How to Choose the Ideal Petit Lenormand Deck: Criteria and Practical Tips

Although this article mainly focuses on specific criteria, it is important to mention some classic aspects that are often decisive for users. These basic criteria deserve attention:

• The Materials of the Cards

  The quality of materials is essential. This includes elements like laminated cardstock, the presence of gilding, the durability of the cards, and their ease of shuffling. These characteristics directly influence the user experience, especially if the cards are used frequently. A sturdy and pleasant-to-touch deck can greatly improve your comfort while practicing. Some decks offer laminated or waterproof cards, which can be useful for outdoor practices; however, be careful that the cards do not become sticky.

• The Price

  The price of a deck can be a decisive factor, especially for beginners. If you are just starting and hesitant to invest, choose affordable options to begin with. Keep in mind, however, that a higher price does not guarantee the quality or effectiveness of the deck. Some more economical decks may perfectly meet your needs. Some expensive decks include booklets or detailed guides, which can justify the cost for a deeper learning experience.

• Personal Preferences

  Ultimately, the most important criterion remains personal affinity with a deck. Whether you are a novice or experienced, the best choice is the one that inspires you and with which you feel comfortable. Technical or aesthetic features will never replace the unique connection you can have with your cards. Even a technically imperfect deck can become a powerful tool if it resonates with the cartomancer.

When choosing a Petit Lenormand deck, a common question is the opposition between tradition and modernity. Should you favor a traditional deck or a modern one?

Traditional decks, often sought after by history enthusiasts and those drawn to classic symbolism, offer historical grounding and timeless authenticity. Some collectors or enthusiasts even opt for vintage editions, printed decades ago, which can be found on auction sites or in specialized stores.

In contrast, modern decks stand out for their creativity and stylistic openness. They often adopt minimalist designs, contemporary illustrations, or highly detailed and colorful graphics. These decks bring a personal touch that can appeal through their originality or their ability to adapt to more current sensibilities.

However, reducing the choice to this dichotomy can be limiting. In reality, this criterion is primarily about personal aesthetics, and everyone can have very varied preferences. The key is to find a deck that resonates with you, whether through its connection to tradition or its modern boldness.

To make an informed choice, why not experiment with both types? Traditional decks can enrich your practice through their respect for the Lenormand system, while modern decks allow you to explore new perspectives and interpretations. This diversity of styles is a strength, and there is no "right" or "wrong" choice: what matters is the connection you develop with your deck.

In addition to decks with large white spaces for annotations, another option is to choose decks that already contain printed keywords on the cards. These keywords are especially useful for beginners, as they make it easier to learn and interpret the readings of the Petit Lenormand.

Why choose decks with integrated keywords?

The addition of keywords directly on the cards can help practitioners develop their interpretations, while providing a structured framework. However, the quality of these keywords, their organization, and the design of the cards play a crucial role in their effectiveness.

• Relevance for different audiences: Decks with keywords are an excellent entry point for beginners but may be less useful for experienced practitioners who prefer to personalize their interpretations. Integrated keywords reduce the mental load for beginners by providing a solid foundation.
• Keywords and creativity: While keywords provide structure, they can also limit creativity by confining the user to preset interpretations. These decks may not be suitable for those seeking more freedom of interpretation or a more minimalist aesthetic.

This deck is largely inspired by the Grand Jeu of Mademoiselle Lenormand, although it is a different system. Each card contains between 6 and 8 keywords in French and English.

Positive points:

• Bilingual accessibility: The dual language (French and English) is an asset for an international audience.
• Simplicity: The keywords offer an initial structured approach to interpretations.

Limits:

• Cumbersome dual language: A purely French or purely English edition would have allowed for more specific keywords, thus enriching the interpretation range.
• Occasionally inconsistent illustrations: The connection between the illustration and the name of certain cards can seem unclear, which might confuse users.

This deck, self-published by Anne-Marie Costanza, is entirely in French and features a large number of keywords on each card.

Positive points:

• Abundance of keywords: Ideal for beginners who wish to explore a variety of interpretations.
• Educational initiative: The keywords serve as memory aids or study tools, making learning easier.

