From the moment I began working on the idea of the Ghastly Lenormand, it was crystal clear to me that the deck should be a 52-card deck. The fact that the traditional Lenormand is more streamlined than a standard playing card deck always puzzled me. I’ve always imagined what it could be like with all the possibilities offered by a full deck.
The most challenging part was selecting the concepts for the new cards and determining how to represent them clearly and straightforwardly. One of the aspects I deeply admire about this divination system is the immediacy of its cards: simple objects that istantly capture our attention. Its beauty lies in its simplicity, and its power in the multi-layered complexity of how the cards interact to create deeper meanings. I find it fascinating that the meaning of a card is often changed or specified by the card that follows, acting as a modifier. The elegant syntax of Lenormand readings can create such beautiful sentences!
Returning to the extra cards, their visualization needed to reflect and follow the principles underlying the traditional imagery: simple visuals—whether animals, people, places, or inanimate objects—rather than complex scenes with multiple elements interacting. This was quite an interesting challenge! But an incredibly fascinating one. Unlike Tarot cards, which have complex imagery with many different elements that need to be accommodated in the narrow space of a card, Lenormand imagery focuses on a single object, allowing me to add more detail, texture, and depth to each image. I loved it!
For the creation of these new cards, I looked at other divination systems and oracle cards and conducted some studies and research. I’ve already created an oracle deck, Oracolarium, and the ideas and experiences I gained from it were invaluable. Now, let's unearth some of the new cards...
The Poison
There is more to this little vial of poison than meets the eye. Don’t let the label with its laughing skull and crossbones poison your mind! The most important question to ask is what’s hidden inside the thick glass of this vial. It’s something dangerous, for sure, but there are many ways to be “dangerous”, just as there are many kinds of “poisons”. Some are lethal, but others have a more intriguing characteristic—they can be both medicine and poison at the same time. The secret is in the dosage...
This duality is captured by the ancient Greek concept of φάρμακον (phármakon), the root of words like "pharmacy" and "pharmacology." Phármakon was used to denote both a remedy and a poison. Many potent substances, when administered in the correct dosage, have healing properties that can benefit the body. However, even the slightest deviation in dosage can transform these same substances into agents of agonizing death. It's a delicate balance—where does a remedy end and a poison begin?
Two herbs come to mind with their treacherous ambivalence:
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Foxglove was traditionally used in European folk medicine for its heart-strengthening properties. The plant contains cardiac glycosides, primarily digitoxin and digoxin, which were used to treat heart conditions such as congestive heart failure and arrhythmias.
Danger of Overdose: Foxglove is highly toxic, and an overdose can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, hallucinations, and lethal cardiac arrhythmias. The therapeutic dose is very close to the toxic dose, making it a dangerous treatment without precise medical supervision.
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) - Also known as Deadly Nightshade
Belladonna was used in ancient times as a sedative, pain reliever, and muscle relaxant. It was also used in eye drops to dilate pupils for cosmetic purposes, a practice that gave the plant its name, which means "beautiful lady" in Italian.
Danger of Overdose: Belladonna contains toxic alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Overdose symptoms include dry mouth, blurred vision, hallucinations, seizures, and death due to respiratory failure. The plant's toxicity is well-documented, and even small doses can be harmful.
Witchcraft, wise women and healers, silent and shadowy conspiracies... and the dastardly mastermind of one of the most (in)famous poisoners in history (well, at least according to legend) Lucrezia Borgia, the beautiful and dangerous daughter of Pope Alexander VI. How many stories intertwine with these incredibly powerful phármakon!
The meaning of this card is built on this delicate balance, the fine line between poison and medicine: how many innocent addictions, manias, and desires can swing from one end of this spectrum to the other! It’s up to us to pay attention and ask ourselves if our little addictions are poisoning or healing our souls and minds. And as with the best phármakon, there is no absolute rule that applies to everyone. Every body is different, and every dosage must be calculated for the specific body it is administered to, so there isn’t a single rule for our desires and addictions. It’s up to us to stop and reflect on our lives...
Imagine the beauty of this card interacting with others in a line or spread! Imagine it as a modifier of another card. The situation becomes really interesting! Let’s do an example:
The Heart and The Poison
(The card as a modifier)
This combination can describe a very specific relationship where both faces of the concept are present at the same time—a relationship that gives us what we need: love, affection, security, stability. A relationship that can stimulate our growth, pushing us to become better... and at the same time, a toxic one, marked by parasitic dependence, control, manipulation, passive aggression. Both aspects are present, constantly wavering from one side to the other like a pendulum... A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation where the loveliest person can turn into a frightening monster. This card cautions us to pay attention and reassess our relationships to prevent the negative aspects from emerging with their consequences.
