Copyright © 2013, 2017 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

All rights reserved. The illustrations, cover design

Foreword
and contents are protected by copyright. No part of
this booklet may be reproduced in any form without The Gilded Reverie Lenormand is a continuation of
permission in writing from the publisher, except by a card-reading tradition dating back to the late 18th
a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in and into the 19th century. The design of this deck
connection with a review written for inclusion in a is intended to respect the tradition whilst provid-
magazine, or newspaper, or website. ing a new vision for the future. The tradition itself
has been rooted in “borrowing” and “whim” since
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
its inception, with an ongoing history of change.
Made in China Despite the individual style and variations in this
Gilded Reverie, it is still a deck that I hope Lenor-
mand readers, whether they be experienced or
beginners, should be able to use with comfort.
It is hoped that this Gilded Reverie deck provides
you a wonderful tool of fortune telling, divina-
tion and discovery; giving you access to an antique
tradition in a contemporary presentation. As the
Lenormand tradition is revived, these cards will
come to speak more fully, and you are now part of
that oracular voice, returning from the ages. Allow
the cards to tell you their story and in doing so, dis-
U.S. Games Systems, Inc. cover your own.
179 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT 06902 USA
203-353-8400 • Order Desk 800-544-2637 — Tali Goodwin
FAX 203-353-8431 • www.usgamesinc.com

3
 Introduction to
cious to consider tinkering with the traditional for-
mat with an occasional modified image, let alone
Gilded Reverie Lenormand the introduction of additional cards. Nevertheless,
I did sense, rightly or wrongly, that Lenormand
Expanded Edition spreads such as the Grand Tableaus were over-
whelming in their combinations and there might
The traditional 36 card images of the Lenormand be occasions where a reader might not be clear on
system have been in use for over 150 years, and it their interpretations. I felt that there might be read-
has been argued, quite justifiably, that it has worked ings that could benefit from some additional per-
perfectly well during that time in its original form. spective or clarification.
Experienced readers using the system are able to The introduction of additional cards to the Gilded
apply their knowledge and familiarity with each Reverie deck was done not to modify the established
individual card and its correspondence with other system, but to allow greater flexibility in readings.
cards positioned within a spread, to reach compre- For example, the alternate Man (28) and Lady (29)
hensive interpretations. cards may provide a more relevant combination of
A core characteristic of the Lenormand system is “significators” depending on the genders involved
its directness, as compared to the esoteric nature of in a specific reading. The Owls (12) card, as an
tarot. The relative simplicity of Lenormand imag- alternative to the Birds (12), acknowledges that
ery, uncluttered by embedded symbolism, permits preference in various European traditions. 
the cards to suggest unambiguous interpretations. The other extra cards added to the Gilded Rev-
Nonetheless, when the full entourage of 36 cards is erie Lenormand were intended to provide further
displayed in their Grand Tableau format, they pro- context and perspective to readings. The Time
vide a far more comprehensive perspective, afford- (37) card adds details of time to events suggested
ing a general overview of the situation, as well as by the cards; for example, to the Rider’s arrival or
nuanced interpretations. So, it was somewhat auda- the Ship’s journey. The Dice (39) might provide

4 5
an interesting complimentary twist to the Clover some of them, as the low print run and higher price
(2), which indicates luck by chance. The Dice, on category of the deck would, I assumed, limit it prin-
the other hand, represents luck or outcome that cipally to collectors and those already experienced
is deliberately sought through decision or a risk with Lenormand. I also ensured that the extra cards
taken, i.e. Choice (22). The Bridges (38) might sug- were numbered so that they could be used in addi-
gest a more direct connection between other cards tion to the core 36, or for that matter discarded
beyond the standard one based on their relative completely, leaving the reader with a fully func-
positions in the spread. The Mask (40) is a some- tional basic and complete Lenormand deck.
what personal trademark and suggests the need for However, when the deck was licensed by U.S.
further consideration and evaluation. Games Systems, Inc. with the intention of being
When Tali Goodwin was assisting me with the text published to a wider audience, which would pre-
for the Gilded Reverie, she pointed out that these sumably include newcomers to Lenormand, I felt
same images had in fact been part of the earlier it would be prudent to only produce the basic 36
Games of Goose, which share a common heri- cards. I was concerned that the extra cards might
tage with the Petit Lenormand. The Game of the be confusing to those learning the Lenormand sys-
Golden Goose, devised in 1597, includes the Bridge, tem for the first time. It should be noted that this
the Maze, the Prison, Death, the Ale House and was my decision, not the publishers, and one that
the Well. The Game of Goose is the prototype for all I took responsibility for, but with hindsight regret-
Race Games such as the Game of Hope. The Goose ted. It soon became apparent that my doubts of
Game also includes the Dice. how these changes would be accepted proved to be
So, there had been a historical precedent, which unfounded. The response and feedback from many
made their inclusion in my original Special Edition readers who had obtained the original Special Edi-
even more relevant, albeit serendipitous. With my tion set indicated that these additional cards were
first self-published edition of the Gilded Reverie actually being used both by beginners and experi-
Lenormand, I felt comfortable enough to include enced Lenormand readers alike. In fact, they proved

