I’ve been doing tarot pretty solidly since a friend gave me my first deck. Something basic is really confusing me, though. One of those things that it’s just been so long I’ve been embarrassed to ask about.
When I watch readers online or see people’s spreads here, they just pull cards straight from the top of the deck after shuffling. One after another. And somehow these cards always seem to tell a coherent story. How do the exact right cards for each position end up sitting there in perfect order? My brain keeps thinking it’s too much of a coincidence. Pulling from the top feels weird compared to fanning them out and picking what calls to me.
I’ve tried both ways, and they both seem to work, which confuses me even more about what’s actually happening when we draw cards.
Anyone else think about this? Or am I getting too hung up on the mechanics when I should just focus on reading?
14 Likes
Deepen Your Tarot Practice Beyond the Cards
Finding meaningful tarot discussions and authentic guidance can be surprisingly difficult. Discover a space where your questions are welcomed and your intuitive growth is celebrated: Start Your Journey
I always talk to my deck before pulling cards. It’s become a big part of how I read now. I’m becoming a much bigger fan of intuitive readings in general.
When I’m shuffling, I tell the cards what I’m looking for and decide what each position means. Kind of like setting up the space before we start. the readings are way clearer when I explain everything to the deck first. Like, while shuffling, I’ll think through the spread, this card is the situation, that one’s the advice, etc.
I’ve been using this ‘Destiny’s Door’ technique lately.
You pick three Major Arcana cards beforehand to represent Yes, No, and It Depends. Then shuffle and pull from the top until you hit one of them.
The cards end up arranging themselves through the shuffle. You’re basically just revealing what order they ended up in. Sometimes the sequential pulls do seem to connect in weird ways.
Pulling cards from the top felt natural, just like spreading them out, because I had built a strong connection with the whole deck. The cards seemed to arrange themselves during the shuffle to tell the story that needed to be heard, whether you’re picking them consciously or going with the flow.
Try spending some time with each card and writing down your first thoughts; you might find both methods start to feel guided.
Yeah, both methods work fine for some readings, but they can mess things up with spreads like the Celtic Cross.
Each position in the Celtic Cross means something specific. If you’re not careful about how you draw the cards, you might lose that structure. I’d just pull cards from the top of the deck in order. Keeps everything aligned with how the spread is supposed to work.
I’ve been pulling 3 from the top for morning readings and choosing 3 intuitively for evenings. After about a week you can feel how they’re both just different ways of doing the same thing
I’ve been using the same deck for years, and pulling from the top works for me because the spread positions set up the story. It’s like having chapter titles before you even get into it. When I experimented with just pulling cards without spreads, I found it much tougher to keep my focus without that structure leading the narrative.
Best of both worlds. I’ve been cutting my deck into three piles after shuffling.
Then I just pick from whichever pile feels right at the moment. It’s like giving the cards one more chance to rearrange themselves before I read. I get that intuitive feeling, but still draw cards in order from the pile I chose.
Everyone’s got their own method that works for them. This is just what clicked for me (and you’re welcome to it).
Yeah, adding to what everyone’s been saying about card-pulling methods, I’m with the people who let jumpers jump.
I also like picking from random spots in the deck. Something to think abou,t though: ‘accuracy’ in tarot is kind of a weird concept anyway.
Whatever cards come up are the right ones because that’s just how the connection works between you and your deck. You’re both creating the meaning together.
This reminds me of learning card reading from my grandmother. She used regular playing cards and always tapped the deck three times with her wedding ring before drawing. Called it ‘knocking before entering.’
I tried the same thing when I got into tarot, but it didn’t feel right. She pulled from the top of the deck, trusted the shuffle. I needed to see the cards.
Now I use both methods, her way for quick yes/no pulls, mine when I fan them out for deeper readings.
Everyone has their own method, some pull from the top, others pick intuitively, and I usually check if cards fall reversed or upright when shuffling. Just make sure you study the reversed meanings too. They’re pretty important if you want to understand what’s going on in a reading.
I do readings outside and I’ve literally watched The Fool card fly away twice now. So, outdoor venues, I just pull from the top of the deck.
Coffee shops are better since people can gather around and I can spread the cards out properly. Clients like pointing to specific cards. The ambient noise helps me concentrate more than when I’m reading at home in complete silence. Not sure why but it works.
Mercury stations direct in two days. That could explain why you’re questioning your method right now. During retrogrades, our intuition gets a bit fuzzy.
I started pulling from the bottom of the deck during these times since it matches the backwards energy. After it goes direct, try switching your method based on the moon sign:, Air signs: pull from top, Water signs: go with your gut, Earth signs: cut the deck first, Fire signs: let cards fall while shuffling Just something that’s worked for me.