How to Shuffle, Cut and Draw the Tarot Deck

Tarot Deck Shuffle

Before a reading, shuffling the deck is the chance for both the practitioner and the Seeker to bind the conscious with the unconscious and form a bridge. If the Seeker wants to obtain knowledge in the collective unconscious, information that may not be present in the conscious mind of the Seeker, the interaction mechanism is essential. Concentration must be intensified in order to clear the bridge. Whoever handles the tarot deck should aim to channel the forces of harmony, strength, and transparency to concentrate focus. Be cool and enjoy. Clear the mind. Often, exude confidence. Know with certainty that you are strong and present with your innate ability. Hey, be open. Don't give the cards a clear message at all. Don't be scared or fear some single post. To whatever can come, be open.

If a signifier card is being used by the practitioner, begin by naming the signifier and displaying it to the seeker. Then return the signifier to the deck and thoroughly shuffle it. I decline to treat my tarot like a poker deck, but I'm not going to bend the bridge and riffle cards. Instead, I keep the deck with one hand, and take a small pile from the bottom of the deck with the other hand, and put it on top. Repeat a dozen or so times when attuning yourself to the forces of peace, strength, and openness. This is referred to as the conventional shuffling form.

1. Keep in one hand the deck tightly.

2. Slide out a chunk of the deck at random with the other one.

3. At the top of the deck, put the chunk.

4. Repeat several times to completely shuffle the deck

The diviner or tarot reader would first shuffle the deck. Then, using the same procedure, the deck is given to the Seeker and the Seeker shuffles. 

If card reversals are found, then make sure to turn the cards upside down at random while you shuffle every once in a while.

If time is of no significance, so for the practitioner to disperse the cards into the amount of piles of the life path number of the Seeker, another way to shuffle. The number of the life path is the sum of the digits of the month, day, and year of birth, respectively, then the sum of the digits of that sum, and then the sum of that sum, if appropriate, before a digit between 1 and 9 is achieved by the practitioner. An person born on December 26, 1978, for example, will have the number 9 life path (12 + 26 + 1978 = 2016; 2 + 0 + 1 + 6 = 9). 

The individual will distribute the deck into nine distinct piles, taking care to randomize the piles of upright and reversed cards. Individuals with a number 1 life plan are born kings, so they can be supplied with the deck and asked to distribute the cards into stacks of the number of their choice. To read the Life Path number more.

Often practitioners are asked to do tarot readings on the Internet for Seekers in the Modern Age, usually through a written review submitted by email. I find the signifier card in such readings to be particularly instrumental in helping me attune to the energies of the Seeker. The practitioner will shuffle on behalf of the Seeker while the Seeker is not present, practicing sensitivity and wisdom in the shuffling and cutting process to match the energies of the Seeker as much as possible, though remotely. In such cases, it might be beneficial to shuffle by separating the cards into the number of piles corresponding to the Seeker's Life Path number.

Not only does shuffling take place before a reading, but the practitioner may still shuffle the deck following a reading to disperse any remaining forces left behind from that reading. In order to be good practice, I noticed that. I'll usually give them one more nice shuffle before I store my cards away. 

After a Seeker's reading, give the deck of cards a firm tap against a tabletop, which helps to shake off residual energies. I have followed this practice and find it very useful, particularly in between back-to-back readings for a tarot case.

Devote time, if for no other reason than reflection, to the shuffling process. The silent break from discussion and inward meditation will help relax the Seeker and allow the practitioner a chance to ground his or her energies. It also means that the cards are thoroughly randomized and will not impact the current one by the order of the cards generated by a prior reading.

Tarot Deck Cutting

The conventional strategy is to make the Seeker cut the deck after the deck has been shuffled thoroughly. Before beginning a reading, I was instructed by purists of the trade to always cut the deck (and what's more, it must be cut with the left hand, not the correct, since the left hand coincides with the intuitive side), but I have also noticed very few practitioners still stick to the cutting approach in contemporary times. It is up to you if the practitioner preserves the conventional approach of your profession or adopts the new method. 

The deck can be broken into four piles for the Seeker to cut the deck (or three, depending on the tradition followed), going from right to left. The process of cutting is identical to what is done to the first procedure. For two factors, the cards are often cut right to left: first, it follows the direction in which Hebrew is written, which is essential to the powerful Kabbalistic influences of the modern-day tarot; and second, it symbolizes the regression from the conscious and external world, ruled by the right hand, into the left-ruled unconscious and internal plane.

