Pixie’s Astounding Lenormand

Pixie's Astounding Mlle Lenormand - Lenormand built from Smith-Waite illustrations

The 36 cards of the Lenormand system have been around for centuries. This deck brings them in a form you may not have seen before. Edmund Zebrowski took Pamela Colman Smith's original illustrations apart and made new Lenormand cards from them.

The Rider from the Smith-Waite tarot becomes the Rider of the Lenormand system here. The Key, the Book, the Flowers: all assembled from Pixie's lines, colours and figures. It is collage work with a purpose. You see Smith's hand, but read the language of Lenormand.

What you see on the cards

Each card image consists of selected fragments from Smith's work. Sometimes from the Smith-Waite tarot, sometimes from The Golden Vanity, one of her lesser-known projects. The colours are soft and a little faded, as if they are already a century old.

The style is recognisable. Anyone who has ever worked with the Smith-Waite sees immediately where the elements come from. The combinations are new, but the imagery is not. That helps with recognition.

The cards measure 57 x 89 mm, slightly smaller than standard tarot format. They sit well in the hand and shuffle easily. The finish is matte, without gloss. The cardstock feels sturdy.

How you work with it

This is a Lenormand deck, not tarot. That means 36 cards with direct, concrete meanings. The 132-page guidebook explains those meanings and pays extra attention to readings about love and work.

Because the images are based on Smith's tarot illustrations, the deck feels familiar to anyone who already works with the Smith-Waite. But the interpretations are Lenormand. That takes some adjustment. The Star from the tarot is not the tarot card The Star here, but the Lenormand card Star, with its own meaning.

Look at the details in the collages when you lay cards side by side. Smith's imagery has many small connections that help you see a story.

About Edmund Zebrowski

Edmund Zebrowski works as an artist and tarot scholar. He has created several decks that reinterpret historical styles. For this project he chose to combine Smith's legacy with the Lenormand system, something that had not been done before.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 36
• Card size: 57 x 89 mm
• Language: English
• Finish: Matte cardstock
• Packaging: Illustrated metal tin
• Guidebook: 132 pages
• Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
• Artist: Edmund Zebrowski
• Based on work by: Pamela Colman Smith

Questions we often get

Can I use this deck if I only know the Smith-Waite tarot?
You will recognise the images, but the way of reading is different. Lenormand works with combinations of cards and concrete meanings. The guidebook explains the system, but you will need to get used to a different reading method than tarot.

Why a metal tin instead of a cardboard box?
The tin protects the cards better during transport and keeps them in good condition longer. The format is compact enough to take with you without the cards shifting or creasing.