Marie Anne Lenormand
Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand, also known as Marie Anne Le Normand, was a French bookseller, necromancer, fortune-teller and cartomancer of considerable fame during the Napoleonic era. Lenormand was highly influential on the wave of French cartomancy that began in the late 18th century.
Early life
Lenormand was born on 27 May 1772 in Alençon, Normandy, to Jean Louis Antoine Lenormand, a draper, and Marie Anne Lenormand. Lenormand was orphaned at the age of five and educated in a convent school. Lenormand left Alençon for Paris in 1786.At the age of 17, Lenormand was in Paris for the storming of the Bastille which occurred on July 14, 1789.
Career
Lenormand claimed to have given cartomantic advice to many famous persons, among them leaders of the French Revolution, Empress Josephine and Tsar Alexander I. She was active for more than 40 years.In 1814 Lenormand started a second literary career and published many texts, causing many public controversies. She was imprisoned more than once, though never for very long.
Death
Lenormand died in Paris on 25 June 1843 and is buried in Division 3 of Père Lachaise Cemetery. She left behind a fortune of 500,000 Francs, and left no heirs other than a nephew who, at the time of her death, was in the army. A devout Catholic, her nephew burned all of her occult paraphernalia, taking only the monetary fortune that she left behind.Works
Les souvenirs prophétiques d'une sibylle sur les causes secrétes de son arrestation - Paris . The English translation of the title may be “Prophetic Memories of a Sibyl on the Secret Causes of Her Arrest”.Anniversaire de la mort de l'impératrice Josephine. The English translation of the title may be “Anniversary of the Death of Empress Josephine”La sibylle au tombeau de Louis XVI. The English translation of the title may be “The Sibyl at the Tomb of Louis XVI”Les oracles sibyllins ou la suite des souvenirs prophétiques - Paris . “The Sibylline Oracles or the Continuation of the Prophetic Memories” in English.La sibylle au congrès d'Aix-la-Chapelle . “The Sibyl at the Congress of Aachen” in English.Mémoires historiques et secrets de l'impératrice Joséphine, Marie-Rose Tascher-de-la-Pagerie, première épouse de Napoléon Bonaparte - Paris . “Historical and Secret Memoirs of Empress Josephine, Marie-Rose Tascher-de-la-Pagerie, First Wife of Napoleon Bonaparte” in English.Mémoire justificatif présenté par Mlle Le Normand . “Justificatory Memoir Presented by Miss Le Normand” in English.Cri de l'honneur . “Cry of Honor” in English.Souvenirs de la Belgique - Cent jours d'infortunes où le procès mémorable . “Memories of Belgium - One Hundred Days of Misfortunes or the Memorable Trial” in English.L'ange protecteur de la France au tombeau de Louis XVIII L'ombre immortelle de Catherine II au tombeau d'Alexandre Ier L'ombre de Henri IV au palais d'Orléans Le petit homme rouge au château des Tuileries - Paris . “The Little Red Man at the Tuileries Palace” in English.Manifeste des dieux sur les affaires de France . “Manifesto of the Gods on the Affairs of France” in English.Arrêt suprême des dieux de l'Olympe en faveur de Mme. la duchesse de Berry et de son fils . “Supreme Decree of the Gods of Olympus in Favor of Madame the Duchess of Berry and Her Son” in English.Possibly author ofHistoire de Jean VI. de Portugal, depuis sa naissance jusqu'à sa mort en 1826. - Paris : Ponthieu, 1827
Lenormand cards
After Lenormand's death her name was used on several cartomancy decks. This included a deck of 36 illustrated cards known as the Petit Lenormand, or simply "Lenormand cards", still used extensively today. It is commonly used for divination in France, the Low Countries, Central Europe, the Balkans, and Russia. It eventually spread to Brazil, probably through European and Russian emigres.''Das Spiel der Hoffnung''
The 36-card Petite Lenormand tarot deck is modelled on a deck of cards published circa 1799 called Das Spiel der Hoffnung, a game of chance designed by Johann Kaspar Hechtel of Nuremberg. It was originally meant to be laid out in a 6 x 6 grid of cards and played as a boardgame, with #1 as the start and #35 as the end. Movement was determined with a pair of standard six-sided dice. Some cards granted money from the pot or moved the player forward to another card. Others forced the player to pay into the pot or moved them backwards. If the player landed on #8 or overshot #35 by 1 and ended up on #36 instead, they were stuck there. They couldn't get out until they either rolled a double number on a later turn or another player landed on the card. If the player rolled too high and overshot #36, they deducted the number of spaces to #36 from the result and then moved backwards for the remainder.It also had German- and/or French-style playing cards depicted on them in the upper field so it could double as a standard German 36-card deck. If used as a card deck, the numbered cards in each suit ranged from 6 to 9, followed by the Panier, the three Face Cards, Obermann and König ), and the Daus replacing the Ace.
