The Essential Lenormand: Your Guide to Precise & Practical Fortunetelling

‘The Essential Lenormand’ by Rana George, due for release in March 2014 by Llewellyn Publications. Reading this book is like experiencing a chocolate explosion in the mouth! Deliciously surprising and comfortingly familiar all at once. Rana George is our undisputed Lennie Guru, our Divination Diva. Just like Rana, her book is wholly unpretentious and patiently clear in its meaning. Finally! Lenormand demystified in a language and approach that speaks to even the most novice of readers. For those amongst us who have never read lenormand before, fear not. Armed with nothing but a deck of regular playing cards and this book you will have everything you need to begin immediately. Rana George is the fortune-telling ‘aunty’ we all wished we had, you know, the one that gives us the ‘inside scoop’ on outrageously successful fortune telling through years of authentic practice and divination. She has taken us under her wing! With patience and in plain language, demonstrating real-life events with examples, Rana effortlessly steers us through these essential lenormand lessons. ‘This is Lenormand on steroids’ was what came to mind as I dove in, page after page. Where others have tried and perhaps not quite succeeded, Rana has waved her magic wand to create light at the end of the lenormand tunnel! Eureka! In these pages she takes us through the benefits of reading lenormand and the process toward approaching our readings, to the correct way of structuring our questions. Along with her sagely advice on the importance of consistency in which she advocates the necessity of sticking to one system, allowing it to eventually evolve into our own personalised system, Rana guides us in an unambiguous manner that instils confidence in our abilities to replicate her expertise with ease, by steering us away from overwhelming confusion toward becoming confident and expert readers. The detailed attention Rana George gives to each of the 36 cards in The Essential Lenormand is a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge! As with words in any language (the meaning of which is dependent on the context in which they are spoken,) Rana goes through different meanings for each card in context to many different areas of use. These include: Predictions, mannerisms & personalities as described by the cards, work, love, health, finances, the ever elusive question of timing, advice or action oriented readings, negative & positive cards, finding lost objects, traditional meanings and she very preciously shares her personal anecdotes for each card too. This is truly a vast volume of in-depth and relevant meanings for each card which will greatly expand our lenormand vocabulary. Therefore this chapter alone makes The Essential Lenormand the most valuable English book available on this subject to date, in my opinion. But, that’s not all! There is a whole section dedicated to spreads and techniques. I felt like a kid in a candy store! Anyone serious about lenormand will drool over this section of her book! Jam-packed with so much useful information that it serves to mentor each of us; taking us from beginners to masters of this art! Readers could not wish for a more practical, down-to-earth approach that keeps on surprising with jewels of knowledge and countless ah-hah moments! Rana’s chapter on the Grand Tableau, a spread that has intimidated many a reader before, is possibly the crown jewel in this priceless treasure. In the same charming style that gives absolute clarity and in-depth understanding throughout the book, Rana shares with us her personal approach to reading the Grand Tableau. This is huge! This is the mother-load of Grand Tableau tuition (minus the fear factor.) Finally there can no longer be an excuse to avoid becoming an expert lenormand reader, it would be almost impossible to miss the mark with this essential guide at our side. Generously illustrated and expertly detailed without losing her readers, The Essential Lenormand is notably the most valuable book currently available to lenormand readers in the English speaking world today. This is more than just another book on lenormand, it is an absolute necessity for anyone who is considering lenormand as a divination tool, equally so for those readers who are already proficient in this system of fortune telling as even expert readers are guaranteed to learn something new! Fair warning though, have a box of kleenex handy. Rana tells us about her lenormand beginnings in war-torn Beirut. Her tale reads like something from The Book Thief; richly embroidered with the romance of old-school family-taught divination during the angst of a bloody war that revealed both the best and worst of humanity in a very personal manner to this young impressionable girl. She tells us the tale of her humble beginnings as a child and hereditary fortune-teller who was at first almost surprised and apologetic about the accuracy of her predictions, and who then later was haunted by the same as the horrors of war brutalised her nearest and dearest. She lived through the horrifying effects of war not once, but twice as she first saw these events unfold in the cards before they manifested in a cruel savagery that deeply impacted her life in Beirut before immigrating to the USA with her remaining family. Rana shares her painful memories of these difficult years and tells how lenormand was a stabilising influence that comforted and empowered her. In later years she passed her astounding gift on to her 3 young sons who have each become gifted readers in their own right. Furthermore, in sharing her experience and expertise with lenormand though this beautiful book, our Lenormand Guru is passing the same on to us. We thank you Rana! 388 pages of pure genius. That is what you will get once you own a copy of what is sure to become the best-selling book in this genre for years to come. I give it 5 stars! Rana George wins the ‘Lenormand Oscars’ with this book. It will take nothing short of a miracle to surpass what she has shared in these precious pages. Kinda like Rana’s darling red-lips trademark and her keep-it-simple-sweetheart approach, this book gets a BIG RED KISS of approval! Review originally published on Tarot Taxi [...]

