With All Triumphant Splendour: The Sun Card

There he has placed a tent for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, rejoices like a champion to run its course.
Psalm 18:6, The Grail Translation

Sun, near, you are enlightened by its rays and happiness grows, but if it is far away, all cools with discouragement in all enterprises and prepares for calamities
Original Instructions

When one turns to card no. 31 — the Ace of Diamonds, or the Sun — it can, at first sight, appear somewhat one‑dimensional, even a little uninspiring. Is it not merely a symbol of success? How does it differ from the Cloverleaf? And can this eikōn truly disperse the Clouds?

The Essence and Function of the Sun

The essence of the Sun card is illumination, and its function is to energise. Illumination, in this context, must be understood in its fullest breadth: physical, intellectual, spiritual, and indeed metaphysical.

Across the principal patterns, the traditional eikōn of the Sun remains strikingly consistent. The examples referenced here are drawn from decks published by Carta Mundi, Piatnik, the Wandering Oracle, and Zao‑Gelli.

We behold the rising sun in splendour, its rays falling beneficently upon the landscape. Depending upon the artist’s preference, one may find bodies of water, rolling hills, or mountains. A particularly early and enduring detail is the presence of dispersing clouds — a feature to which we shall return in due course.

Interpretative Principles

The Sun is the brightest star and the gravitational centre of our solar system. It is indispensable for warmth, light, food energy, and the precipitation upon which all life depends. In the same way, the Sun card invigorates situations and provides the necessary conditions for success across every sphere of life, not merely the financial or professional.

The Sun photographed at 304 angstroms by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA 304) of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). This is a false-color image of the Sun observed in the extreme ultraviolet region of the spectrum.

From the earliest civilisations, the sun has held a central place in myth and ritual. Agrarian cultures, acutely aware of their dependence upon its light and warmth, marked the solstices with solemn observances, recognising in them the turning points of the agricultural year. These ancient intuitions are not lost to us: the winter solstice is crowned by the Great Feast of Christmas, when the Light enters the world, and the summer solstice by the Nativity of St John the Baptist, whose mission was to herald that Light and then diminish before it. The cosmic symbolism of the sun, therefore, still finds relevance in modern European culture.

Although the ancients lacked terms such as “dwarf star” or “photosynthesis”, they understood perfectly our dependence upon the sun for survival — and the dangers inherent in its power. For this reason, as attested by the great astrologers, the sun was regarded as the supreme luminary. It is the giver of light, heat, and life, and symbolises our vital energy, spirit, and soul. Through its beneficence of light, it grants the enlightenment and perception required to apprehend revealed truth.

Page from Sphaerae coelestis et planetarum descriptio aka De Sphaerae (ca. 1470), an illuminated astrological manuscript from the Biblioteca Estense Universitaria (Inv. alpha.x.2.14).

All these qualities are encoded within the eikōn: the rising sun as giver of light; the rays as vital force; the dispersing clouds as the dawning of perception; and the landscape as the world quickened by its warmth. The Sun card, therefore, is not merely a cipher for success but the animating principle that renders success possible — the life‑giving radiance without which nothing can flourish.

Coda

Ultimately, the Sun brings not only illumination but its life‑giving heat. Just as the natural sun quickens the earth and drives away the shadows, so too does this card energise circumstances, dissolve impediments, and break through situations that have grown dark or stagnant. It imparts a vital force to the reading as a whole: a renewed impetus, a confident drive towards success, and a sense of bonheur that restores optimism and forward movement.

In relationships, the Sun denotes bonds marked by genuine warmth, openness, and a wholesome delight in the other. It speaks of affection that is steady, generous, and life‑affirming — a warmth that strengthens, encourages, and sustains. In this way, the Sun stands as the card that brings vitality, clarity, and the invigorating heat in which people, plans, and possibilities can truly flourish.

Person and Description

The Sun card, taken on its own, is not read as a person. It does not function as a significator in the way that the Lord, the Lady, Dog or Serpent cards do. However, when it appears in conjunction with a person card, it can offer a vivid and reliable description of both physical appearance and temperament. In this sense, the Sun acts as an enhancing influence, illuminating the qualities of the individual it accompanies.

Physical Description

Physically, the Sun card describes someone with a strong, well‑formed body and a healthy, ruddy complexion. The colouring indicated by the Sun ranges from olive to bronzed and, in some cases, distinctly dark. It is not uncommon for this card to point to striking or memorable eyes — whether notably large, or marked by a golden or amber hue. As ever, one should look for supporting testimony in neighbouring cards before drawing firm conclusions. The hair is often thick, sometimes luxuriant, and may have a warm or sun‑touched tone.