1. Place your deck in front of the Seeker

2. Seeker takes up half of the deck and positions it on the first pile on the far left.

3. The seeker takes up half of the remaining first pile and brings it on the immediate left.

4. The seeker takes up half of the third pile and brings it on its immediate left.

5. It is now appropriate to break the deck into four piles.

6. In a random order, the seeker gathers up the piles and returns them to a single pile.

If the first operation is observed, the practitioner may take the deck and begin with the first operation, cutting the cards again in consequence.

The signifier card is set down on the table as the anchor of the reading after the first operation. Without the signifier, I reshuffle the deck and then hand it to the Seeker to reshuffle as well. I demonstrate to him or her that we are now starting to learn, and the Seeker can comfortably shuffle and realize with certainty that his or her innate talents are effective and real. The Seeker cuts the deck once more and the reading continues as the cards are returned to the practitioner in a single pile.

Drawing Tarot Cards from the Deck

Pull Cards into the Spread:

For drawing cards, consider the Fan Solution where a distribution of fewer than five cards is used.

1. Fan the cards out.

2. Make the seeker randomly pick up the cards. The practitioner takes the cards from the Seeker one by one and moves them into the layout.

Pull the cards from the top of the deck one by one through the spread, in spreads of more than five cards. On how they put the cards from the deck into the spread, practitioners may vary. 

Below, two strategies are demonstrated to demonstrate how important the draw is, especially if the practitioner observes card reversals:

Direct Flip Method

The practitioner flips each card over on its long side, according to the Direct Flip process. The practitioner flips each card on its short side, towards the practitioner, per the Turn Over strategy, so that the practitioner can see the card first, before the Seeker. The card is then put into the spread.

Turn Over Method

Whether the practitioner chooses to adopt the Direct Flip or Turn Over method, the key is to remain consistent. That way the tarot deck can become attuned to that practitioner’s habit. If you prefer the Direct Flip, then always draw cards by the Direct Flip method. If you prefer the Turn Over, then always draw cards by the Turn Over method

The Study of Tarot

The primary objective is to explain how to use the Tarot cards in order to ignite one's imagination and provoke reflection, thus bringing to the surface of the consciousness of the tarot student those wonderful, universal concepts of nature, human life and occult science that lie concealed within every human heart.

All these ideals are based on a single, fundamental and primordial reality and the belief that in every human being, knowledge of that truth is innate; but it is not available to us until it has been rediscovered and resurfaced in the light of consciousness. The ancient temple entrances often bore the sayings, "Know Thyself", as  Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God, which is within you;" and as Eckhartshausen stated: "As infinity in numbers loses itself in the unit which is their basis, and as the innumerable rays of a circle, are united in a single center, so it is also with the Mysteries; their hieroglyphics and infinitude of emblems have the object of exemplifying but one single truth. He who knows this has found the key to understand everything, and all at once."

The rich symbolism and ingenious construction make the Tarot the greatest choice for genuine occult education among all tools, i.e, to "draw out" the intelligence concealed in man's heart. Proper understanding of these symbols, however, includes solid knowledge and a detailed analysis of the elements of the Qabalah. The ten Sephiroth are rings. Their numbers are printed above their names, and from the Sorcerer to the Wheel of Fortune, they are also the numbers of the Tarot trumps. The numbers of the major trumps that also correspond to such Sephiroths are below the Sephirotic names.

I would indicate to those who are critical that some of the interpretations for the Tarots are different from most of those shared before, that a majority of the Tarot's explanations that have found their way into books have been primarily derived on the false attribution of the Tarot to Hebrew alphabets used by Eliphas Levi. Levi certainly understood the accurate attribution, but deliberately withheld it for a justification that seemed enough to him.

Let it be clear that it is offered openly and on time for the benefit of those who should doubt the wisdom of publishing this attribution. This scheme is dedicated, following Court de Gebelin, who makes the zero card head the set of major trumps, and Levi, who says the cards illustrate the occult sense of the Hebrew alphabet; and its effects in the analysis of symbolism are ample evidence of its accuracy.

The Tarot's divinatory applications are various, and a considerable number appear to deprecate its contribution to the practice of divination. Nobody who is not completely grounded in the theory of cares, wherein lies the very creation of our potential life from a complex collection of possibilities rooted both within us and predisposed in the contours of our natural world, will achieve the greatest results in forecasting or foretelling the probabilistic future events using the Tarot spreads as a divinatory tool. For detailed divination, acquaintance with the astrological meanings is basically indispensable. Highly suggested is a study of the astrological and divinatory applications of this remarkable symbol alphabet.

Major Arcana Tarot Cards Meaning & Symbolism

Choose your desired card below and discover its meaning in your life:

The Magician ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE MAGICIAN.

I Saw the Man.

