The Marginal Lenormand by Anastasia Kashian is not your typical Lenormand deck. Inspired by the wonderfully bizarre world of medieval manuscript marginalia, this 37-card deck takes one of the most structured divination systems and dresses it in absurdity, humor, and historical oddities.

If you’ve ever stumbled across illustrations of rabbits jousting knights, snails battling soldiers, mischievous monkeys, or strange hybrid creatures hiding in the margins of illuminated manuscripts, you’ll immediately recognize the inspiration behind this deck.

The Marginal Lenormand manages to be playful without sacrificing the integrity of Lenormand itself. It’s a deck that invites curiosity, laughter, and surprisingly insightful readings.

Unboxing + Flipthrough (coming soon)

My First Impressions

The first thing that caught my attention was how different it feels from nearly every Lenormand deck I’ve worked with.

At first glance, it almost looks like an art book disguised as an oracle deck. The medieval-inspired imagery immediately stands out, but instead of feeling old or intimidating, it feels delightfully weird.

I honestly wasn’t sure whether the unconventional artwork would distract from traditional Lenormand reading. Instead, I found the opposite to be true.

The deck keeps the classic Lenormand symbols intact while allowing the medieval illustrations to add layers of personality and storytelling. The result feels familiar enough for experienced readers while remaining refreshing.

It has a quirky sense of humor that never crosses into parody.

The Artwork

The artwork is undoubtedly the star of this deck.

Rather than creating modern illustrations inspired by medieval art, Anastasia Kashian embraces the wonderfully chaotic spirit of authentic manuscript marginalia. Every card feels like a tiny historical curiosity waiting to be explored.

Animals behave like humans.

Humans behave even stranger.

Fantastic creatures appear where you least expect them.

Many illustrations are based on genuine medieval motifs that once decorated the borders of religious books and manuscripts. Historically, these images often served as jokes, satire, social commentary, or simply whimsical decorations created by artists enjoying themselves.

That playful energy carries beautifully into the readings.

Even when pulling traditionally difficult cards like Scythe, Coffin, or Snake, the artwork introduces subtle emotional nuance. Sometimes the imagery softens a harsh interpretation. Other times it highlights the absurdity of life’s challenges.

The balance between historical authenticity and readability is impressive.

Box, Card, and Finish

Unfortunately, this is where the deck fell short for me.

While I genuinely love the artwork and the overall concept, the production quality didn’t quite meet my expectations. The box uses a lift-off lid, and I found that it comes off rather easily. Personally, I would have preferred a sturdier box that feels more secure for storage.

The cardstock itself has a nice thickness, but the finish wasn’t to my liking. It has an uncoated, paper-like feel that, to me, comes across as inexpensive rather than intentionally vintage. I can appreciate that the publisher may have been aiming to echo the look and feel of medieval manuscripts, but I don’t think the materials quite achieve that effect.

Despite the finish, the cards shuffle reasonably well, and I didn’t have any issues with their size or handling. My concern is more about how the surface feels in hand than the overall construction of the cards. Because of the uncoated finish, I’d also recommend being a little more mindful of where you use the deck. I found myself double and even triple-checking that my reading surface was completely dry before putting the cards down, as they seem more susceptible to moisture and surface wear than decks with a coated finish.

That said, the printing itself is lovely. The color palette complements the medieval artwork beautifully, and the illustrations remain crisp and easy to appreciate. The artwork is undoubtedly the highlight of the deck, and the printing does it justice.

I absolutely adore the concept and the illustrations, but I do wish the publisher had paired them with higher-quality materials. For a deck this creative and visually distinctive, better paper quality and a sturdier box would have elevated the entire experience.

Guidebook

The accompanying guidebook adds more than just the basic Lenormand keywords.

Alongside the traditional card meanings, it explores the inspiration behind the artwork and explains how the medieval imagery relates to each card. It also includes guidance on card pairings, making it a helpful companion whether you’re new to Lenormand or already familiar with the system.

