How To Cleanse Secondhand Tarot Cards With Ease

You found this beautiful tarot deck at the thrift store. You fell in love with it and took it home. Now you realize you might need to cleanse it as you have no idea where it came from. But no worries, it’s easier than you might think.

You might consider cleaning a second-hand tarot deck before use. If you use your deck as a divination tool, this is recommended that you cleanse it and reset it. If you’re not, you can start using your deck right away.

HOW TO CLEANSE A PREOWNED TAROT DECK

Depending on your style of reading the tarot, you might not need to cleanse a second-hand tarot deck at all. If you use it for self-discovery and growth and not divination, you are good to go.

If you use it for divination, you might consider cleansing it before adding it to your spiritual toolbox. When it comes to tarot, you have to go with your gut feeling. If you feel there’s a need to cleanse it – you cleanse it. If you think the energy is ok, you can set a clear intention for your first reading and leave it there.

It might be hard to trust your gut feeling if you’re a newbie reader. This is because you don’t have as much experience yet. In these circumstances, I recommend a sea salt cleanse. It’s easy, and salt is something we often have at home. 

A sea sale cleanse is very powerful and gets rid of residual energy with little effort.

SEA SALT CLEANSING FOR PREOWNED TAROT DECKS

A sea salt cleansing is very straightforward, and salt is easily accessible and affordable. The cleansing is very potent as well. It should get rid of all residual energy stored in the deck.

You find salt in your grocery shop if you don’t have salt at home. Suppose you don’t have sea salt at home; table salt works as well. 

To cleanse the deck, place a plate sprinkled with salt. Place a cloth or napkin on top. Now, place the deck on top of the napkin to protect it from direct contact with the salt. Don’t let the deck touch the salt, as it can damage the cards. Salt absorbs humidity, and this can damage card stock.

Let the tarot deck cleanse for a few hours. You can place the deck in the window overnight to catch moonlight as well. This is like super-charging the cards.

1. Place a plate on the table.
2. Sprinkle a thin layer of salt on the plate.
3. Place a napkin or cloth on top of the salt.
4. Place the tarot deck on the cloth.
5. Let the tarot deck cleanse for a few hours.

If you want a more in-depth tutorial on doing a sea salt cleansing, I have written an article about it. Check the link below. 

CLEANSING BY KNOCKING ON THE TAROT DECK

Another easy way to cleanse your preowned deck is by closing your eyes and imagining your deck surrounded by bright light. Set an intention for the cleansing to get rid of all residual and unwanted energies. Knock on the cards three times and imaging the energy falls off like dust. 

1. Hold the deck in your hand.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Imagine the deck surrounded by bright light.
4. Set a clear intention for the cleanse.
5. Knock on the deck three times.
6. Imagine the residual energy falling off like dust.

This method is excellent if you don’t feel there is a lot of negative or weird energy stuck in your deck. It’s not as powerful as the sea salt cleansing, but often enough. 

Go with the gut feeling if they need cleaning or not. With time, you learn how the energy feels and when decks need cleansing.

The knocking method might seem easier than the sea salt method, but this is not the case. You need to visualize the universal light, which can be tricky when you are a beginner.

WHY YOU MIGHT NEED TO CLEANSE A PREOWNED DECK

If you use divination (connecting external energies as spirit guides etc.), it’s beneficial to cleanse your new cards. Tarot decks might absorb surrounding energies from the reading area or the reading itself. With a preowned deck, you don’t know what energies the deck has been subjected to in the past.

The residual energy might interfere with the readings if not removed. Your guides might have problems getting through to you. A preowned deck might have energies that are not in line with your guides or you. If this is the case, a cleanse is in order.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A PREOWNED TAROT DECK

When you buy a preowned tarot deck, you might need to consider a few things. Make sure the tarot deck is complete by counting the cards. While doing this, it’s a great time to reset the deck. You reset the deck when you place the cards in order again. 

By resetting the deck, you welcome it to your home and energy. Order the cards according to the suits and Major Arcana.

I have written an article about how to order your deck when you are checking if your deck is complete.  Take a look if you need help with how to order your deck for a reset. 

If you feel your deck needs heavy cleansing, you can do a sage cleansing as well. This is more complicated and needs sage incents, smudge or essential oil. Often, a sea salt cleanse will do the trick, but a sage cleansing might be required in rare cases. 

Hold the deck in one hand and the burning sage in the other (or placed safely on the table). Let the smoke run through the cards. Fan the deck for extra cleansing. I have written an article on cleansing your cards with sage. Check the article below.

I found a fantastic video by Katey Flowers on YouTube about cleansing second-hand tarot decks. I think this video is very nuanced and helpful. Like me, she doesn’t think you need to cleanse decks by default. If the deck feels ok, leave it be.

I love the way that Katey refers to her decks as “personalities” and that she doesn’t want to interfere with them if not needed. I feel much the same way. 

IN SUMMARY

If you buy a secondhand tarot deck, you might need to do a cleansing if you feel that the deck’s energy is not in line with you and your vibes. If you think the deck is “ok,” there’s no need to cleanse it if you don’t want to. 

The same goes if you’re not using the deck for divination. In that case, there’s no need for a cleanse as you’re not working with external energies. But as always, you do you. Only you know what is best for you when it comes to tarot. 

You can perform a sea salt cleanse if you want to cleanse your new preowned cards. This method is straightforward, and salt is easily accessible and affordable. You don’t need anything “fancy” from the New Age store. 

I hope these tips were helpful. Have fun getting to know your new tarot deck! I see the decks as personalities; they all have energy and personality traits. That’s why I love working with different decks – new as preowned.

THE DEFINITIONS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE BASED ON THE RIDER WAITE DECK AND SYSTEM.