Big cards and Little Cards. What suits you?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Unicorncrazy	23 Feb 2005
I am supposed to have big hands but when i use Tarot Cards that are big i can never shuffle them! I have to use the more smaller ones. What can you handle? Big cards or little cards OR both. Just curious! Cheers, Unicorncrazy =)

Gyda	23 Feb 2005
I use middle size the cards, The Norse tarot deck the cards about the right size, the small ones feel weird when I shuffle and the big one hurt my hands. Gyda

tarotbear	23 Feb 2005
I can handle all of them, but I liked the suggestion someone made that decks should be printed in a larger size for those who are into the art and a smaller size for those who want the handle them easier. It's too simple!

Emily	23 Feb 2005
Hi Unicorncrazy, I used to have a real problem shuffling large decks with my small hands then I bought the large Thoth and learn't a new way to shuffle. I don't like to read reversed so didn't want to just swish the cards around the table/floor, also too messy with large cards. So I started to shuffle them top over top - I rest the bottom of the deck in my left hand and shuffle the cards top over top with my right hand. Its hard to do it with a small deck without dropping the whole deck but with large decks after a little practise it is easy. I used to not buy decks that seemed too large but its not a problem now. :)

Elektra	23 Feb 2005
I prefer smaller cards. I have tiny hands, so I can't shuffle the bigger decks.

MeeWah	23 Feb 2005
I have small hands but like & use some large decks so adjusted by shuffling cards a certain way regardless of size. Decks I have the most problems with shuffling are the round ones. Invariably drop cards all over the place. Resort to swirling them around on a flat surface instead of actual shuffling.

FaeryGodmother	27 Feb 2005
I agree with Emily in that there are different methods of shuffling for different sized decks. It always cracks me up when I watch my friend shuffle the top method that I think Emily is describing. It looks so ungainly and uncard like but hey it works. Personally, it doesn't really bother me. I actually have more trouble with really small decks. I love what Tarotbear said about art appreciation sized and divinatory sized decks. How true! FGM

Logiatrix	27 Feb 2005
I can't shuffle, regardless of the deck size, because I have small hands, and they have been quite re-shaped by a severe form of arthritis. :( There was a time when I insisted on buying all different shapes and sizes decks, nevermind my hands. I learned to be creative about mixing the cards. For example, I tried riffle-shuffling sideways, or with small sections at a time; actually, those methods did work until my hands got worse. Then I tried letting the querent shuffle for me, but I didn't like that at all. Somewhere along the way, here on the Forum, I read about "swirling" or "swishing" the cards. Such a simple solution... So, my beloved decks get swished. :)

Dylan	27 Feb 2005
I have a little problem regardless of deck size. I only have use of one arm so it makes things a little tricky. I manage in my own way though no problems.

The Big cards and Little Cards. What suits you? thread was originally posted on 23 Feb 2005 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.