Learn the Petit Lenormand: Card Reading Techniques in 2, 3, and 5 Cards | Complete Guide

Tarot and Petit Lenormand differ in three essential aspects:

• The placement-based spread: In tarot, whether it's the Rider-Waite Smith or the Tarot de Marseille, the spread is often structured by positions. Each card's position has a specific meaning or function, guiding the interpretation. In contrast, Petit Lenormand doesn't follow this rule. While there are methods like the "Grand Tableau," which involves laying out all the cards, there are no pre-defined positions with assigned roles. This offers great freedom in interpretation but can also be challenging for beginners who may feel lost without a structured framework. Naturally, there are no strict rules. You can draw Petit Lenormand with positions, and that's exactly what I do in other articles to show that it's possible. But it's not in the "DNA" of Petit Lenormand to have defined positions.
• The number of cards in a spread: Tarot spreads generally use a small number of cards, ranging from 3 to 10, sometimes up to 12 for specific spreads like the astrology wheel. In contrast, Petit Lenormand is often used with all 36 cards in a spread called the "Grand Tableau". This method may seem more complex, but it provides a comprehensive view of the querent's situation. Even in smaller spreads, cards are often interpreted in combinations of two or three, creating a different and more contextual dynamic than in tarot.
• The polarization of cards: Petit Lenormand has highly polarized cards: some are clearly positive (like the Heart, the Ring, the Lily), while others are negative (like the Coffin, the Cross, the Whip), just like in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot. However, unlike the Rider tarot, where a reading can be strongly influenced by just a few negative cards (e.g., 2 negative cards in a 3-card spread), the "Grand Tableau" of Petit Lenormand, which uses all the cards, naturally balances positive and negative influences.
• Card symbolism and simplicity: Tarot cards, particularly those of the Rider-Waite Smith deck, are rich in symbols and visual details, offering many possibilities for interpretation. However, this richness can make learning more challenging for beginners. In comparison, Petit Lenormand cards have simpler, more universal symbolism (e.g., the heart, the ring, the child). This makes learning and intuition easier but limits the depth of interpretation of a single card, requiring them to be read in combinations for a more nuanced reading.
• The direction of cards in modern decks: Traditionally, Petit Lenormand cards do not have a specific direction, unlike the Tarot de Marseille, where the direction of the characters' gazes plays a key role in interpretation. However, in some modern Petit Lenormand decks, the concept of direction has been introduced, with characters and objects oriented to the right or left. While this can bring new possibilities for interpretation, it is a recent innovation that doesn't have consensus among practitioners. Some, like myself, find that this orientation doesn't align with the original spirit of Petit Lenormand, while others appreciate the flexibility it adds to the readings.

In conclusion, whether you're a beginner or advanced, learning to read Petit Lenormand requires both memorization and imagination. The apparent lack of structure and the need to combine cards can be a challenge but also an opportunity to explore a divination method that is both unique and intuitive.

The Petit Lenormand and Tarot have different approaches to interpretation, reflecting their distinct structure and symbolism.

In the Petit Lenormand, cards are often interpreted in combinations of 2, 3, or even 5 cards, as they contain simple and direct symbols. Each card is quite concise and gains its full meaning when combined with others, creating nuances in the reading. These combinations allow us to explore dynamic relationships between the cards, revealing deeper layers of interpretation.

On the other hand, Tarot has richer and more complex symbolism, where each card, individually, can tell a complete story. Tarot relies on a visual and spiritual language, and interpreting a single card is often enough to provide clear direction in a reading. However, in more elaborate spreads, Tarot can also be read in combination, but the focus is often on each isolated card.

Thus, the Petit Lenormand functions like a language of combinations, while Tarot unfolds as a more autonomous symbolic system.

Two cards from the Petit Lenormand can be paired in various ways to interpret their meaning. Here are the 3 main types of two-card combinations:

• Noun - Adjective: The first card represents a noun, while the second card is an adjective that modifies the noun.
• Subject - Verb: The first card acts as a subject, and the second card is a verb providing more details to the action.
• Cause - Effect: The first card indicates a cause, and the second card represents the effect or consequence of that cause.

It's also possible to reverse the order of the cards in the same combination. For example, in the "noun and adjective" combination, the first card could be the adjective, and the second, the noun. This flexibility allows for richer interpretation and encourages the reader to explore different perspectives.