First off, I use the Tarot and Lenormand as part of self-directed therapy, dealing with a violent-assault, as I was taught to do many years ago by a beautiful New Age practitioner and counselor who noticed that survivors of attacks that should ended their lives were very often aided by using these systems to help them focus on healing without forcing them to confront too much too quickly. And, because I'm not using this as part of my religious practice, I wanted to be respectful of the religious elements of Lenormand by mentioning that, in discussing this book with Wiccan and Neo Pagan friends who use Lenormand Oracles with this book as their guidebook, they've told me that they love this book as much as I do and they find it very respectful of their individual belief systems while also finding it to be very informative. I am one of many Christians who frequent our new age shops and who socialize there, in the same circles with many people from many different backgrounds, and I've noticed that this book has very broad appeal and seems to be very eye-opening for everyone who tries it. But, as to me specifically, in using this for contemplation as part of therapy, I find that there are times when contemplating issues while also contemplating artwork/imagery/symbolism in fully-illustrated Tarot decks and lovely oracle decks can feel oppressive if the mind is overwhelmed by memories of what happened, and it's at those times when I find Lenormand most helpful. When dealing with death of another victim and the damage to myself, as a result of surviving violent crime, I sometimes find that I need something softer and easier and more direct to focus my thinking. And I was very fortunate to be told about this Lenormand guide and a couple of very artistically-rendered decks that I can use on difficult days to try to focus myself and center myself, so that I can think about something more productive and so that I can move through my day with more of a focus on what my goal is for that day or the goal of my next few weeks of activity. The core difference between the Lenormand system, which most people haven't even heard of, and the Tarot system, which we've had since people in 1700's French bars began using playing-cards to tell fortunes late at the end of a night of drinking and dancing, is that Tarot has grown into a more complex and art/symbolism centered system of looking at the present and the past and even the distant future with far more subjective ideas/images/concepts and without any restraint on thinking that might require more concrete or rigid thinking/ideology. The Lenormand system is basically the opposite of this. Lenormand is far more direct, simple, and short-term. It's focused on the here-and-now as well as the very-soon, it's focused on the simpler aspects of living, it's focused on getting the user to limit their own focus on very specific and discreet and limited ideas/questions to direct their thinking toward what is mattering most to them right now. Lenormand is designed to aid us in thinking about concrete issues, questions we have, problems we have, things we wish to resolve, and all the basic issues facing us. It's not designed to allow the mind to wander, it's not designed for too many interpretations (where five different people would give you five different meanings in the cards as with Tarot), and it's not designed for ambiguity. In short, Lenormand Oracles are designed to focus us, rather than opening us up. The Tarot evolved over a few centuries to be a tool of opening-mind and increasing the scope of what we're thinking about, while the Lenormand focuses the mind and zeroes in on specific issues. And that can be very helpful on a terrible day when a person simply can't focus. For me, this book has been the most useful guide. It's helping me to understand how to best use these different sets of cards while also helping me to better understand how my friends use this system in their religious practice, which I greatly appreciate. For me, this has been the best guidebook I've read. While it's a little long, using more words than are necessary and running longer than it needs to be, its' very complete and it's pretty easy to find what you need, with accurate chapter and section titles to help you along the way. I'm impressed with the research that went into getting this right, and I find it very helpful as a guide in using this system for self-directed therapy and getting my mind to focus.

