Hiya

[jifslayer05]

Just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Brandon. I am a college student majoring in marine biology at Tennessee Tech University. I've always been interested in Tarot cards and reading them, but never got into it until recently. I bought my first deck a while back and have been practicing and reading. If no one minds answering them, I have a few questions to ask:

1. How do you shuffle your deck? I know it's a manner of preference, but I want some opinions. This leads into...

2. Should I encourage reverse cards? Is this also a manner of preference?

3. What is a good spread for asking simple questions? Just shuffle and draw a card as an answer?

[canid]

Hello & welcome! If you go to Talking Tarot or Using Tarot your questions will be answered. In fact, I think there's a current thread on shuffling. Or you can do a search. Marine biology, huh? How cool! Did you know there's a mermaid deck? Mermaids Tarot

[jifslayer05]

Oh wow that one is pretty! And thank you for the advice I'll go check those out :-]

[re-pete-a]

Yep , to most of your questions.

Limit your cards and you limit your field of visions. But each to their own.

Welcome to AT.

[Astraea Aurora]

Welcome to AT Brandon!

Astraea Aurora

[BeyondtheVeil]

Originally Posted by jifslayer05

Just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Brandon. I am a college student majoring in marine biology at Tennessee Tech University. I've always been interested in Tarot cards and reading them, but never got into it until recently. I bought my first deck a while back and have been practicing and reading. If no one minds answering them, I have a few questions to ask:

1. How do you shuffle your deck? I know it's a manner of preference, but I want some opinions. This leads into...

2. Should I encourage reverse cards? Is this also a manner of preference?

3. What is a good spread for asking simple questions? Just shuffle and draw a card as an answer?

Welcome to the AT Forums Brandon!

I shuffle my deck like regular playing cards. It is definitely about preference because at first I only shuffled where there would be no reversals.

It is completely up to you if you want to do reversals. I use them because it helps me to know if the card is meant one way or the other. If they are all upright... you kinda of have to 'guess". As a beginning tarot reader.. that was confusing to me and I felt like I was missing some info. If you feel you don't need them or don't want to use them then don't. I know a lot of people who don't use reversals and they give great readings too.

I think a simple spread is a 3 or 4 card spread. I use the ..
What do I know?
What don't I know?
What do I need to know?

If I want a 4th card I ask.. "Overall what is the message I need to know" Or as a clarification, or whatever I feel like asking for the 4th question. Though you don't have to have any more cards added.

It really is about finding ways that help and work for you. Try not to be tempted to do things exactly like someone else.. you are a different person.

Just jump right in and have fun!
BeyondtheVeil

[Cactus Dahlia]

Welcome to AT Brandon.

Canid is right. If you search through the threads you will find answers to all your questions. You see, no one answer is right. Everyone has differing views and if you go through the threads you'll see that everyone has a good reason for their view. For me:

1. I don't riffle shuffle these days, because I found it ruined my deck. I lay out all my cards in seven different piles to mix them up. You will find lots of different ways on shuffling here. It is really a matter of choosing one that is right for you.

2. Some people believe reverse cards are the way to go as they think your options of meaning are reduced otherwise. I like to see all the pictures on my cards right way up, as I'm an impatient type, and it irks me to see them upside down. You'll see from the threads that there are many different viewpoints on this. You need to decide what is right for you.

3. I think I can safely say here <crosses fingers> that a spread with just a few cards is the best way to begin. A 3 card spread is ideal. One way is to do the 3 card spread that BeyondtheVeil suggested. Another 3 card spread is past/present/future. There is a whole thread on different card spreads. There are some great ones there that you might like to try.

You will find an enormous amount of great information here. The main thing is to have fun, just like BeyondtheVeil said. Enjoy!

Cactus Dahlia

[Golden Moon]

Welcome to AT