Shuffling a Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Snuggle_69217	07 Feb 2004
I got my Frist Tarot Cards!! I got the Radiant Rider Waite Deck..Theh had So many to choos efrom But YOu told me This was a Beginer Deck and it seemed to Catch my eye a bit!! Now i have a Question How do i shuffle the deck? I dont want to bend the Cards.

HudsonGray	07 Feb 2004
Most decks won't bend at all. Just shuffle like you do regularly (no riffing though, where you do both sides in your hands, then bend them backwards to shoot together, like they do at poker tables in Vegas). Or you can put them face down & swirl them with your hands, then pull them back into a deck.

Phoenyx*	07 Feb 2004
Riffling is the way I've always shuffled, I wish I could learn a different way.

Majecot	08 Feb 2004
I riffle too, side to side, all of my decks are too big to do it end to end. But I riffle gently ;)

HudsonGray	08 Feb 2004
The cards don't arch up on you over time? That's pretty extreme bending, much moreso than standard shuffling.

Agathe	08 Feb 2004
I riffle as well. I was told that one should shuffle cards as long as they feel they are well shuffled. This is the only way that gives me this feeling :D. I'm very gentle though and I try not to destroy my crads, of course! Blessings, Agathe

Emily	08 Feb 2004
I just do a standard shuffle, I don't like to riffle - my fear is that with riffle shuffling the deck could end up with a bend or crease. I start off by dealing the whole deck out into 6 little piles, join those piles together then shuffle from hand to hand until I feel they've had enough then I do the reading.

lawguy51	08 Feb 2004
I riffle as well but only length-wise, not like you would do with a playing deck. It seems to put less stress on the cards. Some decks lend themselves to length-wise riffling, esp. longer decks like the Victoria Regina. None of my decks are the worse for wear from shuffling this way. You just have to be careful and lessen the pressure in your hands as you get to the end of the riffle or you can catch the last few cards and bend them. Decks like the Thoth or so robust that you really can't do anything to them. The Prague deck is a bit tough to riffle because the cards are so thick. However, I don't only riffle. I do the normal hand shuffling, cutting and I do this other thing I read about once: holding the deck in one hand, I push a few of the top cards forward into my other hand, then a few I push underneath those, then push some on top again, back and forth...it's hard to explain but it works well. Lawguy51

Majecot	08 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by HudsonGray The cards don't arch up on you over time? That's pretty extreme bending, much moreso than standard shuffling. No they don't arch, I haven't ( sor far) ever got any creases in them, because I shuffle from the side they arent bent that much. I have one deck that is nearly impossiple to shuiffle that way because of it's wiidth, and since I have have small hands so it is somewhat difficult to shufffle. And for the same reason. Now with a regular playing deck.. well I can put quite arch on those, and cut them with one hand. ( the only trick my cousin ever taught me) :)

Phoenyx*	08 Feb 2004
I try not to arch them that much when riffling them. I also switch positions when riffling. I will riffle them about 10 times with the backs up, then 10 times with the backs down. But riffling was the way I learned how to shuffle, if someone could show me how to shuffle without riffling, I'd be much obliged! Edit: On a card game board, I saw the following way of randominzing the cards, without riffling too much. By Rimush: The Matrix Method Deal cards into a 4X5 grid then lay cards over it until you run out. Combine columns and add a single ripple shuffle. It looks like it would pretty much randomize the deck to me.

Osher	09 Feb 2004
Some decks do not stand up well to hard shuffling, and split, especially at the corners. It's not a case of certain companies either. I have a few AGM cards. Some are excellent, some are awful! Sounds horrid, but in a way, the older cards, a bit grimy from hand oils, seem to stand up to shuffling better. Maybe the grease binds them?

c0de	10 Feb 2004
If you think that's hard to shuffle try shuffling the mini Tarot Nova deck......I can't wait untill i get my new deck.

Phoenyx*	10 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by c0de If you think that's hard to shuffle try shuffling the mini Tarot Nova deck...... LOL, that is so funny. I have trouble shuffling my mini RW, I can't even imagine trying to shuffle something as small as a postage stamp!

mac22	10 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Snuggle_69217 I got my Frist Tarot Cards!! I got the Radiant Rider Waite Deck..Theh had So many to choos efrom But YOu told me This was a Beginer Deck and it seemed to Catch my eye a bit!! Now i have a Question How do i shuffle the deck? I dont want to bend the Cards. I prefer cutting the cards two-handed six to ten times vs a faro shuffle. This keeps all my decks flat and fairly free of excess hand oils. My oldest working deck is 30 yrs old.. :D

The Shuffling a Deck thread was originally posted on 07 Feb 2004 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.