Who doesn't love a good Tarot Reading? Pulling cards gives you the opportunity to peer into your past, present and future. But with every reading, your Tarot Deck accumulates more and more psychic debris {physical and emotional}, so you'll want to be sure to cleanse your cards after every reading and also before the next. In this blog post, I will explain how to do this.
Why You Should Cleanse Your Deck
First things first: Do you actually need to cleanse your tarot deck? The answer is YES. By clearing your Tarot Deck you will open yourself up to clearer and more accurate readings. If you think of the Tarot as a tool or channel for your intuition and spirit team to communicate to you, it makes sense that sometimes it might need a little refresh that acts as a reset for both the deck and its reader. As a Tarot Reader, I have learnt that cleansing the cards before and after every reading will always clear the previous energy and intention. If you were using a deck yesterday and were feeling sad, for example, you would not want that energy to hang around in your cards. Even if you are only doing readings for yourself, your energy is constantly changing so when you do a reading with a cleared deck it will better reflect your current circumstances. The same principle will apply to when you perform readings for others.
Ways To Cleanse Tarot Decks
Now we will look at the various ways you can cleanse the cards. You can use 1, several or all of these methods. Use the one that resonates with you.
Crystals - Using certain crystals can be a great way to cleanse Tarot Cards. You can either sit your deck on top of crystals or you can place a small crystal on top of your deck to charge them. Crystals that I have used and always find helps are Selenite which is a great crystal for connecting to spirit guides as well as keeping the energy of the deck both clear and connected. You can also use Clear Quartz and Rose Quartz. Both of these will cleanse the cards within a few minutes but they will also infuse the cards with loving energies which is beneficial if you are performing a relationship reading.
Smoke - Simply hold your deck near the smoke of incense or a smudge stick, allowing the smoke to waft over and around the cards to cleanse them. If you can use herbs such as Lavender this will help to bring through a clear message or Mugwort for it has cleansing and intuitive properties {Take care when using Mugwort}.
Salt - Salt is such a powerful and accessible tool for clearing As such, when your cards are in need of a real RESET, you can place your cards into a bowl of salt overnight.
Sunlight - There's something refreshing about being out in the sunshine and getting some fresh air, and tarot cards feel it, too. Taking your cards outside and fanning them in the fresh air can work wonders especially if you are feeling stuck or stagnant with your readings. If using the sunlight method, take care as to not accidentally bleach your cards in the sun.
Moonlight - The moon and night are my favourite times of the day. These are also very good times to charge your cards under the light of the moon. Placing the cards on a windowsill so it can soak up the rays of the full moon will work wonders for your readings. An example is if you are performing a relationship reading, charge your cards on a Friday night, as Friday is ruled by Venus
Shuffling - Shuffling is standard practice when reading the cards. It is also a way for you to get acquainted with your cards. If you are getting to know a new deck of cards or simply feeling disconnected from the, you can lay the cards out in order {starting with the Major Arcana and moving through the suits} and then just mix the whole thing up in a chaotic way - like a child playing in the mud or you can simply do an extra thorough regular shuffle for a quick reboot.
Knocking - Have you ever heard that you should knock your deck three times before a reading? This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to physically knock old energy out of a Tarot Deck. The first knock clears the energy or the previous readings. The second knock introduces you to the deck and the third knock represents your intention for the reading.
Breath - Your breath is a powerful tool, and incorporating it into your cleansing process will help you clear your deck and drop into a reading faster. Simply blowing a deep breath over your deck essentially brushes any old energy off of it.
Visualisation - If you're into visualisations, why not try one for clearing your deck. You could try holding your deck between your hands, closing your eyes, and visualising a white light or whatever colour feels cleansing to you. Picture this light surrounding your deck and pulling old energy out of them.
Sound - Last but not least, sound is another wonderful tool for cleansing your deck. Bells are a very popular way to cleanse the cards but you can also use Crystal Singing Bowls, Tibetan Singing Bowls or even your own voice by chanting OM over the cards.
Times You Should Cleanse Your Cards
Here are a handful of times you'll definitely want to clean your deck. {Though for what it's worth, it's never a bad idea to cleanse your deck, especially before starting a reading.}
When You First Get Them
You should always cleanse your deck when you first get them. This is because the cards have likely been touched by many hands on their way to you, through packing, stocked on shelving units, handled by cashiers or delivery drivers and more. You want to make sure to cleanse your deck of all other energies that have handled them.
When Someone Else Uses Them
Personally, I never let anyone touch my cards but if someone does hold your cards you should always cleanse the deck afterwards to remove their energies and emotions.
Each Time You Pick It Up For A Reading
That's right! To ensure the most accurate of readings, It is recommended that you cleanse your deck every time you perform a reading. Whether it's for someone else, or yourself it is always best to start with a cleansed deck.
If You Have Travelled With Them
If you've gone on a trip and taken your deck with you, it is good to cleanse them. After all, who knows what kind of energy you could pick up on in foreign places.
If The Connection Feels Off
Last but not least, you can cleanse a deck
anytime your connection to your cards feels a little off or you just feel that you need to cleanse them. The cards respond to your energy, as well as the energy around you so the more you tune into them, the more you will be able to tell when they need to be cleansed.
Programming Your Deck With Intention
When a deck is freshly cleansed and ready for a reading it is time to program it with intention. Take a few minutes to light a candle or create an intentional space, and holding the deck in your hands, state your intention out loud. I am also a fan of setting intentions with a verbal declaration. Before each reading, I will state the intention of the reading and what I will be pulling the cards for. I will then hold the cards on my 3rd eye Chakra. For example, as I shuffle my cards I will say out loud “I am doing a career reading for myself and will be pulling three cards that represent my career past, present and future”. You can even do a spread to help you expand on your intention. Asking your deck questions like, How am I meant to work with this deck in this season? How can I best support my intention for this deck? What approach would be helpful?
How To Care For The Cards
Treating your deck with the utmost care will help it stay clear and cleansed for longer. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep the deck in a specific place, be it on an altar or a well-maintained shelf. You can wrap it in a piece of fabric, place it in a box or put a crystal over it. I think putting it away intentionally after each use or at the end of the day is a nice way to care for it both energetically and physically. And if you have a collection of decks definitely designate a space to store them like a shelf, basket or decorative box. If you've had a particular deck for a while, be sure to take it out from time to time. Keeping your decks in dark corners of bookshelves or drawers can lead to stagnant energy.
Final Thoughts
Much like a favourite crystal can hold onto stagnant energy, so too can a deck of Tarot Cards. If you want a clear reading free from stuck energy, be sure to cleanse your deck frequently be it with a knock, a shuffle, or a dip in the moonlight.