through the doors at the top which lead to the stars, and then
the possibilities are infinite.

xxxvi

MICE

You dont want me in your house, you dont want me in

your blouse. I bring loss, I bring theft with destruction
and decay. I am your stress and anxiety, I am the worry
in society. I am your nuisance, I am your pest, I bring
sickness in your nest.
These mice are completely happy with their work; the
gradual destruction of possessions and resources. They are
busy nibbling at cloth and fruit, and at bread. They appear to
have no regard for ownership, and are rapidly gnawing
away whilst no-one is looking.
These mice are symbolic of loss, whether that be a gradual
whittling away of ones savings, combined with the Fishes
(34), or actual theft (of time, say, combined with the Clock
(37) card). Their presence brings into the reading a bitesized effect, something happening in little chunks. That is
not to say it is not a powerful card those mice may be
delightful, but not when found in your own kitchen. They are
the niggling aspect of life, where there is an issue, something
that has become a pest in your life, and will just not go away
and leave you alone! It leaves your mind troubled. This card
also warns it is a good idea to take care of your possessions;
the Mice of the Lenormand are terrible hoarders and are most
likely to represent theft.

xxxvii

HEART

The form of happiness and love is simply drawn in my

shape. I am your feelings and emotions. I am your
passions and devotions. Just make sure no bad cards are
around to spoil this fondness and affection.
In antique Lenormand decks, the design of the Heart
varies from an almost biological physical heart to a kitsch
romantic heart embroidered with flowers and other
adornments. The Heart is of course symbolic of love and
relationship. Here we see the heart formed by two Swans, a
bird itself symbolic of courtly relationship, monogamy and
enduring love.
The Heart is always a card of beneficial emotions in
Lenormand. To receive the combination of Heart with Clover
(2) and Ring (25) promises Love, luck, commitment and
marriage. The Heart and Whip (11) or Scythe (10) may not be
such a happy combination.

xxxviii

RING

A precious item is what I am to bind in marriage and

commitment. I bring harmony in unions as long as
negative cards are afar. I am the contract and the
promise in partnerships and ventures. I am the symbol
for completion and the form of eternal devotion.

The Game of Hope tells us that finding this ring will bring a
reward. Here we see a ruby ring symbolising commitment.
In crystal lore, the Ruby is a guarantee of economic stability
in some cultures it was buried in the foundations of
buildings to assure good fortune.
The Ring is a symbol of commitment, and can speak of a
contract being drawn up between two people or a business
contract. The ring is an object of value to those who wear it.

xxxix

BOOK

The book of knowledge, the book of secrets, what I house

is educational and private.I may be your project or your
research, and sometimes your studies and journals.
Watch out for the cards around me, because with the Sun
you will see right through me. I am hidden, I am
unknown, but occasional knowledge I might learn.
The Book draws attention to the importance and power of
knowledge, and possessing it. This card may suggest there is
something somebody needs to know, however this will only
become apparent with the presence of the cards around it.
The book is a vehicle for the very imagination itself. The
Book of the Reverie promises tales of great mystery within its
pages. It has a mechanical dial on its front, showing the
mechanics of learning.
The Book opens to the right of the card, which indicates in
readings the direction of the learning literally, what is being
opened by the learning. As an example, if the Dog (18) was to
the right of the Book it would be learning something about a
close friend. The next card to the right may indicate what
was going to be learnt, such as the Ring (25) or the Stork (17).
It may be a surprise to them to say Congratulations on your
engagement or Wow! A Baby! before they have told you.

xl

LETTER

I am a document, I am a message, I am information, I

am a package. Sometimes I can be an invoice, a
certificate, or a test result. You can find me as your mail,
a newsletter, or an award. Look around me to find out
more of what I am leaning toward.

A letter depicted here with actual correspondence written

by Mlle. Lenormand connects her name and spirit to this
deck. Whilst she did not use the cards which have come to
bear her name, no doubt she would be astonished and
delighted to be recognised within their continued use today.
It is a connection which the letter brings an intimate
communication, a familiarity.
The Letter indicates a communication that may not yet be
with us, a slower form of transmission, a patient waiting on
making a connection. It is the Letter without the Rider (1)
hastening it to us, and unlike the book may not bring
knowledge or news (as the Rider) but rather, a simple
acknowledgement.
The feather on the Letter is the quill which since time
immemorial has signified truth and communication - let us
always write straight.

xli

MAN I

I could be you the reader, or the male subject of your

reading or the male parter of the significator.
Significator for the male Sitter, or the Significant Other of a
female Sitter. One can use the alternative Gentleman card
provided in the Reverie for same-gender relationships.
Version I: An elegant-looking man sits upon a chair
holding a red rose. He appears to be awaiting his companion.
In the background a window lights the scene, which is
otherwise unadorned. It speaks of waiting, of patience, of a
quiet endurance. There is a sensitivity to the scene that
communicates the nature of romance. He looks to the left of
the card.

xlii

WOMAN I

I could be you the reader, or the female subject of your

reading or a female parter of the significator.

