How To Cleanse Tarot Cards With Sage: Beginner’s Guide

You heard all about sage smudging in social media and want to try it yourself. Sage is a powerful spiritual herb and cleanses not only your tarot deck but your home as well. But how do you do it, and is there something you need to consider before going all-in?

A sage smudge is a very powerful and effective way of clearing tarot decks from unwanted residual energies. By the end of this article, you will know exactly what to do and how to perform a cleansing.

HOW TO CLEANSE YOUR TAROT DECK WITH SAGE

Start by collecting your needed items: A white sage smudge stick, a lighter, a ceramic plate, and your tarot deck. 

Start the ritual by placing the tarot deck in front of you.

Use a lighter to ignite the smudge stick. Blow on the open flame to tame it. Stop when the open flames disappear and only smoke rises. Make sure you have your ceramic plate nearby if you need to put it out. Always place the smudge stick on something safe that will not catch fire. 

Set a clear intention for the cleansing. This is very important as it sets the tone for purification and is vital. Without a clear intention, you will not be able to cleanse the deck. It is not enough with just the sage by itself. 

A clear intention can be whatever you want it to be. Most common is to state aloud or in silence that your purpose with this ritual is to remove all residual energy from the deck.

Now you are ready to cleanse the deck. Fan the cards and let the tendril embrace them. Let your intuition be your guide. Stop when you feel you are ready. 

Place the cleansed tarot deck back on the table. Put out the smudge stick and place it on the ceramic plate.

Some recommend the sage smudge to burn out by itself. It’s up to you to decide what feels best for you.

ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

It’s not complicated to perform a sage cleanse; most of the ritual is straightforward. There is no right or wrong way of doing this either. The power lies in the ceremony itself.

Make sure you do you’re cleansing with intention and mindfulness. This is an indigenous ritual and should not be disgraced in any manner or fashion.

Another thing you need to keep in mind is that a burning sage smudge stick will smoke a lot. This might turn on your fire alarm or may irritate your airways if you are sensitive. Always make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby as you are handling burning material.

There is also a possibility that you might annoy people if you live in an apartment building. The scent and the thick smoke might steer up conflicts.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAGE FOR CLEANSING

There are different kinds of sage for cleansing tarot cards.

• Loose leaf
• Incense sticks
• Wax melts
• Essential oil

If you don’t like the white sage smudge sticks, you can choose other methods. These methods are not as intrusive of the indigenous people either, so it might be to consider.

As I’m sensitive to smoke, I often use incense sticks or essential oil with a burner. As the white sage is becoming overharvested (Bustle.com – link to article), I choose clary sage instead.

To use essential oil and a burner, you do the same ritual, but instead of using the smoke, you use the vapor. Be cautious, though, not to overdo it as the steam might damage the cards. You come a long way with common sense; if you notice that the vapor is forming water droplets on the cards, you have overdone it. 

If you use incense sticks, you follow the ritual. Let the tendrils embrace the cards. 

If you use wax melts, just move the cards slowly over the burner. Be cautious not to come too close to the wax, though. This might damage the cards. 

If you use a loose leaf, you can burn it holding the leaf or place it in a holder. Follow the ritual above. Make sure you think of fire safety, though, as a leaf easily can blow away.

THE RITUAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

Even though white sage is considered the “original” way of doing it, the effect of the cleanse will come from the ritual and the intention itself. You can use other types of herbs or essential oils if you want to. The power is in the ceremony itself and that you believe in it. 

The ritual itself will become the trigger for you to clear and cleanse – not necessarily the physical tool you are using.

SET AN INTENTION FOR THE CLEANSING

I know many struggles with the intention of prayer cleansing rituals. It’s often more straightforward than you might think.

Make sure you are in a good mood and that all negativity is out the door. This is a good vibes-only moment. Say it out loud or in silence; it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you focus intensely on your intention. 

EXAMPLE OF AN INTENTION PRAYER FOR CLEANSING

Imagine yourself and your heart glowing with intense white light. Set your focus on the intention for the cleansing. Make sure you’re in a good mood and that no negative feelings linger. 

“I ask of you, the highest energies in the Universe, to cleanse this deck from all negative or interfering energies. Let this tarot deck act as a bridge to receive the messages I need to hear, so be it.”

Of course, you can alter it in any way you need. This is just an example to get you going. 

IN SUMMARY

Cleansing your tarot deck with sage is a very potent way of clearing unwanted energies lingering from previous readings.  There are several ways to use sage for cleansing, the most commonly known is sage smudging. 

Let the tarot cards move in the smoke from the burning sage. If you choose to use another method, the vapor or the fumes. The ritual is the same in all cases. 

Be mindful of the history of smudging and the overharvesting of white sage. The ritual is very important for indigenous peoples, and their wishes to use the ceremony have been forbidden by society in many cases. (Bustle – link to article).

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