Shuffling Callouses?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	19 May 2002
I find now, after shuffling cards for so long, I have painful parts on my hands where the edges of the cards are... Does anyone else get this? How can it be prevented, cuz it puts me out of the mindset I need for an effective Tarot rading... Kiama

Scorpion	19 May 2002
Hi, Kiama! Can't say I've suffered from this myself (misspent youth!) but if you're reading for others I'd suggest getting them to do the shuffling: I prefer it, as it gets their energies into the cards and I can pick up a lot more than if I do it for them. If you're reading for yourself, can you put them down on the table and swirl them around as some people here do? For me, shuffling's a reasonably gentle action and the cards just sort of "slide" over each other into place. Are you concentrating on it too hard, perhaps? Is it your "receiving" hand or your "dealing" hand? If the former, I'd suggest slanting them when you shuffle so that the weight doesn't land in quite the same place. If the latter, a looser grip might work better?

Lee	19 May 2002
How are you shuffling? Are you doing it hand-over-hand, or are you dividing it into two piles and riffling the piles together with your thumbs? If the latter, I can see how that would be stressful on your hands, not to mention the cards. You can try doing it hand-over-hand, but instead of always dropping the cards from one hand onto the top of the pile in the other hand, try alternating between dropping them to the top and the bottom of the pile, which does a better job of randomizing them. A time-consuming but strangely satisfying way to do it is to deal out the cards in piles of seven until they're all dealt, which randomizes them well. -- Lee

Kiama	20 May 2002
Hi! Thanks for the input.... I shuffle hand over hand, but I think the problem may be one, or both, of two things: 1) I have very small hands. So, ANY Tarot deck is pretty much too big for them, so pressure is put on my hands, cuz they're straining to keep hold of the cards... I tried to solve this by shuffling vertically, but the cards just fall out of my hands! 2) The thickness of the cards. My Robin WOod deck is getting old, and stiff, and the cards seem to be thicker compared to a brnad new Robin Wood deck... I don't know what to do about this. Kiama

Emily	20 May 2002
Hi Kiama :) You could always buy a new Robin Wood and put your old one into retirement :D But saying that I too have small hands and find this deck a hard one to shuffle, my Spiral is light and compact compared to this lol Methinks this is probably why me and the Robin Wood have not yet bonded lol :)

Kiama	20 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Emily Hi Kiama :) You could always buy a new Robin Wood and put your old one into retirement :D Hiya Emily! I have seriously considered this option many a time... Call me sentimental, but I am very fond of my old Robin Wood... Its all the memories it carries, and what-have-you... I think I would find it difficult to use a new one. I bought my boyf a copy for Christmas, and use his copy whenever I haven't got a deck round his house... But it just isn't the same... I tried using smaller decks too, such as Hanson Roberts and Spiral. Unfortunately, they don't speak to me as much as Robin Wood does! At the moment I am thinking about putting plasters (Bandaids for you Americans!) over the parts which hurt when I shuffle.... Protect my hand from further damage, and prevent any pain... Or, I could weather it out, and wat for th epainful parts to go hard, like a sewing callous does... Kiama

SharonElizabeth	20 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama 1) I have very small hands. So, ANY Tarot deck is pretty much too big for them, so pressure is put on my hands, cuz they're straining to keep hold of the cards... Kiama Have you ever considered the Hanson Roberts deck? I love the size of that deck, it's so much more comfortable and less awkward than most tarot decks. They are about the size of standard playing cards. Have you tried applying hand cream after you use your cards? It's probobly a good idea to avoid it until you are done with your cards for the day, but then use some deeply moisturizing hand cream like that Neutragena norwegian formula which I find is just about the best stuff out there. Hope these ideas help. Sharon

Zhritza	20 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I have very small hands. So, ANY Tarot deck is pretty much too big for them, so pressure is put on my hands, cuz they're straining to keep hold of the cards... I think you have more decks than me so you may know this, but the Zerner-Farber is the size of regular playing cards, if not smaller. And so darn pretty, too!

SherryZoned	20 May 2002
Maybe you could try those gloves that have finger holes in them..So your figures will still be accesible..I know you wont get the same skin contact..Since you have bonded so well with your deck it may not make a difference.

Kiama	21 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by RedWood Maybe you could try those gloves that have finger holes in them..So your figures will still be accesible..I know you wont get the same skin contact..Since you have bonded so well with your deck it may not make a difference. Good idea! *Kiama rushes off to try and locate her boyf's weight lifting gloves* Although, reading for others in weight-lifting gloves doesn't seem very 'picturesque'... :P SharonElizabeth and Qolus: Thanks for the suggestions. My Hanson Roberst deck is currently on lone to a friend with smaller hands than me, and the Zerner Faber is a deck I cannot read with... Maybe I could convince Llewellyn to do a pocket-sized Robin Wood?! ;) :P Kiama

catlin	21 May 2002
That would be cool! Kiama, I really wonder how often do you shuffle your cards per day to get such callouses?! B/W I'd not suggest this Neutrogena Norwegain creme as there is much glyzerine in it which will dry out the skin when used for a long time. You'd better get yourself some creme with Calendula (is that Marygold in English) or Arnica in it.

Emily	21 May 2002
Hi again Kiama Like catlin I was going to suggest hand cream. If your doing a lot of shuffling the cards could be drying your skin out. This sounds strange but I once worked in a cardboard box factory lol :) and working with the card is really drying for your hands - Its also still very cold here in the UK, not good weather for skin. Perhaps a light cream or lotion like Vaseline intensive care for a while - it worked wonders on my hands lol :)

SherryZoned	21 May 2002
Kiama, I was thinking of mainly for when you do your own readings...If you use lotion the gloves will help the lotion work better for when you are doing readings for other people and dont want to wear gloves.

Zhritza	22 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by catlin I'd not suggest this Neutrogena Norwegain creme as there is much glyzerine in it which will dry out the skin when used for a long time. Also, avoid anything with mineral oil in it, which is a petroleum product and is moisturizing in the short-term but becomes drying. And there's a lot of products that are packaged as though they're "all natural" or whatever, but have this gunk in them anyway.

Kiama	22 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Qolus Also, avoid anything with mineral oil in it, which is a petroleum product and is moisturizing in the short-term but becomes drying. And there's a lot of products that are packaged as though they're "all natural" or whatever, but have this gunk in them anyway. Does that mean aseline is a no-no? Redwood: I'm actually warming to the idea of wearing fingerless gloves during readings for others now! I tried using crepe bandages the other night, wrapped around my hnds... It worked wonders! My hands were still able to move totally, but they were padded too.. The bandage also allowed my skin to 'breathe'.... Thanks for all your help guys! You've been really great! Kiama

Zhritza	24 May 2002
Yes, vaseline sucks.

vhrsn	25 Jun 2005
Hi Kiama, It's Vhrsn and I'm totally blind. I use the Thoth Deck for my tarot readings and hve been reading the tarot over two years. Yes, @I see what you mean about how to shuffle the deck. Can you tell me how to do the hand over hand shuffling method? Oh yes, and I have the standard size thoth deck. You can email me at personal e-mail address removed by forum moderator. Thanks a lot. from Vhrsn

The Shuffling Callouses? thread was originally posted on 19 May 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.