SAMPLE BIOGRAPHY Marie-Anne Adelaide Lenormand (Le Normand) was born on May 27, 1772 in Alencon (Orne), France. She was the eldest of three siblings. Her parents died before she was six, and her care was entrusted to stepparents. Lenormand had a mischievous spirit and she was often petulant. SAMPLE Life with her stepfather and step- mother proved difficult, and her step- father decided to entrust her education to the Benedictine nuns of the Royal Academy at Alencon. Lenormand’s extraordinary gifts of prophesy became evident at an early age. At the age of seven, she made several predictions for her young
4 companions which proved remarkably accurate. The devout Benedictines subjected Lenormand to severe punishment of bread and water to counter her bud- ding sorceress abilities. When a Benedictine Abbess was dismissed for misconduct, Lenormand predicted that the king of France SAMPLE would name her replacement. Eigh- teen months later her prophesy was fulfilled when the king named a Mme. De Livardie as her successor. Lenormand left the Abbey of the Benedictines for the Abbey of the Sis- ters of St. Mary where she continued her education. Although Lenormand showed a great avidity for learning, her stepmother could no longer subsidize 5 her education. She was apprenticed at age fourteen to an obscure seamstress, but Lenormand had neither the skill nor temperament for sewing. With only a single white dress and a six pound crown, she soon left for Paris. Her stepfather secured a position for Lenormand in a commercial house as a saleswoman where she gained much
SAMPLE knowledge and experience. A clerk in the firm taught her arithmetic. Lenor- mand soon realized that the mysteri- ous numbers and calculations had an application beyond the capacity of her mentor. She was eager to expand her knowledge. At this time, the teachings of Doctor Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828) were in vogue. Doctor Gall researched the
6 functions of the brain and eventually became known as the originator of phrenology. Lenormand was desperate to go to London to meet the doctor. She had no funds, but she was astute with the calculation of numbers. She won 1,200 francs in the lottery. Immediately, she traveled to Lon- don where Doctor Gall received her cordially. He recognized her special SAMPLE abilities and encouraged her, using the prestige of his name to attract clients for her. Soon, she was no longer the little adventurous girl from Alencon; she was now a recognized prophetess skilled in reading cards. In 1790, at the age of 18, Lenormand returned to Paris. She took employ- ment with an ardent Royalist, Mr.
7 Amerval de la Saussotte on Rue Hon- ore-Chevalier. He instilled in her a love for the Bourbons. Thereafter, she established herself on Rue de Tournon, opening a salon of divination and a bookstore. She devoted herself full- time to the art of divination. Her fame as a fortune-teller quickly grew. She was arrested and imprisoned by the police several times, although not for SAMPLE very long. These were times of great unrest in France. The breath of revolution and death was everywhere. Life changed on a fatal encounter; a wrong word or gesture might mean imprisonment or death. Private hatred and resentment burst to the forefront; mobs ruled in defiance of the king. The guillotine claimed untold victims. Members 8 of the nobility, fearful for their lives, flocked to Lenormand’s door for consultation. Mlle. Lenormand predicted the violent death of King Louis XVI (as did other fortune-tellers). As a fervent Royalist, Lenormand risked her life in a vain attempt to save Marie Antoinette who was held at the Temple prison. Mrs.
SAMPLE Richard, wife of the prison’s concierge, and Michonis, prison administrator, conspired with Lenormand in a bold attempt to free the empress. Dressed as an errand girl with a basket of fruit in her hand, Lenormand entered the prison where Marie-Antoinette was held. But the empress, bewildered and stupefied, did not have the courage to attempt an escape, and eventually she fell to the guillotine. 9 For our complete line of tarot decks, books, meditation cards, oracle sets, and other inspirational products please visit our website: www.usgamesinc.com Visit us on Facebook
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