Limits:

• Lack of categorization: The keywords are not organized by theme or color, which can make them difficult to use in a structured way.
• Card size: At 13.5 x 9.5 cm, this deck is larger than a typical tarot, which might be inconvenient for a reading. However, this size is suitable for educational cards or study sheets.

New Release: The Walldoff Lenormand

Anne-Marie Costanza recently released a new deck, the Walldoff Lenormand (November 2024). This deck addresses some of the limitations of its predecessor:

• Standard poker size: Easier to handle.
• Improved readability: The keywords are better presented, making them easier to use.

This new deck could become a reference for both beginner and experienced users.

Conclusion

Decks with integrated keywords, such as the Petit Lenormand by Grimaud or the Maestro Lenormand by Anne-Marie Costanza, meet specific needs, particularly for learning. Although each has its strengths and weaknesses, their usefulness depends on the expectations of the users: pedagogy and structure for beginners, or flexibility and personalization for advanced practitioners. The new Walldoff Lenormand, with its convenient size and improvements, could meet some of these expectations.

With the rise of the LGBTQIA+ movement and the growing recognition of non-binary identities, the world of cartomancy is also evolving. In the traditional Petit Lenormand system, the Significator cards play a central role, especially in love readings, where they represent the protagonists of the relationship. However, not all decks offer options that are suitable for contemporary realities, such as same-sex or non-binary relationships.

Complementary Cards: A Necessary Adaptation

In the context of love readings, it seems natural that for a same-sex relationship, both Significators should be men or both women. However, many traditional Petit Lenormand decks do not contain additional cards to represent these configurations. Yet, with the recognition of minority rights, such as marriage equality, and an increased sensitivity to inclusion, adding complementary cards (a second man and a second woman) becomes a welcome addition.

Although this practice is still rare, it reflects an acknowledgment of diversity in a field that has long been rooted in old conventions. This can enrich readings, making them more inclusive and suited to a variety of situations.

• Adding bonus cards can also include gender-neutral options to represent individuals or relationships where gender is not central. This could go further in terms of inclusivity.
• Some cartomancers might also use alternative significators (e.g., the Fox for a clever person, or the Bear for a protective figure), thus avoiding the need for bonus cards.

This deck offers two additional cards for men and women, allowing it to adapt to same-sex configurations or simply offer more flexibility in readings.

• Positive Point: True to a traditional style, this deck remains accessible and well-executed.
• Limitations: Some cards, such as the Snake or the Bouquet, lack graphic simplicity, which can make their reading less intuitive, especially in a context where clear images are essential for a traditional Petit Lenormand.

This modern and highly regarded deck stands out for its soft and "cute" aesthetic, ideal for those seeking a pleasant visual experience.

• Positive Point: The cards are small in size, perfectly suited for readings.
• Limitation: The two women look in the same direction, so their gazes cannot cross. Therefore, this deck does not meet the gaze direction criterion, unlike the "Old Style Lenormand."

This criterion mainly applies to modern Lenormand decks, which stand out for their enriched or reimagined artwork compared to traditional decks. The latter often feature standardized images, typically perceived as "vintage." Modern deck creators sometimes introduce additional elements in the illustrations, providing extra interpretive clues or making them easier to read. This enhances the symbolic depth and offers a renewed experience for users.

Created by Lynn Araujo, this deck reinterprets traditional cards with poetic illustrations and quirky symbols:

• 1 - Rider: a horse gallops to the right while the rider is mounted backwards, looking to the left. This contradiction could symbolize a conflict of interest or opposing directions between action and intention.
• 8 - Coffin: depicted as an open sardine can, revealing the legs and hands of a woman. An intriguing metaphor, but potentially unsettling for beginners.
• 20 - Garden: here, a watering can overflows with plants, a bird perched on one of the branches. This choice conveys the idea of growth and diversity in a confined space.
• 22 - Paths: renamed Choice, it shows a hedge maze accompanied by a ladder. The ladder could symbolize the possibility of gaining a higher perspective to better grasp the overall situation.
• 26 - Book: an open book with its cover depicted as a door. A clear invitation to discover new knowledge or secrets.