His figure reached from earth to heaven and was clad

in a purple mantle. He stood deep in foliage and flowers

and his head, on which was the head-band of an initiate,

seemed to disappear mysteriously in infinity.

Before him on a cube-shaped altar were four symbols

of magic—the sceptre, the cup, the sword and the

pentacle.

His right hand pointed to heaven, his left to earth.

Under his mantle he wore a white tunic girded with a

serpent swallowing its tail.

His face was luminous and serene, and, when his eyes

met mine, I felt that he saw most intimate recesses of my

soul. I saw myself reflected in him as in a mirror and in

his eyes I seemed to look upon myself.

And I heard a voice saying:

— "Look, this is the Great Magician!"

With his hands he unites heaven and earth, and the

four elements that form the world are controlled by him.

The four symbols before him are the four letters of the

name of God, the signs of the four elements, fire, water, air.

earth.

I trembled before the depth of the mysteries I touched...

The words I heard seemed to be uttered by the Great Magician

himself, and it was as though he spoke in me.

I was in deep trepidation and at moments I felt there was

nothing before me except the blue sky; but within me a

window opened through which I could see unearthly things and

hear unearthly words.

The Fool ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE FOOL.

And I saw another man.

Tired and lame he dragged himself along the dusty road,

across the deserted plain under the scorching rays of the sun. He

glanced sidelong with foolish, staring eyes, a half smile, half leer

on his face; he knew not where he went, but was absorbed in

his chimerical dreams which ran constantly in the same circle.

His fool's cap was put on wrong side front, his garments were

torn in the back; a wild lynx with glowing eyes sprang upon him

from behind a rock and buried her teeth in his flesh. He

stumbled, nearly fell, but continued to drag himself along, all

the time holding on his shoulder a bag containing useless things,

which he, in his stupidity, carried wherever he went.

Before him a crevice crossed the road and a deep precipice

awaited the foolish wanderer. Then a huge crocodile with open

mouth crawled out of the precipice. And I heard the voice

say:—

"Look! This is the same man."

I felt my head whirl.

"What has he in the bag?" I inquired, not knowing

why I asked. And after a long silence the voice replied

"The four magic symbols, the sceptre, the cup, the sword

and the pentacle. The fool always carries them although

he has long since forgotten what they mean Nevertheless

they belong to him, even though he does not know their

use. The symbols have not lost their power, they retain it

in themselves.

The High Priestess ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE HIGH PRIESTESS.

When I lifted the first veil and entered the outer court

of the Temple of Initiation, I saw in half darkness the

figure of a woman sitting on a high throne between two

pillars of the temple, one white, and one black. Mystery

emanated from her and was about her. Sacred symbols

shone on her green dress; on her head was a golden tiara

surmounted by a two-horned moon; on her knees she

held two crossed keys and an open book. Between the

two pillars behind the woman hung another veil all

embroidered with green leaves and fruit of pomegranate.

And a voice said:

"To enter the Temple one must lift the second veil

and pass between the two pillars. And to pass thus, one

must obtain possession of the keys, read the book and

understand the symbols. Are you able to do this?"

"I would like to be able, " I said.

Then the woman turned her face to me and looked

into my eyes without speaking. And through me passed a

thrill, mysterious and penetrating like a golden wave;

tones vibrated in my brain, a flame was in my

heart, and I understood that she spoke to me, saying

without words:

"This is the Hall of Wisdom. No one can reveal it no

one can hide it. Like a flower it must grow and bloom in

thy soul. If thou wouldst plant the seed of this flower in

thy soul —learn to discern the real from false. Listen only

to the Voice that is soundless... Look only on that which is

invisible, and remember that in thee thyself, is the

Temple and the gate to it and the mystery, and the

initiation."

The World ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE WORLD.

An unexpected vision appeared to me. A circle not

unlike a wreath woven from rainbow and lightnings,

whirled from heaven to earth with a stupendous, velocity,

blinding me by its brilliance. And amidst this light and fire

I heard music and soft singing, thunderclaps and the roar

of a tempest, the rumble of falling mountains and

earthquakes.

The circle whirled with a terrifying noise, touching the

sun and the earth, and, in the centre of it I saw the naked,

dancing figure of a beautiful young woman, enveloped by

a light, transparent scarf, in her hand she held a magic

wand.

Presently the four apocalyptical beasts began to appear

on the edges of the circle; one with the face of a lion,

another with the face of a man, the third, of an eagle and

the fourth, of a bull.

The vision disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. A

weird silence fell on me. "What does it mean?" I asked in

wonder.

