Fanning

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Zhritza	05 Apr 2002
Would anyone here be willing to describe how to fan cards? I now find myself with a deck that is too big to shuffle, unless I do it in such a way that the cards will bend over time. If someone already covered this in a previous thread, please let me know where. Thanks so much, all!

Lion-O	06 Apr 2002
I believe fanning was indeed mentioned somewhere else but not focused on shuffling the cards but more on how you pick your cards. For example like fanning them in an arc shape and then picking your cards out of the row. My Rider deck is also very delicate (when compared to my Mage deck) and I tend to shuffle this one also very carefully; I simply put the deck on the table and start spreading the cards in a fan shape (circular) all over it ;) That way I'm sure its shuffled quite well (I also tend to cut it a few times when I'm done with this process) but without bending the cards. Still; I would advice you to experiment a bit and in the end use a way which is most comfortable for you. After all; its you who should feel good about the cards and the way you shuffled them.

Zhritza	07 Apr 2002
Okay, so I swirl them around in a circle (as in 360 degrees, repeatedly) and then pack them back together?

blumoon	07 Apr 2002
okay fanning works like this... put the deck on your left and put your left or right hand (whatever hand you normally use) on top of the deck and then slide the cards over to your right side so that it takes the shape of a rainbow, a half circle in front of you...then you pick out however many cards you want for your reading...i hoped i explained it ok...good luck :)

Emily	07 Apr 2002
I usually deal my cards when I do a reading but when I do fan them out, I shuffle first, hand to hand because I don't want the cards reversed (I don't read any of my decks reversed), place them on a table or casting cloth then with my left hand spread them out either in a straight line or in an arch making sure that I touch each card as I'm doing it. Once the cards are fanned its just a case of repeating your question in your mind as you feel drawn towards the cards you choose or some people use pendulums to help pick the cards but this can take time and practise. Hope this helps :)

Zhritza	08 Apr 2002
ooh. Thanks, I'll work on it. :)

Diana	08 Apr 2002
edited

The Fanning thread was originally posted on 05 Apr 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.