Turning Over the Cards....

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Indigo Rose	30 Nov 2003
I am interested to know what method people use in turning over their cards. I have gone through a strange process in the past 3 years on how I do this. Before I share my experience with this, I would love to know how others view this subject and how it effects their readings. PLEASE SHARE!

ros	30 Nov 2003
I lay out my spreads & turn the cards over from the left side of the card to the right.

Indigo Rose	30 Nov 2003
Thanks ROS. Could you share more about why you choose this method and how it effects your readings? And anyone else who shares their methods, please share your insights on it as well. Thank you. Blessings.

ros	30 Nov 2003
Left hand, left side, using your intutive side. Also it is clockwise.I use my left to help strengthen my intuition, balance my thoughts. My week side is my left.

Tallarico	30 Nov 2003
Left hand, but I flip them from bottom to top as I lay them out. edit: As for placement, I follow the spread instructions...in other words as the spot are numbered. If it's a simple spread, left to right.

Majecot	30 Nov 2003
I am a flipper, but I am trying to learn to turn and to use my left hand , laying the spread left to right, or clockwise .

Star Spirit	30 Nov 2003
I tend to use my right hand (habitually) and flip from bottom to top. I really should try to use my left hand more, though.

Indigo Rose	01 Dec 2003
Here is my experience with both shuffling and turning over the cards. When I re-started reading Tarot over 3 years ago, I was very freehearted about it; like the FOOL. I would shuffle my cards with an open mind, and in such a manner as to ensure that I would never know which direction the cards were going. I wanted everything to be completely random and let the cards fall as they were supposed to. Then I would lay them out and flip them from bottom to top. I used my right hand, because I am right-handed and it felt most natural to me. This method felt right. However, as time went on I became rigid about shuffling and turning my cards. I went through a phase where I shuffled carefully attempting to avoid reversals; and I would turn the cards over from side to side. Of course this still didn't prevent me getting reverals, just not very many. This was a strange time for me, and I didn't feel free in my readings. It felt as if I was blocking the complete truth. After much contemplation and experimentation I have finally returned to my initial ways and I am free once more. As I have thought about this issue, I realize it is not about the method. It is about the freedom of choice. It is about being free in your Tarot experience, not closing doors or setting up barracades, but just opening yourself: body, mind, and spirit to the message of the Tarot.

Astraea	01 Dec 2003
Indigo Rose, what a powerful and beautiful statement that is. Thank you for starting this insightful thread.

Dexter	01 Dec 2003
I flip the cards from bottom to top and use my right hand. Curiously enough since I am left handed. I also lay all the cards face up. I find that I get a better flow for the reading if I can see all the cards at once. I also tend to look at all the cards before starting the reading. I don't know exactly why except that it feels natural this way.

Moonbow*	01 Dec 2003
I have always shuffled the cards then split them into three piles. Then I put them together by puting the last stack on top of the 1st one, then the middle one on top of that. This is all done with the left hand. Does that make sense! Sometimes I fan the cards out and choose how ever many I need for the spread, but I always pick them up with my left hand. (I tend to do the fan if I find I keep getting the same card appear, sometimes I wonder if there's a natural break in the deck). BUT... Since getting the Quest Tarot, Joseph Martin describes something completely different and I have been very successful with this. In order to shuffle the cards and reverse some. He splits the deck into two. Shuffles each half independently, then puts them back together. Then he splits the deck into three but reverses the middle stack. This is done 3 times and I have to admit it really does shuffle the deck well, particularly if the deck is in order. Where we differ a bit is that he flips and I turn!! I like to turn with my left hand from the right of the card. This all sounds very contrived but it isn't really its just the habbit that I've got into and seems to work for me. It actually takes longer to type this out and explain it than it does to do it! Just thought of something else though. Some decks seem to me that they weren't intended for reversals. (I prefer to use reversals myself) but if the deck has non reversable backs and no reverse meaning in the book it comes with, then I just read them upright. Moonbow*

mercenary30	01 Dec 2003
Until now. I tend to keep my cards all one way. That way a reversal is rare but still can occur. (Tends to happen when querent shuffles.) For my own spreads I deal them face up. When reading for another, I tend to put them upside down. I flip them over from right to left using my left hand, because I write in my journal with my right hand. I flip the cards in order of the spread. The other day I did an astrological spread as an open reading on the 12 houses for a querent. The format was in a circle, and because I was not paying attention the five cards closest to me got reversed due to how I pulled the cards from the deck. The really wierd thing was that those reversals made a whole lot of sense. I guess it was ment for me to 'mess it up.'

