cutting the deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

thanatos	15 Mar 2004
how many times do you cut the deck befor you do a spread though this might seem a bit excesive the most I have done is five .. when I cut like this I cut from left to right then pick them up in random order

MeeWah	15 Mar 2004
Thanatos: A belated welcome to the Aeclectic Tarot Forums! I also cut from left to right. Prefer 3 cuts & pick whichever pile my eyes stop on first, followed by the remaining at random. I think the number does not matter much as long as it feels comfortable.

Orion	15 Mar 2004
Hi Thanatos: I sometimes cut my deck. When I do it is usually 2 or 3 times. It really is whatever I feel like doing at that moment. PS - Are you Greek?

thanatos	15 Mar 2004
Orion nope .... thanatos is just the greek name for my favorate tarot card

Centaur	15 Mar 2004
Hi Thanatos, I cut the cards however many times I feel like it. Sometimes, I just shuffle them, then spread them, and do not cut. Depends how I feel. ;) C

Simone	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by thanatos Orion nope .... thanatos is just the greek name for my favorate tarot card must be Death, or am I mistaken? BTW, I do not cut at all... love Simone

lawguy51	15 Mar 2004
This is a timeless discussion but to chirp in, I don't think it matters how many times you cut/riffle/shuffle/mush around or throw the cards up in the air as long as you have the intention to do so. Lawguy51

Theia	15 Mar 2004
I don't cut the deck, I shuffel the deck until its ready. You can uasually tell.

Ilithiya	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Theia I don't cut the deck, I shuffel the deck until its ready. You can uasually tell. I'm with Theia here... now, on the other hand, if I biff and drop the deck and it falls into a couple of relatively neat piles, then I'll go with it. :) Illy

brandi124	15 Mar 2004
"Throw them in the air"? I'm going to have to try that sometime. :)

thanatos	15 Mar 2004
I have heard of 52 pick up ... but havent heard of 78 pickup

HudsonGray	15 Mar 2004
I don't cut the deck either, I shuffle & 'chunk', turning sections at random, and shuffle some more till it feels right to stop. This can be 15 seconds, or almost a full minute. When it's right, I know, and I stop and spread the cards out.

Lionheart	18 Mar 2004
As a rule I always cut the deck 3 times and cut right to left, not because this is something that "HAS TO BE DONE" but simply because it just feels right to me.

Shannah	18 Mar 2004
I usually just shuffle until I feel ready, buy things may vary depending on what I feel. I agree with what others have said, you have to go with what you are most comfortable with.

Major Tom	19 Mar 2004
Cut the deck, or don't cut the deck, it doesn't really matter how you select the cards. *shrugs* I always ask my clients to cut the cards into 3 stacks with their left hand but only because I know my clients need to do something to reinforce the idea that something special is about to happen. ;) When I read for myself or read for a client at a distance I don't cut the cards at all. :laugh:

all78degrees	22 Mar 2004
I don't usually cut the deck, the reason is after shuffling I fan the cards out, and select the cards from the spread. I think it has something to do with my confidence in my shuffling ability that I won't be able to randomise the cards enough. gav.

laura_borealis	22 Mar 2004
I shuffle till I feel like I'm done, then cut three times (usually) with the left hand, cutting toward myself. I can't remember if I read somewhere to do this, or if I just did it on my own, but that's what feels right to me. When I play cards with my family I have to stop and think about card-playing cutting rules instead, i.e. cut once and toward the dealer instead of toward myself (I think that's right). One brother in particular is a stickler for proper deck cutting! :D

colusaskye	23 Mar 2004
I shuffle until I'm ready, using any shuffling technique that feels right at the moment. Sometimes I cut the deck, sometimes I don't. Again, it really depends on what feels right at that very moment.

Nevada	23 Mar 2004
as long as you do what you consider a good job of randomizing the cards. Nevada

psy_nuhri07	26 Mar 2004
if i'm not mstaken, thanatos means death right? what is the greek word for page of swords??? btw, i cut the deck basically three times... but now i think i would depend on my favorite no., 7!!! hehehehehehehe!!!!!!! >psy_nuhri07

The cutting the deck thread was originally posted on 15 Mar 2004 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.