Hi Gypsydragonlady and blessings to you

 

Okies firstly I would like to point out that how you shuffle is a personal preference, as long as you have a ritual /routine that you follow that works best for you.This routine/ritual also helps prepare/ open up for the reading you are about to do. I like the hand to hand shuffling, as you would regular playing cards, the question on reverse or not reverse can be either. If you are from the school where you include reverse card meanings then by all means include them. To prepare your deck roughly half deck , turn one pile upside down then add to the other half and comence shuffling hand to hand, be sure to shuffle well. That way you have a good mixture of both reverse and right side up.

Personally I don't see the need to use reverse card meanings, as all cards have a duel meaning so to speak and intuition / surrounding cards will lead you to the correct meaning in any spread. I do however take extra attention to jumping cards(when shuffling), these tend to be significant.

As I turn the cards over, I use the side to side technique, but either is ok as long as you use the same method throughout the entire reading.

I suggest that you sit down with your deck and "play" with your cards, shuffling, turning them over, cutting ( I cut twice into three piles, taking the middle then right, than left) and working out a spread that you are comfortable with.( I use the celtic cross) Once you are comfortable with your own special technique/routine/ritual. Your cards will respond accordinly and appropriatly.

 

I hope this has helped, blessings Whiteladywolf xxxxx