Shuffling Cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Feb 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Liliana	04 Feb 2002
Im pretty hopeless when it comes to shuffing. I know not to riffle, i cant riffle anyway. What physical mechanics do you use to shuffle your deck?

Scorpion	04 Feb 2002
H, Liliana! I guess I'm lucky - I must have had a misspent youth(!) and I have reasonably large hands. The only thing I can suggest is practice. I've never had to think about the actual mechanics, but, using my left hand (I'm righthanded) I pick up the cards widthways so the picture side is facing my right palm and wrap my right hand over the long side, using the first joint of my thumb (the top bit, anyway) for the base of the cards - they fit into the bend - my index finger as high up the long side of the card as it'll reach and the other three fingers spread out over the top. (If the cards are too long, I turn them on ther side so the short side is between my right thumb and fingers.) I then turn them horizontal so that the long side held by my right index finger is uppermost. Once comfortable, I release my left thumb and slide the deck round into my left palm with my left fingers curled round it and it's tipped towards the table so all I can see is the backs. Starting with the tips of right fingers and thumb I release a few cards so they're only supported by my curted left hand and bring the rest up, over the top of the ones I've released and drop some more, go back to the original position and drop some there, alternating until I've dropped the whole deck neatly into my left hand. Then start all over again if I feel it's necessary! Hope you can follow this - it would definitely have been easier to draw a picture than try to describe something I do without thinking! Alternatively, I understand dealing the cards as if you're playing a game is an effective way of shuffling! In fact, i use it however well the querent has shuffled because I require them to handle every card individually - it works for me. PS: Hope I've got the right spelling of Lil(l)iana - I'm working on a dying screen and I really can't see clearly enough to tell!

Liliana	05 Feb 2002
Thanks, i think i get it, i may have to read it a couple more times to be sure :) I also found a page on it here http://www.learntarot.com/shuffle.htm The push put method sounds interesting, i may have to try it

Original Destiny	08 Feb 2002
HI, There is no easy answer I'm afraid. It all depends on practice. If you have got small hands you are at a disadvantage. Experimentation is the best advice. Sorry no quick solution.

Lilliana	11 Feb 2002
I used to riffle until I decided I was sick of getting bent cards. Now I simply place the deck on the table or nearest surface and divide the deck into a few piles. I then place all the piles back into one again in a different order. I do this several times until I'm ready to lay the spread. Don't know if this is easy to understand- it's hard to explain. Lilli

Pollux	11 Feb 2002
Someone will be horrified at this... I don't shuffle the cards, but get the deck on a cloth, open it and scatter the cards, and move my left hand on it like the sun, how is it? Clockwise? I think so... Even though I'm carefull I don't flip card or get them reversed. Then I reassembl the deck. I only do because, in theory, my cards shouldn't be damaged - I have a cloth underneath. However, when they'll start getting ruined, I'll call you up! :-)

aciddragon	19 Feb 2002
I'm a new at the tarot decks. I didn't know that you wasn't suppose to rifle the deck thou it made me wonder how you wasn't suppost to bend the cards. I read the link to the different type shuffling methods. I like the put/pull method (the Idea of it), but can't see how your suppose to do this without setting the cards on the table. So, I figure just pull some from the top then bottom til there is none left then start over again. That should work right? I mean the main thing is just to shuffle the deck good?!? Btw - Love the different formums :)

Liliana	19 Feb 2002
Ive been working on using the put push method. First, you hold the entire deck in your left hand. Then slide a number of cards off the top into your right. Slide a few more into your right under the cards already there, then a few more on top of the cards there, and keep alternating top and bottom. Do it as many times as you like, until shuffled. If you use reverse youmay want to dive the deck in between into 3 or more piles, turn one upsaid down, then shuffle again. alsodothe mix em around and pick em up Polluix, that's what I used to always do,now I kind of use it at the start to ensure a good mixing of cards and to get some reversals lol

Talisman	19 Feb 2002
Liliana, I shuffle just as you do, and have for years. (I'm right handed.) Hold the deck in my left hand, slide a card off with my thumb to my right hand, then continue, alternating top and bottom through the deck. In between, I cut them into three piles with my left hand, then restack them. (Why left hand? Dunno', a woman told me 20 years ago to do it that way. Why? I asked. " 'Cause your left hand is closer to your heart," she said. Don't know if that makes sense, but I just do it that way.) Thing is, sometimes I shuffle the cards this way. Over and over. You know, have a book propped open with a heavy weight, reading, and at the same time watching television, and obviously not thinking about the cards at all. Just sort'a mindlessly shuffling. I've shuffled my decks so many times this way it is second nature, a conditioned reflex. Like, not having to stop and think, do I push the brake in my car with my left or my right foot? Talisman

Liliana	19 Feb 2002
Im left handed, but I still start with my left and put cards in my right, I find its easier to contol the cards that way (darn slippery finish lol).I also cut into three piles with my left hand. I have a thing with 3's, First I scattterthem about and pick em up, then i cut into three piles (with my left hand too lol) from left to right, then pick upi again left to right(which makes the card order reversed of where it started), then I push put, cut, push put, cut, push put so the process is three times each :)

firemaiden	23 May 2004
I shuffle using the short sides of the cards.

The Shuffling Cards thread was originally posted on 04 Feb 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.