Dealing cards for a reading

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 31 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Scarletpeaches	31 Aug 2003
I don't know if this will be seen as a sacreligious question or not! When I choose cards for a reading (mostly personal readings) I pick from the full deck at random. When I first started reading cards I would shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal the cards, one by one, in the order they came off the top of the deck (SHOCK HORROR). I never really got a 'clear' reading - the cards didn't really make sense. I wondered how other people choose which cards they use in readings?

fairyhedgehog	31 Aug 2003
I shuffle till I've had enough of shuffling, then I use whichever cards come off the top of the pile. I've never chosen the cards separately. It works for me :)

Wildchild	31 Aug 2003
I shuffle until I feel it's right to stop. Then I fan out the cards and pick out a card randomly in the fan until I have enough cards for the spread.

fairyhedgehog	01 Sep 2003
You might find the following threads are helpful too: shuffling and card selection and shuffling and cutting the deck

full deck	01 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Wildchild I shuffle until I feel it's right to stop. Then I fan out the cards and pick out a card randomly in the fan until I have enough cards for the spread. I do the same except I mentally imagine a mirror image of myself or another opposite me and have them direct my choice from the entire deck. It requires a certain focus but works really well for me.

Inana	01 Sep 2003
I have different ways to shuffle. Usually i just shuffle and take the ones on the top. When reading only with majors i prefer to fan and pick up from the table the ones that seem more "hot" when my hand is above them. And sometimes, i just "open" the deck randomnly and take the card is there, so like you, pick the cards from different parts of the pile while is at my hand. Only use to do this way when i want to go fast. Full Deck, i like your technic, sounds interesting to try. Mmmmmh... anyways... do you think its very important the way to shuffle? I like to think its the state of the mind what matters. I mean... well, if the cards are totally random it doesnt matter.. And if you believe the right cards will come to you, it doesnt matter neither. What makes the "correct" cards show to us? Will give a look to those old threads.

pan	22 Sep 2003
as tarot is a language, not a fortune telling tool, and as shuffling only came into the cards as the adventure of gambling became confused with tarot, the best way to allow the subconscious mind to select a card is to put the cards in propper order, view the cards in their order briefly, One at a time, flip the cards over, spread the deck out before you, and pick a card "randomly" knowing the entire time that the subconscious mind has the capacity to count cards and that thus the pick of the card is in actuality the farthest thing from random. of course, this goes contrary to all the "conventional" wisdom...but what do i care about any of that? lol

pan	22 Sep 2003
if i am dealing with a person unfamiliar with tarot, i might even have them pick the cards face up. if i am doing something for somebody who is familiar with tarot, i might have them close their eyes. In the long run, you are right; its not random at all and thats the whole point. it is a choice; and thats exactly what it is and what it should be. if you are familiar with the deck and a good medium, no matter what order they are in you will be able to grab exactly the card the psyche wants. In the end, there is no "random." shrugs... why do we need random? whats so great about it anyways? Reversing the question; what are we trying to do here? get in touch with our inner guidance. Allow the deeper self to make a choice, and have that choice be communicative. go one deeper; if you are familiar with the cards... why use them as physical objects at all? is this a conversation we are having? or are we gambling and masturbating?

Silaria	23 Sep 2003
I'm glad to see others use the "fan and pick" method. I've used it for years, for the same reason as Scarletpeaches - picking from the top of my deck never yielded clear results. I also always choose with my left hand. This is the hand I use to pull energy from around me in magic work so, creature of habbit that I am at times, I find this works best for finding the "hot" cards in the deck. The funny thing is, I only do this with my Unicorn Tarot. When I use my Robin Wood or Hanson-Roberts decks I pull from the top with every clear results.

WolfyJames	23 Sep 2003
I do that too, but I don't shuffle much because the cards of my deck are very large and I dont think it's that much important anyway, except when I read with plain cards, it is very important, or Good Witch Bad Witch. I use reverse cards, so usually, I just put the cards on the table, lay them and mix them for a minute, thinking about my question. Then, I put them back as one deck. I shuffle them two or three times, to show that technically, I shuffled them. I cut them as well. Then, I lay them carefully on the table to expose each other a little. I close my eyes and think about the question and the position of the card, then I pick a card. I do that for all the cards. For smaller decks, is they enter in my small hands, I do the "fan and pick" method. I don't remix the cards though if I have many questions to ask. When I read for others, I let them mix the cards, shuffle, and choose the cards.

pentunen	23 Sep 2003
I tend to shuffle the deck, then cut it (or if I'm reading for someone else, I let them cut the deck), then draw cards off the top. I've never had problems with my readings being muddled, but then again, I'm still a novice reader, so my readings generally aren't brilliant anyways. :) - pentu

Red Emma	23 Sep 2003
Geez, I didn't know I had made things so complicated. But something in my subconscious has laid out the following for me. I shuffle the deck seven times. I then cut the deck twice, and from the top of the second pile, choose three cards (for a 3-card spread.) Which is about the only spread I do these days. I only read for myself, friends or the occasional grandchild.