Temperament

In matters of temperament, the Sun card portrays an individual endowed with drive, determination, and a clear sense of purpose. This is someone who strives to see their vision realised and their aspirations fulfilled. They are frequently successful in their chosen field — and the surrounding cards will usually indicate the nature of that field with some precision. Such a person naturally gravitates towards leadership roles and tends to excel when placed at the forefront; they like to be at the top of their game and are seldom content with mediocrity.

Hans Adam Weissenkircher: Helios on His Chariot

Yet this ambition is not cold or self‑serving. The Sun confers warmth, generosity, and a buoyant sense of bonheur. In love readings, it adds a splash of passion and a wholehearted delight in the relationship. This is a temperament that uplifts others, radiates confidence, and brings a steady, invigorating positivity to all it touches.

Special Features

Proximity

In the Lenormand tradition, proximity is a principle of considerable importance, and the Sun card offers a particularly clear demonstration of its effects. When the Sun falls close to the significator, it acts as a direct source of strength and vitality for the querent. Its nearness energises them, providing the determination, stamina, and inner fortitude required to pursue their aspirations with confidence. The cards immediately surrounding the Sun will often reveal the nature of the endeavours being activated or supported, and may indicate where the querent’s efforts are most likely to bear fruit.

When the Sun lies far from the significator, its influence cools. Opportunities become fewer, and those that do arise tend to be more complex or demanding. The querent may find that progress requires sustained effort, and that obstacles must be met with considerable resolve. In many cases, the distance of the Sun can signify a loss of mettle — not necessarily failure, but a period in which the querent feels depleted, overburdened, or unable to maintain the momentum needed to overcome the trials before them.

The Sun and the Clouds

Light and Its Absence

In most strands of folklore, the absence of light has long been regarded as ominous. Light reveals, clarifies, and brings truth into view; darkness obscures, conceals, and unsettles. Eclipses, in particular, were traditionally interpreted as malefic portents — moments when the natural order appeared to falter and the heavens themselves seemed troubled. This symbolic contrast between light and darkness lies at the heart of the Clouds card, and we shall explore it more fully in the dedicated article on that subject.

The Clouds’ Ability to Eclipse the Sun

Because of this ancient association, the Clouds card does indeed possess the capacity to eclipse the Sun. When this occurs, it traditionally signifies a reversal of fortune. Opportunities diminish, dividends fail to materialise, and relationships may cool or become strained. Matters that once seemed straightforward turn into uphill struggles, and the querent may find themselves labouring against unfavourable conditions. The Sun’s usual clarity and vigour are overshadowed, and progress becomes markedly more difficult.

When the Sun Lessens the Clouds’ Influence

There are, however, circumstances in which the Sun appears to ameliorate or soften the malevolence of the Clouds. This typically occurs when the Sun crowns the Clouds card, or when both the Sun and the significator fall together on the light side of the Clouds (or the Sun above the Clouds). In such configurations, the Sun’s influence can mitigate the severity of the storm, offering moments of respite, insight, or renewed strength. The challenges remain, but they are less overwhelming, and the querent may find that clarity returns more swiftly than expected.

Not a True Neutralisation

It is important to stress that this is not analogous to the Serpent neutralising the Mice. The Clouds are not dispelled; they still bring turbulence, confusion, and delay. What the Sun can do, in favourable positions, is lessen the impact and shorten the duration of the storm. The querent may still face trials, but the Sun ensures that these trials are not wholly debilitating, and that a path forward remains visible, however faintly.

The Sun and the Cloverleaf

Among readers drawing upon the Germanic literature, it is common to encounter the Sun described as großes Glück — “great good fortune” — and to see it contrasted with the Cloverleaf, often styled as “small luck.” While this distinction is not entirely misguided, it is rather more nuanced than a simple matter of scale.

The beneficence of the Sun operates on a broader and more enduring plane. Its radiance creates the conditions for long‑term improvement, illuminating opportunities that can lead to substantial and lasting betterment in the quality of one’s life. The Sun’s influence is expansive: its rays can touch every sphere — professional, financial, relational, and personal — and provide the clarity, vigour, and momentum required for genuine advancement.

