You’ve just bought a new deck of Tarot cards and now you’re watching your client attempt to shuffle them, dropping the cards everywhere on the floor and bending the card edges as they roughly try to get all the cards back in the pack. You’re horrified! “Why on earth did I hand over a deck of new Tarot cards to this person?!”
Different people have different views on whether it is ok to let other people touch your Tarot cards. Some people are happy to hand over their cards to the client when doing a Tarot reading, asking the client to channel their energy into the cards ready for a clear and connected reading. Sometimes, both the reader and the client will shuffle the cards so that both become more present in the reading.
Other readers prefer the client to simply articulate their question while the reader shuffles the Tarot cards on their behalf (much like online Tarot readers do). These readers often keep their Tarot cards well protected and ensure that no-one else but them touches their cards. In this way, the Tarot cards are kept sacred to the owner (i.e. the Tarot reader) alone. It can also prevent any negative energy from the client being transferred to the cards.
For me personally, I don’t mind if others touch my Tarot cards. As an online Tarot reader, I naturally handle the Tarot cards for my virtual clients simply because there is no other way when my client is halfway around the world! However, when I do face-to-face readings, I ask my clients to shuffle and cut the cards so that they are able to ‘program’ the cards with their energy and begin to draw their attention to the messages of the cards. At times, however, I do wonder whether or not I should have them shuffle – sometimes the larger Tarot cards can be very hard to shuffle, unless you’re used to them, often resulting in the client losing focus or losing the cards!
So what type are you? Are you happy for anyone to handle your Tarot cards, or do you keep them closely guarded to ensure they remain pure and sacred? You might even be somewhere in the middle, having one Tarot deck that you happily share with others, and another that you keep just for yourself.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Although I am a new Tarot card reader, sometimes I can discern whether or not to allow someone else to touch my cards. I am considering purchasing another deck for my personal use. What bothers me most is being in an atmosphere where confusion and distractions do not allow the inquirer to focus on what they need the cards to say.
I agree! I find it difficult, sometimes, when you see your client is not really focused on the question itself but is instead focusing on things like how to shuffle the cards correctly or commenting on something completely outside of the reading.
Thanks for your comment,
Biddy
Peoples energy is can be very intense at times. Not all of it good unfortunately however if you run across someone with alot of built up negative energy have a special deck for just these people so their anger can be put into the cards as they ask themselves whatever it is they came for. Have them deal them as well. Cleanse the deck after each time .
Thanks for your comments. Great idea about cleansing your deck – that might just be my next blog topic!
Biddy
Hi Biddy! I’m an earnest new student of the tarot and your website has been a tremendous, wonderful source of information and guidance for me. This is definitely something I’ve been struggling with as a new reader. But I’ve made peace with the fact that it’s pretty hard to keep a deck completely untouched by others, so I’m glad you agree. It would be helpful to know what cleansing the deck entails, though. I’m intrigued!
Hi Biddy,
I just want to thank you for your blog, as well as your interpretations of the cards. I am a new reader of the Tarot, and while I have several references for history and meaning – your interpretations are at once the most concise and in-depth.
I’ve never before thought of whether or not to keep certain people from touching my deck. It seems to me that any querant will have a certain amount of negative energy – most questions have a level of anxiety and/or longing – which I’ve found requires my full attention, being, and guard.
Prior to handing over the deck, my practice is to have a dialogue with the querant, explaining the necessity for them to connect first with the Universe, Spirit, etc. I also teach them how to explicitly phrase a question clearly to the Universe – for best results. We then meditate together while the querant shuffles the cards. It can certainly be draining; but in my limited experience – the cards do not lie.
And not only is it a great idea to cleanse the cards (I continue to pull the same set of cards for myself, irregardless of the question?!); but it’s necessary to have and take protective measures for one’s self as a reader. People have asked me to bring this skill to parties – but I have politely declined. They do not understand it takes a great deal of energy for me (perhaps because I am novice; but I believe it is simply because of the process) to do a reading.
I would love an article on methods for taking care of ourselves between readings.
Thanks so much for all you do!
Tara
Hi Tara,
Thanks for your positive comments. And what a great idea to post on how to take care of oneself between readings… watch this space!
Thanks, Biddy
Hi Biddy, I find that I prefer others to shuffle the cards, otherwise I would not feel confident that the reading was really for them rather than me! I only read for friends so haven’t had anyone really negative touch them,though I do like to shuffle them myself before and after others touch them.
One thing I have noticed is that once a reading is finished, I am compelled to re-insert those cards randomly throughout the deck. I just can’t cope with them being bundled up with the rest of the cards, and shuffling alone is not sufficient; I need the cards from each reading to be disassembled and disconnected from one another to return to the deck to make it a whole again!
i have two set of cards , one that i let other people shuffle and one that i use myself personally , i find that this works well for me.
Handling of decks is an important topic. I not only do readings, but I often conduct courses on the Tarot during which I want the students to handle many different decks and get familiar with the different art work, card sizes, and shapes. As a teacher I welcome everyone’s energy to participate in the cards. I love for clients and students to handle and shuffle the cards, but it is often awkward for them, especially with larger decks such as the Voyager. In general Tarot decks are larger than the poker decks that most people are familiar with. In addition clients and newbie readers are often nervous as they pick up the cards.
I usually give a little coaching before handling the decks, and if the person seems very awkward I suggest they only cut the cards and let me do the shuffling. Sometimes if a card pops out while a client shuffles it may seem to have a special message and I sometimes place it on the table to the side as an addendum to the reading. Otherwise we just return it to the deck and shuffle a bit more.
I have found cards missing or damaged after complex sessions with large groups of students. That is a problem because decks are expensive and in some cases not replaceable. Thus in most cases where cards are handled a lot during classes I use easily replaceable decks and remind students to keep careful tabs on their own decks. I count all the cards after classes in which decks have been handed around. For certain rare decks I prepare color xeroxed versions that I laminate so that I can safely let others appreciate and handle the art work without taking the rare cards out of storage.
Hi Douglass,
Thanks for sharing your tips, particularly from a Tarot teacher’s perspective. Very helpful indeed!
Biddy
Hi Biddy, I myself love to use tarot cards but actually for myself, to be honest I even use it for my daily forecast of my life
hi,i want to know if you shuffle the cards and then put them away because you have to leave, can that person still pick up cards and choose a spred for you and do a reading for you with out you being present. thanks
Hi Taz. That’s a really interesting question. In theory, yes, they could lay out the cards and do the reading. However I believe that their interpretation of the cards may be different to if you were there, present, for the reading. Of course, there is also the issue of it being a violation of privacy and a readers’ code of ethics because it turns it into a third party reading. Brigit
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