How to clear, cleanse and clean Tarot cards ready for use, removing negative energy and providing a clean slate for each new reading and for best results.
Once you have chosen your tarot cards it is important to clear and cleanse them frequently so they do not give "false" readings, as Tarot cards pick up energy from other people when they are used.
The cards need to be cleared of energy build up, which occurs when they are used, as they pick up feelings and thoughts from other people and it is important to provide a "clean slate" for the next reading.
It is usually easy tell when your deck needs clearing - it feels a bit sluggish, and nothing seems to come into your head to help you do the reading. Sometimes the cards feel sticky and sluggish.
You don’t have to cleanse and clear them after every reading, but after a little while they do need a psychic spring clean.
There are several methods which can be used to clear energy from the cards – these include sorting your cards into their suits and placing them in order from lowest to highest.
If you choose this method it is important to remember the court cards run in the order Page, Knight, Queen and King. Start with the major arcane, then the minor. Minor arcane should be sorted in the order of their elements – wands, representing air should go first, swords (fire) second, cups (water) third and pentacles (earth) are last. You may then reshuffle the deck ready for a new reading.
It is a good idea to keep at least one piece of quartz crystal with your cards. This keeps them cleansed between readings. You can also specifically charge your crystal to help you focus on your intuition for readings.
Smudging is another way to cleanse your cards – you can burn a little dried sage or rosemary and simply pass the cards through the smoke several times. You can also smudge your crystal at the same time, cleansing and clearing it.
Those with Reiki may like to use this mode of energy healing to cleanse their cards – simply hold them in both hands and send clear and positive cleansing energy through your deck. For professional tarot readers this is one of the quickest and surest ways of readying the cards for the next client.
Or, just shuffling them while visualizing the "washing" of negativity out of the cards.
As well as psychic cleaning, cards also need a physical clean up from time to time as they become sticky with fingerprints and oils. Although we can cleanse them psychically, physical cleaning is also important to ensure they "swoosh" easily when they are fanned out on a reading cloth.
Cards can be nicely cleaned by using talcum powder (perfumed is fine). Put a little pile of talc on a spread out newspaper. Take each card individually and gently rub talc all over the front and back with your fingers. Apply the talc to four or so at a time, then take each treated card and gently rub the powder away with a tissue or soft cloth.
The result is lovely shiny, slippery cards which will fly out of your fingers if you're not careful.
