How to Cleanse Tarot Cards for the First Time - Beginners Guide

By Alex Assoune Jun 06, 2025

If you've just gotten your first tarot deck, you're likely excited to dive into readings and explore the cards' symbolism. But before you begin, it’s important to cleanse your tarot cards. Cleansing removes any residual energy the cards may have picked up—during manufacturing, shipping, or while being handled by others. This process helps align the deck with your personal energy, ensuring accurate and intuitive readings.

Whether you're spiritually inclined or simply want a fresh start with your deck, cleansing is a useful and symbolic way to prepare your cards. In this article, we’ll explore why cleansing is important, how energy interacts with tarot, and the best methods to cleanse your tarot cards for the first time.

Panaprium ist unabhängig und wird vom Leser unterstützt. Wenn Sie über unseren Link etwas kaufen, erhalten wir möglicherweise eine Provision. Wenn Sie können, unterstützen Sie uns bitte monatlich. Die Einrichtung dauert weniger als eine Minute und Sie werden jeden Monat einen großen Beitrag leisten. Danke schön!

Why Cleanse Tarot Cards?

1. Clear Residual Energy

Tarot cards are tools of intuition and energy. As they’re handled, they absorb the emotions, thoughts, and intentions of the people who interact with them. This can include the factory workers who packaged them or the postal workers who delivered them. Cleansing clears away this energetic "noise."

2. Connect With Your Deck

Cleansing helps you form a personal bond with your tarot deck. Think of it as an energetic handshake—it sets the tone for your relationship with the cards. A deck attuned to your energy tends to offer more insightful, relevant readings.

3. Set an Intention

The act of cleansing also gives you an opportunity to set an intention for how you want to use the deck—whether for guidance, reflection, personal growth, or spiritual development.

When to Cleanse Your Tarot Cards

Although this article focuses on your first cleansing, it’s good to know when else to cleanse your cards:

Right after purchasing or receiving them
After someone else handles them
After intense or emotionally heavy readings
During a full moon or major energy shift
Whenever they feel “off” or unclear

How to Choose a Cleansing Method

Cleansing doesn’t have to be complicated or mystical unless you want it to be. The right method depends on your personal beliefs, traditions, and what resonates with you. Below are several trusted and beginner-friendly ways to cleanse your tarot cards for the first time.

1. Smoke Cleansing (Smudging)

Smoke cleansing is one of the oldest methods used to purify objects and spaces. Common herbs used include sage, palo santo, lavender, or incense.

How to do it:

Light your herb or incense stick and let it produce a steady stream of smoke.
Hold the deck in one hand and pass it through the smoke several times.
Visualize any stagnant energy being lifted away by the smoke.
Say a simple intention like, “I cleanse this deck of any energy that is not mine.”

Pros: Widely practiced, simple, and aromatic.
Cons: Not suitable for people sensitive to smoke or living in smoke-free spaces.

Note: Use ethically sourced herbs, especially white sage and palo santo, as overharvesting is a concern.

2. Moonlight Bath

The moon is often associated with intuition, clarity, and energetic renewal. Leaving your cards out during a full moon is a gentle way to cleanse them.

How to do it:

Place your tarot deck on a windowsill or under the open sky during a full moon.
Leave them for a few hours or overnight.
You can cover them with a clear container or cloth to protect from moisture or dust.

Pros: No physical contact required; ideal for sensitive people.
Cons: Requires timing and moon visibility.

3. Salt Cleansing

Salt has long been used for purification in many cultures. However, it should be used with care around cards.

How to do it:

DO NOT place your cards directly in salt; it can damage the material.
Instead, place the deck in a sealed bag or container.
Then place that container inside a bowl of salt for several hours or overnight.

Pros: Deep energetic cleansing.
Cons: Requires caution to avoid damaging the deck.

4. Crystal Cleansing

Certain crystals are believed to absorb or neutralize negative energy. Popular cleansing crystals include clear quartz, selenite, and black tourmaline.

How to do it:

Place your deck on or next to a piece of selenite or clear quartz.
Leave it for a few hours or overnight.
You can also place a small crystal directly on top of the deck.

