questions on card shuffle

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

skeetdeb	26 Apr 2005
I have returned to tarot many times ofver the years and have a concern as to shuffling the deck.also turning the cards over.Should they be flipped from side to side or top to bottom.And while shuffling are u using one hand to hold while the other raises the cards and lets them fall into the hold hand or do u separate the cards and shuffle as u would a regular playing deck of cards? Would really appreciate any input offered . These questions make me feel insecure of doing readings even for myself

snowy25	26 Apr 2005
Welcome to AT skeetdeb. I know there are some people out there insisting on how you should handle the shuffeling. There isn't one way you must do it. Just what you think is right is the best way. It doesn't matter if you shuffle the cards like playing cards or twist them on the floor and make circles, some people like to throw them in the air to see wich one is facing them. And even what hand you use when drawing the cards is a personal choice. Love and light Snowy25

zombi00	26 Apr 2005
i agree that it should be done however you find most efficient/enjoyable. i just try to make sure that i'm consistent. my two cents: i leave the deck on the table and lay out the cards, face down, with my right hand. after they are laid out i flip them on their horizontal axis (typically left-right).

mike gorth	26 Apr 2005
I think it's all personnal choice. My mentor said that if you shuffle in a circle on the floor to start counterclock wise with your left hand and then add your right. I don't really get this. She said it has to do with energy but I'll ask her right now. I think it's all personnal choice. I probably just confused you more. Sorry :)

HudsonGray	26 Apr 2005
I learned how to lay them out from someone who always flipped top to bottom, so did it that way for years, but wanted to change how I did it, eventually. Retraining myself was a real pain in the butt! I turn them left to right, now, but for the longest time I had to make the decision with the deck all ready & shuffled in my hand--'WHICH way do these get laid down???'--before putting the cards down. I changed because it felt better to do it this way. There really is no wrong way to do it. So pick a way that feels right for you and know that you can always change it if you want. Shuffle till something tells you to stop (there was a discussion a while back about how the heart chakra feels this point the most strongly). How you shuffle is up to you too.

The questions on card shuffle thread was originally posted on 26 Apr 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.