The Cloverleaf, by contrast, represents a fortunate turn — a brief boon from Fortuna. It is the card of the lucky break, the unexpected windfall, the small but cheering stroke of chance. When combined with the Fishes, for example, the Cloverleaf might suggest a modest win on a scratch card or a fleeting financial perk. The Sun with the Fishes, however, speaks of something altogether more substantial: the creation of a nest egg, the establishment of security, or the emergence of a meaningful opportunity for long‑term prosperity.

For this reason, it is unhelpful to view the two cards merely in terms of “big” and “small.” The more accurate distinction lies between chance and opportunity. The Cloverleaf offers chance — a momentary stroke of luck. The Sun offers opportunity — the conditions in which meaningful success can be pursued, achieved, and sustained.

Timing

Within the folklore of the cards, the Sun carries several well‑attested timing associations. In terms of season, it naturally signifies summer — the period of greatest light, warmth, and activity. When the question concerns short time frames, the Sun points to the morning, the time of day when energy rises and undertakings begin. Over longer spans, it can denote a solar year, marking the full cycle of the sun’s passage.

Some readers also make use of the card number. From the “31”, one may, in certain contexts, derive a period of thirty‑one days, particularly when the surrounding cards support a numerical interpretation.

Through experience, I have found that the Sun can signify Sunday in very short‑term readings, such as a week‑ahead draw or the tirage du chien de pique. This is not a traditional association, but it has proved reliable in practice and is worth noting when the question is tightly bound to the days of the week.

Health

In matters of health, the Sun’s principal meaning is energy and vitality. When this force is impaired, the querent may feel lethargic, depleted, or spent. The Sun can also indicate drying out — dehydration, for instance — and, when paired with the Stars, it may point to dry skin or issues arising from lack of moisture.

Within the body, the Sun corresponds to the central nervous system, the core network through which impulses, responses, and vital signals are transmitted. Very occasionally, when combined with the Birds or the Serpent, the Sun may draw attention to the eyes, particularly issues relating to brightness, strain, or sensitivity.

The Sun Card in Action

In early 2025, Charlene was referred to me by a long‑standing client. She is a successful solicitor in her mid‑thirties who had, for almost a year, been seeing a man eleven years her junior. The relationship was, by her account, affectionate and companionable; however, he was markedly reticent when the subject of long‑term plans arose. Charlene, by contrast, was keen to settle and wished to know whether he was genuinely invested in a future together.

The significators were the Lord (her partner) and the Lady (Charlene). The cards drawn were: the Birds, the Cloverleaf, the Roads, the Clouds, and the Sun.

Some cartomantes, seeing a line conclude with the Sun, would be inclined to answer in the affirmative. After all, the Sun is a positive card and, in many contexts, brings matters to a favourable close. In this instance, however, the answer was sadly no. His initial enthusiasm had waned.

Let us examine the line. The Birds, in themselves, often indicate minor irritations, agitation, or a flutter of nervous energy. Yet, when paired with the Cloverleaf, the emphasis shifts towards excitement — a lively spark, but one that is short‑lived. Both the Birds and the Cloverleaf are transient eikōns; their influence is brief, their effects fleeting.

The Roads mark a turning point: the moment when the flurry of excitement subsides and the ardour cools. There is nothing in the line to suggest that the Lord is a poor character or ill‑intentioned. Rather, it shows a divergence of aims. Charlene possessed the desire and drive to pursue a long‑term future; he did not.

The Clouds confirm the cooling of sentiment and the onset of uncertainty. The Sun at the end does not revive the relationship; instead, it clarifies the situation. It reveals the truth plainly: he was not prepared to commit his time and energy, he just didn’t feel it.

In due course, the relationship ended, not through acrimony but because he was simply not ready to settle at that time.

The next article in this series will turn to the Moon card, a natural companion to the Sun. The two are intimately connected, and once their relationship is properly understood, the workings of the Moon in practical readings become far easier to grasp. By considering them together, one gains a clearer sense of how these paired forces operate within the Lenormand system.

Images:

Cards: Jeu Lenormand © Cartamundi, WanderWüst © Jorge/Wandering Oracle, Nr. 1941 Mlle Lenormand Wahrsagekarten © Piatnik, Lenormand Fortune-Telling Cards © Zao-Gelli

Featured Image: God Creates the Sun and Planets, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel via Wiki Common.

