Many people are getting tarot cards these days in hopes of finding some insight but newbies don’t often realize that having a deck includes a responsibility to keep it spiritually clear.
Objects like a tarot deck hold energy and can get clogged with the old energy left behind from use. This can affect future readings either by not being effective or even giving a bad reading.
There are times you should cleanse your tarot deck to keep it functioning. Realistically, you should cleanse it every time you use it but cleansing is more critical at specific times.
When to Clean Your Tarot Deck
- A New Deck
Just because it’s a new tarot deck doesn’t mean it’s clean. It takes many people to produce, distribute, and ship the deck to you. All of that has energy. Plus, cleansing the deck is a good way to get used to the cards and how to use them.
Some suggest sleeping with the cards under your pillow for three nights after you cleanse them to develop a bond.
- When Others Use It
Anyone else using your tarot deck will bring their energy into the deck. This includes using the deck for readings of others. Negative energy can be particularly potent and it’s best to clear the space after your readings to neutralize all energy.
- When a Reading is Stressful
Those who do readings know better than to do one when they are stressed. However, it can happen. A more likely scenario is the other person is under undue stress. You should clear the card’s energy if you find yourself trying to do a reading with heavy energy.
- After Travel
Some travel with their tarot card deck and you should always do a cleansing after you return home. It can pick up all kinds of energy when you’re on the road, in hotel rooms, or at friends’ homes.
- Your Gut Says So
Those who have tarot decks will find they do bond with the deck and the deck will “tell” them it needs a cleansing. This will be in your gut and you will feel a need to do a cleansing. Sometimes, you may feel it when you shuffle the deck and pull a card.
Ways to Cleanse Tarot Cards
There are seven solid ways to cleanse tarot cards. All are highly effective and you must pick one or more of the ways you find works best for you.
- Cleanse with Crystals
You can use crystals like selenite or clear quartz for cleaning the deck. All you do is put a crystal on top of the deck. You can also put your deck on top of a large flat crystal. It will give your deck a recharge.
- Cleanse with Sunlight
Fanning your tarot cards in the sun can cleanse them but don’t leave them outside in direct sunlight. The sun can fade and damage them. Just wave the fan of cards around in the sunlight for a few minutes.
- Cleanse by Moonlight
Those who don’t want sunshine can use moonlight to cleanse a deck. Place them in a safe area with direct moonlight overnight. To boost the cleansing, put them under a full moon and hold them down with a crystal.
- Use Smoke
Smoke has always been a purifier in many cultures. Some of the best types of smoke are copal incense, white sage, or palo santo. All you do is wave the smoke around your cards for a few minutes and then cleanse your reading space.
- The Knocking Method
This is a quick and easy way to cleanse a deck before each reading. All you do is knock on your deck before you shuffle. It knocks old energy out of it.
- Purify by Sound
Sounds carry a purifying force with them. Things like bells, frequency music, and singing bowls can pleasantly purify a deck.
- Using Salt
Salt, by its composition, is meant to purify and preserve. It’s one of the oldest techniques. All you have to do is sprinkle some sea salt on the deck to cleanse it. You can also place the tarot deck in a bowl of sea salt for an overnight cleanse.
- Securing Your Tarot Deck
It’s important to keep your cleansed deck in a secure place so it doesn’t pick up energy. It could be a calming, secure place like a special box. Then, you know it will be ready when you are prepared to do a reading.
Keeping a clean tarot deck will ensure your deck will be effective for a long time and will help you give the most accurate readings. That is part of your responsibility to those you are helping with readings.
