Deck Review: Lenormand Cartomancy by Christopher Butler

Lenormand Cartomancy 

by Christopher Butler

Lenormand Cartomancy by Christopher Butler is proving to be a great deck for me. It is my first traditional Lenormand. I have another deck that is similar but it is a Gypsy Fortune Telling deck and in the scheme of the area of Lenormand they are oceans apart.

I was given this deck by Schiffer Publishing to review and I am so glad it was in the box for me to work with. I had been, as I said, trying to figure out the Lenormand system. I had written down things from the internet and joined Facebook groups that had a focus on Lenormand and Cartomancy but nothing really seemed to be teaching me exactly what this all entailed. Tarot was much easier to pick up for me than this was. But I have to say, the book by Christopher Butler, that comes with this deck, is just outstanding. I know some people say the font is too small but I deal with that easily. I wish it had a few keywords at the top if the text, and that is my only niggle with it. Wonderfully insightful book. Love it.

The deck comes with a 96 page book and a deck of 36 Lenormand cards plus two extra Man and Woman cards, in case you want to add these extra cards into your deck. It also comes with the traditional Schiffer card, which as I have mentioned in other reviews, I have actually pulled the Schiffer card in a reading. It's funny when you do that. But I usually go with the flow and interpret as I see fit in the moment. But I digress, the box this deck comes with is a fantastic hard box with a magnetic closure. It is very durable and should last for a long time.

From what I understand Christopher was influenced by Marie-Anne Lenormand, who was a great celebrity fortune telling during the Napoleonic era. She created this whole Lenormand and Cartomancy movemenrt. This deck is an updated version of her original deck. The cards are very abstract and take a minute to look at in order to discover what the nature of the card is. Take the snake for example. The snake image is a bit in silhouette. If you don't know that #7 card is the Snake, it might take you a bit of time getting used to the artwork. But I like this new take on Lenormand. And since it is my first Lenormand deck, I am finding it close to my heart.

Christopher Butler has also created the Quantum Tarot in conjunction with Lo Scarabeo and Kay Stopforth and the Son Tarot published in 2012.

This is a wonderful deck, the card stock is nice if not a tad bit too laminated, but I find it easy to use and just a joy to play with. I hope you decide to check it out.

This deck is published by Schiffer Publishing and you can find it on their website www.schifferbooks.com or on Amazon.com.

I received this deck as gratis from Schiffer. But the views and opinions of this deck are surely my own.

Pay attention to gossipy friends

Victorian Fairy Tarot

Lunaea Weatherstone 

Art by Gary Lippincott

Four of summer (cups)

This card is saying to me that it's okay to take a break and rest but don't let the Illusions in life fool you and keep you from going for an opportunity that is ripe for the picking. Watch others emotions. Their emotions are a reflection of you today or how you were feeling yesterday. These are part of the Illusions as well.

Three of winter (swords) 

this card is usually about heartache and pain but the image tells me another story. this is feeling more like the seven of swords by way of the women gossiping and bad mouthing the obvious success of another person. So this asks which  person are you? The gossipy lady or the star. People are listening to the gossip so watch out. 

Knight of Summer (Cups)

Knight of winter (Swords)

This is an experience of opposites. There will be someone coming in who will bring clarity and happiness and will be your protector and will slay those dragons of your life. Could also suggest be two people coming in. Both are here to teach you something.

The Conjuror ( The Magician)

You have all you need to move forward in your life. So it is time to start creating that great life and living it. 

My Take:

So, what does is this all mean when we put it all together? There are Illusions in our lives that we would swear on our dead grandmother's grave was true and valid. These illusions are keeping you from going for those true opportunities that are available to you.

You play game on stage when you fall into the Illusion's trap. And those who are working with the dark ones of this world think it's a funny type of game to keep you confused, distracted, and off your path. It may take the help of like-minded friends to swoop in and save the day by banishing the illusions and showing you how you've been deceived. But in the end it all leads to a place where you are more the creator than you have ever been before. You will have all you need to move forward.