For each card, you’ll generally find:

✦ Traditional Lenormand meanings

✦ An explanation of the featured artwork

✦ Notes connecting the imagery to the card’s symbolism

✦ Card pairing guidance

I especially enjoyed learning more about the artwork and the ideas behind it. It adds another layer of appreciation for the deck without taking away from the straightforward nature of Lenormand.

How the Deck Works

Despite its unconventional appearance, this is very much a traditional Lenormand deck.

The core symbols remain recognizable, allowing readers to perform standard Lenormand techniques without having to learn an entirely new system.

Instead of replacing established meanings, the medieval artwork enriches them.

For example, the Rider is still the Rider.

The Fox is still the Fox.

The Heart is still the Heart.

The symbolic foundations remain stable, while the surrounding artwork offers additional intuitive clues that may deepen the interpretation.

I appreciate that the deck respects Lenormand’s structured language rather than reinventing it.

Reading Style and Themes

The Marginal Lenormand works especially well for readers who enjoy combining logical systems with intuitive storytelling.

It excels in:

✦ Daily card pulls

✦ Nine-card portraits

✦ Grand Tableau readings

✦ Shadow work

✦ Creative writing prompts

✦ Historical and folklore-inspired readings

✦ Readings that benefit from humor and perspective

One unexpected strength is how easily the artwork sparks narrative connections between neighboring cards.

Because the illustrations are so expressive, patterns often emerge naturally across larger spreads.

This makes Grand Tableau particularly enjoyable.

The deck also has a wonderfully mischievous personality. It doesn’t feel sarcastic or mocking, but it does have a habit of gently pointing out life’s ironies.

Who It’s For

I would especially recommend this deck for:

✔ Experienced Lenormand readers looking for something visually unique.

✔ Collectors interested in medieval history, illuminated manuscripts, or historical art.

✔ Readers who enjoy decks with personality and humor.

✔ Tarot readers who are curious about learning Lenormand through memorable imagery.

✔ Anyone who appreciates unusual or unconventional deck design.

If you’re brand new to Lenormand, this deck is still approachable thanks to its faithful use of the traditional symbols, although pairing it with a foundational Lenormand book may help you build confidence more quickly.

My Honest Thoughts

The Marginal Lenormand is one of the most visually distinctive Lenormand decks I’ve come across, and it’s easy to see the passion that went into its concept. The medieval marginalia gives the deck a personality all its own, but it never loses sight of what makes Lenormand such an effective reading system. The traditional symbols remain clear and recognizable, allowing the artwork to enhance the experience rather than replace the core symbolism.

That said, I do think the artwork can be a bit overwhelming at times. Traditional Lenormand relies on clear, direct imagery, and this deck is filled with intricate details that naturally draw your eye. While I found that to be part of its charm, beginners or those who are still learning Lenormand may occasionally find the illustrations distracting, especially when trying to focus on the primary symbol of each card. If you’re already comfortable with the system, however, those extra details can become an enjoyable part of the reading experience rather than a distraction.

I also think the production quality lets the deck down. The artwork deserves better materials than what it was printed on, and I would have loved to see a sturdier box and a higher-quality card finish. For a deck that’s this imaginative and beautifully illustrated, those details would have made a significant difference.

Even with those criticisms, I still think The Marginal Lenormand is a worthwhile addition for collectors and Lenormand enthusiasts who appreciate historical art and unconventional deck design. If the artwork speaks to you, it’s a deck that’s well worth exploring. Just be aware that you’re buying it for its creativity and artistic vision rather than its production quality. 

Overall, The Marginal Lenormand is a deck I’ll remember for its creativity and artistic vision. While I wish the physical production had received the same level of care as the artwork itself, the illustrations and thoughtful interpretation make it a unique addition to any Lenormand collection.

Where to Find the Deck & Creator Info

✦ Deck Creator & Artist / Illustrator:  Anastasia Kashian

✦ Publisher: Redfeather

✦ Publication Date: May 28, 2026

✦ Where to Get the Deck: Amazon

Disclaimer: I received The Marginal Lenormand deck for review, and as always, my thoughts are completely honest and based on my own experience using the deck.