How do you shuffle tarot cards? Hold the deck face down and shuffle it overhand or flat on the table for a minute or two while you think about your question, then cut it in two piles. In the French tradition no gesture is compulsory: what matters is that the order of the cards is truly mixed.
Why we shuffle
A new deck, or a deck put away after a reading, keeps the order it was left in. Shuffling breaks that order; without it you would draw the same cards again and again. It is also a pause: while your hands work, you form your question. French readers say "battre" the cards, which means the same thing.
A 78-card tarot deck is bulkier than a pack of playing cards, and the cards are usually larger, so some card-player moves do not suit it. Here are four methods, from the gentlest to the quickest.
Four ways to shuffle
- Overhand. Hold the deck in one hand and with the other drop small packets of cards on top of one another. Repeat five or six times, with packets of varying size. It is the gentlest on the cards and ideal for a first deck, but it mixes slowly.
- Small packets, the "Indian" shuffle. Pull about ten cards at a time from the pack and place them on top, so that packets change place with each pass. It is quicker and still gentle.
- Flat on the table. Spread all the cards face down and swirl them with both hands. French readers call this "laver" the cards, as if washing a window. It suits large decks, never bends the cards and brings up reversed cards naturally.
- Riffle, the "American" shuffle. Cut the deck in two, bend the halves slightly and let the cards fall alternately. It is efficient but, with 78 large cards, the repeated bend marks them. It is never required.
The cut
After shuffling comes the cut: put the deck down face down, lift the top half and place it beside the bottom half, then put the bottom half on top. The person asking the question can cut instead. A tradition in cartomancy says to cut into three piles with the left hand, often linked to the heart and intuition, and to gather the piles in the order you choose. It is a habit passed from reader to reader, not a rule of tarot. If you like it, keep it; if not, a simple cut in two does the job.
Reversed cards: keep them or not?
A reversed card is one that comes up upside down. For a beginner the simplest answer is no. There are already 78 meanings to learn, and adding 78 more from day one drowns you. Keep every card the same way up when you shuffle. When you are ready, shuffle flat on the table, or turn one packet through 180 degrees at random before you gather the deck. Our complete guide to reversed cards explains how to read them.
How long should you shuffle?
There is no magic length. Shuffle for at least a minute, until you feel the question is "posed" and the cards are well mixed. Overhand takes closer to two minutes because it mixes slowly. Pick a rule that helps you stay attentive and keep it.
Shuffle, draw, read, without hunting in a book
When you shuffle flat, cards turn over, and you may find a reversed card in your draw with no idea what to say about it. That is where printed meanings help. On our French-language learning deck, the meaning is printed on every card. A printed French booklet comes in the box, and the full French course follows by personal link after purchase. Any deck teaches; this one only saves you from searching a book for each reversed card. Marseille is a different tradition, with no scenes on the minor arcana.
French-language learning tarot deck, 1909 art
Meanings printed on every card in French, a French guidebook in the box and the full course in French after purchase. Ships to the EU, UK, Switzerland and Iceland.
See the French deckFor the whole gesture from shuffle to reading, see our step-by-step guide to drawing cards, and for a first habit to practise with, the card of the day method.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I shuffle?
At least a minute, or until the question feels posed. There is no prescribed length; what matters is that the order is mixed and that you stay attentive.
Do I have to cut with my left hand?
No. It is a tradition, not an obligation. Many readers cut into three piles with the left hand; others simply cut in two. Both readings are equally valid.
Is there a day I should not draw cards?
Some readers avoid specific days or moon phases. These taboos pass from reader to reader and vary between traditions; nothing in tarot requires them. Draw when you are free and calm.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
Includes a free full tarot course in English