Pros: Easy and reusable method.
Cons: You’ll need to own or buy crystals.

5. Knocking or Tapping

A fast, straightforward method, especially if you're in a hurry or want to cleanse between readings.

How to do it:

Hold the deck in your non-dominant hand.
Use your dominant hand to knock firmly once or three times on the top of the deck.
As you knock, imagine stale energy being shaken loose.

Pros: Instant, no tools required.
Cons: Might not feel "enough" for deeply embedded energy.

6. Visualization or Meditation

If you're sensitive to energy or practiced in visualization, you can cleanse your deck mentally.

How to do it:

Hold the deck in both hands and close your eyes.
Visualize a white or golden light surrounding the deck.
See the light washing away any negative or foreign energy.
Set an intention such as: “Only clear, truthful guidance flows through this deck.”

Pros: Intimate, personal, and powerful.
Cons: May require practice or quiet space.

7. Sound Cleansing

Sound vibrations help break up stagnant energy. Instruments like singing bowls, bells, or tuning forks can be used.

How to do it:

Place your deck on a table.
Ring a bell or singing bowl over it, or play sound-cleansing audio at a high vibration.
Allow the sound waves to wash over the deck.

Pros: Non-invasive and spiritually uplifting.
Cons: Not always practical if you need quiet.

Optional Step: Blessing Your Deck

After cleansing, some people like to bless their deck to welcome good energy.

Ideas:

Say a short prayer or affirmation.
Hold the deck to your heart and speak your intention.
Light a candle and ask for clarity and wisdom in your readings.

Example affirmation:

“This deck is a tool of truth, intuition, and healing. May it guide me and others with insight and love.”

How Often Should You Cleanse Tarot Cards?

There’s no strict rule—let your intuition guide you. Some readers cleanse their cards before every use, while others do it weekly or only when something feels "off." You may also find different decks need different frequencies depending on how often you use them or how emotionally charged your readings are.

Here’s a rough guideline:

Situation	Recommended Cleansing Frequency
Brand new deck	Once, before first use
After a heavy or emotional reading	After each session
Routine use	Weekly or monthly
Someone else handles the deck	After each use
Energetically sensitive readers	Before each reading

Final Thoughts

Cleansing your tarot cards for the first time is a meaningful step in becoming a mindful and effective reader. It not only clears away energy that isn’t yours, but also sets the foundation for a strong, intuitive connection between you and your deck.

There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to cleanse tarot cards—just choose the method that resonates with your personal energy, lifestyle, and belief system. Whether it’s the moonlight’s calm glow, the aromatic smoke of sage, or the silent focus of your breath, your intention is what matters most.

In the end, tarot is not just about symbols on cards—it’s about your connection with the unseen, your own inner wisdom, and your ability to listen. Cleansing is the first step toward developing that sacred dialogue.

Key Takeaways:

Cleansing removes unwanted energy and personalizes your deck.
You can cleanse using smoke, moonlight, salt, crystals, knocking, visualization, or sound.
Always follow your intuition and comfort level.
Setting an intention after cleansing strengthens your connection with the cards.

War dieser Artikel hilfreich für Sie? Bitte teilen Sie uns in den Kommentaren unten mit, was Ihnen gefallen oder nicht gefallen hat.

About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

Wogegen Wir Kämpfen

Weltweit-Konzerne produzieren in den ärmsten Ländern im Übermaß billige Produkte.
Fabriken mit Sweatshop-ähnlichen Bedingungen, die die Arbeiter unterbezahlt.
Medienkonglomerate, die unethische, nicht nachhaltige Produkte bewerben.
Schlechte Akteure fördern durch unbewusstes Verhalten den übermäßigen Konsum.
- - - -
Zum Glück haben wir unsere Unterstützer, darunter auch Sie.
Panaprium wird von Lesern wie Ihnen finanziert, die sich unserer Mission anschließen möchten, die Welt völlig umweltfreundlich zu gestalten.

Wenn Sie können, unterstützen Sie uns bitte monatlich. Die Einrichtung dauert weniger als eine Minute und Sie werden jeden Monat einen großen Beitrag leisten. Danke schön.