Preorders open for The Melissa Lenormand 2nd Series

Every week, for the last year and a half, I have gotten emails about when and if I will be doing a reprint of the Melissa Lenormand. At first, I didn’t want to consider it because I wanted to focus on other card products. Then I didn’t want to consider it because I didn’t think I could raise the money for a large print run. Then I put out the Postmark Lenormand. I don’t have any more Postmark decks now anyway either.

I feel so much resistance in selling the cards because I’m simply terrible at it! It takes a lot of time to communicate, order, receive and distribute the cards. An order of cards from an offset printer requires a large upfront investment, which I can’t make. And having a lot of cards — even a modest order of 250 decks, like I had with the Melissa, or 400, which was the order I made of the Postmark, means that a great deal of my living space is taken up by cards. I share a modest 900 sq. feet of living space with my two children. I have no office space any more. I have had nightmares of my house exploding and cards raining down on the neighborhood… So you can imagine how having the materials for assembling the decks, packaging orders and shipping out things is quite a production for me. I don’t have an assistant. I run every aspect of my business myself (I’m still morbidly curious about taking on a business partner or hiring an assistant, if you’re interested…). I also spend a lot of time running from a couple of toddlers who are quite smitten by Mommy’s cards…

So I’m stuck. On one hand, I love the cards. I want to make them available to others who will love them too. But I truly just want to focus on writing and teaching. Making cards is my reluctant hobby.

I’ve been trying to figure out a way I can get the cards out AND maintain some measure of ease.

So this is my plan:

1. You may preorder a Melissa Lenormand or Postmark Lenormand (or some combination of those) from NOW until October 31, 2011. On November 1, I will order cards for those who have ordered. I will NOT be ordering extra cards. I cannot “hold” or “reserve” a deck for you without payment. I can’t afford it and I don’t have space or interest in keeping track of that.
2. It will probably take about 10-14 days from the time I order the cards to when they arrive at my door. I will then package and send out the orders. This way I can hopefully get the cards out by Thanksgiving, before things get hectic for me with the holidays. I just don’t want to bother with continually shipping physical items.
3. If you cannot order in this round, I will offer ordering again sometime in 2012 — perhaps May — or whenever I have another set of cards finished.
4. I reserve the right to change the decks, cards, anything, before I offer ordering again.

The Melissa Lenormand that I’m prepared to order is different than the first edition. It has 40 cards instead of 45. No box, but a velvet bag. I will include a key booklet. The font in the title is different and the title now includes card numbers. I have drafted new artwork for alternate Man & Woman cards. The backs of the cards are now a jewel-toned blue. I have updated, touched up and re-colored some of the artwork.

There are a few ways you can order. You can order just one deck, order a bundle of both, or order the decks with the Lenormand 101 class, etc. Shipping is priority, of course, flat rate. Payment is through paypal. I’m sorry, I cannot accept checks or money orders any longer. To place an order, follow this link and check out here.

I know two weeks isn’t a lot of time for some of you to prepare to order. And I apologize for that. But I really want to make this as quick and painless as humanly possible for me. Like a shot in the arm. Except it’s a Lenormand deck instead of a flu shot. Which I should probably also get, since I’ve been under the weather the past few weeks…

Wild Sister, Lenormand 101 and Letters, oh my!

I know I promise a reading with the Tombstone blueprint. At this point, I don’t think it’s going to happen! I started getting sick last Wednesday and it’s been Week of the Living Dead at my house ever since. I love the fall, but you know what really scares me? Cold and flu season.

And yet, I have a few items of note to share with you:

Did you know I write cartoscopes (horoscopes cast on a Grand Tableau using Lenormand cards) for Wild Sister?

Issue 4 dropped on Monday and once again, the Jen, the beautiful editor, has outdone herself. The theme is magic — which is lovely for this time of year. It’s an instant download and is beautifully illustrated with photographs and art (not to mention fantastic and inspiring writing from members of the community).

 

Lenormand.info has been re-designed and Lenormand 101 is now live!

You can expect another re-design in the near future as well! Though the course is functional, the overwhelming response I’ve gotten has made management a little tedious. My tech team (eh hem…) has discovered a better way to handle registration and I’ll be implementing that in the near future. In the meanwhile, I’ve been blown away by the feedback and testimonials I’ve generously received from my tribe.

I had the pleasure and the privilege of meeting Melissa and hearing her talk about the Lenormand at the Reader’s Studio 2011.  These cards and her method drew me in instantly, and I KNEW I had found the missing link. I have just finished with her Lenormand 101 class which is nothing short of brilliant…easy to access, easy to understand and the cards, within minutes, come alive!! The few questions that I had were answered instantly on email and clarified anything I wanted to know. I look forward to further lessons with the Sassy Sybil, as FAST as she can possibly prepare them. Thank you for your overwhelming generosity, Melissa, in sharing this information with us.

Warm regards from Belgium/Israel

Joy Lerner

I can’t stress enough: If you have no experience with cards. If you’ve never picked up a deck of cards, but have always been interested. If you’re overwhelmed with the prospect of learning a divinatory system. If you’ve been reading tarot for years, but can’t wrap your mind around a different deck of cards, this class is for you.

