Lenormand Study -- WHIP

Melissa Lenormand, 2nd ed 2011

The first thing to spring to mind this morning is the song 'Whip It' by Devo. ha ha. Anyone remember that? 'When a problem comes along, you must whip it. When something's going wrong, you must whip it...Now whip it! Into shape! Shape it up! Get straight! Go forward! Move ahead! It's not too late... to whip it. Whip it good!' I don't think this song is entirely unrelated to this card, funnily enough. Though the song implies strong proactive responses to problems, while the card is mostly just the problems. 


A scourge or whip and sometimes a broom as well is what you usually get on card number 11 in the Lenormand oracle, and it is sometimes also called 'Birch rod'. A quick brainstorm of associations with this object yields: oppression, abuse, pain and suffering, strife, conflict, punishment, corporal punishment, whipping of course. These are on the right track. But from what I've seen in various sources, rather than focus entirely on physical punishment, the Whip also has a lot to do with verbal arguments: debate, discussions that degenerate, strong words that hurt, fights, power demonstrated through words. Now how to link words with a whip in the mind? 





As soon as I read the verbal aspect of this card, I thought of the Whips in Parliament. A Whip is an official whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. They keep MPs informed of forthcoming business and ensure that members attend important debates. Whips themselves do not take part in debates, but they attend. So there is a good mnemonic for remembering the argument aspect--because politicians do talk, and in legislature, their words do have power. And boy do they ever argue. Many of the explanations I have read see the card as a cautionary against using words without thinking--and the parliamentary Whip helps recall this because they do not take part in the debates, they are just observers. I suppose with all the quiet observation they do, when and if they did ever speak, it would very powerful and informed. Or could be, at least. 

Lictor carrying fasces

Andybc has added a valuable comment to this entry, so I'm editing to add: the Whip card apparently derives from the Roman fasces. This was a bundle (the word 'fasces' means 'bundle') made of birch rods (a ha!) and tied together with leather cords, often including a bronze axe. They were carried by lictors in ancient Rome. So...the link to Parliament is not as fanciful as I'd imagined. The lictor accompanied the magistrate and served as his protector; he was sort of like a personal assistant. He also was responsible for arresting and punishing people. The fasces became a symbol of power and authority. 


Many thanks to Andy for this useful contribution! :)


These are the things I will associate with the Lenormand Whip (11): arguments, debate, strong words, strife, conflict, oppression, suffering, repetitive action that causes harm, being too hard on oneself, oppressive authority, power demonstrated through words, physical abuse or punishment.