A quick question, do you let others handle your cards? (not read, just handle - kids, partner, etc not just anyone)

Yes, if they ask to, and I know they are careful, truly interested people. I don't think there is anything particularly supernatural about the cards themselves. And if looking at and handling my cards gets somebody new interested in tarot, that's a good thing! That being said, I would say no if they seemed flippant or careless ...same as I would not allow that person to handle other items I value.

During a reading? Well, I prefer to handle the cards myself when doing a reading. Not because I think the querent is going to ruin the cards ...quite the opposite. In my experience, they are fearful of shuffling at all. I get a very half-hearted shuffle most of the time, that only displaces a few cards. If they are interested, I let them handle the cards and look at them beforehand, but then I do the shuffle.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by Chariot

Thanks @Chariot , I had understood, as you mentioned, that there's nothing supernatural about the cards themselves but that the energy you bring (be it yours or your guide/s) to the shuffling/sorting, your question, and the draw, is transferred from you into the cards. I guess I was concerned that allowing others to handle them may lessen this connection... if you believe in that sort of thing.

I agree though with you that if looking at and handling the cards gets somebody new interested in tarot, then that's a good thing!

2 hours ago, Scozz said:

Thanks @Chariot , I had understood, as you mentioned, that there's nothing supernatural about the cards themselves but that the energy you bring (be it yours or your guide/s) to the shuffling/sorting, your question, and the draw, is transferred from you into the cards. I guess I was concerned that allowing others to handle them may lessen this connection... if you believe in that sort of thing.

I agree though with you that if looking at and handling the cards gets somebody new interested in tarot, then that's a good thing!

I have not had any trouble reconnecting with a deck once somebody else has handled it, so I guess it's all down to an individual how they feel about this. Mind you, I've had people say they'd never buy a used deck for that reason as well, and I've never had that problem. I have several decks I bought 'used' that work really well for me. But everybody's different. Whatever works, works!

I am quite pragmatic about my cards. Although I keep them clean and tidy, in either their original boxes or in boxes I've acquired for them, I don't keep them on an altar, or anything like that. Getting myself into the proper mood for reading cards matters to me, so I have established rituals around that.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by Chariot

Reading for someone else - yes! What I do, is I shuffle the deck thoroughly myself first.

Then, I get them to shuffle, to draw them into the idea that "we are exploring this together".

If they can't shuffle the way I've just demonstrated, I get them to smoosh the cards on the table.

For other interested parties - again yes! I'm all for giving people as full an education about cards as I can,

so I'm happy to let them look. I do impress on them that they need to treat the cards with care.

If it's a child - I will be wary and may watch them do it, if I think there's a possibility they may damage them.

I am not energetically sensitive and believe that when I shuffle my cards, and when the cards are in my possession - all other energy that may influence the items in question is negated by ME.

If a particularly challenging person has handled my cards and I'm thinking - ewwwww, or - that's someone carrying a huge amount of "stuff" around. I may do a cleansing ritual on my cards.

But- to-date, I've never had to do that.

*N.B. For my absolute favourite card decks, or decks that I may use exclusively for personal Magickal purposes,

I have a second copy of the deck - so that there is no possibility of there ever being any doubt of energetic residue/transfer.

Thanks @Chariot and @Tanga , these are both such wonderful answers! 🙌

Yes and No. My Sister whom I love snd respect can touch and shuffle my cards, but not my mother. I think it's very much to do with a threshold of trust and comfort for me. I'm also a private person in general and don't shuffle in public ( besides I have limited range of mobility due to my disability so I only shuffle at home or only would in closed spaces)