Divination is carried out by either laying out a spread or a grid of cards. A spread is usually of 3 or 5 cards laid out left to right. A grid is usually of three cards in three rows. The topic of the spread is the center card on the second row and the other cards are interpreted in how they relate to or influence it. There is also the Grande Tableau, in which the whole deck is laid out in a grid of four rows of nine cards or five rows. The reader interprets the pattern to see how all the cards are connected to the topic or person the reading is for.
| # | Name | Rank | Suit | Divinatory Meaning |
| 1 | Rider, Cyclist | 9 | Hearts | Messages, Energy, Passion, Speed, Activity, News, Young Athletic Person |
| 2 | Trefoil, Clover | 6 | Hawkbells | Luck, Lightheartedness, Small Happinesses, Opportunity, Being Untroubled, Comedy |
| 3 | Ship | Panier | Leaves | Departure, Farewell, Distance, Voyage, Travel, Journey, Adventure, Trading |
| 4 | House | König | Hearts | Home, Establishment, Safety, Tradition, Custom, Privacy, Conservation, What is Under your Roof |
| 5 | Tree / Trees | 7 | Hearts | Health, Growth, Grounded, Past Connection, Personal Growth, Spirituality, Family/Ancestors. |
| 6 | Cloud / Clouds | König | Acorns | Confusion, Lack of clarity, Misunderstanding, Insecurity, Doubt, Hidden Secrets |
| 7 | Snake | Obermann | Acorns | Desire, Seduction, Deception, Craving, Attraction, Sexuality, Wisdom, Forbidden Knowledge |
| 8 | Coffin | 9 | Hawkbells | Ending, Dying, Funeral, Loss, Grief, Mourning, Sadness, Ill Health |
| 9 | Bouquet | Obermann | Leaves | Flattery, Social Life, Pleasantness, Cordiality Etiquette, Politeness, Appreciation, Beauty, Art, An Unexpected Gift |
| 10 | Scythe | Untermann | Hawkbells | Accidents, Hasty Decisions, Danger, A Warning, Speed, Reckoning, A Decision that Cannot be Undone. |
| 11 | Whip, Broom | Untermann | Acorns | Conflict, Discussions, Arguments, Debate, Scolding, Opposition, Objection, Violence, Repetitive Actions, Sexual Behaviour. |
| 12 | Birds, Owl | 7 | Hawkbells | Worry, Excitement, Gossip, Chattering, Nervousness, Anxiety, An Old Couple, Conversation In-Person |
| 13 | Child | Untermann | Leaves | New Beginnings, Child, Toddler, Play, Inexperience, Innocence, Immaturity, Small, New, Vulnerable |
| 14 | Fox | 9 | Acorns | Selfishness, Self Care, Trickery, Suspicion, Cunning, Caution |
| 15 | Bear | Panier | Acorns | Power, Leadership, Dominance, Influence, Short temper, Strength of character, Boss, Matriarch, Hirsuit, a Body Builder or Over-weight Person |
| 16 | Star | 6 | Hearts | Hope, Inspiration, Optimism, Spirituality, Dreams, Progress to Goals |
| 17 | Stork | Obermann | Hearts | Change, Transition, Movement, Recurrence, New Cycle, Yearning |
| 18 | Dog | Panier | Hearts | Loyalty, Friendship, A Follower, Devotion, Obedience, Support |
| 19 | Tower | 6 | Leaves | Authority, Solitude, Loneliness, Isolation, Aloofness, Ego, Arrogance |
| 20 | Garden | 8 | Leaves | Public Affairs, Society, Culture, Teamwork, Fame, Social Networks |
| 21 | Mountain | 8 | Acorns | Difficulties, Problems, Obstacles, Impairment, Hurdles, Struggles, Challenge |
| 22 | Crossroads | Obermann | Hawkbells | Choices, Many Opportunities, Travel, Separation, Hesitation, Decisions |
| 23 | Mouse / Mice | 7 | Acorns | Dwindling, Deficiency, Depletion, Destruction, Defect, Flaw, Disease |
| 24 | Heart | Untermann | Hearts | Love, Amicability, Romanticization, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Softness, Charity |
| 25 | Ring | Daus | Acorns | Commitment, Promise, Honor, Partnership, Cooperation, Cycles |
| 26 | Book | Panier | Hawkbells | Secrets, Knowledge, Education, Information, Research, Studies |
| 27 | Letter | 7 | Leaves | Document, Email, Speech, Conversations, Expression, Information, Communication |
| 28 | Man Animus | Daus | Hearts | If the Querent is Male: The Querent. If the Querent is Female: Male in Querent’s Life |
| 29 | Woman Anima | Daus | Leaves | If the Querent is Female: The Querent. If the Querent is Male: Female in Querent’s Life |
| 30 | Lilies | König | Leaves | Sensuality, Sex, Virtue, Morality, Ethics, Wisdom |
| 31 | Sun | Daus | Hawkbells | Happiness, Victory, Success, Power, Warmth, Truth |
| 32 | Moon | 8 | Hearts | Subconscious, Intuition, Emotions, Fears, Desires, Fantasy |
| 33 | Key | 8 | Hawkbells | Openness, Revelation, Unlocking, Achievement, Liberation, Resolution |
| 34 | Fish | König | Hawkbells | Finances, Business, Wealth, Values, Gain, Abundance |
| 35 | Anchor, Hope | 9 | Leaves | Stability, Restraint, Security, Resilience, Durability, Laying Foundations |
| 36 | Cross | 6 | Acorns | Duty, Conviction, Suffering, Burden, Intolerance, Principles, Indoctrination |