Okay so today I’m tackling something that seemed way harder than it actually is: shuffling tarot cards properly. Like for real, when I first got my deck? Total chaos. Cards flying everywhere, bending corners, felt like I needed three hands. But after messing up like, a hundred times, I found some dead simple ways for beginners. Here’s exactly what I did, step by messy step.
My Tarot Shuffle Disaster Phase
First attempt? Total fail. Sat down at my kitchen table, new deck in hand, all shiny and stiff. Tried shuffling it like a poker deck. Yeah, don’t do that. Cards went everywhere. Under the table, behind the coffee maker… nightmare. Felt super clumsy. Realized these cards are bigger and thicker than playing cards. Need a different plan.
Decided to break it down. Found two main methods beginners can actually handle without dropping half the deck:
- The Overhand Shuffle (Like Dropping Sand): This one saved me. Hold the deck kinda loose in one hand, thumb on one long side, fingers on the other. Use the other hand to grab small chunks from the top and just… drop them into your other hand, letting the cards fall however they want. Doesn’t look fancy at all, but who cares? Keep pulling chunks off the top and dropping them until the whole deck is in your other hand. Repeat this like, 7 times. Seriously, just pick a number and stick to it. Works surprisingly well to mix things up.
- The Gentle Table Spread & Scoop (No Bending!): This is when I finally stopped fearing I’d wreck my cards. Put the deck face down on the table. Use both hands to gently spread the cards out in a big messy pile. Slide ‘em around randomly with your fingers, mix that energy up. Feels like playing with sand. Then, scoop all the cards back together slowly, trying not to keep any specific order. Press them down gently to straighten the deck. Do this scoop-and-straighten thing maybe 3 or 4 times. Zero risk of bending.
Putting It Into Practice
So, armed with these two easy ways, I made a little ritual. Before asking a question, I do both methods now. Start with the overhand shuffle, dropping chunks back and forth while thinking about my question. Feels meditative after a while. Then, I lay the deck flat and spread ‘em out on the table, messing up the pile completely before gathering them back up. Key thing I learned? Doesn’t need to be perfect! It just needs to feel mixed up. Used to stress about “randomness.” Now? As long as it feels shuffled to me, it’s good.
Took maybe ten practice rounds of each method to stop feeling awkward. Now? Can shuffle without even looking while drinking coffee. Seriously. Biggest takeaway for fellow newbies? Stop trying to be fancy. Grab chunks, drop ‘em. Spread cards, scoop ‘em. Keep it simple, keep it gentle. You got this!
