posted December 24, 2007 01:24 AM         

Anyway, I did some reading for family on Thanksgiving. They wanted to shuffle after me; I didn't really want this. I like to shuffle, hand them the deck and have them shuffle, and then shuffle again, so that my hands are the last to touch my deck.

Well, I caved. I really couldn't remember the rules on this, so I let them shuffle.

Now, I did a reading last night and I'm not sure...it seemed off.

posted December 24, 2007 06:01 PM         

I would cleanse the deck. It's not ruined by any means. Just cleanse it of its energy. It's good to cleanse your deck a couple times a year anyway.

Some people just put their cards back in order and that is enough for them, others use oils or smudge them.
http://www.atasteoftarot.com/deckcare.htm

posted December 26, 2007 08:59 PM         

As with anything in Life, your intent is your answer.

Or more simply, as Linda put it in Star Signs, "If you Mind, it Matters. If you don't Mind, it doesn't Matter!"

If you believe that the deck is ruined by a touch then it is. However, I should think that it would take much more than a shuffle to ruin a deck of Tarot cards. ( or crystals or anything else for that matter)

I have always maintained that the cards in and of themselves have no power beyond that which our connection to them gives them.

I think that if they were handled by someone that had a disruptive energy, if you were empathic, you might pick this up.

If that is the case, you might wish to "cleanse" the deck by any method that you feel works for you. My method is to simply hold the cards in my hands, mentally visualize them surrounded by White Light (or any other type of Light that you feel attracted to) and say either mentally or aloud, "That which was, no longer is."

You might just simply ask your Angels or Guides to clear out the energy that you feel is disruptive. Another way that I "break the energy" of the cards is to "riffle shuffle" the pack. Usually I will never do this, as I prefer to use the hand over hand method to shuffle the cards. I feel that when you "riffle shuffle" Tarot cards, you are dispersing any energy attached to them, thus clearing them.

If you feel the need for something more ritualistic or involved, by all means do it.

Point being, I think that the INTENT is what will attach energy to cards. A friend or acquaintance of yours looking curiously at the cards will not in any way "effect" your connection. Unless you BELIEVE that it will.

What do you believe?

Hope that helps.

In the Light...

A