* NOTHING IS missing in Rana George's book!!! It is EXCELLENT! She brilliantly covers EVERYTHING in a very easy to understand style. You will love how QUICKLY you will learn to read Lenormand cards because of reading this book. This author goes into explaining the GT in a way that EVERYONE CAN read it easily!!! What could be better than that? All of her other many spreads and methods of reading them are very clear and they do work! I love the way she explains the meanings (for each and every card) regarding questions about EVERY category of life. Here are the categories she covers 'with EACH card' showing how the meaning changes: Future, with the woman or man cards, work, love, health - body - and Spirit, and money. Then she offers the following (for each card): Advice or action, Orientation (negative, positive, and neutral cards). She also shows (for each card): Objects and areas (a physical place or location). Then she follows up with a personal experience (story) she has had for each card. Very interesting and enlightening. And if that isn't enough information on each card, she then explains how each card fits into the GT and about how it would affect and change the meaning of the card, when certain cards that are positive or negative, are surrounding it. She even teaches her unique spreads that she has used in her many years as a pro reader. They are really quick good spreads! I especially love her 'decision' spread - excellent. The author explains how to work with combination cards. Also explains the Lenormand 'houses' and 'chaining' of houses. Appendix A has the complete timeline and history on the life of Mlle Lenormand - very interesting for sure. In her Appendix B ("Focus Cards") shows you which cards you can pick to represent your question - valuable. In her Appendix C has a quick and wonderful "Interpretation Guide" with the main keywords for each card. Appendix D is also a quick keyword guide for the positive, negative, and neural cards. There are even more helpful subjects in her appendix sections, such as using Lenormand cards with Tarot cards, etc. but my review is quite long enough now - plus I think you get the picture about what a great learning book this is! And it is the BEST book out there so far AND THE ONLY ONE YOU WILL EVER NEED ON LENORMAND... get it and try it! If you get them all and then you compare them, you will see that I am right - it IS the best!

It is FANTASTIC. She comes across with genuine warmth and I take my hat off to her for sharing such personal details of her life. It was truly humbling. With regards her teaching style, not once did I feel I was in a classroom. Not once did I feel preached to. She does indeed encourage us to find our own way, but gives us that starter for 10. Yet you fully understand when there is no leaway without feeling as though you have been on the end of some finger waving. She basically shares what has worked for her for many years, but you get the feeling she is not saying that is THE way. I love her for that. And I totally trust her wisdom as it based on so much experience. The spreads are simple, easy to follow and there are not too many of them. Each and every one of them I would enjoy using. Then we came to the GT. I had some typed notes taken from online and other books I own, all step by step. I have done one GT following these steps and it felt strained. I felt obligated to use every single step in order to wring as much as I could from the spread. I truly was wondering at times why I was doing that. It was of value to those who had written up about it, so I must use it, right? (You have to remember - us newbies are going to be like sponges!) Those notes are out of the folder and binned. Rana's explanation and step by step guide was simpler yet I suspect I will not be lacking in detail by not using some of the ones I had previously noted. It was nice to read that she didn't often use the GT, and had only done so again recently. It is not the be all and end all...lol With regards the card descriptions - lots of detail, but also in table form for other correlations such as items it could represent, descriptions of a person on a personality or physical level. And more. And lots of examples of how that card could be read when in a line with other cards, as well as example readings. The appendices are also good. Useful tables of indicator cards, playing card inserts with reference to the courts as examples. If anyone is on the fence about this book I would suggest hopping off it right now. The only way I can describe it is as being informative, illuminating, informal, refreshing and liberating. At times, also entertaining. I have heard Rana on podcasts, and she appeared friendly and relaxed through those broadcasts. Whilst reading the book, I could almost at times hear here voice and the occasional giggle. Great stuff!! I just know she is going to be in my corner as I forward my Lenormand journey, and I can go back to this book any time and know the guidance will be there to get me through any doubts or sticky patches. My daily draw for the day I finished the book?? Stars / Heart / Ship. Yep, I am now inspired to enjoy the Lenormand journey :) Other teachings had left me feeling low in confidence and at times confused.