6 7
to be quite popular, and even renowned Lenor- With the experience and reference of how well
mand readers such as Rana George occasionally received the extra cards had been, I decided
incorporated some of them into her own meth- that this time around I would include not just
odology. In the years since the standard version the seven extra cards of my first self-published
was released, both U.S. Games Systems and myself edition but also the other four cards that I had
have received numerous requests for these extra originally designed but had not previously
cards to be made available in some form. published, including the Well (41), which was
When considering the possibility, the publisher also historically used in earlier board games of
and I discussed possible different scenarios chance. Its meaning of depth or as a symbolic
including producing a small supplemental pack- source of nourishment once again may provide
age containing just the extra cards, and making yet further nuances to other cards in the spread. 
them available as an optional separate purchase. I am very pleased that U.S. Games Systems has
Initially, this seemed like an appealing solution, made it possible for me to remedy my initial
but unfortunately, because of the double-trim- decision and now have these extra cards pro-
ming process required for gilt-edged cards, the duced and made available. I hope you will enjoy
printers could not guarantee an exact matching using them and that they enhance your experi-
trimmed size. While the discrepancy could have ence in reading with the Gilded Reverie Lenor-
been minimal, U.S. Games Systems was uncom- mand Expanded Edition. I am grateful to the
fortable releasing any item that might be consid- following contributors for their helpful input
ered imperfect or that would adversely affect the and expertise in writing the descriptions for the
reader’s experience and I fully respected their additional cards: Rana George, Tali Goodwin,
position. Nevertheless, the feedback from custom- Donnaleigh de LaRose and Lee Bursten.
ers still suggested a strong demand, so eventually — Ciro Marchetti
the decision was made to produce this entirely
new Gilded Reverie Expanded Edition.

