Lenormand The Crossroads card (no. 22): choice, fork, combinations

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The card in brief

The Crossroads carry the number 22. Depending on the edition, the image shows a road that divides into two or three paths. The original German name, Kreuzung, means "crossing" or "intersection"; in French, you will also find "Le Carrefour" or "La Croisée des chemins". In the classic convention, the card is associated with the queen of diamonds.

Be careful not to confuse it with The Cross (no. 36), whose German name Kreuz is similar.

Traditional meaning

The Crossroads speak of choice. They show that a decision exists, without saying which one is the right one. The keywords come back almost unchanged from one author to another: options, fork in the road, decision, hesitation, direction.

• Options: several paths open up, none is imposed.
• Hesitation: remaining at the crossroads is itself a choice.
• Separation: two roads that diverge, sometimes two people.
• Movement: a journey, a trip, a change of direction.

Some readers stress that the card does not say how to decide: it only reminds you that there is a decision to be made.

In the main areas of life

Relationships. A romantic dilemma, a change of direction, the question "carry on together or not?". With The Heart, it places the choice at the heart of the bond.Work. A change of position, further training, a change of direction. The idea of several offers or several leads comes up.Everyday life. A route, a move, a project to choose among several. The card also evokes a way of life: not everything is mapped out in advance.

People, places and timing

Since it is linked to the queen of diamonds, some practitioners see a young or undecided woman, or a person who gives direction. This "person" reading remains secondary and depends a great deal on the authors.

As for place: a crossing, a road, a station, a means of transport. As for timing: a moment of transition, a pivot.

Combinations with neighbouring cards

Here again, the card acts as a noun or an adjective depending on its position:

Neighbouring card	Possible reading
Rider + Crossroads	a decision that arrives through news or a step taken
Ship + Crossroads	several possible destinations, a travel plan to weigh up
Clover + Crossroads	brief opportunities, to be seized or not
Crossroads + Cross	a heavy choice, a decision weighed down with responsibility
Crossroads + Heart	a romantic dilemma
Crossroads + Mountain	a difficult choice or limited options
Crossroads + Book	finding out more before choosing
Crossroads + Anchor	staying on or committing for the long term to one path

In three cards, Book – Crossroads – Anchor could be read as: "look into things (Book) before choosing (Crossroads) and then stick to it (Anchor)".

A card with several names

In the original German game (see the history of the Petit Lenormand), the card is called Kreuzung. French editions have sometimes translated it as "Chemins" (in the plural, to stress the plurality of roads), sometimes as "Carrefour" or "Croisée des chemins". English-language editions say Crossroads, sometimes Paths or Ways. These variations are of no concern: they describe the same idea, that of a point where several roads part.

If you buy a deck, look at the picture: two clear paths suggest "a choice between two possibilities", while three or more ways point rather to a range of options. This is a detail some practitioners use and others ignore altogether.

Reading in a spread: a few nuances

When The Crossroads fall in the centre of a three-card spread, the card on the left describes where one comes from, and the card on the right what may follow from it. Some readers also like to note the direction of the gaze or movement in the drawing to tell the two paths apart, but this is not universal.

To practise

Take a decision you are hesitant to make. Draw two columns, one per option, and note for each what you would gain and what you risk. Then draw The Crossroads and a second card for each column: the idea is to give each path an image, not to choose on your behalf.

What to keep in mind

There is no scientific evidence that a reading sheds light on a choice. Use the card to clarify your priorities and values, never to decide a serious matter on your own (finances, health, justice). A concrete piece of advice from someone close to you or from a professional is worth more than a card.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to the Lenormand oracle.