Significator for the Female sitter, or the Significant Other of a

male Sitter. One can use the alternative Lady card provided
in the Reverie for same-gender relationships.
Version I: A woman looks up from her book, her thoughts
wandering. There is commonality of ambience and mood
that connects this woman, and this card to its male
counterpart. The red rose provides an additional point of
connection that binds them. A token a gift, something given
and received. Something shared.

xliii

LILIES

Calm, peace, and serenity is what I preach. Your parents

and elders show up under my symbol. I bring wisdom
and experience. I happen to be a long time period.
Contentment and satisfaction is my angle.

The Lily from a pagan view is symbolic of sexuality and

passion, but also of purity. It can also symbolize motherhood.
As a result, these calm-looking flowers, with their glass
engraved background, reflect a range of interpretations. That
they are both growing and yet eternally captured in smooth
glass, without any of their essence, shows the two sides of
this card.
We might suggest that they are a range of excitement;
sexual, nurturing or the absence of that excitement in
chasteness.
As a card, these Lilies make the cards about them pure,
simple, or excite their nature. A combination such as Lilies
(30) + Bear (15) might certainly indicate the power of a
mother or mother-like figure in a situation, depending on the
question.

xliv

SUN

I am success hear me roar! I control your ego and

charisma, I boost your confidence and courage. I bring
victory and glory, but be careful not to get to cocky or you
will be branded a haughty.

The Solar face, as the Moon following, carries the essential

nature of this card as a blessing success and big luck. In this
card we also see a scroll of time, as the Sun marks the passing
of the hours. The shadow falls upon the number 6, a solar
number.
The sun shines and all under its light grow. The cards
around this card in a Grand Tableau will be well-aspected,
and it bodes well at the end of a line of cards too.
The light that shines from this Sun card is energising and
revitalizing in nature. It can also signify the confidence to
step out into the light by engaging with a project or taking a
new direction.

xlv

MOON

Love and romance, intuition and psychic abilities,

imagination and creativities are but a few of what I stand
for. I reach across the sky and influence the waters, I am
admired all around, I bring fame, I bring honors.
The Moon card in the Reverie is depicted as a crescent,
holding in her horns the various cycles of her nature, from
the New Moon to the Full. Below her is a clockwork orrery
indicating that her nature is in the mechanics of the universe.
The Moon card does not quite live up to the brilliance of
the Sun, she is more watery in nature and she really wants to
be a Star - to have recognition. Think of the emotional sirens
of the silver screen, acting by intuition, by method, living the
emotions of a part they are playing in order to act. This
produces great creativity but it can also create casualties,
such as Marilyn Monroe. The Moon brings emotional
illumination. The Moon however really flourish in close
proximity to the Sun (31); it needs the forceful energy the sun
emits to shine in the world to its full capacity.
In Lenormand traditions, the Moon is recognition by
others, reflecting on oneself. It is thus fame and notoriety. It
illuminates only what others project onto it, so when it turns
up in a reading, careful reflection is required.

xlvi

KEY

Discoveries and solutions are my forte. You will find me

in synchronicities, signs and fate. When I land close to
you, know that you have the means, and the answers to
what is troubling you. Look to my right, I point to what is
highly important or what needs to be in the light.
The solution to the problem can be found by being in
possession of the Key card, it both unlocks and secures,
depending on which way it is turned. The answer is within
your reach, this is a card of liberation, although it can also be
a tool of captivity.
The gilded bird cage of the Reverie, speaks of a Bird Palace
which can become a Prison. Inside is a rose, symbolising
mystery a mystery which unfolds as the key unlocks it. It is
also of course a symbol of love, the most common of all
mysteries.
This card can influence many things, next to the Heart (24),
it can unlock feelings and be the key to your heart, next to
the Book (26) it can unlock knowledge and so on. It is a card
that offers many opportunities and new beginnings.