8 9
 Choosing and
clear to anyone who researches the history of
Lenormand cards and card reading that its history
Working with Lenormand Decks represents a gradual evolution. The basic concepts
of the 36 images have remained surprisingly con-
sistent, but, each step along the way, new artists,
In many Lenormand books you’ll find excellent authors and publishers contributed their own
contributions discussing the history of the cards innovations. Card readers adapted the instructions
and ways to read them. I’d like to focus on the larger that came with the earliest decks, eventually cre-
question of choosing a deck and choosing a method ating entirely new methods. Thus, any particular
of reading. This may seem a superfluous subject, deck or method from a particular time and place is
since this set already contains a deck and some only a snapshot moment in a continuum of devel-
instructions on how to use it. But many readers will opment, or one ring of growth in the trunk of the
accumulate different decks over time, thus raising tree, or one stop on the journey.
the question of which decks are the best choices.
Within cartomantic circles there are many people
Also, most card readers will, sooner or later, look
who are attracted to antique decks and methods.
beyond the instructions that come packaged with a
This nostalgic viewpoint is sometimes anchored
deck for other sources of information so that they
in an assumption that there was some golden
can improve their skills with more in-depth mate-
age during which everyone read with the same
rial than a booklet can provide.
deck and followed the same rules of interpreta-
So, which deck and approach are best? When tion. However, historic evidence would suggest
Ciro first began creating his Lenormand images, otherwise. While we may certainly have prefer-
he sought and accepted input from a wide cross- ences between antique and modern decks and
section of the online cartomantic community. traditional and modern methods, both may offer
Many embraced his artistic expression while others beauty and valuable insight.
viewed his specific choices as straying from “tradi-
In any divinatory system, there must be a mixture
tion.” I put that word in quotes because it becomes
of structure and creativity. By day, you can study
10 11
the rulebook all you like; but by night, the muse When it comes to an artist’s choices of images, here
must visit, or your readings will be dry and lifeless. again there’s a tendency to glorify a traditional stan-
We might liken a good card reader to a good jazz dard, which proves, upon closer inspection, to lack
musician, who has probably had a solid foundation any real meaning. A study of Lenormand decks of
in music theory before using that foundation to the past shows a healthy variety of style and content.
become proficient in improvisation. Even this Expanded Edition’s exciting introduction
Thus, you might be so enamored of someone’s tra- of new cards beyond the traditional 36 has an his-
ditional method that you try to follow it to a T. But torical precedent; there are several antique decks
no matter how hard you try, inevitably you will start with added cards, changed cards, and cards taken
to modify the method, because the process of read- away. Ciro chose to add cards, but in such a way
ing the cards is a very personal one and inherently that one can choose to either experiment with them
creative. And the same is true for any teacher who or to ignore them and stick with the traditional 36.
advertises their method as traditional; they have In my years of involvement with the online carto-
surely, over the years, modified what they learned, mantic community, it has become clear to me that
so that what they call a traditional method is in there is a wide range of attitudes toward carto-
fact a very personal one to that teacher. It probably mancy. There are readers who passionately believe
contains a combination of elements from the 19th that their choices of decks and interpretations are
century, elements from a few decades ago, and ele- the “right” ones and all others are “wrong.” There
ments that they came up with last week. It may be are those who simply go their own way and create
a perfectly good method for you, but don’t take the their own systems of interpretation from scratch.
moniker “traditional” too seriously; as it turns out, There are those who fish around and gather several
tradition is in the eyes of the beholder. The closer different methods and pick and choose to create
we examine the past through a microscope, the their own mélange. And there are those who simply
more clouded the lens becomes. It can be mislead- learn the instructions that came with their deck and
ing and limiting to impose an artificial standard of leave it at that. Any of these is an acceptable way
tradition. forward, but there are also people who find them-
12 13
selves on a never-ending quest (as I once was) to balance between interpretive structure and creativ-
find the sun, the moon, and the stars, i.e. the perfect ity; between confidence in oneself and respect for
deck and perfect set of meanings. As the anony- other viewpoints; between being too orthodox
mous quotation goes, “Many an opportunity is lost and being too liberal. Everyone who comes to car-
because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.” tomancy looking for certainty will inevitably find
Far better to simply choose a deck and a set of doubts. How will you travel over, under, around,
meanings that appeals to you, without overthink- or through this mountain of ambiguity? How will
ing your choices, and start right in to learn them you cut through the cloud of words (including the
and practice with them. words you’re now reading) that inevitably forms
The Internet has emerged as a major factor in car- around the subject of card reading? You may find
tomancy. Until about 15 years ago, readers got their that the Gilded Reverie Lenormand cards them-
input from books, and rarely interacted with other selves provide the answer. They comprise a gift
readers except in formal classroom environments, whose humanity, profound beauty, and heart pro-
for example if a local teacher conducted classes. vide a key not only to how to read with cards, but
Nowadays, there’s a vibrant online community that how to live with them.
provides many benefits for the practitioner. To me — Lee Bursten
it seems a very good thing that social media pro- Lee Bursten is the creator of the Gay Tarot and the
vides a home environment where groups of readers Zodiac Tarot. He wrote the accompanying texts for
can exchange experiences and share perspectives the Tarot of Dreams and the Universal Marseille
on interpretive guidelines. My own preference in Tarot. He currently serves as moderator of the Aeclec-
card reading is toward a structured approach, so tic Lenormand Forum (www.tarotforum.net).
I’m happy to see people coalesce around specific
interpretations and methods. Ultimately, you will
choose your decks and methods according to your
own preferences and your own personality. My
advice is to try to tread a path that maintains a good
14 15
 Card Meanings
ers this messenger to its destination. Freed from the
ever revolving ‘merry-go-round of life’, whose cir-
cular motion is also defined by the laws of physics
as acceleration, our Rider symbolically reflects the
1. The Rider pace and speed of information by which our lives
I am always bringing news, look around me to see are increasingly affected.
what it includes. I might be coming to visit or bring-

