How do you flip the cards?

[DoNotDelete]

Hi all.  X/

 

I wonder how you flip the cards when you read?

 

Of course - if you don't use reversals it doesn't matter - but if you do, I think it's very important how you flip the cards.

 

I've seen people flip them so that the bottom of the card becomes the top. It's not how they were placed in the deck before flipping, but the very opposite.

 

I think this is dangerous and wrong - especially if you read for others.

 

When I read using reversals, I make sure the cards ends up the same way as they were in the deck before flipping. It means I flip them sideways.

 

In my opinion this is very important.

[Guest Night Shade]

I flip them sideways as well.  I used to flip them from bottom to top, then I realized I was changing their orientation, and reading them the wrong way.

 

I don't use reversals anymore, however, so like you said it doesn't really matter.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

not sure if it is dangerous Koblo, as the querent is generally opposite the reader and the cards would be presented so they could read them as drawn that way?

 

I finally chose not to use reversals, and settled on the practice of fanning the cards in a top to bottom line, then flipping out the randomly drawn cards sideways so to speak, then turning them upright for viewing.

[HermitWriter]

I'm also a side-to-side flipper. When I'm reading in-person for someone, I try to sit side-by-side so I don't have to flip both the cards and the whole spread, but even if they are across from me, it's not usually a big issue. Some people see top-to-bottom flipping as part of their shuffling process. I think the important thing is to decide ahead of time if that's something that works for you, and be aware that you are doing it.

[Raggydoll]

I'm also a side-to-side flipper. When I'm reading in-person for someone, I try to sit side-by-side so I don't have to flip both the cards and the whole spread, but even if they are across from me, it's not usually a big issue. Some people see top-to-bottom flipping as part of their shuffling process. I think the important thing is to decide ahead of time if that's something that works for you, and be aware that you are doing it.

 

This is how I do it too. I like to sit side by side. I recently did a reading for a really lovely girl who never had a card reading before and she was like "I actually get to SEE the cards?! Wow, I thought I wasn't supposed to look at them!" ^-^ <3

[Wanderer]

I tend to do the side-by-side arrangement as well, whenever I can. Occasionally, though, the situation just feels like it needs more gravitas and ceremony, and perhaps a table in between.  ;)

[DoNotDelete]

Today I learned a lesson from a real life experience. And that was that I shouldn't use reversals.

 

Lesson learned :-)

[AnomalyTempest]

I use reversals when they show up. That being said, in the beginning, I would flip a card, grab it for a closer look and then not remember if it was reversed or not when I picked it up. So I started laying out the entire spread before turning a cord and then doing side-to-side. I sometimes still may or may not flip when I pick them up for a closer look but I decided that it's only reversed when I notice it's reversed. I take it as a cry for attention. Maybe I need to pay closer attention to it, or maybe it's just trying to showboat. Depends on surrounding cards and what not. Context determines light and shadow or positive/negative traits of the cards themselves.

 

I also like to sit side by side with those I read for. I fact, it's more like I'm teaching them to read than doing it for them. I see tarot as an empowering tool and what's more empowering than learning to use it for yourself? It's why I'm not worried about people touching my cards (cleansing is not hard) and I let them pick any deck they want.

[clio]

Thank you for asking this.  I have wondered about the same thing.  Interestingly, I'll be getting to a question soon and it does involve two reversals.  However, flipped the way I flipped them, the opposite would have been true on all counts.  hm.