I love buying new tarot cards.

Every now and then, I run across a previously used deck at a resale shop.

If you know how to cleanse tarot cards, welcoming a used deck into your collection isn’t an issue.

With a little smudging and tender loving care, a used tarot deck can be cleared of past energy so it’s ready to work with you!

How to Cleanse Tarot Cards

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What You Will Need:

1. Smudge stick (I love Sage Goddess smudge tools. Amazon carries smudge sticks too!)
2. Tarot pouch or bag (optional)

Smudge the deck

This is the first step whenever I bring home a new deck of cards, whether the deck is brand new or used. I light a smudge stick and run the deck through the smoke several times. If time permits, I’ll run each card individually through the smoke, too. Not only does this ensure each individual card is cleared but it helps to get my energy on each card as well.

If you’re sensitive to smoke or unable to use a smudge stick for another reason, you can clear a new deck using essential oils and a diffuser. Read my blog post How to Smudge a House Using Essential Oils for ideas on how to use that method. I’ve used frankincense essential oil in my diffuser for this purpose.

Sleep on it

A common ritual among tarot users is to sleep with a new deck. This can be done by placing the deck under your pillow, or setting it on a nightstand next to your bed. This ritual helps to transfer your energy onto the cards in preparation for working with them. I like to put my cards in a tarot pouch or bag when I do this. There are so many pouch choices out there these days, from the handmade decorative ones on Etsy to bags that match the art of specific decks. Personally, I am currently using these simple bags for my tarot decks. They are nice and roomy so decks of all shapes and sizes have a great chance of fitting in them. The spaciousness of these bags allow me to sort of fan out the deck inside of the bag, so that I’m not sleeping with a big lump under my pillow.

Here’s a quick video showcasing the bags I use:

Touch ’em and touch ’em some more

After I smudge a tarot deck and sleep with it, I spend time getting to know the cards. I like to sit down with the deck and go through it, touching and looking at each card. This simple task gets my energy on each card and allows me to familiarize myself with all the cards in the deck prior to use. What is my first impression of each card? I find that answering this question helps me to remember certain cards more easily.

Another way I like to get to know my cards before use is through mindless shuffling. Often, I’ll do this while watching TV. My attention is on the television show but my hands are busy familiarizing themselves with the cards and — once again — getting my energy on them. I do this with my frequently used decks, too, because it relaxes me to shuffle without putting much thought into it. I’ve found that cards love to jump out of the deck when I do this, and they usually contain pertinent info to situations I’m dealing with.

Let your deck soak up the full moon energy

Now, I don’t do this on a monthly basis like I do with my crystals but occasionally I’ll set out a tarot deck or two to charge under the full moon. When I do this, I take the deck out of the box or pouch and set it on an interior window sill with a clear quartz crystal on top. I leave it there overnight and collect it in the morning. I tend to keep my decks inside the house so that they don’t absorb any moisture that might be outside, but if you live in a fairly dry climate you may have better results putting them outside in a safe spot. I try to charge my decks this way at least once a year. Every now and then I’ll set them out in the same manner for a sun bath, too.

Now you know how to cleanse tarots cards!

If you follow the rituals above, you’ll not only cleanse your tarot deck, but also bond with it while getting your energy on the cards and familiarizing yourself with them.

Do you cleanse your tarot cards? Please tell me about your ritual in the comments, or join the discussion on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.