xlvii

FISH

I bring plenty and abundance. I deal in commerce and

sales. I advocate independence and promote self-reliance
and trade. Water, expansion and flow is my department.
Be careful not to tip the scales between tipsy and loaded,
you dont want to end up dizzy and bloated.
The Fishes of the Lenormand symbolise resources and
money. The three fish here in the blue depths show that we
can dive deep to gather in food and abundance. The card also
in some traditions - symbolizes wealth.
Where this card appears teaches us to make the most of the
resources that we possess. In modern parlance is speculate
to accumulate or making a little go a long way as ever
dependent on the cards around it.

xlviii

ANCHOR

With stability and security, I give a peace of mind. I push

you to persevere and help you reach your goal. Watch out
for negative cards, they might shackle and pull you down
a hole.
In the original game instructions for the cards which
became the Lenormand pattern, this is the most important
sheet of the whole game, insofar as the one, who comes to
stay on this picture of Hope, has won the game and draws
the whole cash-box or deposit. The Anchor is the traditional
symbol of hope (or faith) and comes before death the Cross
(36), following.
The Anchor offers stability and security; being confident
that your hard work will pay off in the long term. The
Anchor of the Reverie is adorned with two Fish symbolizing
abundance and wealth in the Lenormand; this is a card of
assurance. You are protected in times of need.

xlix

CROSS

I am the bringer of grief, sadness, burdens, and ordeals.

Pain, suffering and guilt is the area of my expertise. I
claim weeping, tears and lamentations, and ask for
prayers and supplications. When happy cards come at
my right, then you shouldnt experience too much fright.
The Cross in the Lenormand is a symbol of the state of
suffering, universal and unavoidable. It is the state of
carrying the burden of others who are not accountable for
their actions, the cross we have to bear. This card is the
calling card of taking responsibility, despite the cost. On a
positive note, with this, redemption may come dependent
on surrounding cards for example, you might bear the
Cross but cross the Bridge (38) and find a better place.

ADDITIONAL CARDS
Over the years there have been multiple variations of the
Lenormand cards. Many reflecting individual preferences and
concepts of the artist or publisher. Others are more general sub
divisions that reflect different regions and cultures. Appealing
though it may have been to try and cover all variables and
attempt to appeal to everyone, this would clearly have been a
futile exercise. So for the most part I have focused on the core 36
cards of the European system commonly used today. However I
have provided a number of additional cards that can be included
along with the core 36, to provide additional nuance and
meaning to a spread. Nevertheless they are designed and
numbered so that should you choose not to use them, then the
basic traditional set of 36 cards are unaffected.
These additional cards consist of the Owl, which can
substitute the Birds. There is an additional Man and Woman
card, thus a reading can utilize the deck with two cards of the
same gender, if that would be more appropriate for the querant
or the specific circumstances of any given reading. Then there
are also four completely new cards Clock/Time, Bridge, Dice
and Mask, which will be discussed in the following pages.

li

BIRDS/OWL
In the Reverie, we have two alternate cards for the Birds,
as some prior decks have used the Owls, often as a pair, to
indicate the concept of paired within a reading.

lii

MAN II

I could be you the reader, or the significant male subject

of your reading or a male parter.
In the Reverie, there is included this optional second Man
card. This might be used to a provide a specific reference for
a reading, or serve for a same sex relationship, or provide a
choice that might better represent the characteristics or
personality of the male subject of the reading. Such usage is
discussed in more detail in the Grand Tableau spread section
of this book.
Version II: A strong-looking man wears a red cloak about
himself, his bare chest showing a masculine Mars symbol on
a pendant. He looks to the right of the card and appears
determined and passionate. The card is lit with a golden
background that communicates essential power.

liii

WOMAN II

I could be you the reader, or the female subject of your

reading or a female parter.

