Lenormand card readers differ in their opinions about applying the meanings behind the playing card Suits (Clubs, Hearts, Spades, and Diamonds). In a reading with a straightforward question, I rarely pay attention to the Suits and mainly focus on the Lenormand card itself and its meaning. In fact, in one of my early editions of my Good Mojo Lenormand Oracle, I removed the playing card Suits. However, once I realized their importance in digging out more information about what is going on behind the scenes, I added them back and found a new respect for them.
After playing cards found their way into Europe, there were regional variations of the suits, so not all cards were the same. Around the 15th century, the French developed the four Suits that we still use today. When the English adopted these four suits as “standards,” there were still lingering discrepancies in the meaning behind each suit, depending on whether you were speaking to a Frenchman or Englishman. The meaning of the Hearts suit was the same. Clubs, originally called Fleurs in French, are still called Fiori in Italian (both words translate to mean ‘flowers’).
The Suit of Clubs represents money, career, physical activity, and also obstacles that stand in your way.
Hearts are primarily related to love and relationships.
Spades include cards related to communication, travel, and legal matters.
Diamonds are related to luck, danger, decisions, risk, and reward.
How the Suits correspond to Tarot Suits and elements:
- Clubs/Pentacles/Earth
- Hearts/Cups/Water
- Spades/Swords/Air
- Diamonds/Wands/Fire
Below are the cards found in a Lenormand deck and the playing card associations you’ll find on each card. Many are obvious as to why they are associated with the interpretation of each because the raw energies of their meanings match up. Others aren’t as “in your face” as some, but if you dig deep enough, you should find that can add layers to your reading.
Cross (6♣) = burden, suffering, sacrifice
Mice (7♣) = losses (health and wealth), stress, productivity
Mountain (8♣) = obstacle, inactivity, delay
Fox (9♣) = work, skills, discernment
Bear (10♣) = resources (including money), strength, protection (including mother)
Whip (J♣) = sex, conflict, physical activity
Snake (Q♣) = betrayal, complications, disease
Clouds (K♣) = confusion, uncertainty, discomfort
Ring (A♣) = commitment, partnership, obligations
Hearts/Cups/Water: the heart, love, emotions, and relationships
Stars (6♥) = inspiration, guidance, technology
Tree (7♥) = life, health, gradual development
Moon (8♥) = romance, intuition, recognition
Rider (9♥) = news, arrival, visitor
Dog (10♥) = friend, acquaintance, loyalty
Heart (J♥) = love, affection, generosity
Storks (Q♥) = improvement, relocation, pregnancy
House (K♥) = home, family, safety
Man (A♥) = male person
Spades/Swords/Air: the mind, thoughts, communication, travel, and justice
Tower (6♠) = authority, legal matters, corporation
Letter (7♠) = written communication, document, mail
Garden (8♠) = public, group, outdoors
Anchor (9♠) = stability, perseverance, base
Ship (10♠) = travel, vehicle, distance
Child (J♠) = young person, small size or quantity, student
Bouquet (Q♠) = beauty, pleasure, gift
Lily (K♠) = elders (especially males), maturity, serenity
Woman (A♠) = female person
Diamonds/Wands/Fire: energy, creativity, enterprise, risk, and reward
Clover (6♦) = luck, chance, boost
Birds (7♦) = verbal communication, companionship, negotiations
Key (8♦) = solution, certainty, discovery
Coffin (9♦) = death, depression, bankruptcy
Book (10♦) = knowledge, secrets, research
Scythe (J♦) = decision, danger, separation
Crossroad (Q♦) = choices, diversification, junction
Fish (K♦) = business, transaction, independence
Sun (A♦) = success, vitality, self-confidence