2. Clover
ing you some changes. I am fast and always on the
move. If you see a negative card close by, you will
probably not enjoy the reply. I bring you luck and happiness. I make things better,
The Rider of the Lenormand brings news. It is the and as long as there isn’t a negative card after me, I
first card and announces new things. In the Gilded will turn difficulties to opportunities. I am the nice
Reverie deck, we behold a dreamy female Rider who surprise and the happy sighs.
sits astride a carousel horse; the horse who in fairy- This card depicts an explosive reverie of clover.
tale stories is the conveyer of messages. She may Three- and four-leaf clover bearing white flowers
even be Iris, the Greek messenger of the gods. are set against the backdrop of an idyllic day. All
The fastened messenger bag across her shoulder is vibrant green, fertile, and promising growth and
may be suggestive of additional messages for dif- luck. The white of the flower symbolizes the purity
ferent destinations along her night’s voyage. In her of luck. Where this card is placed, all is well. When
hands she grasps a white envelope, a letter that is taken in the context of flower language, the white of
out of the bag and ready to be delivered for the cur- the flower is known to be a symbol too of remem-
rent reading. The carousel is the ideal metaphor, brance; the card can mean “think of me” from
as this card is a new cycle being initiated and an someone afar. The three-leaf clover is commonly
ending of the old state. The ups and downs of the known by the Irish as a shamrock and is associated
carousel also symbolize the magical flight that pow- with luck. Since the four-leaf clover is less preva-

16 17
lent, the act of finding one naturally in the wild is cal flying ship, an elaborate brigantine, taking us to
considered very lucky. The clover is also known to new vistas and landscapes. While the original card
have associations with love, passion, and abandon- image may have been a ship, later decks have modi-
ment. Medieval poetry was full of passionate trysts fied it to whatever the latest mode of long-distance
between young lovers in fields of clover. So here we transportation may be, such as a train or airplane.
also have the state of being lucky in love. However, It generally signifies distant travel, in any manner.
if the Clover card lies next to the Scythe (10) card, The nature of the journey will usually be pleasant
expect the luck of love to be short-lived! and well favored, such as a holiday, depending as
ever upon the cards that surround it.
3. Ship
I take you on a vacation or a business trip. You will 4. House
need a suitcase for where we are going. Distance is
I am your family and your base, your ground, and
what I am known for, and I am constantly in motion.
your home. I give you stability and comfort. I am your
Look at the cards next to me for the clues and cues to
living arrangement and environment. I am what sur-
the changes I bring in your life’s journey.
rounds you and your estate. The cards around me will
A journey is to be embarked upon. There are new give you signs on my present state, or what the future
horizons to be explored and preparation is required will dictate.
to ensure smooth passage. In the original Game of
A sanctuary is to be found in the House, showing
Hope, where we have the first publication of the
us family and home; the sanctuary that offers us
symbols of the Lenormand, this is indicated to be
shelter from the world. In the Gilded Reverie we
a favorable journey, as the traveler will be “happily
have the House depicted in such a way as to entice
taken by this Ship to the Land of the Birds”. This
us home again to the nostalgic place of childhood
augers well!
fairytales. The House is built of gnarled roots, sug-
In the Gilded Reverie, we see this card as a fantasti- gesting a place of permanent fixture and security.

18 19
The open garden gate speaks of an opening being The Tree here also depicts the Tree of Life, a spiri-
made available. tual symbol that has its roots in the most ancient
The House can be one of the most interesting civilizations. Whether it be Babylonian, Egyptian,
ways to date a Lenormand deck, as each deck or Jewish images of the Tree, it speaks here of antiq-
tends to either hark back to the past or chose a uity and ancient roots.
contemporary building to be depicted. Some The card’s meaning can also be seen in the rainbow,
decks have very utilitarian buildings on them, perhaps suggesting that true health is to be found
others show a more aspirational mansion house. in aligning ourselves between that which is above
However it is depicted, it represents what we and that which is below. The harmony of the colors
think of as our home, our dwelling, our security. reflecting through the Tree symbolizes the holistic
nature of healing and life itself.
5. Tree
I am here to stay and grow. I am the health of your 6. Clouds
body, mind, and soul. Look for the cards next to me I am dark on one side and light on the other. Conflicts
to find out more about me. When negative cards and doubts I am sure to bring. You will not be able to
are close, pack some tissues for your nose. see clearly, I will block your perception and let confu-
A sign of health and longevity, and the impera- sion reign. One thing I promise for sure is that I will
tive to put down one’s roots to ensure a secure pass, because the sun always shines after the storm has
future. The card’s presence could indicate a passed.
health condition that is inherited. Combine this A card symbolizing foreboding and change, the
card with the previous card of the House (4) and negative or positive influence is expressed by the
we have a tree house that speaks of security, but direction the dark aspect of the cloud faces. The
great family responsibility, and possible ill health ascending birds on the right-hand side of the card
through stress. and the glorious breakthrough of the sun promise

