Understanding the general meaning of each card is just the beginning. The real power comes in using the tarot cards to tap into your own intuition and wisdom so you can start taking positive steps into a brighter future. Generally, a tarot card reading follows a simple format. First, you need to ask the card deck a question. It should be clear and open-ended. Once you have the question in your mind, it's time to shuffle. But what is shuffling and how to do it?
Why is shuffling important?
Shuffling serves a kind of meditative purpose in which we can ask for assistance, guidance, and protection during the card reading. We can also use this shuffle time to ask, out loud or in our mind, the particular question we are trying to get advice on. This helps us ground and center our energy so we can be in the best state possible to connect with and retrieve the information we are seeking.
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How to shuffle a tarot deck?
The hand that you use to shuffle your deck may matter when it comes to connecting with that higher power. Traditionally, card readers used their left hand to shuffle because the left side is associated with feminine, intuitive, and receptive energy. This allowed them to receive true, accurate cosmic wisdom.
Think about how tarot is all about intuition and really feeling what’s right, because that’s the only rule to keep in mind for shuffling your cards: to do it in a way that feels right to you.
If you need some guidance, there are multiple ways to shuffle. Let's take a look at three of them:
- The overhand shuffle - this shuffle involves holding the deck of cards in one hand and using the other to move cards from one side of the deck to the other.
- The cut - You can also "cut" the deck by dividing it into several piles and then combining them into one again.
- Spreading shuffle - Or you can try spreading the cards facedown on the table and sweeping them into a big, messy pile before tapping them into place again.
There's no right or wrong way to shuffle. Give all these techniques a try, and see what feels right.
How long to shuffle tarot cards?
This part is as important, if not more so than the shuffle itself – how do you know when to stop shuffling and start dealing out the cards for your tarot reading? This too will depend on your intuition. Shuffle the cards until you feel they are ready. Once you're done with shuffeling, it's time to spread the cards. You can read more about popular tarot card spreads in one of my previous posts.