As with second Man, the Reverie includes an additional

Woman card. Version II: A powerful and elegant woman
looks out of a window to the right of the card. She has a
draped red robe and between her breasts she clutches the
feminine symbol of Venus. The light shines in through the
window emphasizing her strong features. She is the
embodiment of the feminine power.
In all four gender cards, The expressions of both Men and
Women are all neutral. There is no obvious indication that
would suggest wether the relationships between them are
positive or negative. This provides more flexibility to
interpret the cards appropriately for the specifics of a
reading.
Note that in the prototype Lenormand deck, the Lady and
Gentleman card were also drawn as a matching pair, holding
a fan and a hat in mutual recognition, as if they were actually
part of one scene, as here in the Reverie.

liv

TIME

My appearance brings time to the forefront

of importance. I may be approaching or
passing, so be attentive. Use me wisely to
provide perspective. Look around me to better
understand my involvement. Certain cards may
slow me down, but sometimes a quick action
will get you the crown.
The Clock in the Reverie is symbolic of the metering out of
time; the clock is ticking, and life is transitory in nature, so
each moment we should savour, and live to the full. It is a
reminder of our immortality, the hands of the clock will only
go forwards into time, and we must go on regardless. It is the
card of time management; it is an imperative to use it wisely.
The context of time in a reading, can be suggested usually
via the Playing Card inserts, numerology, or other methods
But this card can nevertheless add additional focus and
highlights the importance of time in the interpretation itself.
It may raise a range of considerations from the need to act
immediately to benefits of a patient wait and see approach an
element missing from the usual pattern of card designs.
The Reverie captures the various ways of recognizing
time; a cuckoo clock, a sundial, an hourglass, a cockerel, a
candle, an owl and many other dials and contraptions. The
clock casts shadows of time in the background, alluding to
the notion that time waits for no man. It can be usefully
compared to the natural timekeepers of the Sun and Moon.
lv

BRIDGE

Near or far, wide or narrow, steep or straight,

are some of my traits. But in whatever form, I
am your connection, to places, people or points
in time. I can span the spaces that separate
you. I can shorten the distance that can bring
you together.
The Bridge card of the Reverie spans impossible
mountains. It is a card which can mitigate against the
Mountain (21) card and provide new passage, indicated by
the cards around it.
Whilst a symbol of transition and overcoming obstacles in
your way, the Bridge acts as a link to cross a divide and
thereby opens up new opportunities. It is significant as an
extra token card in the deck because it offers a solution, it
helps to bridge the gap of a problem. For example, the
combination of the Cross (36) + Bridge = Suffering
Overcome.
However if the Bridge lies behind the other combinations
it is warning you not to burn your bridges as there will be
no going back on the decision.
In another sense, the bridge is a place of assignations, brief
interludes and meetings. If combined with the Clock (37), a
very brief meeting is indicated, and with the Letter (27) and
Ring (25), a quick resolution to a contractual issue. The
Bridge provides a new aspect to the deck which has proven
useful in reading.
lvi

DICE

I am the risk, the gamble you choose to take. I

am the uncertain, and the leap of faith. I offer
the promise of future change. Possibly negative
cards to my right will foretell ill fate, but
positive cards will bring about a happy state.
Are you feeling lucky..... well are you?
The two dice provide an element of chance and
opportunity, of possibility and a new element to be
introduced into the situation. They signify a randomness,
and a risk that one chooses to take rather than the Clover (2)
which is discovered luck. Their random outcome can either
punish or reward, and influence the cards nearby. The most
trustworthy card of the Dog (18) is soon distracted from his
duties by rolling dice nearby. This would be a fair-weather
friend indeed.
Whilst this card image appeared in early games similar to
that which formed the prototype to the Lenormand, it is also
a recognition to the history of the deck, which was originally
a game played with dice and cards. The dice are now
incorporated into the deck in the same way the meanings
of the cards have been fixed, rather than being looked up in a
fortune book as was originally the case.

lvii

MASK

Look deep into your soul, to whose amusement

you play? I balance the contradictions and
encompass the opposites. I project your
emotions or hide them. When I land to your
right I will bring a happy plight, but if my
presence is to your left then melancholy is in
your sight. I can be the face to suit any
occasion. All parts I can play, the truth or
disguise... I am your creation.
The Mask is symbolic of concealment and deception. It is
different to the Fox (14) or Snake (7) because it is actually
apparent and appears to be something which it is not. It is a
card of not taking something literally at face value.
In combination with the Rider (1) this is deceptive news. If
found close to the Lady (29) or Gentleman (28), the person
may be a fake one presenting one face but hiding another.
This is more public than the Snake or Fox and can apply to
any situation or card in the deck, depending on its proximity.
In communications online, a masquerade is a term for a
security risk, where somebody steals an online identity in
order to defraud. If found together with the Mice (23) and
Letter (27), this would be identity theft.

lviii