Tarot Tuesday

I pulled these cards for myself this morning from my Mystic Dreamer Tarot deck. The first card, 9 of Swords, is all about how you have had a tough time recently and been through many trials and yet you are still standing looking at your experience and deciding if you want to journey forward again or move to a different experience. This stress won't be helped by conflict coming in today. Some sort of misunderstanding with others over creative things, ideas, etc. But stay true to your own divine spark of inspiration because later in the day you will be getting a great new "ah-ha" moment that will bring all this conflict into focus. Now you will know why all has happened lately and what your part in it is.

Blessings.

Murder In The Choir Room oracle Speaks 2/10

I pulled a reading by choosing various numbers from my kooky, often ookie Murder in the Choir Room oracle. Today I got the cards COLTON ANDERS, INJURY and LIAR/LYING.

I feel compelled to recall my incident from yesterday which I blogged about in the previous blog posting on this my inspirational blog creative-you.blogspot.com. Maybe something like that happened to you this week as well.

COLTON ANDERS
I get the whole Page of Wands feel with this card, so going by the image I chose when designing this card I'd say that the yellow in his shirt represents clarity, the electronic device is distraction and him being a teen says to me that this is a youthful/inner child issue. It also speaks of not doing what people think you should be doing. So, something occurred that was out of the ordinary for you, and this issue is now distracting you from your clarity in life or whatever you had previously been seeking.

INJURY
As it says in the description, something has thrown you off course, and this is causing you pain. You didn't see it coming. It was unexpected and unplanned for. But now you have to deal with it in the now, the present moment. It's not fun and you don't really like it.

LIAR/LYING
Looks like a bit of gossip is now circulating due to the youthful, zesty thing you did earlier that took everyone by surprise. And now gossip is going the way, as gossip does, to the over-blown, exaggeration level.  So now what you did has been taken way out of proportion and made to look damaging on your character and this may effect something in your life, like a job or promotion.

Overall, I hope this isn't a reading for me, generally speaking, considering I just did a silly, out of character thing. I spouted off to a co-worker and told them to go-away. But if I take me out of the picture, I'd say that you will gain clarity by getting rid of distractions that aren't leading you to your path or your best life. Look for the unexpected, or expect the unexpected to crop up this week and keep your eyes peeled for those pesky people who like to talk, talk, talk. You may have to explain your position over and over this week. But don't go to that angry place, Be nice and you will come out aces.

Abundance and Messages coming in

Today I pulled the "Wealth" card from the Wisdom of Avalon deck. I didn't make a screen shot for you so I apologize. But it is all about a great abundance and gift coming in for us. And we have been getting this message for a while in my YouTube readings. Check out my channel here: www.youtube.com/tonispywriter

I also pulled a card from Colette Baron Reid's Pick a Card online web app. And I received:

The Hawk

omens, messages

When the Hawk appears, expect a message to be delivered to you to aid you in your quest. Perhaps a telephone call from a friend will help you solve a mystery, or a chance meeting with someone may solve a riddle. You may literally see writing on a wall or overhear a conversation between strangers that reveals your own answer unexpectedly. You will know it when it happens. Be open to messages from others, and be aware of omens and signs in nature.

The world is constantly attempting to communicate with us, but we human beings have forgotten how to listen. So, remember who you are—an intrinsic part of the Great Mystery of life.

Listen and learn. This is the gift of the Hawk as he soars into your life from Avalon’s skies.  

This is asking us to really key in on those fine details of this wonderful abundance and keep a look out for the signs that the Ascended Masters, your guides and the Angels are trying to send you. Opportunities are going to be cropping up everywhere for those wise enough to see them.

Blessings.

2014 Resolutions

People all over the place have been putting up their 2014 resolutions, whether they be about beauty resolutions concerning how much makeup they buy or what they plan to do with their YouTube channels or just what they want to accomplish in life this year. 

I have been struggling through a new book by Leonie Dawson about how to create an Amazing 2014 for yourself. One of the exercises is to list 100 things you want to accomplish this year. I am not certain whether I should put thing on there that are my "pie in the sky" wants or just the things I think I can accomplish. It is a bit daunting for me.

