Preferences when shuffling/handling?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

_N_	16 Apr 2004
I did a search and couldn't seem to come up with anything that addressed all of this directly so here goes. There are so many different ways published out there that I would like to get insight from those who are actually "in the thick of it" so to speak, so... When doing a reading, what is your own preferences as to the handling of the deck and shuffling? Do you allow anyone to touch your deck other than you? Do you shuffle or do you let the querent shuffle or do you both shuffle? When picking the cards for a reading, do you pick or do you let the querent pick? Do you pick from the top of the shuffled deck, pick from the fanned out deck, or pick from the cards all jumbled (face down of course) on the table? After a reading, do you "cleanse" and "clear" your deck by smudging, crystal, visualization, etc.? Just looking to hear everyone's insights and opinions. N

closrapexa	16 Apr 2004
Well, when I do a reading I let the querent shuffle the cards and then, depending on my mood, I either pick the cards from the top of the deck or fan them out and let the querent choose. As for purifying them afterwards, I don't if people will agree with me, but I don't do anything fancy. I just tap them with my fingers or on a table. I feel this "shakes them up" and"shakes off" the querents energy. At any rate they "feel" better after I do this. After all, decks are never really and completely purified, because something of ourselves, the owners, always stays inside them. Hence the bonding people feel with their decks. After all that rambling, I can say that all in all my reading, shuffling etc. styles are really very free and informal, not make a big deal of anything, whatever feels right at the moment. The most I do if I feel a bit more ritualistic is light a candle, especially when I'm feeling somewhat drained; I feel it energizes me.

Alissa	16 Apr 2004
Hi _N_! I thought I'd dig up firemaiden's excellent table of contents which includes links to more threads addressing many of the issues you've raised - rituals, cleansing, shuffling, preparation, and more. Myself, I am a minimal fuss kinda gal. I don't do rituals, I don't cleanse my decks, I don't put them back in order. I shuffle however I want, and I deal however I want, and it changes reading to reading. For myself, I feel like by letting go of the "rules" I am freer to read. Others feel rituals and such a necessary part of their reading process. If you feel that way, more power to you! Incense is nice, candles are nice. Mood setting in general is nice. Don't get me wrong! :D I'm just more of the pick-up-the-deck-and-go kind of reader most often.

Kiama	17 Apr 2004
I'm like Alissa: minimal fuss. Well, I have to be, since most of my readings are done in pubs. The way I shuffle and handle the deck depends largely on what spread I am doing. Generally, I shuffle the pack, then ask the querent to cut the pack, and then I deal the cards. But for one particular spread I use (The Spheres of Life spread, I call it) I shuffle the deck and fan it out, getting the querent to pick from the fan. Recently I've altered the way I shuffle at times: at the beginning of a reading I will now do the 'poker shuffle' (where you grab half the deck in one hand, half in the other, and flick them so the two halfs interlace...) But after that initial shuffle I shuffle hand over hand, because I use the shuffling time to get the question clear in my mind and to relax. I must admit I've never cleansed or cleared my deck after readings... I believe it is consecrated through use, so I prefer to leave that 'use' in the deck. It seems to me like a kind of battery charger... Blessings, Kiama

Osher	17 Apr 2004
I let the querant shuffle and then cut the deck. I then spread it. Like Alissa and Kiama I have no special routines, except saying thanks to the cards, i.e. showing them respect.

Chronata	17 Apr 2004
This is totally my opinion...and I realize everyone's got thier own way of doing things. Sometimes you do something the same way for so long that you don't even realize that you have made a ritual out of it! I let the client, or whomever I am reading for, first touch the deck. (sometimes they touch it with one finger, sometimes lay thier hand over it...sometimes they pick up the whole deck...eyes closed for a full minute...) Then I take the deck back and rifle shuffle. I do the shuffling myself to keep all the cards going the same direction. (I don't really do reversals...) then I let the client cut the deck. And I take it back and draw the cards (from the top, and the bottom...) I have used this method for a really really long time. Usually with my RWS, my Marseilles and my Hanson Roberts. Some other decks... My oracles (especially the Faerie Oracle) and almost every new deck I have gotten since I joined AT doesn't have this same ritual. I have never really wondered about that until now...

Orion	18 Apr 2004
Hello _N_: I used to let the querent shuffle my cards before the reading. I don't any more as I found the readings to be more accurate. I pick the cards from the top of the deck when I done shuffling. If and 'jumper' cards jump out during shuffling, I put them aside and use them as suppliments to the reading. End the reading by shuffling the deck again!

Delphina Kalika	19 Apr 2004
hello..... :) Well I saw this tread and thought i'd put my methods up.... :| I tend to shuffle my deck no different from playing cards:| (and Ive played cards alot over the years:|) A light shuffle to begin with.. then croc snapping..... the back to normal shuffling..... recently (last night actually) I started shuffling my deck... end on.... sides on.. both hand over hand.... Then split into to piles... shuffling 1 then other.. spliting each of them giving four piles.. then adding two together shuffling then putting all together again shuffling.... guess I was hoping this would mix then up better.... I have read the thread about the cards bending.. so thought I might croc snap once 1 way then turn the cards snapping other... in an attempt at keeping them even:|:| I guess as with everything else in life.. shuffling it is up to the individual which way they feel comfortable with... :D With readings..(if reading for some1 else) I tend to shuffle my deck 1st then let the person I reading for shufffle and cut the deck.... BUT I always end with me shuffling the deck afterwards..... before putting them to bed:|:|

ZardKravell	19 Apr 2004
Greetings! I have a few decks, and I do not use them all for divination. But the one I use with other people and for general divination (Rider-Waite/Smith) I usually let the querent shuffle as she or he wants... if he does it in a way that randomizes the card orientation then I use reversals in the reading, if not, then I do not. I tell them to think their question while they shuffle, then cut it in three. If they use a standard method for cutting (I give no indications), then I gather them in the usual manner and start laying out the cards for the chosen spread. If they cut in some non standard way, then I lay my hand over each pile of cards, and order them in order of how I "feel" them... kinda fuzzy logic method ;) In general, I only use the RWS deck with other people, and I take special care with the decks I keep for my own use (Tarot of the Spirit and the Golden Dawn mainly). May the stars shine on you,

The Preferences when shuffling/handling? thread was originally posted on 16 Apr 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.