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Cleansing a tarot deck and when and why to do so are often asked questions. How to do so is covered in a different article which can be found here.
I will deal here with the “when” first and the truth is there’s not really any set time after which it is advisable to clear and cleanse a set of Tarot cards.
The timing will vary as so much will depend on what you have been doing with them reading-wise or what has happened to them. Very often intuition will start to niggle at you that it is “time.”
One thing to bear in mind is that if you have not used your cards for some length of time. If that is the case it might be advisable to clear and cleanse them anyway before you start reading again.
Just like grounding and centering is not absolutely necessary before every reading, neither is cleansing your tarot deck. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not vital, most times. But there are exceptions. And this is where the “why” becomes particularly important.
Someone Handling Your Cards Means It’s Time for Cleansing
There are, however, a few exceptions to this “not really any set time” approach when you should do it as a matter of urgency.
The first is if someone else has touched or used your cards. Most readers never let anybody else touch or use their cards, but it happens.
It could be friends or family or even a client that is responsible but whoever it is the cards will need to be cleared and cleansed. After all, you don’t know what sort of negativity they have been exposed to and hence what negativity has been imparted to the cards.
Used Tarot Cards
Ordinarily I would never buy or use a second tarot deck because I don’t know what they have been exposed to. The exception (for me personally) would be if I got hold of a vintage or antique deck that was no longer available. I’d just have to try them out! But the first thing I would do is thoroughly clear and cleanse them.
If you do purchase, or are given, a used deck you absolutely must clear and cleanse them first. Always buy a new and unused deck if at all possible, rather than a used one. Tarot cards are rarely cheap in this day and age so it is understandable that some will have no choice but to use a previously owned set.
Exposure to Negativity During a Reading
The third exception is when you and the cards have been exposed to a particularly negative client and/or reading. As well as clearing and cleansing yourself you should give some thought to doing the same for the cards.
Consider Negativity in Your Life
The last common exception is when you yourself have been exposed to heavy negativity. It can be of any sort and not necessarily connected to the Tarot so do bear that in mind.
Touching your cards before you have centered and grounded yourself then that negativity can be imparted to the deck.
In Conclusion
Apart from those few exceptions it really comes down to when it “feels right” to clear and cleanse. If your readings start to become a little erratic, then that can indicate a cleansing is needed. The same goes for if you are having trouble connecting,
ok so i know when but you made no mention of how…
Hi Steven, I will be writing an in depth article on “how” very soon – this was aimed more at the “when” and “why.”
In the meantime there are various methods you can use to cleanse your tarot deck. The three easiest are as follows:
1: Leave your deck in the moonlight overnight – a full moon is best.
2: Leave your deck in the company of a stone such as kyanite for 24 hours – kyanite destroys negativity.
3: Pass your deck through the smoke of a smudging stick.
Personally, I put the deck in order first so that it is as close to “new” as you can get.
Hope that helps!
Regards, Paul (Admin)