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If you think there's nothing easier than shuffling a deck of tarot cards, you're very wrong. Ask any tarot reader who's done it. There you are, sitting cross-legged, pretending you’ve achieved inner peace, your crystals arranged, trying to focus on a life-altering question, while frantically flipping laminated cards that insist on flying off in five directions.
You start wondering: "Have I shuffled enough? Have I shuffled too much?" Then finally, you think: "When to stop shuffling tarot cards?"
What you do is overthink your intuition. In the great universe of tarot reading, there are volumes written on card meanings, spreads, symbols, reversals, and archetypes. But very few take the time to answer one of the most universally asked questions: "How to know when to stop shuffling tarot cards?" Let’s settle this once and for all.
Is There One Way That Fits Everyone?
It would be nice if there was such a way, but such knowledge as the one of tarot cards cannot be simple. Some readers say you’ll “just know.” Others say to shuffle for a certain number of times, until a card falls out or until you feel “energetically ready.”
No one agrees, which is annoying, but also liberating. Because here’s the truth…
There Is No One Right Way, But There Is Your Way
Much like relationships, haircuts, and ordering food, shuffling Tarot cards is a personal experience. So if you're looking for a singular, official, universal answer on how to shuffle a tarot deck, you must be new here. That said, here are some real and valid ways people decide to stop shuffling:
- You feel a little shift. It may be a pause or a soft inner ding. It feels weirdly like when you “just know” someone’s about to break up with you.
- A card flies out of the deck and lands on the floor. Some people stop there. Others pick it up, apologize, and keep shuffling.
- You commit to a number in advance. Seven times. Nine times. You choose something that sounds right.
- You have a timer inside your head. You shuffle for exactly 30 seconds, 10 seconds, or 5.
All of these answers on how to shuffle tarot cards are valid. But if you still think that your entire fate depends on whether you continue for three more seconds, we have some advice for you below.
Ask Before Shuffling Tarot Cards
Before you start shuffling tarot cards, take one simple step: ask the question. You can ask it in your head, but it's better to do it out loud or in writing.
“Should I leave my job?”
“Why does my ex keep appearing in my life?”
“Is this relationship a spiritual connection?”
Once the question is clear, the shuffling becomes less chaotic. You're not killing time. You're stirring the deck with intention. That is what matters more than how long you do it.
Shuffling is a ritual of focus. This is a moment to quiet your nervous system and bring your brain online with your soul. It’s meditation disguised as motion. So, when do you stop?
Stop when your mind stops racing and your body starts listening. Stop when the question feels real, when the action feels settled, and when you’re not performing a tarot reading, but doing it.
If You're Still Not Sure, Try This
If you couldn't find the answer for yourself in the previous methods, try this:
- Clear the deck. Knock it, blow on it, or say “okay, we’re starting fresh.”
- Ask your question aloud.
- Set a number. Seven is nice. Nine feels powerful. Stick to it.
- Shuffle, and stop when you hit your number, a card jumps out, you feel that little internal click, or you realize you’ve been doing this for five minutes and nothing’s changed.
You need to understand that you're doing fine. You’re not going to ruin the reading by stopping “too soon.” You’re not going to anger the spirit realm. You’re not going to jinx your love life.
No, the Cards Aren’t Mad at You
There’s a specific anxiety tarot newbies and overthinkers share: that the cards can be mad at them. Some think that if you shuffle too fast or not fast enough, they’ll give you nonsense.
Relax. The Tarot is not passive-aggressive. It’s not here to test you.
What makes a reading meaningful isn’t whether you shuffled 12 or 14 times. It’s how honestly you’re willing to look at the answer once it shows up. That’s the real work.
The act of shuffling is not a trap. It’s a doorway. Don’t worry about how you walk through it, just walk.
Conclusion
There’s no right moment. There’s only your moment.
What if you get it wrong? What if you panic and draw the card too soon? Here’s a secret: you can reshuffle. You can ask again. The tarot cards don’t hold grudges.
Now ask your question and shuffle. The debate is over. You’re ready.
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