References:

Boroveshengra, A., 2013. Cartomantes’ Cabinet: The Petit Lenormand Course.
Boroveshengra, A., 2015. Lenormand Thirty Six cards. 2nd ed. Create Space.
Delclos, M., 2013. Le Livre du Petit Lenormand. 1st ed. Escalquens: Éd. Trajectoire.
Marco, M. and Goffinet, J., 1989. Petit Lenormand. Bruxelles: Servranx.
Matthews, C. (2014) The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook: Reading the Language and Symbols of the Cards. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books.
Ptolemaeus, C. and Robbins, F.E. (2001) Tetrabiblos. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
Silvestre, C., 2003. Le Petit Lenormand. [Montpellier]: Gange éd.
Valens, V. and Riley, M.T. (2022) The Anthology. Denver, CO: Amor Fati Publications.

1 July, 20265 July, 2026

Divining with the BOTA Tarot

In October 2024, Camille was referred to me by a longstanding client. When we arranged a date and time, she enquired whether I owned or used the Sharman‑Caselli Tarot. Regrettably, I could not oblige.

Her question, however, stirred a number of memories. When I first embarked upon my Tarot studies, books on the subject were not nearly as accessible as they are today. There was no Amazon, and the local bookshop did not stock anything that might be classed as “Occult” (late 1980s).

One of the earliest volumes I encountered was The Complete Book of Tarot¹ by Juliet Sharman‑Burke. She later collaborated with Liz Greene on the Mythic Tarot—an old and trusted companion. Although I never adopted her card significations, I was intrigued by her preferred three‑part reading method outlined in The Complete Book of Tarot. For a time, I followed her structured approach, but I also experimented: three Stars, three Celtic Crosses, beginning with the Greater Arcana, then the Lesser, and finally a reading using both.

More than thirty years later, I still appreciate the loose structure this provides. I often begin a Tarot consultation with an astrological wheel using only the Greater Arcana, and I have long felt that the Celtic Cross reveals itself most elegantly when read solely with the Lesser Arcana.

With these recollections stirred, I elected to use Sharman‑Burke’s three‑stage method for Camille: first, a Celtic Cross with the Lesser Arcana; second, a Star spread with the Greater; and finally, a five‑card Horseshoe using the full deck.

I do not own many Tarot decks: the Noblet and Dodal tarots, a mini Grimaud TdM, the Tarocco Soprafino, Visconti-Sforza, the Albano‑Waite, the Thomson‑Leng, the Prediction Tarot, Renaissance Tarot (Brian Williams), and the Rolla Nordic Tarot. For clients, I generally favour either the Noblet, Grimaud (due to their size), Soprafino or the Albano‑Waite. On this occasion, however, I used my BOTA Tarot.

The BOTA Tarot

The Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) Tarot, designed under the direction of Paul Foster Case, is a lineal descendant of the Golden Dawn tradition and was created expressly as a vehicle for meditative and initiatory work. The deck is issued in black‑and‑white outline, intended to be coloured by the student according to Case’s precise attributions. My own copy is self‑coloured, following the traditional schema. When reading with it, I employ the significations for the Lesser Arcana given in Book T, which Case himself regarded as authoritative. This lends the deck a clarity and directness that I find particularly effective in structured readings such as the Celtic Cross.

I have, over recent years, coloured three BOTA decks. The version used for Camille’s reading adheres faithfully to Case’s prescribed colour scheme, which I have always found both coherent and aesthetically satisfying. The colouring itself proved a most pleasurable exercise; I completed the Greater Arcana at a pace of one card per week, allowing each image to settle, deepen, and reveal its character as the colours were applied.

Case’s work also provided the foundation for Frankie Albano’s re‑colouring of Pamela Colman‑Smith’s designs. Albano followed Case’s chromatic principles closely, producing a deck of remarkable vibrancy. I have always preferred the Albano‑Waite to the various other iterations of the Waite‑Smith tradition; its colours possess a coherence and luminosity that render the imagery far more intelligible in practice.

The Celtic Cross

The Celtic Cross exists in several variations. Over the years, I have experimented with different forms, but I find the version outlined by Waite perfectly serviceable. You will observe, however, that I do not read it sequentially.

Reading

Camille has a classic earth (melancholic) temperament: short, lean, quiet, and reserved. For this reason, the Queen of Pentacles was used as the Questioner card. She faces left, and cards five and six of the Celtic Cross were dealt to the right and left respectively.

Camille posed no specific question. Experience has shown that when no question is asked, the first two cards will establish the topic. Here, we find the Three of Pentacles (card one, this covers you) and the Two of Swords (card two, this crosses you).

In the Golden Dawn system, these suits belong to opposing elements (earth and air). Followed by three Swords (air) cards, the Three of Pentacles (earth) is “undignified.”

