Do you let other people touch your cards?

[BlueStar]

InfernalTarot in their post (viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1263) mentioned not touching their mother's cards. I know that some readers let the sitter cut the cards when reading for them. Other's don't. Personally I prefer not to have anyone touch my cards.

What are your thoughts or preferences on the matter, and why? I'd love to hear different perspectives on this. I've created a poll on this too (hope I've got a fair range of questions...)

[Charlie Brown]

I like to have the sitter shuffle things up and put their energy into the deck. I generally only read face-to-face for people I'm pretty close to though. I might feel differently if I ever set up a table or something.

[Diana]

Anyone can touch and play with my cards. They are after all just pieces of cardboard with pictures on them. It's when one manipulates and studies them, that they gain their meaning and significance.

I used to read a lot for people. Now hardly ever. But if the querent wants to shuffle and choose the cards themselves, I let them. If they didn't feel comfortable, I do it for them. No rules. The less rules there are the better for me. I'm a rebel at heart I suppose.

[katrinka]

My answer doesn't really fit the poll, but generally I don't. Most people aren't used to shuffling big Tarot decks, tiny Lenormand minis, etc. I don't want my cards bent. And it's not necessary - obviously it's possible to read for people at a great distance via phone, etc., without them touching the cards.
When I do let them touch the cards, it's simple theatrics: Having them tap the deck, cut, or choose a few cads from a deck fanned on the table.
But I rarely even do that.

[pooka23]

I only read for family, friends and myself. Only my daughter can shuffle my Il Meneghello decks though. She is very new to tarot, and takes great care.

[qndynes]

Yeah, definitely a little iffy about this. I prefer others do not touch my cards. If it is a sitter I let them cut but never shuffle. I've come to the conclusion that given the liberty sitters will most often riffle shuffle badly bend the cards. Makes me cringe every time. So sitters, only cut the pile when I'm done shuffling. I let certain people touch my cards, but then again I am judicious with the decks I bring out for others. I would never read for others using my Victorian Romantic, nor my hard to find Fantarocco, not my Tabula Mundi. Much less my oop Piatnik Wein TDM. These decks never come out for others. My others decks are negotiable. I let my partner shuffle a deck on occasions, if I'm reading for him. And I also let my godmother shuffle the cards if I'm reading for her. But that's about it.

[Rachelcat]

Anyone who's interested can handle my decks. But I'm hovering uncomfortably to make sure they don't hurt them! It's usually tarot society friends, so they know that my decks are my babies.

I never let querants shuffle because the general public is uncomfortable shuffling tarot-sized decks. And some people don't even know how to shuffle. Some tarot society friends recently admitted they didn't know how to overhand shuffle. We had a little lesson.

So when reading, I do the shuffling and then ask the querants to cut.

[Nemia]

I really don't care who touches my cards, there are only nice people in my life anyway, and why should my energy be better than anyone else's? I also like 2nd hand decks, clothes, baby stuff and books - I have absolutely no problem with things that other people have handled before, just the opposite. I find it enriching. A whole network of give and take. And my cards know anyway to whom they belong! (I was also never a "don't touch my precious kids" kind of mum. Anyone could hold my children as long as they agreed.) I understand that this is a very personal choice and it's interesting to see how others feel.

[katrinka]

LOL, if those were the only reasons not to allow it, I certainly wouldn't mind! (I'm not a "My preciousssssssss" type. )
When you read for random people you don't really know, who may have grubby hands, or just not be used to handling cards, it's a little different.

[Nemia]

That's true. I really regret that I'm not in that situation, I read for others virtually and without personal contact, and I'm sure your readings are more powerful. May I ask - do you have decks that are for "private" use only and others that are "workhorses"? Do you buy sometimes two of the same so you have one deck "for yourself"?

[katrinka]

That's true. I really regret that I'm not in that situation, I read for others virtually and without personal contact, and I'm sure your readings are more powerful.

That's very generous of you, but I get a lot of long distance gigs as well. I wouldn't say one is any more powerful than the other!

May I ask - do you have decks that are for "private" use only and others that are "workhorses"? Do you buy sometimes two of the same so you have one deck "for yourself"?

I do have workhorse decks, sturdy things that can easily be replaced if need be. That's mainly because of my own riffling, though. If I'm reading face to face for someone I know well, who isn't grabby, I have no problem using the "nicer" ones.

I do have a few that I only use for myself. The Victorian Flower Oracle comes to mind - but that's because it seems to communicate on a very personal level. IOW, it works for me, but if I'm reading for someone else there's a good chance I won't know what it''s talking about!

[Amoroso]

Only to cut or choose, never to shuffle or anything else.

I'm close to my sister tho so I allow her handle some of my decks.

[chongjasmine]

I don't let others touch my cards.
Afraid they made the cards dirty.