Delta Posted March 1, 2020 Posted March 1, 2020 I'm confused about shuffling. It sounds silly, but I never know when to stop. A friend says "when you feel like it", but what if I don't know? Probably overthinking this, but it does bother me because I tend to focus on that instead of on the subject of the reading. And then do you cut the cards? Basically, how do you decide on a technique? When you have to pull a clarifier, do you just take a new card off the top, or do you shuffle first? I've been doing this for a while but I realise I still don't know how to handle the simple basics. 🙂 Thanks!
Wanderer Posted March 1, 2020 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi Delta, Don't worry - everyone has their own technique, so there's no right answer! Personally, I shuffle until I sense which card I need; then carry on shuffling until the next one turns up, and so on. Or I shuffle, then fan them all out, and draw cards individually from the array. Others shuffle a fixed number of times, then cut, and deal out however many they need. Whatever feels right for you! Most people, though, would argue against drawing clarifiers at all. If I'm left with an ambiguity, I'll sometimes add an extra position to the spread, with a specific meaning that is aimed at solving the impasse... but to just draw another to explain what has gone before usually just results in more confusion!
Delta Posted March 1, 2020 Author Posted March 1, 2020 Thanks @Wanderer! I think I need to figure out a rule and stick to it, otherwise I get very unsecure and the whole reading likely picks up on that haha 🙂 I suppose reading the cards which fall out while shuffling are down to individual technique too, then. When it comes to clarifiers I usually stick to one, if really needed, and I'll just take it off the top, without shuffling. Because it's in the same reading, so I've no need to shuffle again. But I agree it can add to confusion. Your method sounds good!
katrinka Posted March 1, 2020 Posted March 1, 2020 11 minutes ago, Delta said: I'm confused about shuffling. It sounds silly, but I never know when to stop. A friend says "when you feel like it", but what if I don't know? "When you feel like it" is one of those non-answers like "Get the deck that calls to you," AFAIC. If the deck is already well mixed, I generally do just three. Maybe five, if the cards are clumping a bit. If I've been using it quite a bit, I like to thoroughly randomize it so I don't get repeat combos. Seven shuffles will thoroughly mix a playing card deck https://math.hmc.edu/funfacts/seven-shuffles/ I don't have the math for a 78 card deck, but throwing in a couple more, bringing it to nine, does the trick. Quote And then do you cut the cards? Yes. Quote When you have to pull a clarifier, do you just take a new card off the top, or do you shuffle first? 12 minutes ago, Wanderer said: Most people, though, would argue against drawing clarifiers at all. I'm one of them. 😄 If you're having trouble interpreting, adding more cards just complicates the matter. Hit the books, walk away and come back to it, let it simmer in your brain awhile. The answer is already there, laid out on the table. Not in the pile. But there may be other reasons to add a card. Some people use this, for instance: https://en.camoin.com/tarot/Law-Regard-Card.html In that case, it makes sense to simply draw a card off the top of the pile. No need to reshuffle, as you're still reading on the same issue.
Wanderer Posted March 1, 2020 Posted March 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, Delta said: Thanks @Wanderer! I think I need to figure out a rule and stick to it, otherwise I get very unsecure and the whole reading likely picks up on that haha 🙂 I suppose reading the cards which fall out while shuffling are down to individual technique too, then. No worries! I can understand the insecurity, but remember also that Tarot is about tapping into our intuition, and that's a subtle thing. Getting used to recognising those little nudges from our subconscious is crucial... That said, as long as you know what the intent is, you can use a rigid system just as well when it comes to drawing the cards. If the cards (and/or your subconscious) 'know' that you will shuffle seventeen times, and then cut, then that's what they'll work with. It's really quite convenient... we just need belief in what we are doing, and that certainty will make it work. 'Jumpers' are, as you say, also down to taste. I personally don't use them at all - it's just my bad shuffling technique! 3 minutes ago, Delta said: When it comes to clarifiers I usually stick to one, if really needed, and I'll just take it off the top, without shuffling. Because it's in the same reading, so I've no need to shuffle again. But I agree it can add to confusion. Your method sounds good! Cool - then see if it works for you! I personally find that just taking one off the top is pointless for me, since I don't deal the cards but choose each one individually; the one next to one that I drew is irrelevant. Others deal them, and the cards still make sense in their messages... once again, I think it all comes down to intent and having knowledge of your own approach.
Wanderer Posted March 1, 2020 Posted March 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, katrinka said: I'm one of them. 😄 If you're having trouble interpreting, adding more cards just complicates the matter. Hit the books, walk away and come back to it, let it simmer in your brain awhile. The answer is already there, laid out on the table. Not in the pile. Yup, me too! I should have emphasised that I draw an extra card in a new (defined) position if there are competing interpretations, rather than just because I don't understand it. If it's the latter, then yes - I just need to spend more time chewing over it! Thanks for the 'Law of the Regard', Katrinka - I rather like that, and it's new to me.
Delta Posted March 1, 2020 Author Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) 29 minutes ago, katrinka said: "When you feel like it" is one of those non-answers like "Get the deck that calls to you," AFAIC. 😄 Yes, it didn't help much because following that logic I could shuffle for days. "Hmm, still doesn't feel quite right". Quote If the deck is already well mixed, I generally do just three. Maybe five, if the cards are clumping a bit. If I've been using it quite a bit, I like to thoroughly randomize it so I don't get repeat combos. Seven shuffles will thoroughly mix a playing card deck https://math.hmc.edu/funfacts/seven-shuffles/ I usually do at least 5 because 3 feels somehow too little. I don't rely on having it previously "well mixed". I like math backing up the 7. 🙂 Quote Hit the books, walk away and come back to it, let it simmer in your brain awhile. The answer is already there, laid out on the table. Not in the pile. You're right! I'll stick to that. I don't use a deck which would require Regards so I'm good. 🙂 Edited March 1, 2020 by Delta
Delta Posted March 1, 2020 Author Posted March 1, 2020 24 minutes ago, Wanderer said: If the cards (and/or your subconscious) 'know' that you will shuffle seventeen times, and then cut, then that's what they'll work with. It's really quite convenient... we just need belief in what we are doing, and that certainty will make it work. True! But that's also why I need to settle on a method. So I don't have to figure it out as I go and confuse things more.
Barleywine Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 As Katrinka said, starting with a thoroughly randomized deck to avoid clumping is key. As I mentioned in another thread, I use what I think of as the "Grizabella Method" both with new decks and every couple of readings with older decks to achieve (if you don't mind an oxymoron) "consistent randomization." I never put my decks back in their original order, so - like "cosmic entropy" - randomization accelerates over time. Since I don't riffle (which vacates the "seven-shuffle" rule), I then overhand shuffle around a dozen times (or whatever) and cut to put the cards in order for the reading. Regarding clarifiers (and just for the record, jumpers, shadow cards and other "extras"), I don't use them as a rule, although I sometimes want to look past the outcome card to see where things might go farther down the road so I tack on another couple of cards to the end. This is especially true when the outcome card is ambiguous or inconclusive since it can help to make sense of the whole spread.
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