3 Confidence Killing Myths All Lenormand Beginners Face

There are many myths surrounding reading Lenormand that can be quite overwhelming for beginners.

Sometimes these myths can be so off-putting that they make learning Lenormand seem impossible!

Here are three confidence killing myths that all Lenormand beginners face. Don't let them affect you!

Myth #1: You have to memorize every Lenormand card meaning before you can read Lenormand

So many new Lenormand readers struggle to memorize every Lenormand card meaning. They use flash cards, mnemonics, cheat sheets, and other techniques to try to cram the meanings into their head. You'd think they were preparing for an exam at school!

But this isn't the best way to learn Lenormand card meanings.

Yes, card meanings matter, but putting pressure on yourself to learn every meaning before you start reading only makes it challenging for you to relate to the cards. You lose sight of the time period in which the cards were created, and how history plays into their meanings.

When you understand the context of the time when the cards were created, the meanings come to you automatically.

You can remember that the Ship relates to commerce, travel, and all things foreign because that's what ships were used for when the cards were created. They were important to business, transported goods, and provided a means to travel quickly (compared to horse and foot). Ships gave people the ability to interact with countries around the world.

When you understand how the Whip was used as a weapon and a form of punishment, it's easy to remember that the Whip's meanings are connected to things like the military, violence and physical abuse.

You have to place yourself in the cards' world. It will give you more insight into the cards and their meanings than memorization ever will. You will have a solid foundation for being able to determine a Lenormand card meaning in any spread for any question, and you will find it easier to learn how to combine cards.

You already know a great deal about the historic connotations behind the symbols on Lenormand cards from your history classes. You might need to brush up a bit or look up a few things online, but once you do you'll find you know the card meanings faster than if you studied a bunch of flash cards.

Myth #2: There is only one way to read Lenormand

Many people want you to believe that there is only one way to read Lenormand.

They say things like:

• You have to follow the rules.
• Lenormand doesn't evolve. Only tradition matters.
• Your intuition never comes into play.
• The cards are black and white with very little in between.

While it's important that you learn the basics, with practice, you will develop your own method of reading Lenormand.

You will learn how your cards speak, and your readings will be unique and display your characteristic style.

Instead of reading each card individually, you will be able to look at a spread as a whole and know what it is telling you.

Your intuition and your personal experience will come into play.

You will expand on what you know, discover what techniques work best for you, and use them to develop your own system.

Myth #3: You have to know every possible Lenormand card combination in order to read accurately

Many Lenormand beginners are lost and confused when reading Lenormand card combinations. They doubt their ability to read correctly, and instead sit there with a book, double-checking every reading, believing that any time they have a different interpretation, they're wrong.

Let me make this simple: You will never know every possible Lenormand combination. No one does!

Reading Lenormand is like dealing with a living, breathing person that's constantly evolving. Each question you ask, each spread you do, each day that passes – they all introduce a new element that changes what a combination could mean.

There are some traditional meanings, such as Child–Stork meaning pregnancy, but even these aren't set in stone. You could ask the cards if you should continue your Wednesday night tradition of eating macaroni and cheese for dinner, and get an answer involving the Child and Stork. It doesn't mean you're pregnant. It could just mean you should eat something different for a change.

Double-checking your interpretations against a list of card combinations can be a learning tool. It can help you see the cards in a new light. It can help you to feel more confident. Sometimes the list of combinations can be the correct interpretation.

But just because you come up with a different interpretation, don't assume you're wrong!

You know more than a random list of combinations. You know the question and thus, the context for the reading. That changes everything!

Write down your interpretation. Compare it to the list in the book you're using. See how events play out and if you're right.

But be open to the possibility that you are right…

…even if you are a Lenormand beginner.

If you enjoyed this article on confidence killing myths all Lenormand beginners face, you might also like:

• How to Read a 3×3 Lenormand Spread
• Best Spread to Learn Lenormand
• The #1 Biggest Beginner Lenormand Mistake
• Reading Lenormand: Spiritual Cards
• Review: “The Secrets of the Lenormand Oracle” by Sylvie Steinbach

* Image courtesy Lime Lane Photography