Whether you bought a Tarot deck second-hand, your Tarot deck was exposed to negative energy, or you feel like it is time to give your Tarot cards a good cleanse, there are many different techniques you can choose from.
You can cleanse your Tarot cards with incense, one of the most popular ways to clear any energy attached to your cards. To do this, you can let the cards move through the smoke the incense creates—many other ways to cleanse your cards, such as a moon bath.
If you own a deck of Tarot cards, cleansing them is essential so they remain in a positive energy state. Keep reading so you can learn all about when you need to cleanse your Tarot cards, what you can use to cleanse your cards, and how you can use each of these techniques to do so.
When Should You Cleanse Your Tarot Cards?
If you haven’t cleansed your cards in a while and feel that something isn’t right, it may be a sign that it is time to cleanse them. However, there are some definite situations where you should cleanse them to make sure that they maintain positive and peaceful energy.
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Here are some situations that following, you should cleanse your Tarot cards:
- If other people have touched your cards
- You’ve done a somewhat draining or negative reading for someone
- You bought a Tarot deck that has been used before
- Your Tarot cards were exposed to negative energy from your life or someone else’s
- You have left your cards alone and haven’t used them in a while
- Your Tarot readings feel unclear or as if something isn’t right
- You dropped your cards all over the place
- You want to reconnect with your cards
Remember, you do not need a specific reason to cleanse your cards. If the time feels right, go for it.
What Can You Cleanse Tarot Cards With?
There are various ways to cleanse your Tarot cards, and whichever way you choose is completely up to you. However, whichever technique you choose should feel suitable to your situation, and it’s even okay to switch up or combine techniques depending on the situation.
Here is a list of the many different ways you can cleanse your Tarot cards:
- Incense/smudging
- Salt burial
- Moon bath
- Meditation
- Fresh air
- Sorting/shuffling
- Singing bowl
- And many more
Keep reading below to learn more about these cleansing techniques and how to do them so you can choose one and do it yourself.
How to Cleanse Tarot Cards
No matter the technique you choose, it is essential to do it properly to ensure that your cards are thoroughly cleansed. Cleansing your cards is a great time to also reconnect with your cards and always choose the technique that feels right for the given situation.
Incense/Smudging
The process of incense, sometimes called smudging, includes burning incense that is either loose or in the form of a stick or a cone with blessing or cleansing properties. Some incenses with these properties are white sage, sweetgrass, or palo santo.
This process is one of the most popular and very easy to do. However, if you have allergies or an intolerance to smoke, opt for a cleansing spray instead, so you are not irritated; cleansing sprays can come with a base of sage oil or palo santo oil, such as the Big Lost Goods White Sage & Palo Santo Smudge Spray.
To do this, you will burn the incense all around the cards, either doing it one at a time or the entire deck simultaneously, letting the smoke pass through the cards. You should also go ahead and cleanse the space you do readings in as well as yourself to clear out any energy that may be around you.
If you use sage, make sure to dispose of sage properly.
You can watch this video below to see the process in action:
Salt Burial
Salt is commonly used to bring out the negative energy from spaces and can also draw the negative energy out from your cards. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Fill an airtight container with salt.
- Wrap your Tarot deck tightly in a plastic bag.
- Immerse your wrapped tarot deck completely in the salt, ensuring the whole deck is fully covered.
- Then make sure you close the container so the salt can gather the energy from the deck and any moisture does not ruin the cards.
You can leave the cards in the salt anywhere from a few days up to a week, and once you take them out, they are cleansed. Remember to always dispose of the salt after.
Moon Bath
Using the full moon is a common practice for cleansing your Tarot cards and crystals. If you pay attention to when the full moons occur (about every 29 days), you can leave your cards on a window sill or table the night of the full moon and let them bathe in the moonlight.
Meditation
You can even cleanse your cards through the process of meditation. Cleansing through meditation is an excellent choice between readings, as it is simple and efficient.
To do this, take your cards in both hands and relax with your eyes closed. Take this time to visualize the Universal energy getting drawn through you and to your cards. In your mind, surround your cards with a bright protective white light before you finish.
Fresh Air
When it has freshly rained, or the sun is warmly shining down, take your cards and place them outside to absorb the fresh air and the sun’s rays.
This is a great way to cleanse your cards, but remember to watch them if the wind picks up so they don’t get damaged.
Sorting/Shuffling
To use the method of sorting or shuffling to cleanse your cards, you will essentially be sorting them first and then shuffling them.
To do this, you will sort them in order starting with the Major Arcana and then followed by the suits of the Minor Arcana. You can use this opportunity to reconnect with each card’s meaning and ensure none are missing. Once you have done this, start shuffling them any way you like and reinvigorate them with your energy.
Singing Bowl
Last but not least is using a singing bowl to cleanse your cards if you have one available. You can also purchase one, such as the Silent Mind Tibetan Singing Bowl Set. By placing your cards in the bowl and making the bowl “sing,” the power of the sound and the ring created can cleanse and attune the cards.
Final Thoughts
It is best to cleanse if you are using a second-hand deck, has read somebody with your cards, have been around negative energy, or haven’t used them in a while. By doing this, you will ensure there is no excess energy attached to the cards.
There are many ways to cleanse your Tarot cards, with the most popular being to use incense or smudge the area with a sage, letting the smoke cleanse the cards. However, it is best to do whatever technique feels best for you from the many available options.