However, some cards in the Dreaming Way Lenormand puzzle me:

• 14 - Fox: it shows a woman dressed in vintage style, wearing a fox as fur. This visual choice aligns the Fox with the Snake card (seduction and manipulation), blurring the symbolic distinction between the two cards.
• 15 - Bear: a man wearing a bear mask, reducing the animal's rich symbolism to a mere accessory. This overlooks traditional notions such as strength, luxury (via honey), or hibernation.

Created by Regula Elizabeth Fiechter and Urban Trösch, this deck takes symbolic richness even further:

• 6 - Clouds: a blue dragon exhales a black cloud in a sky inhabited by a white dragon. A visual allegory of dualities: hope versus confusion.
• 7 - Snake: a crowned snake guards a golden egg, framed by symbols of the sun and moon. This image enriches the classic interpretation (betrayal) by adding notions of protection or cycle.
• 8 - Coffin: a mummy's coffin, suggesting eternal life rather than a definitive end.
• 10 - Scythe: a bull pulling a hay cart with a scythe placed on top, expanding the idea of harvest or hard labor.
• 16 - Stars: an astronomical telescope, a globe, a compass, and even a cat enrich this card with a symbolism of guidance, exploration, and mystery.

Unlike the Dreaming Way Lenormand, the Mystical Lenormand manages to balance symbolic richness with respect for traditional interpretations. This makes it an interesting tool for cartomancers, even beginners.

Conclusion

While the enriched graphics of modern decks add new dimensions to interpretations, they can also unsettle readers attached to traditional meanings. It's important to choose a deck that suits your needs: a minimalist visual for a straightforward approach or rich graphics for a more intuitive and detailed exploration. These variations in no way diminish the value of classic decks, which remain time-tested references.

For me, card size is a key criterion when choosing a Petit Lenormand. Although it generally isn't an issue, some decks may prove unsuitable due to their dimensions. Unlike tarot, where card size isn't a determining factor in my practice, the specificity of the Petit Lenormand makes this criterion crucial. My method relies 80% on the Grand Tableau, a spread that uses all 36 cards of the deck. For this reason, it's essential that the cards are small enough to avoid overwhelming the available table space.

Why is the standard "poker" size ideal?

The poker format is a non-negotiable requirement for me. If a deck doesn't adhere to this size (give or take a few millimeters), I prefer not to use it, even if other qualities might make it appealing. Take the Gilded Reverie Lenormand as an example: though it's a visually stunning deck with a strong aesthetic coherence, its cards are too large to be practical for my mat-based spreads.

In fact, I use a mat for the Grand Tableau whose dimensions are designed to accommodate poker-sized cards. These mats facilitate the card layout (in my case, random or intuitive, rather than the usual left-to-right, top-to-bottom method). Thus, despite its strengths, the Gilded Reverie is excluded from my practices for this specific reason.

The Piatnik Lenormand is an excellent example of a deck that perfectly adheres to the poker format. This traditional deck stands out for its simple and clear illustrations, making it particularly suitable for the Grand Tableau. Unlike the Gilded Reverie, the images on the Piatnik cards are more easily distinguishable from one another. This improves readability and avoids confusion during interpretation. It follows the standard poker size, making it ergonomic and practical to use.

Another interesting deck is the antique pocket version of the Petit Lenormand, published by Le Chaudron Magique. This deck is particularly compact, measuring 7.7 cm x 4 cm, making it ideal for limited spaces or transport. While its proportions resemble the rectangular shape of tarot cards, its small size makes it a versatile tool, especially for practices requiring multiple decks.

One of its unique features is its optimal use for methods like Mobile Houses. This concept involves overlaying two decks: one for the Houses and another for the house guests. Thanks to its reduced size, the antique pocket version combines perfectly with a standard-sized deck for this type of spread. For more details, see my article on Houses and the Mobile Houses spread.

Conclusion

• Advantages of poker sizes: They are ideal for small spaces, such as compact tables or mobile work environments. And most importantly, this size is necessary for mat use.
• Drawbacks of mini decks: Users with visual impairments or dexterity issues may find very small cards difficult to handle or read.

In summary, card size plays a crucial role in my Lenormand practice due to the use of a mat. This selection criterion depends on your own usage context (mat use, frequency of Grand Tableau spreads).