How to Shuffle Tarot Cards
Master essential shuffling techniques for better readings
Learning how to shuffle tarot cards is more than just mixing up the deck -- it is a ritual that connects you with your cards and infuses your reading with intention. The way you shuffle can affect not only the randomization of cards but also your mental state and the energy you bring to the reading.
Whether you are new to tarot or looking to refine your tarot shuffling technique, this guide covers five essential methods plus tips on when to stop shuffling and how to handle jumper cards.
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Get Your Free ReadingWhy Shuffling Matters
Shuffling serves multiple purposes in a tarot reading:
- Randomization: Proper shuffling ensures cards are well-mixed, allowing for truly random draws that reflect the unknown.
- Energy transfer: As you handle the cards, your energy flows into the deck, personalizing the reading.
- Intention setting: The shuffling time is when you focus on your question, mentally preparing for the reading.
- Meditation: The repetitive motion can be meditative, helping you enter a receptive state for intuitive insights.
- Ritual: Shuffling marks the transition from ordinary time into the sacred space of the reading.
5 Essential Tarot Shuffling Techniques
There is no single "correct" way to shuffle tarot cards. Choose the method that feels most natural and comfortable for you.
☝ 1. The Overhand Shuffle Easiest
The most beginner-friendly tarot card shuffling technique, gentle on your cards and easy to master.
- Hold the deck in your dominant hand, cards facing sideways.
- Use your other hand to pull small groups of cards from the top.
- Drop these groups into your palm, one on top of another.
- Repeat until you have worked through the entire deck.
- Continue for several passes until the cards feel well-mixed.
Advantages
- Very easy to learn
- Gentle on cards
- Works with any card size
- Good for large hands or small decks
Considerations
- Less thorough mixing
- Requires more passes
- Cards stay in similar clusters
🃏 2. The Riffle Shuffle Moderate
The classic casino-style shuffle that provides excellent randomization.
- Split the deck into two roughly equal halves.
- Hold one half in each hand, thumbs on the inner edges.
- Bend the cards slightly and let them riffle together, interlacing as they fall.
- Push the two halves together to complete the shuffle.
- Repeat 5-7 times for thorough mixing.
Advantages
- Highly effective randomization
- Quick once mastered
- Satisfying to perform
Considerations
- Can bend or damage cards
- Harder with larger tarot cards
- Requires practice to learn
🎲 3. The Pile Shuffle Easy
A methodical approach that guarantees thorough separation of cards.
- Clear a space on your table or reading cloth.
- Deal cards one at a time into multiple piles (typically 5-7 piles).
- Distribute cards evenly, moving from pile to pile.
- Once all cards are dealt, stack the piles back together in random order.
- Repeat if desired, or follow with an overhand shuffle.
Advantages
- Very thorough mixing
- Completely gentle on cards
- Meditative and intentional
- Great for new decks
Considerations
- Time-consuming
- Requires table space
- Pattern can become predictable
🌊 4. The Scramble (Washing) Easiest
Also called "corgi shuffle" or "washing the cards" -- spreading cards face-down and mixing them around.
- Spread all cards face-down on a large flat surface.
- Use both hands to swirl and mix the cards around.
- Continue mixing for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Gather the cards back into a pile.
- Square up the deck.
Advantages
- Excellent randomization
- Creates reversals naturally
- Very easy, no technique needed
- Playful and freeing
Considerations
- Needs large surface area
- Can be hard on card edges
- Deck may end up messy
✂ 5. Cutting the Deck Easiest
While not a shuffle per se, cutting is an essential complement to other shuffling methods.
- After shuffling, place the deck face-down on the table.
- Use your non-dominant hand to lift a portion of the deck.
- Place this portion beside the remaining cards.
- Optionally, create three piles and restack them.
- The order you restack changes which cards are on top.
Advantages
- Quick and simple
- Traditional ritual element
- Can involve the querent
- Adds randomness
Considerations
- Not a complete shuffle alone
- Limited randomization
- Best used with other methods
When to Stop Shuffling
One of the most common questions about tarot shuffling is knowing when you have shuffled enough. Here are several approaches:
Intuitive Knowing
Many readers shuffle until they feel a subtle "click" or sense that the deck is ready. Trust this intuition.
Set Number
Choose a meaningful number (3, 7, or 9 are common) and shuffle that many times consistently.
Time-Based
Shuffle for a set period (30 seconds to 2 minutes) while focusing on your question.
Card Jumps Out
Some readers stop when a card falls out during shuffling, taking it as a sign from the deck.
Jumper Cards
When a card "jumps" out of the deck during shuffling, you have a few options: consider it part of your reading as a significant message, set it aside and continue shuffling, or shuffle it back in and ignore the jump. There is no wrong answer -- do what feels right to you.
Tips for Better Shuffling
- Focus on your question: The shuffling time is prime time for concentration. Hold your question in mind throughout.
- Use a reading cloth: A cloth protects your cards and provides a dedicated space that signals "reading time" to your mind.
- Combine methods: Many readers use multiple techniques -- perhaps a pile shuffle followed by overhand shuffles and a final cut.
- Handle reversals intentionally: If you read reversals, the scramble shuffle naturally creates them. If you do not, you can keep all cards facing the same direction.
- Let querents shuffle: When reading for others, some readers let the querent shuffle to transfer their energy to the deck.
- Shuffle in silence: Or with soft music. The shuffling ritual is a time to quiet the analytical mind and open to intuition.
Protecting Your Cards
Tarot cards can be delicate, especially decks with special finishes or gilded edges. Here are tips to keep your deck in good condition while shuffling:
- Clean hands: Oils from your hands can build up on cards over time. Wash your hands before reading.
- Avoid bridge shuffles: The bridge (bending cards into an arch) is particularly hard on tarot cards.
- Store properly: Keep cards in a box, pouch, or wrapped in cloth when not in use.
- Shuffle over soft surfaces: A reading cloth or carpeted floor protects dropped cards.
- Accept wear gracefully: A well-loved deck will show wear. Many readers consider this part of the deck's character.
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