Regular readers know that I collect Tarot cards and that I use them as part of an intuitive practice, usually trance related (I will be teaching an upcoming course on Metaphysical Hypnosis that incorporates a number of Tarot processes), rather than for what many consider to be fortune telling or the like.

Recently on one of the groups I co-moderate, Tarot-L, the question of whether or not one should re-order the cards after each reading has come up. The querant read in a book that one must always re-order the cards between readings and asked how others approached it.

In my opinion and according to the way I practice . . . and others are certainly free to disagree with me . . . I would prefer not to have my cards in order after each reading. Rather, I shuffle each time I use a deck and feel that having them previously shuffled with the cards randomized from previous readings allows the deck to become more random and thus allows me to connect more intuitively. That is, with use, the deck “gains experience” which is in part manifested in the randomization of the cards. If one re-orders the deck after each use . . . 1. it takes more time, 2. it limits the randomization as your shuffles will be closer to the original order of the deck than possible with longterm randomization through multiple uses, and 3. for some reason makes me think one is trying to trick oneself into believing the deck is “pristine” or “pure” or “virginal” when one should rather be celebrating its experience and liveliness. The relationship to one’s Tarot deck is a little bit like one’s relationship to one’s lover . . . at first, everything is ordered and proper and virginal and tentative but as one gains experience together you can celebrate one another’s growth and randomness and life and love a bit more by taking things as they truly are rather than as they are packaged. I want my lover to grow with me and I want to celebrate the freedom of expressing what is hidden beneath rather than trying to pretend we’re still virgins. I remember what it was like to be a virgin and certainly wouldn’t want to artificially pretend my lover is one when freely acknowledging and celebrating our experience, skill, and desires is a much more fulfilling way to embrace the relationship. The metaphor doesn’t hold completely with Tarot cards, but the concept is fair enough. Folks who pretend or treat their lovers as virgins when they know they aren’t are cheating themselves of an aspect of the relationship that has great value, depth, and potential for igniting it in ways that ways that artificial rigidity can never come close to. Those who artificially re-order their Tarot cards are losing the insights available from truly random readings under and experienced hand with an experienced deck. Personally, I prefer a lover with experience in life and love and more and I prefer a Tarot deck that has that experience as well.

The only time I would reorder a deck is when specifically doing exercises related to particular cards or suits or admiring the art. If it’s a “working deck” so to speak, then my practice would be to allow the deck to gain experience and connection with each reading and each shuffle.

However, that is me . . . others may have their own take and are certainly free to politely disagree.

All the best,
Brian