Which Lenormand Deck to Choose? Criteria, Editions and Pitfalls

The Lenormand in a nutshell

The Petit Lenormand is a 36-card oracle with simple images: the Rider, the Clover, the Ship, the House, the Tree, the Clouds, the Key, the Letter... Each card carries a brief meaning, and the reading is done by associating neighbouring cards, the way words form sentences. It is distinct from tarot, which relies on a system of 78 cards and symbolic arcana. If you are discovering the deck, first read the Lenormand oracle: history, cards and spreads.

One historical point matters when choosing: Marie-Anne Lenormand (1772-1843), a famous Parisian fortune-teller of the Napoleonic era, did not create this deck. It derives from Das Spiel der Hoffnung (“the game of hope”), a German parlour game of 1799 designed in Nuremberg by Johann Kaspar Hechtel. The first commercial decks bearing her name appeared later in the 19th century, according to sources. When a listing claims that the deck “belonged” to Mlle Lenormand, that is commercial legend.

Not to be confused with Mlle Lenormand's Grand Jeu

There is also a Grand Jeu de Mlle Lenormand, published in Paris in 1845 according to sources, which has 54 cards and mixes astrology, mythology and allegorical images. This deck is different from the Petit Lenormand: its cards, meanings and reading methods are not the same. Before buying, check the number of cards and the exact name. “Mlle Lenormand oracle” may refer to either one.

The criteria that matter

1. Clear images. In Lenormand you read combinations quickly: each image must be identifiable at a glance. Highly decorative or busy illustrations make reading harder.
2. Playing cards in the corner. Many decks have a small playing card (for example the nine of hearts for the Rider). This is useful if you use the classic correspondences; other modern decks omit them. See also cartomancy with a 32-card deck.
3. The 36 cards. Count them: some decks add blank cards or extra cards.
4. The format. The large layout spreads out the 36 cards (for example four rows of eight, then one row of four): a medium or small format fits better on a table.
5. The names of the cards. The traditional French names (Cavalier, Trèfle, Faux, Cigogne...; in English: Rider, Clover, Scythe, Stork...) are not always kept as they are in translated editions. Compare with the names used in your books.
6. The booklet. A small booklet of meanings is often included. Read it with a critical eye, since the meanings vary from one author to another.

What style of deck?

• Old-style decks, inspired by 19th-century editions (among the known publishers: Piatnik and other Central European firms): simple images, bright colours, sometimes a little austere. A 36-card deck by Dondorf, a German publisher, is held by the British Museum.
• Contemporary artists' decks: modern illustrations, sometimes richer, but mind legibility.
• Themed decks (animals, nature, sea): see also themed tarots for the common pitfalls.
• Cards in French: the most numerous sources are in German and English, but French editions exist. See cards in French or English.

A sample reading to test a deck

To see whether a deck speaks to you, draw three cards, for example the Letter, the Heart and the House. You might read: “a message (Letter) that touches the feelings (Heart) within the family setting (House).” This is not a prediction, only a sentence that serves as a starting point for your reflection. If the images seem clear and the sentence comes easily, the deck is probably suitable; if you hesitate over what each card represents, look for an edition with clearer images.

Pitfalls and first steps

• Buying a deck sold as “Lenormand” that does not have 36 cards.
• Believing in a romantic origin: the deck comes from a German parlour game of 1799.
• Wanting to read the large layout alone from day one: start with three-card spreads (see beginner spreads) to learn to combine two cards.
• Giving too much weight to the meanings in books: authors sometimes contradict each other.

Lenormand, like any card deck, is a tool for reflection and storytelling, with no power of prediction. Then discover the Lenormand pages, card by card. The oracles and cards shelf presents our oracle decks; their texts are often in English.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Choosing your tarot or oracle deck.