Like many other things in your life, tarot cards may have both positive and negative energies. However, there are certain situations when you can get rid of the negative element. These being said, let’s find out when and how to cleanse tarot cards in order to gain more clarity for your tarot reading.
When to Cleanse Tarot Cards
Learning how to cleanse tarot cards also implies figuring out when to do it. There are certain times when cleansing or clearing cards is an actual necessity. Other times, it’s only a matter of general maintenance.
New Deck
Got a new deck? It’s imperative to cleanse it before using it, whether you’ve received it from someone you trust or you’ve bought it yourself. The process is referred to as consecrating the deck. In other words, even if it’s brand new, it still requires cleansing.
Between Readings
Only an amateur would perform tarot readings in a chain, without cleansing tarot cards between two consecutive readings. Different people have different energies. Your previous client may have had a negative energy, hence the necessity to cleanse the cards.
Draining Energy
Ideally, you should be the only one touching your cards, yet some readers allow other people to pull cards themselves. If someone has a negative or draining energy while touching the cards, cleansing them is the first thing to do once they leave.
No Sense Whatsoever
No matter how clear you are about your rules, there are times when too many energies mix up, causing confusion. At some point, it’ll feel like hitting a dead end. Tarot reading no longer makes sense and you simply cannot connect to your cards like before. A simple cleansing procedure will clear out this problem.
No Uses for a Long Time
If you haven’t used tarot cards for a long period of time (which varies from one reader to another), it’s common sense to cleanse them for refreshment. After all, you want good energy as you restart your reading practice.
Traveling
Took your tarot cards on a long journey? Traveled to a different country? Public transportation? Tarot cards can pick on different energies, all kinds of unusual energies that can affect tarot readings. Cleanse them once you settle in a new place for clarity.
Easy Ways to Cleanse Tarot Cards
Learning how to cleanse tarot cards can push you in more directions. There are more sophisticated techniques that take time and experience, as well as quick and easy cleansing solutions that are more practical between readings.
Shuffling
Shuffling your tarot cards with positive thoughts in mind will clear out unwanted energies. Plain shuffling isn’t everything though. You’ll have to focus on the deck and imagine a cleansing light going through your hands and clearing your cards.
Set some intentions as well. Let your thoughts talk about removing negative energies. Repeat the process again and again until you feel well confident in starting a new tarot reading.
Breathing
The breath reset is even easier to perform, yet it requires the same high level of concentration, not to mention setting your intentions.
Start by taking a few deep breaths to clear out all the negative energies. Hold the deck in your hand, take another deep breath and blow on your deck as you exhale.
Just like for shuffling, you’ll have to see your blow as a cleansing energy covering your cards and pushing bad influences away.
Tapping
Another quick and effective way to cleanse tarot cards implies tapping them. Again, this type of cleansing method requires a strong level of concentration. You need to actually focus on spotting negative energies and pushing them away.
Hold the deck in one hand, then use the other hand to tap on it. You can use your palm or perhaps your knuckles, such as knocking on someone’s door.
Smoke Cleansing
If you have more than a few minutes, you can learn how to cleanse tarot cards with smoke, such as smudge sticks or perhaps some incense.
If not sure what to burn, flavors like sandlewood, patchouli or sage are ideal for their characteristics. But then, anything else with cleansing characteristics will help in the process.
As you hold the deck, take it through the smoke while seeing negative energies going away.
Apart from smoke, you can do a similar cleansing procedure with crystals. There are quite a few crystals with cleansing properties.
More Sophisticated Cleansing Procedures
Whether you feel like light cleansing won’t work or you believe your tarot cards need a more professional cleansing approach, there are other ways to conduct a cleansing procedure, but they tend to take more time. However, results are better as well.
Moon Cleansing
Wait for a full moon and place the deck on your sill. Leave it there overnight and make sure the moonlight hits it directly. Make sure your cards are safe though. If you leave them outside, the wind may blow them away.
A full moon has incredible energy and will most likely give your tarot cards a full cleansing. This type of cleansing works well with crystals as well.
Even if you feel like your cards are alright, it still pays off exposing them on a full moon night for better energies.
Sunlight Cleansing
Sunlight cleansing is more practical because you don’t have to wait for a certain event, such as a full moon night. Pick a sunny day and keep the deck in direct sunlight. As they absorb positive energies, the negative ones will naturally fade away.
Again, make sure your cards are well protected against wind and other elements.
Crystal Bath
Put the deck between cleansing crystals and leave it there overnight. Clear quarts is a good option, but selenite will also work. Dry salt is another good option and makes a solid alternative to crystals, especially if you don’t have the ones you need.
Bottom line, learning how to cleanse tarot cards isn’t that difficult. It mainly depends on how much time you have. You may not have enough time for a full cleansing procedure between tarot readings, but cleansing them as often as you can is a good way to keep your energies active.