How to Shuffle Tarot Cards

My tarot deck works hard. It is used countless times for myself, my friends, and even for complete strangers. It offers guidance, provides insight, and warns against dangers.

I try to take care of my tarot deck as well as possible. One of the biggest dangers to its condition is shuffling. I shuffle the deck after every single reading, and that can be so hard on  the poor cards! After a while, the edges will fray and a nasty crease will develop across the middle. Regular shuffling is just not on the table for my cards.

So here's how I go about shuffling my cards.

1. Hold the entire deck in one hand.

2. With the other hand, take one card from the top of the deck and put it down on the table in front of you.

3. Take the next card in the deck, and set it on the table next to the first card. Do the same for the next card in the deck.

Now you've started 3 piles on the table in front of you. Continue with this method, taking the first card from the deck and placing it on top of the others on the table, alternating piles with each card.

4. Once all of the cards from your hand are in three piles on the table, combine them back into one deck. Repeat if you feel it's necessary.

OR, you can use this method:

1. Split the deck in half and hold one half in each of your hands.

2. Slip the top card from your left hand to the top of the pile in your right hand.

3. Place the next card in the deck from your left hand on the bottom of the deck in your right hand.

4. Continue to alternate this way until all the cards from your left hand have been integrated into the rest of the deck in your right hand.

5. Repeat this process as many times as you feel necessary. Please note that these instructions are easiest if you are right-handed. Use the opposite hand if you are left-handed!

These methods might take more time than normal shuffling would, but they cause minimal damage to your deck. You aren't bending the cards and you aren't forcing the edges against each other. After a little practice, you will get the hang of it and the whole process will go much faster.