Simone	01 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Dexter I flip the cards from bottom to top and use my right hand. Curiously enough since I am left handed. Not so curious, I think, as, if I am not mistaken, the brain coordination (left hemisphere / right hemisphere) is reversed for lefthanded people - why shouldn't this somehow influence the intuition, too? ;) As to the question: normally, if I do a reading for myself, I choose and turn over the cards with my left had - it was like that from the beginning, somehow it felt right and I newer thought about changing it... If I am doing a reading for someone, I let them choose the cards the way they feel best about the moment they hand them over, I automatically take them with my left hand, and from then I proceed as with my readings. Light and Love Simone

Thea Lynx	04 Dec 2003
Hi Indigo, I was never taught how to turn the cards over, but even though I am right handed, it is my left that always goes to the cards. As I shuffle I do include a few deliberate reversals as I want this information included. After the shuffle feels right I always put my right hand under the deck and my left hand on top and hold the deck to my throat chakra for a few seconds to get some stillness and communication going. Then I will put the deck down with my left, divide it into three piles, working from my right to my left. I then reassemble the deck from right pile to left. I lay the cards out in the same position as they are in the assembled deck. When I go to turn them over, I use my left and turn each card as if it were the page of a book, picking it up by the right edge and turning it over to the left. This has always felt right. When I tried wash shuffles, it felt very clumsy and disorganzied which is not good for a control freak like me! I find that the shuffle and layout rituals I go through give me the time to become still and receptive to the lessons that are coming. Thea

full deck	05 Dec 2003
I got into the habit of using my left hand but I don't do anything special; I just turn them. Sometimes as I pick the card from the deck, I see the card inverting upside down, so I turn it. This I do *only* if the visualization is strong and I'm not rationalizing my decisions when I do this. I try not to "think" about it. It's like *real* Jazz in that I do what needs doing on the spot without attempting to think about it.

Indigo Rose	05 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Thea Lynx Hi Indigo, After the shuffle feels right I always put my right hand under the deck and my left hand on top and hold the deck to my throat chakra for a few seconds to get some stillness and communication going. Thea Wow, Thea that is a cool technique. It sounds like you put a lot of energy into preparing for the reading before the first card is chosen. Thanks for sharing!

Indigo Rose	05 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by full deck [bit's like *real* jazz in that i do what needs doing on the spot without attempting to think about it. [/b] I love this too. I have felt this way too....just let if flow. In fact I think my best readings happen from this type of flow.

Orion	09 Dec 2003
Hi Everyone: It is interesting how differently everyone works. I loved reading everyone's take on this subject! When I lay out my cards, I hold my deck in my left hand and distribute with my right hand -- I am right handed so this is most comfortable, and just plain easier! I always flip the cards from left to right. I started out this way because I do promote reversed cards in readings. So when I am doing a reading for someone, I make sure to mention to them it is important to hand the cards back to me either top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top. I believe that flipping from top to bottom may alter the reading in regards to interpreting the upright and reversed cards.

jog1118	10 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Indigo Rose I realize it is not about the method. It is about the freedom of choice. It is about being free in your Tarot experience, not closing doors or setting up barracades, but just opening yourself: body, mind, and spirit to the message of the Tarot. ...i've always thought about this: that if you used your left hand instead of your right (regardless if you're right/lefthanded) that your readings will be more accurate. i was curious because i am righthanded person. ...but i agree with indigo rose, the more natural things go, from the unwrapping of your deck down to finishing a reading, the better the reading is. :smoker:

The Turning Over the Cards.... thread was originally posted on 30 Nov 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.