So you’ve just purchased (or have been gifted) a new deck of Tarot cards.

What now?

A new Tarot pack should be cleansed and energised before you start to use them.

This is to ensure that they do not hold any energies other than your own.

Tarot cards are, simply, printed pictures on card. This is a manufacturing process and it is a good idea to start your journey with them right from the moment you unwrap them.

There are lots of rituals that Tarot Readers use to energise a new pack. You could use any or several of the following ideas.

Before You Open Your Pack

Always wash your hands before working with your cards and make sure that the surface you are about to put the Tarot cards on is completely clean.

You should, ideally, use the cloth they are wrapped in or a clean plain tablecloth that you can keep specifically for your readings.

Some readers will only open and energise a new Tarot deck when the moon is new, the thought being that a new moon brings new beginnings of energy.

Or they will open and charge them at the time of the full moon, when energy is at its highest.

Personally, I don’t think it is important which phase the moon is in when you are energising a new pack. What is important is that you take your time and energise in your own way and put your good intentions onto the cards.

6 Ways to Cleanse Your Cards

Here are a few ideas about clearing your pack, these are widely used. Try them out and see which one you feel comfortable with.

1. You could use a sage smudge stick to waft smoke over the whole deck, starting with the complete pack and then each card individually. (A smudge stick is a bundle of dried herbs, usually sage and cedar, bound with string into a small bundle. The end of the bundle is then lit and the scented is smoke waved over the cards. Smudge sticks are used in various rituals including space clearing).

2. You can wave each card carefully over a candle flame, a pink candle will signify good healing energy. (Keep the card well above the flame, you don’t want to end up with your card singed or burnt to a crisp!)

3. You could place a crystal on the top of the deck – this can be rose quartz, clear quartz or amethyst or whatever you feel drawn to. Most crystals will work as they all have positive properties. Many readers keep a crystal on the top when the cards are wrapped and not in use as added protection.

4. An affirmation can be used whilst you are clearing the cards. Focus your mind on the deck and say ‘I clear this deck’ three times over, in your head or speaking out loud and then continue your clearing process.

5. You can dowse over the cards using a pendulum, swing your crystal over the cards again saying your affirmation, whatever you choose this to be.

6. When you have cleared and energised your cards some people like to tap the top of the deck firmly, usually three times. The tapping is a technique used to literally, tap out, any unwanted vibrations in the pack. Try it and see how you feel.  This tapping technique is also used by many readers after the cards are shuffled before the start of each new reading.

Would You Like to Learn More About the Tarot?

Learn to read the tarot with our home study Intuitive Tarot Course.

The result of over forty years of tarot experience, this course covers everything you need to learn to interpret the cards, give readings for family and friends or start your own business as a Tarot Professional.

The course consists of 12 Modules, each with a range of self test exercises so you can study in your own time at your own pace.

Module 12 contains a Final Assessment which can be completed and emailed to our tutors and successful candidates will then receive the T4Y Certificate of Achievement.