Hi Memory Experts

I have recently been looking at different memory systems for my MemDeck work, at the same time searching for cards and Magic books on Amazon. Then the Amazon suggestions recommends 'Lenormand Cards'. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=lenormand+card......a=images . Whilst I have little interest in fortune telling, I did look at the cards and they look to me like a simple easy to recognize object for each of the 36 cards (not a full 52 card deck). I am wondering if this could be the echos of a older memorization system? ... or am I seeing patterns where there are none? I have not been able to find any suggestions that this is the case elsewhere, in fact not much of the history of these cards at all!

For what it is worth I think the Major system is easier, but would I be correct in thinking that this is a newer method to be introduced to the Memory Arts? Wikipedia would seem to suggest various stages of its evolution overlap in dates but that does not mean this is the only method in use in Paris at that time.

But this would also raise the question of why? Unless the French Fortune Tellers were doing memdeck work or cheating at cards!

Thanks
Steve P

Stay away from HOW TO DEVELOP A SUPER-POWER MEMORY (called the Bible of Memory Training by the NY Times), THE MEMORY BOOK, AGELESS MEMORY, PAGE-A-MINUTE MEMORY Book, etc. Sold over 18 million copies, in 11 languages (that I know of).

Nice - ego feeding - to be called The Yoda of Memory Training and The World's Foremost Memory-Training Specialist by Time Magazine. Most of my books teach how to remember cards much, much, better than the rip-offs do!!! (Not taught in SUPER MEMORY-SUPER STUDENT!) Just go to harryloraynemagic.com , click on Store and then on Memory Books. Easy.

I agree, your course is not bad.

But I'm a little confused. Roth Memory Course of 1918, Lesson 7 "A Wonderful Card Feat" or Bernard Zufall's Memory Tricks No. 4, 1935 are rip-offs of you?

Of course not. Love your sarcasm. More to the point...if you prefer to use their ideas instead of mine; your choice, your call. But...even David Roth, who died at 96, and became a personal friend, admitted that his, and whatever else was available then, didn't come anywhere near the method(s) taught in my books. Still confused?

No!
Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate that.
I clearly did not want to be sarcastic - never! Rather ironic.

Stay away from the Leonortmand deck It is just not known in this country, even by the Tarot folk. It's a 32 card orical deck and the images-+ are not familiar, and there is a bunch of them. If your still curious try some of the free tarot reading sites.If you really want to go off the road,+
-try to find a Platnik No1946 Wahragkarten, Serbo-Kroatisch deck. 52 nice looking cards with one image each the late lamented Dr Crow had a fantastic routine with this, if you don't mind bribing a waitress and paying for a tray of dishes.
Nobody else s doing it.

Thanks for the handy hints. Harry I did seek out a copy of your super power memory book, a good read, the systems on their own did not work for me out the box, but I combined with PAO and have had success where I previously did not.

I find the different fortune teller decks interesting, although the project I am currently working on is for a normal memdeck, though I do wonder why more magicians don’t do Tarot/fortune teller tricks more, taboo I guess.

I will keep reading the history of memory arts, Yates is next on the list for the memory stuff. Herb Zarrow for handling. If only I hand more time!

Thanks All
Steve P

If they didn't work for you "out of the box" you're not applying them correctly/properly "out of the boc."

Yeah, the Lenormand cards would have to be well-thought out because like another poster said, they are lesser known.

I agree if using the Lenormand cards in an effect then one would have to consider the fact that they are less known, but that could also help It could be good effect to count through the cards "R","I","N","G" and there is a picture of a Ring?

However my interest was more if the Lenormand cards were an echo of a older memory system, (so not for game play or fortune telling but as a memory training aid). ie here is some playing cards with some pictures. Learn what card is what picture and then using a memory palace (or other technique) you can remember the order of cards in play in a game (or at the fortune tellers table). I am not suggesting that this is the best method of learning to memorise a deck of cards, I am suggesting that maybe the symbols had a use that was under the rose at the time.

I think I must not be explaining myself well.