Okay so let’s talk tarot decks and how I keep mine feeling… well, not funky. Felt like sharing ’cause I used to totally ignore this cleansing stuff. Big mistake. My readings got weirdly fuzzy last year, like the cards just wouldn’t speak clearly. So, I finally dug into how and when to actually clean these things. Here’s what I do now, learned mostly the hard way:
Why I Got Serious About Cleansing
Right? Used to think, “Meh, it’s just cards.” Then bam. Pulling the Tower constantly, even for happy questions. Or getting the same cards back-to-back in shuffles. Felt like the deck was stuck, replaying the same gloomy tune. Plus, handling it after a particularly intense or negative reading? Felt heavy, man. Like I was carrying that energy around. Figured something was off.
My Personal “When” Signs
Everyone’s different, but I’ve learned my deck tells me. Pay attention!
- New Deck Vibes: First thing, absolutely. Outta the box or fresh off the delivery truck? Feels like static cling. Gotta wipe that manufacturing/shipping energy off.
- After Tough Readings: Deep dives into shadow stuff, conflicts, heartbreak? Yeah. Residual negativity sticks like glue. Gotta wash that off.
- Feeling Sluggish: When shuffling feels like dragging feet through mud. Readings feel vague, repetitive, or just plain confusing. The deck feels tired. Time for a refresh.
- Someone Else Touched It: Let a friend riffle through? Or even just poke a card? Even with good intent, that’s foreign energy. Quick cleanse needed.
- Just Feels Off: Sometimes, no big reason. Just… intuition whispers “cleanse me”. Gotta listen.
How I Actually Do It (My Way)
No fancy rituals. Simple stuff works.
Step one: Knock Knock. Seriously. I pick up the whole deck, turn it sideways, and knock firmly on the tabletop with the edge of the deck a few times. Picture knocking loose crumbs and old vibes out. Feels surprisingly effective. Basic, but works.
Step two: Smoke ’em Out. This is my usual go-to. Crack a window (real quick!), grab my sage bundle or palo santo stick, light it, let it get good and smouldering, then blow it out. Gentle waves of that smoke over the cards, not on ’em – don’t want scorch marks! Focus on the intent: clearing out the old, cleaning the slate. Let the smoke swirl around each card as I slowly fan through the deck. Takes a minute, quiet time. Feels powerful.
Step three: Crystal Buddies. Selenite slab? Perfect. If not, clear quartz works. Just lay the whole deck flat on top overnight. Feels like letting the crystal’s chill vibes sink in and reset everything. Easy peasy.
Step four: Moon Bath (Sometimes). If it’s a clear night, especially full moon? Pop the deck on the windowsill where moonlight hits directly. Just a few hours, not all night – humidity is not your friend. Visualize that cool, cleansing light washing over them. Beautiful way.
What NOT To Do (Learned Hard!)
Salt sounded like a great idea once. Ancient purifier, right? Yeah, nope. Tried setting the deck in a bowl of salt overnight. Next morning? Salt dust. Everywhere. Inside the box, stuck to card edges. Awful mess, took ages to gently wipe each card without wrecking ’em. Never again.
Water? Forget it. Saw some Pinterest post suggesting it. Cards warp, colors bleed. Total disaster potential.
The Difference It Makes
After cleansing? Night and day. Shuffling feels smooth, effortless. Cards seem to flow out when I draw. Readings feel sharper, clearer. Less doom-and-gloom confusion, more balanced insight. Plus, the whole ritual? It helps me reset my own headspace before diving into a reading. Win-win. I aim for cleansing pretty often now – after any rough reading, if I’m doing multiple readings in a day, or honestly just weekly, like a little deck spa day. Keeps things flowing smooth.