"It is the image of the world," the voice said, "but it

can be understood only after the Temple has been

entered. This is a vision of the world in the circle of

Time, amidst the four principles. But thou seest

differently because thou seest the world outside thyself

Learn to see it in thyself and thou wilt understand the

infinite essence, hidden in all illusory forms.

Understand that the world which thou knowest is only

one of the aspects of the infinite world, and things and

phenomena are merely hieroglyphics of deeper ideas.

The Empress ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE EMPRESS.

I felt the breath of the spring, and accompanying the

fragrance of violets and lilies-of-the-valley I heard the

tender singing of elves. Rivulets murmured, the tree-tops

rustled, the grasses whispered, innumerable birds sang in

choruses and bees hummed; everywhere I felt the

breathing of joyful, living Nature.

The sun shone tenderly and softly and a little white

cloud hung over the woods.

In the midst of a green meadow where primroses

bloomed, I saw the Empress seated on a throne covered

with ivy and lilacs. A green wreath adorned her golden

hair and, above her head, shone twelve stars. Behind her

rose two snowy wings and in her hands she held a sceptre.

All around, beneath the sweet smile of the Empress,

flowers and buds opened their dewy, green leaves. Her

whole dress was covered with them as though each newly

opened flower were reflected in it or had engraved itself

thereon and thus become part of her garment.

The sign of Venus, the goddess of love, was chiselled

on her marble throne.

"Queen of life," I said, "why is it so bright and joyful all about

you? Do you not know of the grey weary autumn, of the cold,

white winter? Do you not know of death and graveyards with

black graves, damp and cold? How can you smile so joyfully on

the opening flowers, when everything is destined to death, even

that which has not yet been born?"

For answer the Empress looked on me still smiling and, under

the influence of that smile, I suddenly felt a flower of some clear

understanding open in my heart.

Judgement ~ Meaning and Symbolism

JUDGMENT.

I saw an ice plain, and on the horizon, a chain of

snowy mountains. A cloud appeared and began to grow

until it covered a quarter of the sky. Two fiery wings

suddenly expanded in the cloud, and I knew that I beheld

the messenger of the Empress.

He raised a trumpet and blew through it vibrant,

powerful tones. The plain quivered in response to him

and the mountains loudly rolled their echoes. One after

another, graves opened in the plain and out of them came

men and women, old and young, and children. 

They stretched out their arms toward the Messenger of the

Empress to catch the sounds of his trumpet.

And in its tones I felt the smile of the Empress and in

the opening graves I saw the opening flowers whose

fragrance seemed to be wafted by the outstretched arms.

Then I understood the mystery of birth in death.

The Emperor ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE EMPEROR.

After I learned the first three numbers I was given to

understand the Great Law of Four—the alpha and omega

of all.

I saw the Emperor on a lofty stone throne, ornament-

ed by four rams' heads. On his forehead shone a golden

helmet. His white beard fell over a purple mantle. In one

hand he held a sphere, the symbol of his possession, and

in the other, a sceptre in the form of an Egyptian cross—

the sign of his power over birth.

"I am The Great Law," the Emperor said. 

"I am the

name of God. The four letters of his name are in me and

I am in all.

"I am in the four principles. I am in the four elements

I am in the four seasons. I am in the four cardinal points I

am in the four signs of the Tarot.

"I am the beginning; I am action; I am completion I

am the result.

"For him who knows how to see me there are no

mysteries on earth.

"I am the great Pentacle.

"As the earth encloses in itself fire, water and air;

as the fourth letter of the Name encloses in itself the first

three and becomes itself the first, so my sceptre encloses

the complete triangle and bears in itself the seed of a new

triangle.

"I am the Logos in the full aspect and the beginning of

a new Logos."

And while the Emperor spoke, his helmet shone

brighter and brighter, and his golden armour gleamed

beneath his mantle. I could not bear his glory and 1

lowered my eyes.

When I tried to lift them again a vivid light of radiant

fire was before me, and I prostrated myself and made

obeisance to the Fiery Word.

The Sun ~ Meaning and Symbolism

THE SUN.

As soon as I perceived the Sun, I understood that It,

Itself, is the expression of the Fiery Word and the sign of

the Emperor.

The great luminary shone with an intense heat upon the

large golden heads of sun-flowers.

And I saw a naked boy, whose head was wreathed with

roses, galloping on a white horse and waving a bright-red

banner.

I shut my eyes for a moment and when I opened them

again I saw that each ray of the Sun is the sceptre of the

Emperor and bears life. And I saw how under the

concentration of these rays the mystic flowers of the waters

open and receive the rays into themselves and how all

Nature is constantly born from the union of two principles.