Room lighting definitely affects how cards feel to me too. Have you tried putting a colored cloth under your spread? Might help things feel more stable. I usually warm my hands over the deck for a bit before I start. Helps with any weird textures.
Would be curious to hear more about your specific process. I’m always looking for new ways to work with these tools, especially since my current routine has been feeling a bit stale.
Found a synesthete tarot deck at a local market last month. Been using it for coffee shop readings. The colors and textures actually match what I see when I touch the cards. The Death card has this deep black-purple that I’ve always associated with it.
Clients seem to pick up on the color meanings too, which is interesting.
I keep notes on how each card feels when I handle them. Temperature, texture, that kind of thing. I log it after each reading session.
Every so often, I’ll test if I can identify cards just by touch - either face down or in sleeves. Want to make sure I’m actually sensing something physical and not imagining the images.
One thing I’ve been trying: using the temperature feeling as a timing indicator. If a card feels warm, maybe that means sooner. Cool might mean later. Still tracking results on that.