They do ask you to pick a word for the year. I am waffling between FOCUS, TRUTH and INSPIRED. Last year I managed to do an oracle/tarot reading almost every day of the week and that nearly burned me out from doing readings. I had been doing free readings for people for a while  last year and that got overwhelming very quickly. I just couldn't keep up. I guess since I am a transmuter of the negative energies of others, that practice of free readings overwhelmed my energy system. Moderation is key for readings this year. So, as a result, I am only doing three readings a week instead of seven and this has really helped my sense of overwhelm. I do feel a bit guilty by not providing guidance for every day but I hope people understand why I am doing it this way.

Another thing I want to focus on this year is my fiction writing. Since I did readings every day last year my fiction writing suffered. I only posted one or two episodes last year and not much the half year before that. And I am totally guilty about that.

Other than those two things, they are my big goals for the year, my small goals are just zilch. I need to have goals and I am just ambivalent about making other goals since when I get home from work every day, I am just drained to the max.

If anyone has any ideas for me by way of goals I could accomplish this year that will advance my YouTube channel or help me with my fiction writing, please comment and let me know. Plus, tell me what you are planning to resolve for 2014!

Blessings to all.

Deck Reviews- Tree of Life oracle and The Stone Circle Oracle by Schiffer Publishing

Today I am reviewing two wonderful oracle card decks from Schiffer Publishing. 

TREE OF LIFE ORACLE

by Elaine Clayton

The first is a totally elemental/nature deck. It is dedicated to the trees and the wisdom of the trees in all its phases. It is called The Tree of Life oracle by Elaine Clayton.

The cards are made of a good stock. But the lamination or shiny surface makes it hard for cards to pop out of the deck. And that is how I usually get my messages. I know some people like to select the card on their own, but I like spirit to give their two cents in a reading. And the extra lamination makes the cards hard to, as I said, pop out. The only other niggle I have is that the guide book, which is a wonderful length at around 96 pages, does not have an easy way to look up the cards. While each card is numbered in the book, that corresponding number is not on each individual card, so as I learn the deck I am forced to consult the index each time I use it. The back of each card is the logo of the deck plus a nice tree bark background. Unfortunately, if you plan to read reversals, you will know ahead of time if the card is upside down or not. That particularly doesn't bother me, but i now it could bother others.

It comes in a sturdy box with a magnetic closure that I always find a wonderful addition to any oracle deck. And Schiffer does these types of boxes well.

Apart from those little niggles, the deck is just an awesome and wonderful addition to any oracle collection. I completely enjoy connecting with this natural deck in all it's phases. I do pull a similar card most frequently, and I think that speaks of how true the deck is to your life. Life doesn't always change so drastically, it is a growing process, and the image of a tree perfectly corresponds with this concept. I am in love with this deck.

You can purchase this deck at Schiffer Publishing at their website http://www.schifferbooks.com/ or at Amazon.com.

I do hope you take time to take a look at this deck. It is a true keeper.

THE STONE CIRCLE ORACLE: TRANSFORMATION THROUGH MEDITATION

by Sophia Kelly Shultz

The second deck I am reviewing today is the Stone Circle Oracle: Transformation Through Meditation by Sophia Kelly Shultz. This is a bigger deck (4x6-ish), a bit more difficult to shuffle, and like the previous deck, it is a really laminated card but on good card stock. The back of the card is an image of the nature spirit The Green Man. 

This is a very eclectic deck that features images from Southwest pictographs to Egyptian Gods to Thoth, Yemaja, Morning Light, Athena, Spider and Rapture. This deck conjures for the oracle reader a variety of things to pull from as they do a reading. And the 115-ish page book has quite a lengthy description for each card which is always helpful.

The "stone circle" referred to in the deck comes from the author's experience in Pennsylvania, where this particular stone circle is located. A stone circle is a ceremonial location, much like Stonehenge, where peoples from the past did their ceremonies, offerings and alignments.

I have found that the best reading for me comprises two cards from which I use to compare the energies of the offerings to bring a complete picture. There are different spreads in the book from which you can draw if you don't know what to do.

I, personally, find this deck quite intriguing and have pulled some wonderful readings from it that were not only accurate but inspiring. Thank you to the author for this great deck. I am a fan!

You can purchase this deck at Schiffer Publishing at their website http://www.schifferbooks.com/ or at Amazon.com.

I was sent these decks as gratis by Schiffer Publishing but the opinions are my own and I was not require to like these decks by Schiffer.