The Poison and The Heart
(The card as the subject)
This pairing may refer to an ambivalent situation where positive and negative aspects are both powerful and deeply interconnected. The benefits are numerous and important, while the harm is dangerous and destructive—a situation difficult to separate from. Would you leave a job that puts you in constant stress in a toxic environment but at the same time rewards you financially and fulfills you as a person? What a conundrum! But The Heart as a modifier tells us that this situation can be mitigated—the negative aspects limited or controlled if we approach it with empathy and kindness. A new approach could solve the conundrum.
The Hearth
Since ancient times, the hearth has been revered as a sacred space where ceremonies, both sacred and profane, were performed, traditions passed down, and stories narrated. In early Mycenaean and ancient Greek palace complexes, the hearth was at the centre of the Great Hall, the Megaron (Ancient Greek μέγαρον), a rectangular hall surrounded by four columns. Here, the adventures of ancient heroes and vindictive gods were created. It was also the throne room, where the king met with ambassadors bringing news from distant lands and where important state decisions were made. The hearth, also, represents the core of domestic life, where food was prepared and connections forged.
Thus, the Hearth card symbolizes the inner core of an individual, embodying the deepest essence of one's being, including their narrative, feelings, values, and dreams. It embodies qualities of inner nourishment, emotional fulfillment, and spiritual connection within oneself, signifying a sense of inner security, stability, and belonging.
It reminds us to honour and nurture the sacred flame within ourselves, recognizing that true fulfilment comes from aligning with our innermost truths and embracing the richness of our inner world. In the context of personal growth and self-awareness, the Hearth encourages introspection and reflection on one's values, beliefs, and innermost desires. It prompts us to cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment, finding solace in our own company and embracing our individuality.
Visually, I wanted to represent a macabre hearth with the portrait of Madame Lenormand as a corpse that I created for the Ghastly Lenormand, a few old tattered books (of magic), a candelabra without flames (which holds a special meaning!), and a touch of personal life—the model of an English galleon. This model is a tribute to my passion for wooden ships and shipbuilding, and to my great-grandfather. He was the last wooden shipbuilder on the little island of San Pietro (a Genoese colony in Sardinia), renowned for the skill of its carpenters. Lord Nelson had his ship repaired in the little port of San Pietro and praised their craftsmanship in his logbook. My great-grandfather led a complex life, doing many different things, including serving as the mayor of a small town in Sardinia. He dared to oppose Mussolini and his fascism, which forced him into hiding. I have many memories of him building wooden ship models. Something he did trill his last day, building hundreds of ships.
Card Interactions
The Coffin and The Hearth
(The card as a modifier)
This pairing can have a couple of different interpretations, depending on the situation, the question posed, and the surrounding cards. After a period of crisis, darkness, and difficulty, a new mindset is emerging. New ideas or values are starting to cast a new light, beginning a new cycle. The turmoil or crisis we faced may have been meant to bring about this radical change in our perspective.
Another interpretation that comes to mind requires a more active approach. The cards ask us to reflect and ponder what we have placed at the centre of our lives—another person, a job, ideas, values, etc. —because the deep difficulties we are experiencing are caused by these things. The crisis will end when we change this core, when we approach the world or the situation with a renewed point of view.
The Hearth and The Coffin
(The card as a subject)
This sequence marks the end of an era. The core of our existence—values, ideas, the pivotal point around which our life revolved—is changing. The cards indicate that a transition period is coming, with all the turmoil and difficulties that it may imply. To realize the magnitude and the time taken by the process, one should consider the surrounding cards. But the message is clear: the innermost core is being shaken! This process, though difficult, may not necessarily be negative. Perhaps the core consists of false beliefs, illusions, biases, or wrong perceptions of the world. New values or ideas will come to take central stage in our lives. The cards recommend a moment of reflection and analysis.
And what do you think about the meaning of these two new cards, how would you interpret them in a reading?
Till the next time,
Have a splendiferously macabre week
Andrea
I look forward to seeing more and more information about this deck! I know that it will be a pleasure to work with!
Poison and heart sounds like my job!