Introduction
As you work with a Tarot deck, it can accumulate energy from your readings, your thoughts, and the environment around it. To ensure it remains a clear and effective tool for divination, it’s important to periodically cleanse and clear its energy. In this post, I’ll be sharing some tips for cleansing and clearing your Tarot deck, helping you maintain a strong connection with your cards and promote accurate, insightful readings.
Why Cleanse and Clear Your Tarot Deck?
Cleansing and clearing your Tarot deck helps remove any residual energies or negative vibrations that may have attached to your cards during readings or handling. This is especially important if you allow your querents to handle and/or shuffle the cards themselves, or if you use the cards for intense readings or magickal work. A cleansed and cleared deck is more likely to provide clear, accurate, and unbiased readings.
Tips for Cleansing and Clearing Your Tarot Deck
Smudging with Sage or Palo Santo
One popular method for cleansing and clearing a Tarot deck is to smudge it with sage or Palo Santo. To do this, light a stick of sage or Palo Santo and allow the smoke to envelop your cards as you pass them through it. This method helps clear away any negative energies and purify your deck. A quality banishing incense blend works well for this, too.
Using Crystals
Crystals are known for their powerful energy-cleansing properties. To cleanse your Tarot deck with crystals, place a clear quartz, amethyst, or selenite crystal on top of your deck, or surround the deck with a circle of these crystals. Leave the crystals with your cards for a few hours or overnight to allow their energy to cleanse and clear your deck. A less well-known, but excellent, crystal for clearing away unwanted energies is shungite. I’ve rarely seen it in brick-and-mortar shops or at metaphysical expos, but it’s pretty easy to locate online, and not at all expensive.
Visualization and Intention
You can also cleanse and clear your Tarot deck through visualization and intention. Hold your deck in your hands, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Visualize a bright, white light surrounding your cards, clearing away any negativity or stagnant energy. Set the intention that your deck is now cleansed and cleared, ready for accurate and insightful readings.
Knocking or Tapping
Another simple method for clearing your Tarot deck is to knock or tap on it. Hold your deck in one hand and use your other hand to knock or tap on the top card three times. This action helps to release any stuck energy and revitalize your cards.
Sunlight or Moonlight
Allowing your Tarot deck to bathe in natural sunlight or moonlight can also help cleanse and clear its energy. Place your deck in a safe, protected spot where it can receive direct sunlight or moonlight for a few hours. Sunlight has a purifying effect, while moonlight imparts a more subtle, intuitive energy to your deck.
When to Cleanse and Clear Your Tarot Deck
It’s a good idea to cleanse and clear your Tarot deck on a regular basis, especially if you use it often for readings or personal guidance. Some practitioners choose to cleanse their decks after each reading, while others prefer to do it once a week or once a month. You may also want to cleanse and clear your deck if it has been exposed to negative energy or if you feel that your readings have become unclear or inaccurate.
If your cards get regular use, it’s a good idea to establish a schedule where they receive a quick clearing frequently, such as a quick pass through some incense smoke or the tapping method described above. Then schedule in a more thorough cleansing on a less-frequent basis, such as once a month. The New Moon or Full Moon are both great times to do a focused deep-cleanse of your deck. (Or decks, since it doesn’t take long as Tarot enthusiast before that collection starts to grow!)
Conclusion
Regularly cleansing and clearing your Tarot deck helps to maintain a strong connection with your cards and ensuring accurate, insightful readings. By incorporating these tips into your Tarot practice, you’ll be able to keep your deck’s energy fresh and vibrant, allowing it to serve as a powerful tool for divination, personal growth, and spiritual exploration.