Tarot cards can be a fun and quick way to seek guidance for yourself or about others. The Tarot Deck is a divination tool that when used sporadically can provide valuable insights into your life and have you expand out how you view people, relationships and situations taking place around you.
When I first began my journey with tarot, I remember that I was not even sure how to properly shuffle the cards. My mind was recalling when I had gone to a tarot reader as a college student and seeing them spread the cards out in a neat semi-circle and ask me to select a few cards. I am also a great poker player and can shuffle a deck well, but these tarot cards were thicker and bulkier. One important thing to note about the tarot deck is this is your deck. You should be the one handling the cards, no one else. Your energy is imprinted in the cards when you shuffle. And this quickly becomes an extension to the sacred tool of divination. These cards can be viewed as a mirror to your soul and hold incredible wisdom.
Is there a right way to shuffle tarot cards?
Technically no, there is no right way. When you shuffle the cards it is all about connecting with the cards. Talking to them, giving them love, connecting energetically with them. Beyond the obvious reason of wanting to mix up the cards really well so you do not pull the same card over and over, there is no right way to shuffle tarot cards. You need to find your rhythm with the cards, you will intuitively know when to stop or cut the deck and shuffle some more. Eventually, you will develop your own pattern or shuffling process that works for you and use this every time. You will be in the flow with your soul and connecting with your intuition and feeling your tarot cards in the deepest of senses.
Why does the shuffling technique matter?
The more you work with your deck of tarot cards, the more you will be in the flow and develop a technique that is unique to you. You want to be able to set your conscious mind aside and be in the flow. This will allow you to be impartial to answers and questions that show up in your tarot spread.
Build in genuine randomness when you lay out the tarot cards so synchronicity can step right in. By focusing on a clear, repeatable method, youโll trust that the spread and the messages it reveals come from soul, the divine or your spirit guides and not from ego.
How should you choose which technique to do?
Pick a shuffle style that matches what you want from the tarot, knowing you can switch it up later. The key is to stay consistent with whichever shuffling method you settle on for now, because consistency keeps your readings accurate and precise. If youโre a beginner or looking for tarot cards to connect you to your own intuition or spirit guides, you might first try a more relaxed pile shuffle. If youโre reading tarot professionally, you may want a neater method that allows you to keep a hold of your cards as you sit behind a desk or table. Some newcomers read only the cards that pop out of the deck, trusting those โjumpersโ were meant for them. Explore different approaches, settle on what feels right, and let your style evolve with practice.
4 Different Ways To Properly Shuffle Tarot Cards
Pile Shuffle
I love suggesting this approach to newcomers because itโs carefree and reliably random and basically tarotโs take on โ52-pick-upโ, a game we all remember from childhood! Toss the whole deck onto a hard surface and swirl the cards around with playful, childlike abandon while you voice your question. Picture your energy flowing into the deck as you mix. When the cards feel thoroughly blended, stack them back together and start pulling your spread to draw your cards.
Overhand Shuffle
Here is the classic over-hand shuffle you will recognize from most card games. Split the deck in twoโhalf in each handโthen let the right-hand cards slide into the left, lifting sections from the bottom and dropping them back on top. Keep repeating until the pack feels well blended. This hands-on motion lets you sense the cardsโ weight and flow, infusing them with your energy as you softly repeat your question or intention. Itโs my go-to shuffle: intuitive, easy on smaller hands, and gentle on the cards since they glide together without bending.
Riffle Shuffle
Lots of readers dig the riffle shuffle. Slice the deck in half, clamp each stackโthumbs up top, fingers underneathโthen arch them so the cards snap together in that quick, waterfall swoosh you hear at poker tables. It looks slick, sounds even better, and you can toss in a bridge at the end if youโre feeling flashy.
Fair warning, though: tarot cards are bigger than poker cards, so this move can cramp small hands and, with heavy use, rough up the edges. I riffle once to clear the deck between spreads, then switch to gentler shuffling for the rest.
This is a great video to show you some card shuffling basics. These aren’t tarot cards, but the step-by-step breakdown of how to hold the cards can be very helpful.
Fanning The Cards Out
This one is not really a shuffle, but it is great when you want your spirit team of guides or plain old gut instinct to steer the pick. Spread the cards in a big arc or semi-circle on the table. Close your eyes, ask your spirit guides or your intuition for help, and picture a gentle hand resting over yours. Drift your palm above the spread until something tugs at you, then let your fingers settle on the card that feels right. Use this sparingly, though; give the deck a solid shuffle before and after so everything stays fresh.
Setting Up Your First Tarot Reading Space
1. Start with intention
Before you move a piece of furniture, decide what this spot is meant to do for you. Ask yourself: What do I want every reading here to feel like? Creative? Meditative? Grounding? Pick the roomโor the cornerโthat already carries that vibe. Maybe itโs your bedroom where you decompress, the kitchen table where the light feels right, or the coffee table you curl up beside. Let the mood youโre after lead the way, and the rest will fall in line.
2. Keep it practical
You need room to shuffle and lay the cards flat, nothing more exotic than that. A plain cloth makes a tidy base, and if you plan to read for others, a small clock or timer nearby keeps you on track. Forget about what looks โInstagram-worthy.โ Comfort beats aesthetics every time. Iโve read cards in crowded healing clinics, behind curtains, at house parties, and in cafรฉsโthe magic travels with you, not the wallpaper.
3. Make it yours
Once youโre in place, clear the vibes. A quick sweep of herbal smoke or a spritz of cleansing spray does the trick, or simply set a firm intention to freshen the energy. Add a crystal, a plant, or any object that anchors your intuition. If youโre borrowing someone elseโs space, bring a personal tokenโsay, a palm stone or a favorite candleโto claim the energy as your own. A little familiarity helps you relax and slip into the flow.
How long should you shuffle for?
As long as it takes to feel right. You should let your intuition guide you as your intuition holds all the answers. Some readers swear that seven good shuffles randomize a deck, others keep a mental minute-long countdown. The real aim is to mix the cards while you hold your question steady in mind, letting your energy seep into the deck. Keep going until the cards feel settled and you get that quiet inner nod that says, โOkay, weโre ready.โ The more you practice, the easier that moment is to spot.
Things to skip when you shuffle
1. Creasing the cards
The backs should all look the same; once a card has a kink or tear it starts to stand out and youโll spot it before it even turns over. A well-loved deck will age naturally, but handle each shuffle gently so wear doesnโt tip your readings off balance.
2. Letting your mind wander
Hold the question steady while you mix. If your thoughts race to your to-do list, that jittery energy slips into the deck and muddies the message. I picture the question resting in my chest or silently repeat itโanything that keeps my focus locked in.
3. Second-guessing every move
Tarot isnโt about perfection; itโs a conversation with your intuition. Beat yourself up and the dialogue gets garbled. Instead, meet the cards with curiosity and a little self-trust.
Why shuffle at all?
You are not just scrambling the order of the cards but you are fusing your intention with the deck and giving the universe a fair shot at dealing the right cards. Randomness opens the door for real insight.
Who should handle the deck?
Some readers never let anyone else touch their cards; others invite clients to cut, choose, or tell them when to stop. Both approaches work. I like to hold the deck myself to keep the energy clear, but plenty of pros swear by client involvement. Experiment and see what feels natural.
The takeaway
Guidelines are useful, but tarot isnโt ruled by one rigid playbook. Treat the cards kindly, keep your mind on the question, and allow some mystery into the mix. When common sense meets a spark of magic, youโve found your groove.
