Your own quirks, peculiarities, and habits...

Nel said:

I was wondering if there was a "rituals" thread or similar and I think this is as close as it gets!

...I always make a large cup of tea, dim the lights down and light up 3 large grey candles and 4 smaller ones which I place around the reading area. (I feel empowered by the number 7, my birthday is 7th/7th too!)

On the fence about getting a spread cloth as of now to add into this ritual, also pondering if I should start doing my readings on the floor

. . . If there is a "ritual" or similar thread please let me know!

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I like to light a candle to signify my intention and light incense, so I guess that isn't quirky.
I also like to read barefoot.. I feel like it grounds me and connects me to the energy of the earth when I draw cards.
I don't hold my cards up to my heart chakra before I start shuffling, but only because I like to breathe on the cards. I have the idea that it activates my communication with the cards.

Pulling another card after The Wheel of Fortune comes up is a good idea..I am going to have to try that the next time that card makes an appearance.

"Quirkes, perculiarities and habits"

Huh - what an interesting thread...

And I rather like the idea of "sealing" the deck when finished by turning the bottom one around so that both sides of the deck show the back. I may play with this...
Thankyou!

I was 'formally' taught to read by placing a major and minor arcanum pair in each card position.
So I usually already have my deck split into a major and a minor pile.
(I store them with the major and minor piles back to back, so I can find the divide easily).

1) For the very first reading of the day, before the client comes in, I 'count' the cards.
With pile in one hand, the other takes one card at a time and re-piles on the table whilst
I count in my head (56 and 22).
Face up, face down, this varies. This exercise just 'polishes up/clears' the energy of the cards that have sat about in storage, and gets me into gear if I haven't thought about them for a while.

2) Then I 'listen' for/think of the client and randomly choose a significator from the minor pile. I look at it and see if I may 'get' any 'feel' about who is about to walk in.
I replace the significator randomly back in the minor pile.

3) Next, the client comes in etc. - I ask the client to think of the question and shuffle each pile and return it to me. The larger minor one they can also cut into 2 halves (over the table so if they drop it - it drops on the table).
I prefer my client to sit on the same side of the table as me so they can see the cards
as I do (I hate - when I go to readings myself - finding that I'm craning my neck to see because the reading is upside down from me) - or on the corner if the table's too small for side by side.

4) Now I have 3 piles - 2 minor and 1 major.
I 'listen' to which minor pile I should deal from - and here the answer varies.
I deal the cards on the table in pairs, always one major and minor for each position.
(for clients - I usually deal face up. For myself I deal face down, and then turn them
over when the spread is complete).

When the client has left, I regroup the deck into 2 piles (major and minor) and shuffle
each one.

Like Ladyblackbyrd I prefer to read without shoes (usually have socks on) - I just find it more comfortable - rather than suddenly having random thoughts that my feet are too hot or I'd like to wiggle my foot and can't quite do it with the shoes on etc.

Nel said:

I was wondering if there was a "rituals" thread or similar and I think this is as close as it gets!
. . . If there is a "ritual" or similar thread please let me know!

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I just posted a new thread "Tarot + Ritual Magic (Tyson)" - hoping for some like-minds out there. It may not quite be the 'ritual' that you are looking for though.
Check mine out - then start your own if it doesn't fit you.

Is the major objection to riffle and bridge shuffling just that it bends the cards too much? Or do some of you think there are good spiritual / psychological reasons for not doing it? I've always liked to riffle and bridge playing cards--it makes me feel like I've handled the deck thoroughly. I am new to Tarot though and am interested in forming good habits.

Thanks, Jeff

Tarot cards are quite a bit more expensive than most standard playing cards. Shuffling them roughly can literally add years to them and get them in a sorry shape pretty quickly. So I think most people, myself included, object to riffling on those lines. If a sitter merely hints at shuffling them like that (at times with a bit of bravado, as if to impress me) I always stop them. I have a deck I've used daily for over ten years and although I don't really do anything to keep them in good shape, I firmly believe that they are in as good a shape as they are because I don't and never have riffled them.

Le Fanu said:

I cannot put the cards away unless a reasonably "nice" card is uppermost. I could never put a deck away with the Tower or Three/Ten/Nine of Swords or Death uppermost. Probably not even the Devil, but anything else would be ok.

I have this weird sense that something bad might happen to me because I left a bad card uppermost. Silly I know. But can't stop doing it.

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I have the same, but I use only Majors. I can pick any, except Tower.

closrapexa, thanks for the info I figured that was the main reason. But since the cards are almost like a Tulpa (at least for some of us), I also wondered about the psychological dimension.

I'm trying to decipher your screen name but am coming up blank--does it have a special meaning?

I like to use a table shuffle in there to make sure I get everything all mixed up. Then I do a hand shuffle. Then I cut the deck 6 times as opposed to just three, flip over a few into reversals, reform three cuts of the deck, and then reassemble as if I originally cut it into threes.

I'm very anal about making sure my cards are well-shuffled.

What an interesting thread! I have a few quirks that I think are mostly due to my slight OCD rather than any superstitions. ;-)

I always, always wash my hands before I use my decks. It's like I just can't help it. And I don't think it's a fear of any germs or anything, but rather wanting to keep the oils from the hands to a minimum. <shrug>

And I have a pattern when I shuffle: 3 times riffle, then hand over hand, then 3 more riffle, then hand over hand again until they feel "done."
Then I hold the whole deck in my right hand (I'm right handed), close my eyes, and cut once with my left (receiving) hand. I see what people say about riffle shuffling, but I don't worry too much when they're mass produced decks. I don't riffle with self published decks though.

And my last quirk is to look at the card on the bottom of the deck after I'm done with my reading. (Only when I read for myself, though.) I don't know how I got into the habit, but I've had some success breaking the compulsion by using my Fool's Dog apps.

Jeff0253 said:

Is the major objection to riffle and bridge shuffling just that it bends the cards too much?

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I don't like it because I think it's showy. And because I like my cards. I'm with closrapexa on this one.

Le Fanu said:

I don't like it because I think it's showy. And because I like my cards. I'm with closrapexa on this one.

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Well, I'd certainly never argue that anyone else should do it. I just like it as a means of feeling thoroughly immersed in the cards. I also like laying out a big fan on the table to pick from. Maybe I'm just a Tarot Philistine