And finally…

I’ve started writing letters. See that fancy new button at the top of my blog? Yeah, here’s the scoop on that.

I have a new tarot blueprint. I think I’ll release it into the wild tomorrow, since I am unable to make a video with a reading sample (well, I could, but no one wants to see me hacking all over my webcam and wiping my nose while reading cards…). Until then, gentle readers, exes and ohs!

What I’m working on

2nd Ed. Melissa Lenormand

As you may have guessed from the few cards I threw up on facebook, I am considering a second edition of the Melissa Lenormand. I can get the cards printed easily enough — just trying to wrap my head around whatever I’ll be wrapping the cards in. Of course I have a few options, some easier than others. Full color tuckboxes are out unless I can raise the funds for printing *before* — and do a very large card order. I’ve found some indie craftspeople who specialize in custom packaging for artisans who may be able to help with unique and functional boxes. The other (quickie) option is to put them in satin bags. I haven’t thought through the logistics of deck distribution — but in the past two weeks I’ve gotten no less than two dozen requests for the deck… and I’m figuring that it’s a sign from The Universe that this is something I should at least think about.

The second edition will have cream borders, a different title font, will include the card number and have a different jewel-toned blue back. I think they’re more beautiful than the first edition. The proof prints I’ve gotten — the colors are more vibrant. I’ve only tinkered with the art minimally. I’ll also design two new alternative Man & Woman cards to go with the deck. Maybe a Happy Squirrel or a Cat card…

The Postmark Lenormand is sold out!

I’ll order new cards as soon as I am able to. I don’t see any changes to the artwork in the future, but if you have any ideas or suggestions of what you’d like to see in a second print-run, now is the time to manifest those desires!

Lenormand 101

Since I had to record all of the lecture material for the webinar separate from the webinar anyway (there was some funky technical issues)… I’m thinking I may make Lenormand 101 a stand-alone digital download. This way you can watch the videos and go through the workbooks at your own pace. Since this is fresh in my mind and I’ve thought of almost nothing else all week, this is the priority project for me.

This would also solve the dilemma I’ve had about adding new class material — I can just serve up the additional material as additional modules. This way you can pick the learning bundle you’re most interested in. Modules I’m working on right now include:

• The language of Lenormand
• Creating strong narrative in your Grand Tableau
• Lenormand for fiction writers
• Writing Cartoscopes with the Grand Tableau
• Timing theory in Lenormand
• Lenormand symbolism in popular culture
• And a few others that are still baby ideas in my brain…

With the class, you would get the core information — the 2 hours of lectures on videos and the 2 PDF guides. And then you could add the additional modules as you like — to customize your learning experience. Alternately, if you decide after taking the 101 class that you’d like to deepen your Lenormand studies, you could purchase the modules separately.

The only hesitation I have for this model is — I honestly cannot provide good email support for Q&A. I am already totally overwhelmed by email as it is. But I feel like if I’m teaching I need to be available to answer questions. So my question to you is: Would you be interested in monthly tele-jam Think Tanks? Where we have a conference call scheduled for Q&A with me on any Lenormand 101 topics? My cursory thoughts:

• This would require some kind of RSVP because if no one wants to chat, I won’t hire a babysitter
• This would require some kind of small monetary investment (because you won’t show up when you say you will if it doesn’t)
• We can cover Lenormand basics, card combinations and readings — even a Tableau if you’re stuck
• We can work together using Orphalese or my GT Widget. I have my “tech team” working on a web-based Lenormand app… but for now, those two programs will have to work.

If you’re interested, take a moment to fill out this form:

The Wicked Sibyl

Shelved. Again. We’ll see… A pumpkin-spiced coffee might just get me in the mood…

Looking forward to your thoughts! Tell me what you want to see me working on!

Lenormand 101 is here! Finally!

I’m happy to announce that I’m finally able to offer my introductory Lenormand workshop in an online format!

I’m having a webinar on September 8, at 7p.m. EST.

What is a webinar, you ask? Well, it’s kind of like a conference call + a slide show + maybe my smiling face looking right back at you. It’s all the great interactive learning of a seminar, but you know, on the web.

The course will cover the information I presented at The Readers Studio in New York this past spring — basic card meanings, some ideas on reading in combinations and lines, quick spreads and the introduction to the Grand Tableau. I’ve come up with some amazing visuals to use with the webinar, including a PDF workbook that is fully illustrated with my own two card decks and a historical Lenormand for comparative study. We’ll also be using my web-based Grand Tableau generator. This will let us do a collaborative and spontaneous reading during the webinar, that everyone can see and participate in.

In addition to the presentation and the Comparative Lenormand Workbook, participants will also get a PDF of the Little Book of the Grand Tableau — the booklet I gave away during my Readers Studio workshop. It’s been updated since I’ve been working on a more thorough manual, and includes directions on how to use my Grand Tableau widget as well. In case you can’t make the webinar, I’m sending everyone a recording of it afterward. So you can review the material over and over, as you like.

I announced the class on Facebook and the Tarot Forum on Friday, and seats are already starting to fill. There is a limit to how many people may be on the call, so if you’re interested, sign up now. Registration is $35. Full course information and registration link can be found here.