There Is No Wrong Way to Shuffle

Let’s start there. If someone tells you there’s only one correct way to shuffle tarot cards, they’re wrong. The purpose of shuffling is to randomize the deck while connecting with your intention. How you get there is personal.

That said, some methods work better than others depending on your hand size, your deck’s condition, and what feels natural. Here are five methods, from structured to intuitive.

Key Takeaways
  • Five shuffling methods suit different readers and decks: overhand, riffle, Hindu, pile, and messy pile (corgi) shuffle. Each varies in randomization, deck wear, and feel, with no single method considered correct.
  • Recommended shuffle counts vary by method. Overhand needs 7-10 shuffles, riffle 3-4, Hindu 5-7 passes, pile 1-2 full deals, and the messy pile only needs to be done once for thorough randomization.
  • Reading reversed cards requires deliberately introducing rotation while shuffling. Methods include flipping a section 180 degrees during the overhand shuffle, splitting and rotating one half before shuffling, or using the messy pile method, which produces reversals naturally.
  • Cutting the deck after shuffling has three common variations. A single cut splits and inverts the deck, a three-pile cut reassembles in a new order, and an intuitive cut goes wherever the hand naturally lands; some readers have the querent cut the deck.
  • New deck rituals help build connection but are optional. Common practices include reviewing every card, sorting into Major Arcana 0-21 and each suit Ace-King, doing a thorough pile shuffle, sleeping with the deck under a pillow, and conducting a deck interview spread.

1. The Overhand Shuffle

Best for: Beginners, smaller hands, gentle on cards.

Hold the deck in one hand and use the other to pull small groups of cards from the top or bottom, dropping them back on top. This is probably how you already shuffle playing cards.

Pros: Easy, intuitive, works with any deck size. Cons: Doesn’t randomize as thoroughly as other methods. Shuffle at least 7-10 times.

2. The Riffle Shuffle

Best for: Experienced shufflers, standard-size decks.

Split the deck in half. Hold one half in each hand. Bend the edges and let the cards interleave as they fall together. This is the casino shuffle.

Pros: Excellent randomization in just 3-4 shuffles. Cons: Can bend or damage cards over time. Not great for large or thick decks. Some readers feel it’s too aggressive for tarot.

The Wheel of Fortune tarot card from the Visconti deck — representing the randomness and cycles that shuffling invokes

3. The Hindu Shuffle

Best for: A meditative, flowing shuffle.

Hold the deck in one hand. With the other hand, pull cards from the middle or back of the deck and place them on top. Repeat in a fluid motion.

Pros: Gentle on cards, has a rhythmic quality that helps with focus. Cons: Takes practice to feel natural.

4. The Pile Shuffle

Best for: Thorough randomization, cleansing a deck.

Deal the cards face-down into 5-7 random piles. Then stack the piles back together in any order. Repeat once or twice.

Pros: Most thorough randomization. Good for “resetting” a deck you haven’t used in a while. Cons: Takes longer. Not practical for quick daily pulls.

5. The Messy Pile (Corgi Shuffle)

Best for: Intuitive readers, getting out of your head.

Spread all 78 cards face-down on a table or floor. Move them around with both hands in a big messy pile, like a child finger-painting. When it feels done, gather them back into a stack.

Pros: Maximally random. Impossible to control the outcome. Fun and tactile. Cons: Needs table space. Cards can get dirty on unclean surfaces.

How Many Times Should You Shuffle?

There’s no magic number, but here are guidelines:

  • Overhand: 7-10 shuffles for good randomization
  • Riffle: 3-4 shuffles
  • Hindu: 5-7 passes
  • Pile: 1-2 full deals
  • Messy pile: Once is enough (it’s very thorough)

Or simply shuffle until it feels done. Many experienced readers don’t count. They shuffle until they feel a pull to stop, or until a card falls out of the deck. That “jumper” card is sometimes read as an additional message.

The Fool tarot card from the Marseille deck — the first card in the Major Arcana, ready to be shuffled into a new reading

Reversed Cards and Shuffling

If you read reversed cards (upside-down), you need to incorporate some rotation into your shuffling:

  • During the overhand shuffle, occasionally turn a section of cards 180 degrees before dropping them back
  • The messy pile method naturally creates reversals
  • Some readers split the deck in half, turn one half around, and then shuffle

If you don’t read reversals, keep all cards facing the same direction and shuffle without rotating.

Cutting the Deck

After shuffling, many readers cut the deck:

  • Single cut: Split the deck somewhere in the middle and place the bottom half on top
  • Three-pile cut: Split into three piles, then reassemble in a different order
  • Intuitive cut: Cut wherever your hand naturally goes

Some readers let the person they’re reading for cut the deck. This symbolically puts the querent’s energy into the reading.

New Deck Rituals

When you get a new deck, some readers like to:

  1. Look through every card to familiarize themselves with the art
  2. Put the cards in order (Major Arcana 0-21, then each suit Ace through King)
  3. Do a thorough pile shuffle to break the factory order
  4. Sleep with the deck under their pillow for a night
  5. Do a deck interview spread (draw cards asking what the deck’s personality is)

None of this is required. But rituals create connection, and connection improves readings.

The Magician tarot card from the Rider-Waite deck — symbolizing the focused connection between reader and deck

The Only Rule

Shuffle in a way that lets you focus on your question and forget about your hands. If you’re thinking about technique, you’re not connecting with the cards. Find the method that becomes automatic, and that’s your shuffle.