"We are all born fortunetellers whether we know it or not". Rana shares a glimpse into her own and her family's past of psychics, mystics, and empaths. She tells the story of her time in Beirut, Lebanon, the city's beauty and challenges during that era, then moving to the United States, bringing with her five items, one of which was her treasured Lenormand deck. Rana takes us on her journey with the cards and her experiences! I have not come across a Divination book as comprehensive, straight forward, and enjoyable; I couldn't put it down! Rana has included everything you need to learn the Lenormand system along with so many extras. It really is The Essential Lenormand! I have been anxiously awaiting the publishing of this book and I was delighted at all the information that was included and how beautifully the material is presented in all 384 pages! Rana has read and studied Lenormand for the past three decades, leading workshops, conferences and study groups. Whether you are a beginner, or more experienced reader, this is your "go to" reference. Everything is clearly mapped out and illustrated. Rana gives examples from her own experiences and personal readings, which are fun and wonderful memory cues for card combinations. Each of the 36 Lenormand cards is clearly defined with contextual meanings around, key words, advice/action, health, body and spirit, physical attributes, timing, money, work love, positive, negative, neutral, cards combinations, and much more. Also included are spreads to try. My favorites are the Pyramid and the Astrological Spread using the 12 Astrological Houses and adding a few Lenormand cards to each house! Rana demonstrates how Lenormand and Tarot can interact and compliment each other and she includes techniques and spreads. I find it fascinating how well they work together and personally I like to combine the two in my own practice and found many new techniques to use from the book! The section on the Grand Tableau has all the steps to read the Tableau, along with tips, techniques, and clearly illustrated scenarios and examples. One of the new twists I learned was "Crowning", which can expand the meaning and confirm details. The Appendix has of wealth of information! From the Story and Chronicles of Mademoiselle Lenormand's Life, Focus/Significator Cards, a Quick 36 Card Reference Interpretation, Positive, Negative, and Neutral Cards, Houses And Their Attributes, Court Cards, and Tarot and Lenormand. Rana included an extensive Glossary. Whether you are new to learning Lenormand, experienced, or have never taken a look, "The Essential Lenormand" offers something for everyone! It will improve and add depth to your skills. This is my pick for the "Book of the Year"!

I really like this book by R. George. For the last 2 days, I couldn't put it down! Thorough. Well done. What I didn't like about it was that the 36 cards were not included. No where does it state in the description that the cards were NOT included. It should have been made clear. Also, a few references by George I found offensive. She should have been more professional. Still a good book. All the readings I've done so far have been very accurate!