Camille is eager to progress in her life and build upon the foundations she has laid (Three of Pentacles: building up, gain in commercial transactions, rank). Yet circumstances—being undignified—are currently frustrating, with little room for manoeuvre or support (Two of Swords).

From the cards, we may reasonably deduce that this pertains to Camille’s employment (Three of Pentacles: paid work). Traditionally, the Two of Swords indicates lingering tension after a quarrel, but more commonly it signifies a stalemate in which one must accept that one is neither influential nor likely to prevail. There is a strong indication that Camille is not in a position of advantage.

Turning to cards four (beneath) and five (behind), we see the cause of the tension.

Camille had previously been successful and took genuine pleasure in the satisfaction and material rewards her career afforded (Card 5: Nine of Cups). With the Nine of Cups, matters often come easily.

More recently, however, she was unsuccessful in securing advancement or a salary increase (Card 4: Five of Swords). Book T² gives both “defeat” and “failure” for the Five of Swords, but also “a contest finished and decided against the person.” Looking across the spread, I felt Camille had applied for a higher position—the contest—and had been rejected as too inexperienced or insufficiently performing.

Card three (this crowns you) is the Eight of Swords. As matters stand, Camille will not find it easy to break out of her current position, with no immediate options on the horizon.

Yet all is not lost. In the future position, the Two of Pentacles promises an agreeable change in her circumstances.

The seventh card signifies the Questioner and how she influences the situation. Here we find the King of Wands. A Royal Arcana card may be read in two ways: as traits the Questioner possesses or requires, or as a person who may guide her. Both apply. Camille is a strong, independent, and capable woman; although her confidence has been dented, she must not lose sight of her abilities. These are qualities admired by the King, who is a just and generous benefactor to those he believes in. He will be able to guide Camille towards the best opportunities. In light of the Two of Pentacles, this is a friend of hers.

Card eight is the Queen of Swords, a woman in Camille’s environment. A keen observer, she will assess Camille’s performance and manner swiftly and decisively. Camille will not be granted the luxury of a second impression; she must be at her best from the outset.

The ninth card, the Ace of Pentacles, reveals Camille’s hopes and fears. Some Tarot readers interpret a negative card here as the Questioner’s fears and a positive card as their hopes. I read the card as both: what we hope for, we fear being denied; what we fear, we hope to avert. Camille hopes to advance in her career, securing her financial stability and material aspirations. She fears that failure to do so will leave her without the options and protection she desires.

The Seven of Wands is an interesting outcome card: it promises possible success, but not without challenge. Camille needs to dig deep and show her mettle.

If Camille can regain her footing, she will discover that the restrictions and obstacles (Eight of Swords) can be overcome with effort and tenacity. The Seven is never an effortless victory, but with the proper mindset and support (King of Wands, Two of Pentacles), her goals may indeed be realised.

In summary, I told Camille that she had suffered a setback in her career progression, and that this had left her confidence rather bruised. The cards showed that a positive change would come—the Two of Pentacles indicating an eventual shift in circumstances—but that it would not be immediate. Her present challenge lay in not appearing defeated or a poor loser (Eight of Swords, Five of Swords). If she can dust herself off and apply herself wholeheartedly to an upcoming project, the Seven of Wands shows that success is well within reach.

As we concluded, Camille confided that she had recently applied for the team‑leader position on her current assignment. The role had been awarded to a more experienced external candidate, and Camille felt acutely embarrassed—particularly as the successful applicant would now be her manager. This had prompted her to search, rather desperately, for a new position elsewhere. I reiterated the message of the cards and drew her attention once more to the Queen of Swords: the new manager would, in fact, prove a valuable ally, but she is a woman who forms her judgements swiftly and tends to keep to them. First impressions, therefore, would matter greatly.

Pointing to the Two of Pentacles, I advised Camille that matters would begin to improve around Christmas. The Queen of Pentacles—her significator—faces the Two of Pentacles, a card traditionally associated with the first decan of Capricorn, and thus with that period of the year. It suggested that the shift she longed for would emerge as the year turned, provided she maintained her composure and prepared herself to meet the opportunity when it arrived.

Sharman-Burke, J. (1985) The Complete Book of Tarot. London: Pan. ↩︎
Regardie, I. (1989) The Golden Dawn: An account of the teachings, rites, and ceremonies of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Stella Matutina): A complete course in practical ceremonial magic. Saint Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. ↩︎

29 June, 202628 June, 2026

Fox Associations

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.

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).