Cutting the cards

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Okay, I usually just have the client cut the cards into three piles, any way they want, then restack them in any order of their choosing. After that, I deal the cards into the spread.

However, I have come across an interesting passage and thought I would share it with you!

Quoted from "Easy Tarot Guide" by Marcia Mansino.

"...Reading the Cut

When the Seeker feels she's shuffled sufficinetly, she shtops.
Ask her to cut the cards into three piles, face down, Traditionally,
the left hand is used to make the cut because it's the hand of the
subconscious mind, and therefor revealing wht the subconscious knows
about the Seeker's Question.

A Cut from left to right shows the Seeker's desire to know about the
future. Conversely, if the Cut is made from right to left, the cards
indicate patterns or concerns from the past.

When you read the Cut, the first pile down, or the pile that never
left the table, is the past. The second pile down is read as the
Present. the third pile down is the Future. The piles are always
read this way, regardless where the Seeker places them on the table."

"...Interpreting the Cut

A cut starting from the middle, going to one side of the middle pile
and then the other side is balanced. This is a horizontal cut meaning
openness with good personal judgement.

A horizontal Cut, from left to right reveals that hidden, unexpected
and unconscious motivations and information may come to light when
the Cut is read. Sometimes this information is about the Seeker's
future.

conversely, if the Cut is made from right to left, the Seeker is
searching or asking the subconscious for guidance and information
about the question. The Seeker who cuts this way may be asking why
or what has caused the situation to occur.

If the Seeker is left-handed, the theory operates in reverse.

Turn over the three piles, making sure you turn them as you would
a page in a book rather than from top to bottom. (Turn over the
entire pile, not the first or top card.) Turning the cards over from
right to left ensures that they face the Seeker, not the Reader, the
way the Seeker dealt them. This is assuming that you are seated
opposite each other. the psychic energies flow better if you sit on
opposite sides of a desk or table."

<***Note to Class***Then you would just read the cards that are facing
up from the bottom of each pile as a three card, past, present, future
spread. (This is not required for our tarot lessons, just some ideas
of what is possible with the Tarot.) This will give you a good starting
place for doing readings...insights to what the reading is about.>

"The next step is to TURN THE THREE PILES OVER (FACE DOWN) AND HAVE THE
SEEKER PUT THEM INTO ONE PILE ANY WAY DESIRED.

Watch carefully as the Seeker puts the cards back together into one
pile. If the Future pile ends up on top, the reading will basically
deal with what is to come. When the Present pile is placed on top the
Seeker's reading will emphasize dealing with the present situations.
Placing the Past pile on top indicates that the reading will be about
past situations that may have to be dealt with i.e., repeated cycles
(possibly mistakes); or the reading may shed light on how situations
were previously handled and how to change and/or utilize this
information."

<***Note to Class*** After the deck is returned to one pile, you can
begin your spread, and the reading of the cards.>


Again, this material was quoted from "Easy Tarot Guide" by Marcia Mansino.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here.

If you have a different method of cutting the cards, post them here also!

:D

[reanna]

Thanks Dagda. ;)

[Silver Venus]

I never thought that the actual piles are past, present and future!! And that the way a person cuts is significant too!! :p
Thanks Dagda that was great reading ~ I will print it out and safe keep it for the future! And try to remember ~Ick! ~ When Ive got some time later on this week Ill get practising on myself ~ I always cut from left to right so I guess I always want to know the future right :D But I think I nearly always end up putting the middle one on top so thats the present!
:o

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Good luck! I tried it last night, and it seemed pretty accurate. (past-6 of Wands, Present-Lovers, and Future-??oh darn, I forgot! ACK!! :crazy: )

Then I tried varying the restack. I put future on top, and did a reading....it spoke of alot of challenges...alot of wands and 5's. Usually, when I restack, the present is on top of the past with future on the bottom. No wonder my readings always seemed to tell the now of it! :D I'll do more experimenting tonight!

:D

[tarotbear]

WOW! How elaborate can you get? I dunno - after it takes you 25 minutes just to shuffle the cards and then 15 minutes to figure out what the Querent meant because they had a blue stone on the third finger of their right hand during a full moon in June on a Wednesday-- are we getting way too complicated here?
I ask the Querent to cut to the left with their left hand and put the first pile they made on top and deal from there.

{Although a hispanic friend once told me 'they' cut the deck into three piles and do a reading off each since one pile was your life, your house, and something else. You only read the cards in that pile for that aspect.}

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

I've heard that. But I've heard it associated with past, present, future...basically any aspect you assign that pile to be prior to shuffling. :D

I agree that it can get complicated, but any added insight I feel is worth it. For the cut reading, I'd just use keywords and not get too in-depth though. I don't always use that method, though. I tend to do the normal reading ....but now, you have me looking at the bottom card after the reading! ;) just to see.....

[tarotbear]

Yeah, that looking at the bottom card of the pile after you do the reading sounds interesting...anyone else do this when they read?

[Silver Venus]

The cutting piles and how the querrant puts them back together is soo right Dagda!! Ive been noticing it ever seem you posted this and is always spot on with what the querrant wants to know about :D
At first it seemed allot to learn and take in but its just common sense really isnt it with the Tarot!! ;)


Originally posted by tarotbear
Yeah, that looking at the bottom card of the pile after you do the reading sounds interesting...anyone else do this when they read?

I do this when I take my deck out of my box/bag!!! :D It always is soo right too :)

[Mairwen]

A very good friend of mine is an expert Tarot reader. If any of us are stuck with a problem, we call him and scream for help (well, not really scream). He has the policy that his cards are never to be shuffled in the traditional card-playing sense (ie, no bridging, ect), but sorted by holding the cards on the right palm and re-arranging them with the left hand. When this is felt to be sufficient, he then hands you the deck, and you repeat the process, ending by stacking the cards into three piles, and then restacking them (all with the left hand). You hand the cards back to him, and he reads. He is from the school that the deck possesses it's own spirit and therefore requires gentle yet precise handling.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by Mairwen
He is from the school that the deck possesses it's own spirit and therefore requires gentle yet precise handling.

Thats really nice :)

[Amora]

Those are some really good tips!! I have seen some of my clients lay the cards middle then left then right or vice versa and always wondered if I should read them in a different way. I have also never tried turning the entire pile over. I can't wait to give that a shot.

I did read the other things in my book at home it's callled Tarot for the Master User but I can't remember who wrote it. It gives I swear a (million??!!) different ways to read the cards...so many I haven't looked at them all. The ways to interpret are neverending. I enjoy reading everyones different methods. I think we each found a way that works for us. It's great to be able to pick up little tips to implement into our own style as well.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Hi Amora,

Could you get me more info about the book? I don't think I've heard of that one, and it sounds really interesting!

~D