I wish this book was published when I first started learning the Lenormand system; there were very few resources and the ones available online were not as comprehensive or as easily accessible as a good physical book. Her book has exceeded my expectations and I will refer to it over and over again and will carry it with me whenever I am away from home and need a quick reference, even though I also have the Kindle version, as both can be handy at different times. The author obviously knows her stuff and the ins and outs of this interesting card reading system, without being preachy or spoon-feeding the reader, thus leaving enough space to interpret the cards in a rather personal manner but not diverting from their basic/core meanings; moreover, her real-life sample readings and stories done throughout the years that she still remembers and shares with each and every card were more than amazing, to say the least. She dedicates the largest bulk of the book, over 220 pages, just for the meanings of the cards and their interpretations on their own, and according to the area one might be most interested in ( future, physical traits, work, love, health, body and spirit, money, time or timing, advice or action, orientation and objects). She also included sample card combinations at the end of each card's description; there are also extensive appendices at the end of the book that I find quite useful when in need of a quick reference and these deal with an introduction to Mlle Lenormand and her accomplishment in chronological order, the Focus cards, a quick card interpretation, positive, negative and neutral cards, the houses and their attributes, the court cards, and Lenormand card readings vs Tarot, and last but not least a glossary of terms used in this book; black and white images from the Lenormand Oracle cards by Lo Scarabeo were used throughout the book; that said and with a bit of practice and prediction on one's part, anyone will start to read these cards like a pro, and will learn to incorporate them in their everyday readings, as well as for special occasions and specific questions. There's a whole section on how to read the cards in the grand tableau that I find quite interesting, as it sheds a new light on that particular spread; there are other spreads too (the answer line, the box, the decision, astrological, pyramid, cross spreads) in addition to a section on the Lenormand Houses, along with generous tips on doing readings throughout the book from her extensive experience with reading the cards. This comprehensive book will be THE one and only reference of its kind and if you want to own just one book on Lenormand that would help you in your studies of this system, this should be it. I can't recommend it enough.

It’s a solid book. It’s easy to interpret. I like that she gives a true story in relation to each card and some combos. She does fantastic work writing about each card. I found it very easy to add to her interpretations too. What I like best is that each card is not a thesaurus list of the same word. I really loathe when LWBs or Cartonancy / Tarot / LaNormand Deck authors do that— Rama Does not. It’s a super introductory to LeNormand Cards. If however you’re already familiar with this system you may be a tad let down as it is 101. But, MOST if not ALL LeNormand books fall into 101 realms. I can’t say I’ve seen a book in my 35 years of reading that showed beyond an introductory level. Maybe I should write one! lol until then, she has a solid book here. Five stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This is easily the best book to learn about reading Lenormand cards. Excellent service by the seller too

ルノルマン入門としてだけでなく、ルノルマンカードについて知るためにも読んでおきたい本だと思います。カードに向かう姿勢や関わり方など、イントロダクションが結構おもしろかったです。よくありがちな押しつけがましいような表現もなく読みやすいかと。著者自身の生い立ちも興味深いものがありました。

Maravilhoso! Assim como o lenormand dela, esse livro é incrível. Ele tem exemplos pessoais dela com as cartas, explicações de como cada carta funciona, significados, e também fala dos naipes. Recomendo muito! Obrigada! 💐☀️🔮❤️📚

I'm new to lenormand and bought this book because of all the good reviews it has. Glad I got it. Its already become my handbook that I use constantly. Physically its a good book to use all the time - like a course textbook, well laid out and you can leave it open on a desk without the pages springing back closed. The author is brilliant, the way she explains things makes it easy to understand. There's a massive middle section in the book with explanations for each of the cards, between 2-6 pages for each card depending on how much there is to say about it, divided up into sections for different areas of life eg love, work, health etc. And she gives real life examples of readings she did where the cards came up and what happened in real life after the reading, so that you can see how the cards represented what happened in reality, which is really useful to help you know how to interpret the meanings of the cards when they come up, what they mean in real life scenarios. The 3rd section gives you exercises to try to practice using the cards and shows you how to do the different types of spreads. I love this book, would highly recommend it.

“The Essential Lenormand: Your Guide to Precise Readings” ist ein fantastisches Buch! Es bietet wertvolle Tipps und ist äußerst hilfreich für alle, die in die Welt der Lenormand-Karten eintauchen möchten. Die vielfältigen Deutungen sind klar und präzise, was das Verständnis und die Anwendung der Karten erheblich erleichtert. Ich war so begeistert von den Inhalten, dass ich jetzt mindestens noch ein Exemplar zum Verschenken nachbestelle! Dieses Buch ist ein absolutes Muss für jeden, der seine Fähigkeiten im Kartenlegen verbessern möchte. Hochgradig empfehlenswert!