20 21
 How to Use the Extra Cards
a current issue.  Now is the time to focus, scrutinize
and analyze. You might be overlooking something
that isn’t apparent or even visible. The smallest by Lee Bursten
details may be vitally important.  Use the Magnify- Included in your Gilded Reverie Lenormand
ing Glass to help you investigate and uncover more Expanded Edition are eleven additional cards, over
information that could lead you to greater clarity. and above the traditional 36. There is an extra set of
In a reading, the card to the left is what it seems like Man and Lady cards, an Owls (Birds II) card, and
before taking a closer look. The card to the right eight cards featuring entirely original designs and
suggests what will be brought to light after a closer concepts.
look.
These eleven cards can be used in various ways. The
This card can also be a warning that all is not what extra Man and Lady cards can replace the originals
it seems at first. Be careful to read the fine print. If if their design is preferred, or they can be used for
this card appears with the Letter (27), Book (26) or same-sex readings, or they can be added to the
Ring (25) it may mean you have to examine a docu- 36-card deck for a reading involving several people.
ment, contract, information or commitment more The Owls card can replace the original Birds card if
carefully. The Clouds (6) card nearby reinforces the desired, or it can be added to the deck, with its own
idea that things are still murky. This card might meanings to distinguish it from the Birds.
also suggest a financial audit or legal investigation.
In the realm of emotional issues, the Magnifying This section focuses on the eight entirely new cards:
Glass suggests a preoccupation; you may be focus- 37 Time 41 Well
ing on something too much. Your obsessive think-
ing might be what’s obscuring your clarity. 38 Bridges 42 Compass
39 Dice 43 Labyrinth
40 Mask 44 Magnifying Glass
The simplest way of using these cards is to merely

62 63
add them to the deck, increasing the number
of cards from 36 to 44. When reading in lines or
using the 3x3 box spread, you can shuffle the entire
expanded deck and deal out the cards as usual. (See
Simple Nine-Card Spread, pages 71–72.) For the
Grand Tableau spread, which uses all the cards in

STEP 1: LENORMAND GRAND TABLEAU (9x4)

the deck, the greater number of cards requires an
adjustment to the spread. For the 8x4+4 Grand
Tableau, you might add two more rows of four
cards each to the bottom of the spread, or an extra
row of eight above the final row of four. For the 9x4
Grand Tableau, an extra two rows of four cards each
can be centered at the bottom of the spread. These
cards won’t line up with the rows above them, so
they may instead be considered a sort of mini-
spread that comments on but doesn’t directly inter-
act with the cards above.
The following describes a method of laying out a
Grand Tableau (either 8x4+4 or 9x4), using the
eight new cards as a separate set to comment on
the traditional 36 cards. This method gives you an
opportunity to explore the new cards without los-
ing focus on the original 36. For this method you
need to keep the eight new cards in their own pile.
STEP 1: Shuffle and lay out a Grand Tableau (either
8x4+4 or 9x4, as shown opposite) with the tradi-
64 65
tional 36 cards and interpret them as usual. STEP 3: ADDING NEW CLARIFYING CARDS
STEP 2: Choose between one and eight cards in the
spread that you would like to explore further. Leav- magnifying glass

ing those chosen cards where they are in the spread,

compass
remove the other cards from the board. (You may
want to take a picture of your spread first, so that you
can reference the entire spread later in the process).

STEP 2: C
 HOOSING AND REMOVING
CARDS FROM THE SPREAD

stork
well
clouds
moon
labyrinth

heart
STEP 4: Interpret each of the spread cards in light
of the new information provided by the new clari-
fying cards.
STEP 3: Shuffle the eight new cards (numbers 37 to The same method may be used for single lines of
44) and place one new card on the corner of each of cards. Simply place a new card above any card in the
the remaining cards in the spread. line that you would like to explore further.

66 67