A “Snake” In Their Garden - Lenormand Love Reading
Without matters of the heart, a fortuneteller’s profession might well become obsolete. Yet, the fundamental reason for visiting one remains consistent across all aspects of life: the desire for clarity and certainty. It’s important to note, however, that these two often diverge. Many who seek divinatory guidance crave certainty, but only when it aligns with their hopes and expectations. In essence, they are looking for reassurance to support the things they hold onto, even when it might be more liberating to gain clarity, accept reality, and let go. But judgment is not our role. As I’ve often said, our duty as cartomancers is simply to address the questions laid before us, without bias or expectation.
A client of mine is uncertain about the future of her relationship. While everything seems perfectly fine on the surface, she is troubled by an underlying sense of doubt. ‘Where is this relationship going?’ she asked, seeking clarity. To explore this question, I chose to perform a nine-card carré spread using Lenormand cards, hoping to uncover the deeper dynamics at play.
"Leipzig Lenormand", or "Wahrsagen a la Lenormand", by Verlag für die Frau (1982).
What immediately stands out is the absence of my client’s significator and the prominent presence of her partner, who strategically positions himself as the final card. He acts as the full stop in this narrative, clearly indicating where the power in this relationship resides. The bottom card reflects my client’s current state: standing at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take or where they might lead.
In her mind, she believes the relationship is heading toward something more meaningful (Rider + Ring), but she also harbors fears of another woman lingering on the periphery (Snake). The hope of building a home together appears to be buried (House, Star, Coffin). Unfortunately, the bottom row only confirms her worst fears: her partner is consistently deceitful (Whip, Fox, Man). The issue of settling down together has been a persistent problem, which my client acknowledges (Rider, House, Whip). As things stand, all hopes of advancing the relationship seem futile, as things are not as they seem (Ring, Star, Fox). Looking ahead, the cards suggest another woman will claim the man’s bed, leading to the inevitable end of the relationship (Snake, Coffin, Man). Ouch.
In conclusion, any hope of salvaging this relationship is misplaced due to the looming presence of another woman (Snake, Star, Whip). Moving on from this situation appears to be the wisest course of action, as the path with this man is nearing its end (Rider, Star, Man, influenced by the Coffin). Hope plays a central role in this reading, making the clarity of the situation even more painful to confront. When misplaced hope is deeply ingrained, it can blind us to the harsh truths that lie right before our eyes. Unfortunately, it is often the most painfully obvious realities that we choose to overlook, clinging instead to the comforting illusions that false hope provides. This tendency to ignore the undeniable can leave us vulnerable, prolonging our attachment to situations that no longer serve us. The contrast between hope and reality in this reading underscores the emotional difficulty of accepting the truth, even when it is unmistakably clear.
