Before using a new Lenormand Oracle deck of cards I recommend “cleansing” your deck from all energies and to help bond it with your own energy. There are various ways you can achieve this. I personally use white sage and waft the smoke around a new deck of cards, and especially after someone has somehow managed to touch them.
Other ways is to surround the cards around a white candle, or use crystals or simply just hold the pack of cards, visualising a white light soaking your cards and cleansing them and last but not least remember to ask your angels, guides and your higher self to provide you with the insight and knowledge and to bring forth messages that you can interpret.
When you get a new Lenormand Oracle deck, the cards will be in numerical order from 1 to 36. The first thing you must do is to thoroughly mix the deck. A simple way to do this is to deal the cards randomly into three heaps; re-assemble the deck; shuffle it, then repeat the process two or three times. It is a good idea to mix the deck in this way after each reading, especially if you deal the cards rather than draw them. This will ensure that runs of cards are broken up between each reading.
Two of the “people” cards have special significance. The Gentleman and the Lady represent the querent, respectively the male or female person for whom the oracle is being consulted. These cards can also be used to represent the querent's issue or question in some layouts; for example, the card most associated with the issue may be used – the Heart for a question about love, the Ship about travel and the Fish about money etc. The card used to represent the querent or issue is called the “Significator” or “Key Card.”
If your layout requires a Significator positioned at a particular location, then decide which card to use as the Significator and remove it from the deck and place it in front of you, usually this card will be placed in the centre of the spread.
Now it is time to mix the cards prior to spreading the layout. Either shuffle the cards (but not using the card player's riffle shuffle) or spread them face down on a table and mix them around. While mixing the cards, concentrate on the querent or the querent's issue. Do not hurry this mixing, it is time for you to handle the cards and connect with them. Stop mixing when it feels right to do so.
Next cut the cards, either with a single cut or into three piles which you then reassemble, still focusing on the querent or the querent's issue. If you are using a Significator, then remember to place it in the centre of the table. You may now either deal cards or draw cards to form your layout. Personally, I tend to draw cards for small layouts but deal the cards for the full 36 card layouts.
To draw cards, take the deck and spread it so that the cards slightly overlap face down in the form of a ribbon or fan across the table. Draw cards one at a time as required from the fan with your left hand (the hand closest to the heart). Allow your intuition to guide you in drawing the cards – choose the card that ‘feels right'.
If you are dealing the cards, you may set them either face up or face down in the appropriate place in your layout. If you are drawing the cards then you must keep them face down until the layout is completed. This is to prevent any emotion, either positive or negative, that you may feel when you see a card from affecting subsequent drawings.
Once the layout is complete, turn the cards face up ready to start your reading!
