The Essential Lenormand

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com.

Lenormand is all the rage this year it seems. There have been many books published on the cartomancy technique this year, and I've read three of them. Rana George's book, The Essential Lenormand, is by far the easiest of the 3 to read and use for those beginning with the cards.

Rana George has used the cards all her life. She does not come from a tarot background as the other authors seem to come from. It's as if the cards are in her blood. She's been reading with them since she was a young girl in the Mediterranean area. And this book shows her passion, her wide range of knowledge and examples of the cards.

I loved this book. Her down to earth prose mirrors her speaking patterns (I happen to know her just a smidge). She uses real examples and tells you a single version (hers) of how to read the cards. The first section takes you through what each card means, how it can manifest in a wide variety of life-examples and she even shares stories of how the cards wove their magic in her life. The next part gives you exercises and ways for you to build your Lenormand muscles and reading formats. Then she goes into spreads and the Grand Tableau (the spread that uses all 36 cards), each with a real example and diagrams on how to read the many patterns with the cards. Finally, the book closes out with a series of Appendices that give history, quick reference sheets and more information about the Lenormand cards.

It's hard to find fault in this book. As it was an eARC from Llewellyn, there are some weird stuff going on but I can't wait for this to be released in 2014, for I will be buying a copy for my library.

Bottom Line: If you are a beginner and want a workbook to use with your Lenormand cards then get this book. It's that good. If you already know the cards but want to read real-life vignettes about other readers' experiences with the cards, then you'll also enjoy this book. Rana George is a great teacher and The Essential Lenormand is a fun read!