Nevada	23 Sep 2003
I do this however the need strikes me for a particular reading. However, normally I shuffle several times, until I think I've shuffled enough, cut once, and take all my cards from the top of the cut stack. Sometimes I cut into more than one stack and pull all my cards from the stack that I get a pull or a tingle from. I've begun pulling a majors only card each day, and for that I shuffle the majors and then fan them out face down to select my card. I read reversals, so while shuffling for any method, I turn one of the two stacks that I'm shuffling. I don't do this for every shuffle, but for about half of them. If for any reason I accidentally get a peek at a card while shuffling, I make certain I put that in the middle of the deck and shuffle some more to ensure the cards are randomized. Nevada

pan	21 Oct 2003
i think fanning and picking has the best overall capability for producing strong results. there are a variety of other factors which influence the outcomes greatly... familiarity with the cards, subliminal identifaction with the cards, activity level of certain psychic faculties and so forth...

pan	21 Oct 2003
some days i should prolly keep my mouth shut. quadruple sagitarius. wheres the salt for my foot? in my experience, and in my opinion, the answer to that question is best dealt with not by doing card readings, but by studying. unless you have a blockage or some sort of self defeating behavior going on.... n y ways...

Diana	21 Oct 2003
Don't agree with you at all. There are no stupid questions for the Tarot. In fact, there are no stupid questions at all. If a student comes to me and asks me a question like that, it can be a great help to point out to him that he's maybe concentrating too hard on, let's say, geometry, when it's the trigonometry exam question that's going to cause him problems. Or that he is not drinking enough (because he's too busy studying and is forgetting that he's thirsty), and therefore the brain is not functioning properly. Or... or.... or.... depending on the particular situation. Or just to help him calm his nerves.

pan	21 Oct 2003
still, the question is not, "will i pass?" its "what do i need to do to nurture myself so that i will pass?" tarot isn't going to reach into the psychic future and tell us something about an outcome that we have yet to determine. Since ones own actions are the prime determining factor, what one really needs to do is to act with conscious intention moving towards ones goal. Where tarot can help is identifying exactly like you point out; holes in ones own process or self defeating behaviors...like not drinking enough water or eating enough food etc.

Star Spirit	31 Oct 2003
I usually just shuffle the cards normally until it feels right. Usually I can tell when it's time to stop because at the end of the shuffle it feels "smooth" somehow. Then I normally cut the deck once wherever I decide to cut it, then choose the cards from the top of the deck and lay them out in order.

Majecot	02 Nov 2003
My feeling is that what ever feels right for you is the correct way to choose the cards. Some times I shuffle untill I 'feel' it is time to stop. Sometimes I stop if a card 'jumps' from the deck. Generally speaking I pick from the top of the deck, although, depending on my mood I may fan and choose. I only read for my family and close friends ( I am not comfortable with strangers touching my cards) I usually let them choose after they shuffle. It makes them feel the reading is more personal. I did have a deck that I used to use for not quite so close friends, but I gave them to my sister in law ;) I too prefer the smaller 3 and 5 card spread now, not sure if that is laziness or not ... :laugh:

Mystic Zyl	05 Nov 2003
I do what Wild Child and others do, shuffle and then fan cards out and pick from there. I find my hand is drawn to the certain energies of a card. Ironically when I read for people we can do the fan deal and 3 out of 4 times they pick the same cards; they are simply attracted to the energy of that card. Have you ever been reading for a person and intuitively know what their cards are going to be before you turn them over? This happens all the time to me, I feel it is no coincidence.

PurpleSal	05 Nov 2003
I shuffle, then cut into three piles from my left to my right, shuffle and cut again and then shuffle and cut again - it's how I was taught - 3 being a magic number and all.... Its really interesting to read what everyone else does! Sal x

pan	14 Nov 2003
Have you ever been reading for a person and intuitively know what their cards are going to be before you turn them over? This happens all the time to me, I feel it is no coincidence. ------------- particularly unusual when they have cut the cards, and i haven't touched the deck yet. I am sure that assorted psychic facilities can figure out cards if they are within range.

Jenny-Li	15 Nov 2003
Since my Cosmic Tribe deck was very sturdy and difficult to shuffle when I got it, I had to develop a special way of shuffling/dealing: I deal the whole deck in 7 piles (it had to be some number of pile, 7 seemed as good as any...!) and then take up two piles and shuffle them together, take up a 3rd pile, and shuffle that one in, and so on. Then I cut the deck as usual, by two. And then I cut the deck in 3 piles, and pick the top card from each pile, and that's my 3-card spread. (The latter method is from Tarot for your Self, works well for me.) //Jenny :)

TemperanceAngel	18 Nov 2003
Shuffling, I love it, soo relaxing.... I shuffle and think about question (or not) and then my client does the same. Shuffle like everyone else, until it feels the shuffling needs to be done no more. My client (or me, if reading for myself) cuts the deck into 3 and chooses a stack to read, which I read from the top. I also look on the bottom of the other 2 cut stacks, sometimes those 2 cards are the most valuble of all..... That's just me, though, it feels right for me and that's the way I have always done it and probably always will......:D:D:D XTAX

Astara	21 Nov 2003
I almost always fan the deck, usually I will pick the cards as my eye is drawn to them. Sometimes I use a pendulum. I think it is all in the intentions you set for how the shuffling and drawing the cards will be done. Finding your own way, is the best way. Blessings~ Astara

The Dealing cards for a reading thread was originally posted on 31 Aug 2003 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.