So, how do you shuffle tarot cards? This may sound like a silly question, but I actually get asked it all the time. And I totally understand!
Even though I have used my tarot deck thousands of times, I’m still terrible at shuffling the cards. But, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that might help you too. This video goes into more detail, or you can continue reading…
If you know me, you know I’m always saying that there’s no right or wrong way to read tarot cards.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that I believe there’s no right or wrong way to shuffle your tarot deck, either. You don’t need to shuffle it seven times, cut it sideways, or face all of the cards in the same direction.
Shuffling a 78-card deck seven times is the “perfect” statistical number of shuffles for even card distribution, but who has time for that? Shuffle your deck as many – or as few – times as you’d like.
Cut the cards yourself or have the person you are reading for cut them. Or not. It really doesn’t matter, but if you are reading for others, it’s always nice to involve them in the process.
Facing the cards in the same direction is time-consuming and unnecessary. If you choose not to read reversals, just flip the card to the upright position when you lay it on the table.
And don’t feel that you need to return the cards to their “proper” order after a reading. They can sit all jumbled up in a pile, making new friends with the cards next to them, until your next reading.
Tarot readings benefit from randomness, so be as messy and chaotic as you feel comfortable with when shuffling and storing your cards.
I’ve gotten better at shuffling, but I’m still not very good at it. It helps to use a deck that is easy to shuffle. I designed The Simple Tarot Deck for beginners, so I purposely chose card stock that is smooth and light.
Other tarot decks – The Wild Unknown, I’m looking right at you – use thicker, higher-quality card stock, which can be a beast to shuffle. Make it easier on yourself by choosing a deck that feels good in your hands if you have trouble shuffling the cards.
And if you really can’t master shuffling, follow a few YouTube tutorials from poker players or professional card-trick magicians. It just takes practice to master the basics, and then you can take it as far as you need.
So, what’s the proper way to shuffle tarot cards?
Like everything else about tarot, the answer is there isn’t any one proper, correct, right way.
There’s only the way that works best for you.