Let's take the first two cards of the Petit Lenormand: the Rider (1) and the Clover (2), and see what interpretations can be imagined:

• Noun - Adjective:
  - Rider + Clover: "A beneficial message".
  - Clover + Rider: "A surprising chance" or "a stroke of luck".
• Subject - Verb:
  - Rider + Clover: "An athlete seizing their chance".
  - Clover + Rider: "A message bringing a real opportunity" or "A risk taken that speeds everything up".
• Cause - Effect:
  - Rider + Clover: "A visit that brings freshness and lightness".
  - Clover + Rider: "The randomness of life reconnecting us with an old acquaintance".

The interpretation of the cards is not limited to these examples. To further enrich your readings, it's essential to use your imagination and explore different associations. Here are some other possible combinations for "Rider + Clover":

• A happy delivery person
• A delivery of vegetables
• A bicycle on the lawn
• A visitor taking a risk
• Feedback offering a second chance
• A horse in a field
• A playful visitor
• A prankster traveler
• The arrival of an opportunity
• Quick action to seize a chance
• Being athletic and lucky
• Delivering a winning situation

These examples show the variety of possible interpretations with just two cards. Each reader can bring their own perspective, depending on their intuition and knowledge of the cards. It's important to practice and experiment with different combinations to develop a deeper and more personal understanding of the Petit Lenormand.

Connection between Petit Lenormand and personal development

Interpreting Petit Lenormand card combinations can become a powerful tool for personal development. Each reading is not only about predicting future events or describing current situations, but it can also be used as an invitation to reflect more deeply on one's life, choices, and aspirations. For example, the combination "Rider + Clover" could symbolize an unexpected opportunity that requires boldness or risk-taking. By asking questions like "Am I ready to seize this chance?", "What are the obstacles preventing me from moving forward?", or "How can I be more open to opportunities that arise?", the reader can use these cards to explore their fears, motivations, and goals. This type of reflection helps to better understand one's own behaviors, gain clarity on decisions to be made, and move forward more confidently on the path to self-realization. By integrating this introspective dimension, studying the Petit Lenormand becomes a true inner journey, facilitating alignment with one's deep desires and promoting personal growth. I say all this, which may seem obvious, but in truth, the Petit Lenormand is often seen as a predictive tool, in contrast to a so-called "psychological" or "introspective" tarot. However, the Petit Lenormand is perfectly equipped to take you and guide you into your inner self.

In this last part, we will explore the interpretation of five-card combinations, which allows you to construct more complex and nuanced sentences. Reading the cards one by one in the order they are drawn is probably one of the most intuitive ways to interpret the Petit Lenormand. Using five cards offers a wide variety of interpretations and makes it easier to stimulate your imagination than with just 2 or 3 cards.

Depending on the context of the question asked and the order of the cards drawn, interpretations can vary significantly. Here are a few examples of possible interpretations:

• Is my project to open a restaurant viable?
  Cards drawn: Key, Mice, Heart, Mountain, Fish.
  Interpretation: The viability of the project is conditioned (Key) by the need to save money (Mice), which, though valuable (Heart), will help you overcome (Mountain) obstacles related to a lack of funding or resources (Fish).
• Should I train as a hairdresser or in beauty therapy?
  Cards drawn: Fox, Snake, Rider, Letter, House.
  Interpretation: You need to avoid (Fox) getting trapped by this complex dilemma (Snake) that is troubling you, and instead, go in search (Rider) of a clear and wise answer (Letter) from trusted people like your parents (House).
• To travel to Scotland, should I go by plane or by car?
  Cards drawn: Woman, Dog, Star, Stork, Clover.
  Interpretation: Follow your instinct (Woman) that guides you (Dog) toward an air journey (Stork) under a lucky star (Star), and everything will go well (Clover).

Exercise suggestion for practicing five-card combinations

To master reading five-card combinations, I suggest an exercise that will deepen your understanding and develop your intuition. Here's how to proceed:

• Shuffle all the Petit Lenormand cards to form a single deck.
• Draw five cards, one by one, and place them face up on the table.
• Interpret these five cards together to answer a given question (I provide a pre-defined list below).
• Draw five new cards, and place them on top of the first five. Repeat the exercise, interpreting this new combination of cards for the same question.

This exercise is essential for learning to quickly connect the cards and build coherent sentences that give meaning to the answer. It helps develop not only creativity but also the intellectual agility needed for a smooth and intuitive reading during consultations.