In the sixteen years since I first began to write about the Petit Lenormand, requests for “combination lists” have been both frequent and persistent. They are, however, something I have consistently declined to produce. My view has always been that it is far better to learn how to combine cards properly before committing any fixed pairing to memory. Of course, certain traditional associations do exist, and many of them hold true. Even so, you will not require them every time those cards appear together in a reading.
Times also change. In the early 2000s, I was working in the healthcare sector and read for a great many doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and the like. At that time, the Letter–Birds combination appeared endlessly. Do you remember pagers? I cannot recall when that combination was last appropriate. What was once ubiquitous has now become an historical curiosity.
The other difficulty with combination lists is that they are entirely devoid of context. They must be written—and read—as though everything were equal, which is almost never the case in practice. Some might even describe them as a form of creative fiction: neat, tidy, and occasionally useful, but never a substitute for genuine interpretative skill.
Of all the cards I was asked for combinations list, six appear with striking regularity: the Clouds, the Scythe, the Fox, the Mice, the Key and the Cross. Five of the nine traditional negative cards, and one can understand why they provoke anxiety. I can also understand the Key, too. Yet the Fox is the card that tops the list, time and again. I eventually realised that this was often because the person asking used the Fox as a work card; when it appeared outside professional matters, they struggled to relate it to the rest of life.
It is profoundly unhelpful to think in such terms. No Lenormand card means work, finance or sex in and of itself. Some cards have an affinity with certain spheres of life, certainly, and when examining a particular topic in a reading—especially in the Grand Tableau—you may draw upon these affinities to build a fuller and more nuanced picture. But they are contributory functions, not categorical definitions. To treat any card as the exclusive representative of a core concept is to limit the system and, ultimately, to limit one’s own interpretative ability.
So, for what it may be worth, here are some Fox associations—again, all things being equal, and I genuinely would not attempt to memorise them.
14 – 01: An untrustworthy visitor or confidence trickster. Something is amiss with the car, motorcycle, bicycle or horse, and there may be cheating in sport.
14 – 02: A day of misfortune. A lie told off the cuff, and someone feigning happiness or “putting on a front.”
14 – 03: An unprofitable enterprise. A warning against travel, as any journey undertaken is likely to encounter difficulties.
14 – 04: Domestic discomfort and tension behind closed doors. Something is wrong with the property. As a person: an unreliable man.
14 – 05: Poor lifestyle choices causing long‑term issues. A possible misdiagnosis or need for a second opinion (contrast with 14 – 05). Entrapment in long‑standing lies.
14 – 06: Deceit comes to light, though matters remain less transparent than they appear. As a person: an untrustworthy and unpleasant (usually older) man.
14 – 07: Temptation, inducement and spite; lies, intrigue and hidden agendas. A caution against detours. As a person: an untrustworthy and unpleasant (often older) woman.
14 – 08: Wrong treatment or a poor reaction to it (compare with 14 – 05). Feigning illness or grief for advantage. Ignorance, or a secret taken to the grave.
14 – 09: A charm offensive or douceur with strings attached. Occasionally, difficulties involving a woman.
14 – 10: A sudden display of aggression or intimidation. Sabotage of your efforts, often in work. Sometimes, criminal fraud.
14 – 11: Wrong punishment. Arguments arising from deception, or pointless quarrelling. Writing something known to be untrue, even libel.
14 – 12: Baseless rumour or speculation, though often dismissed as unfounded worry. Rarely, slander or a false‑positive pregnancy test. As a person: an untrustworthy couple.
14 – 13: A deceitful or manipulative child, though often a “little white lie.” Vivid imagination. Very occasionally, questions of biological parentage.
14 – 15: An older person acting out of character, or a sign something is wrong with them. Rarely, controlling behaviour or extreme jealousy. Very rare: a wig or hairpiece.
14 – 16: Poor timing: the stars are not aligned. A warning against proceeding now. Sometimes, overconfidence in skill or ability.
14 – 17: Not the right moment for change. Frustration, false starts and matters failing to take off. As a person: unreliable, hyperactive.
14 – 18: Dishonesty from someone close, or a false friend. A dishonest employee or rivalry at work. Something amiss with a pet. Rarely, peer pressure.
14 – 19: A need for assistance, as your perspective lacks objectivity. General struggle with life. Rarely, passing off something as antique or lying about one’s age.
14 – 20: Propaganda, fake news and grooming. Social discomfort or being amongst people not to your taste/caution when going out. Rarely, internet or social‑media scammers.
14 – 21: Walking into a misjudged situation that will require effort to resolve. Occasionally, giving up prematurely or overstating a problem.
14 – 22: A wrong choice or misguided direction. Problems with a commute or planned route. Expect delays.
14 – 23: Safeguard against theft or vandalism. More often, an unwelcome truth about a person or situation comes to light.
14 – 24: Loving the wrong person and heading for heartache. A third party or love rival. Emotional manipulation used to exploit or control.
14 – 25: A contract with hidden obligations or unfair terms—check the small print. A relationship moving in the wrong direction. Repeating the same mistake.
14 – 26: Discovering the truth, or a warning of paperwork problems. Rarely, falsified documents or qualifications.
14 – 27: Post going astray, intercepted mail or deliberate tampering. Sometimes, a wrong number or telemarketing scam. Text to the wrong person!
14 – 28: An untrustworthy man. Occasionally, self‑delusion.
14 – 29: A dishonest woman. She may also be deluding herself.
14 – 30: Absence of a moral compass; infidelity. Abuse of position or power. Unhealthy family dynamics.
14 – 31: Success fails at the final hurdle. Matters will not go well—contingency planning is essential. Occasionally, heating problems.
14 – 32: Defamation or the deliberate falsification of credentials—lying on a CV or providing false references. Your performance is being watched closely, and any mistake will be used to someone’s advantage. Occasionally, an undeserved reputation.
14 – 33: You’re being lied to. Security is compromised—change passwords and locks. Occasionally, a lie uncovered but the realisation comes too late.
14 – 34: A fraudulent transaction or financial scam. Otherwise, a warning to budget as money will soon be tight. Moonshine.
14 – 35: No stability in relationships, work, finances or home life. Too much baggage; difficulty moving on. As a person: a fair‑weather friend.
14 – 36: The mask slips and truth emerges; trial by fire. Treachery is left behind and you are ready to move on. Occasionally, suffering caused by deceit.
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Cards: WanderWüst © Jorge/Wandering Oracle
Featured Image: WanderWüst © Jorge/Wandering Oracle, Lenormand (Symbole): Die echten Altenburg-Spielkarten © Königsfurt-Urania,Jeu Lenormand © Cartamundi, Lenormand Fortune-Telling Cards © Zao-Gelli, Nr. 1941 Mlle Lenormand Wahrsagekarten © Piatnik, The Lenormand Oracle © Verlag für die Frau, Leipzig (1982).
Journal of a Cartomante 