How to Cleanse Tarot Cards
Clear your deck's energy for accurate, insightful readings
Learning how to cleanse tarot cards is an essential practice for any tarot reader. Just as you might clear your mind before a meditation session, clearing your deck's energy ensures that each reading starts fresh, free from residual energies that could cloud your interpretations.
Whether you have just received a new deck or your trusted cards feel energetically heavy, this guide covers everything you need to know about cleansing tarot cards to keep your readings accurate and meaningful.
When to Cleanse Your Tarot Deck
Not sure when you need to cleanse tarot deck energy? Here are the most common situations that call for a cleansing:
Trust Your Intuition
Sometimes you will simply feel that your deck needs cleansing. Maybe the cards feel physically different, or your readings seem muddled. Trust these instincts -- your connection with your deck is the best indicator of when a cleanse is needed.
7 Methods to Cleanse Tarot Cards
There are many ways to clear tarot cards energy. Choose the method that resonates most with you -- or combine several for a thorough cleansing.
1. Moonlight Bathing
Place your cards on a windowsill or outdoors under the moonlight, especially during a full moon. The moon's gentle energy cleanses and recharges the deck overnight.
Best for: Deep cleansing2. Smoke Cleansing
Pass your cards through the smoke of sage, palo santo, cedar, or incense. The smoke carries away stagnant energy. You can cleanse individual cards or the whole deck.
Best for: Quick cleansing3. Crystal Charging
Place a clear quartz, selenite, or amethyst crystal on top of your deck. These crystals absorb negative energy and amplify positive vibrations. Leave for at least a few hours.
Best for: Gentle, ongoing cleansing4. Salt Burial
Bury your deck in a bowl of sea salt or Himalayan salt. Salt draws out negative energy. Leave overnight, then brush any residue from the cards.
Best for: Removing heavy energy5. Knocking
Hold your deck in one hand and knock firmly on it three times with your other fist. This physically disperses stagnant energy and resets the cards.
Best for: Quick reset between readings6. Sorting and Shuffling
Put your deck back in order (Major Arcana first, then suits). As you sort, examine each card. Then thoroughly shuffle to redistribute the energy.
Best for: Reconnecting with your deck7. Visualization
Hold your deck and visualize bright, white light surrounding and penetrating each card. See the light dissolving any dark or stagnant energy.
Best for: Anytime, anywhere cleansingDetailed Cleansing Methods
Let us explore some of the most popular methods in more detail:
🌙 Moonlight Cleansing (Step-by-Step)
- Wait for a full moon or new moon for the most powerful cleansing (though any moon phase works).
- Find a spot where moonlight will reach your cards -- a windowsill, balcony, or outdoor area.
- Spread your cards out if possible, or leave them as a stack.
- Set your intention: "I release all energy that does not serve the highest good."
- Leave the cards overnight, from dusk until dawn.
- Retrieve your cards in the morning and spend a moment reconnecting with them.
Note: Avoid leaving cards in direct sunlight, which can fade the artwork. If it looks like rain, keep cards indoors by a window.
🚬 Smoke Cleansing (Step-by-Step)
- Light your sage bundle, palo santo stick, or incense.
- Let it burn for a moment, then blow out the flame so it smolders and produces smoke.
- Hold your deck in one hand and use the other to waft smoke around and through the cards.
- You can fan the deck slightly to allow smoke to reach more cards, or pass individual cards through the smoke.
- As you cleanse, visualize the smoke carrying away all unwanted energy.
- When you feel complete, safely extinguish your burning material.
Safety tip: Always cleanse in a well-ventilated area and have water nearby. Use a fireproof dish to catch ashes.
💎 Crystal Cleansing (Step-by-Step)
- Choose a cleansing crystal: clear quartz, selenite, amethyst, or black tourmaline.
- Make sure your crystal is cleansed first (rinse under water, leave in moonlight, or use sound).
- Place your tarot deck on a clean surface.
- Set the crystal on top of the deck, or surround the deck with multiple small crystals.
- Leave for at least a few hours, ideally overnight or for 24 hours.
- Remove the crystal and shuffle your deck to redistribute the fresh energy.
Pro tip: Keep a small selenite wand with your deck for continuous gentle cleansing.
Cleansing a New Tarot Deck
When you receive a new deck, it has passed through many hands during manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. A thorough cleansing establishes your personal connection with the cards.
- Unbox mindfully: As you remove the deck from its packaging, hold the intention of creating a fresh start.
- Examine each card: Go through the entire deck, looking at each card. This helps you familiarize yourself with the imagery while also transferring your energy to the cards.
- Perform a thorough cleanse: Use moonlight or smoke cleansing for a new deck, as these provide deeper clearing.
- Sleep with your deck: Some readers place their new deck under their pillow or beside their bed for the first few nights to strengthen the bond.
- Do an introductory reading: Ask the deck to introduce itself. Draw a few cards and see what messages come through.
For Second-Hand Decks
If you have acquired a used deck, cleansing is especially important. You want to clear the previous owner's energy so the cards can attune to you. Consider using multiple cleansing methods -- perhaps smoke cleansing followed by a night under the moonlight.
Maintaining Your Deck's Energy
Beyond periodic deep cleansing, these practices help maintain your deck's energy between readings:
- Store your deck properly: Keep your cards in a dedicated pouch, box, or wrapped in silk cloth. This protects them from ambient energies.
- Keep a crystal nearby: Storing a small cleansing crystal with your deck provides continuous gentle clearing.
- Knock between readings: A quick three-knock reset between readings keeps the energy moving.
- Handle with intention: Every time you pick up your deck, do so with respect and clear intention.
- Limit who touches your cards: While some readers let clients touch cards, others prefer to be the only one handling their deck. Find what works for you.
Ready to put your cleansed deck to use?
Try our free tarot reading to practice with your freshly cleansed cards.
Get Your Free ReadingDeck Cleansed and Ready?
Now that you know how to cleanse tarot cards, put your refreshed deck to work with our free tarot reading.