How to Shuffle & Draw

How to Shuffle & Draw

There's no single correct way to shuffle tarot cards. The goal is to randomize the deck while holding your question in mind. Here are the most common methods:

Overhand Shuffle

Hold the deck in one hand and move small packets of cards from the back to the front. Repeat until it feels right. This is the gentlest method — good for large cards.

Riffle Shuffle

Split the deck in two and riffle the halves together. Fast and thorough, but can bend cards. Use carefully with quality decks.

Spreading & Mixing

Spread all cards face-down on a flat surface and swirl them around with both hands. Gather them back into a pile. This method also allows cards to naturally reverse.

Reversed Cards

A reversed card appears upside-down in a spread. Many readers assign modified meanings to reversals — often the card's energy turned inward, blocked, or delayed. As a beginner, you can choose to read reversals or ignore them. Both approaches are valid.

How Many Times to Shuffle?

Until it feels right. Some people count to seven. Others shuffle until a card jumps out. Trust your instinct.