How to Charge your Tarot Deck
Why charge Tarot Cards?
Charging your Tarot deck is important because there is a meaningful energy relationship between you and your cards. Your Tarot cards connect with your spiritual frequency and interpret it, which is how insights come from readings. If you're not in harmony with your deck, your reading may not be as accurate or as deep as it could be. You may find that the cards act “fatigued” giving you mixed or confusing meanings or acting stagnantly. In a word, their energy becomes stale.
Since the cards are physical, there is also an energy exchange that occurs when you touch the cards. It is an entire layer of communication. You feel their wavelength and they respond to yours–for better or for worse. If the energy isn’t vibrant and harmonious, it can have a negative influence on your reading. So, of course, it’s important to keep a positive charge in your deck. In cleansing the deck, you dispel negative energy. (Note, "cleansing" and "charging" are used interchangeably in this blog post)
New Decks
If you're using a deck for the first time, it's best practice to cleanse it and introduce yourself to the deck. Each deck has a unique aura to it. When you first get a new deck, you'll quickly notice that something feels different than other decks you may have used. That's because all decks have a sort of individuality to them, adding unique flair to your divinations with them. So, it takes some time to understand what they will respond best to.
Note that if you have an Intuitive Souls deck, they are individually cleansed over sage before being sent to you. This tends to make them much more responsive to you as a first influence on them. When you receive them, they will be void of any other energies, because they do not come into direct contact with anyone, but they will still pick up energy over time so be sure to still regularly cleanse them.
Regardless of what kind of cards you have or your experience level, charging decks is always a vital aspect of having clear and insightful Tarot readings.
Methods
Ok, great, so we know charging matters. So, the question is: Just how do you charge your Tarot Card Deck?
This no single best one-size-fits all say to charge Tarot Cards. In fact, there are a number of effective, easy methods that can charge your deck. We recommend experimenting with different techniques to find what works best for you. Also, it is often best to switch your method depending on what kind of energies you are feeling from the cards.
The methods presented here are:
Shuffling
Crystals
Saging / smudging
Energy healing
Personal Connection
Isolation
Before we dive in, always remember to be setting intentions before beginning any kind of spiritual process.
By Shuffling
In charging your deck, a good starting point is to first shuffle the deck. Feel them, feel the energy they're holding, and just create some movement in the cards. Then, spread them out on a flat surface. Cut into the deck, spread all the cards out, move them around, scoop some up, flip them over; whatever feels tight. Don’t be afraid to make a mess! Fan them out enough so that they all have room to breathe and let them sit for a minute. All of this helps cleanse the aura of your cards. Meditate for a moment, really take some time to feel their aura. Interact with your deck like this until you feel a sort of “reset” in their charge. Then, mindfully reassemble your deck.
Put them in order, all facing the same way, starting with the trump cards of the Major Arcana followed by the four suits. Take some time to journey through the imagery as you shuffle, with equal focus on the Major Arcana cards as well as Minor Arcana cards of each suit. Focus on the concepts they refer to, and the meanings of the symbols. The Four Tarot suits, Swords, Wands, Cups, and Pentacles, encompass the various components of everyday life. There is sacred knowledge stored in each card and you will receive more profound guidance in your Tarot readings if you truly understand the deeper card meanings.
With Crystals
Crystals are an excellent way to charge a Tarot Card deck. Simply place your preferred crystal on top of the deck and allow the crystal’s power to work its way through your deck. It can cleanse the lingering stagnant energies that may be affecting your reading.
In picking a crystal, use your sense to determine which kind of power to best cleanse your deck. If you have a few crystals you would like to use, you can place your deck in the center of them to allow their joint energies to work together. This can be especially effective if combined with another technique listed here, such as charging your deck with lunar light.
If you don't have any crystals for cleansing yet, a great place to start is clear quartz. The reason clear quartz is recommended is because its simplicity and effectiveness make it a powerful tool for anyone. As you develop in your practice, you can find other more specialized crystals that work best for you.
With Sage (Also known as “smudging”)
Burn some sage, and let the fumes wash over your cards. Hold them in the fumes, individually, and rub your fingers on them, as if you were wiping off a stain. This eradicates any negative or obfuscating energies that may be affecting the cards. Feel the cleansing properties of your smudge stick. Many find this process to be rather soothing and therapeutic. Just as it can work wonders for the cards, it can be beneficial to you as well. Treat it as a meditation and concentrate on eliminating bad energy both from the cards as well as from yourself. Feel the healing power that proceeds from your smudge stick.
With Lunar or Solar Energy
Charging Tarot decks through Lunar Energy is the Intuitive Souls community favorite! It’s an incredibly effective yet simple way to put your cards at their full potential. All you have to do is place your cards out in direct energy of moonlight for an hour or so. The magnificent healing power of the moon will tend to your Tarot cards, washing away pent-up negativity and enabling a stronger connection to emerge between you. Of all the charging methods listed here, this is perhaps the most effective and is, at least in our circles, the most popular.
When you're looking for a fresh start, the energy of a new moon or a full moon is unmatched. The fresh air of the night has wonderful affects on both the tarot deck and the the tarot reader. You'll notice some special readings after you cleanse negative energies from your tarot deck under a full moon. Even without your cards, take some time to enjoy a moon bath when you can.
In some cases, Solar energy is a more appropriate option. It depends entirely on the type of energy your cards are holding; you have to feel it out. If you feel the triumphant energy of the sun is a better remedy for your deck’s energy than that of the moon, opt for the solar charge. Simply place your deck in direct Sunlight (a window sill usually works well) and let them sit for 2-3 hours. Your cards will channel positive energy from the Sun’s radiant white light.
It's hard to go wrong with cleansing Tarot decks here. Solar and lunar energies are inherently positive for aura, and fresh air never hurts.
With Personal Connection
Deepening the connection between you and your deck will only help your readings. It’s important to eliminate any resistance, any barriers between you and your cards. An effective way to do this is by spending time with your deck and talking to it. You have a relationship with your Tarot deck and, as with any relationship, communication is key.
Speak openly to your Tarot deck. State your intentions, share your feelings, and discuss your emotions. Don’t hold anything back and say nothing but the full truth. There is no need to feel embarrassed about anything. You should feel comfortable divulging everything to your deck, and in this therapeutic process you can better harmonize your energies. The trust and openness shared between you and your cards will quickly improve the accuracy and depth of any reading you perform.
To take this a step further, one of the most worthwhile practices is to Go through the full Fool's Journey of the Major Arcana. Dive into each of the suits of the minor arcana. Give special attention to the court cards. Compare the motifs and ideas of the cards to events in your past and any current situation in your life. Not only can this be fun, but it is incredibly helpful in maximizing the clarity of any divination you perform. No matter how connected you are to your cards this is always a surefire way to deepen the bond between your intuition. Also, it's an especially important task for anyone beginning to learn Tarot reading.
Have the confidence to open up about your personal life. Let some of your creative energy flow. Your Tarot deck is your special companion, it doesn't judge you or evaluate you through normal social lenses. Be comfortable sharing everything with it.
With Isolation
In rare cases, when all else fails, sometimes spending some time apart can make all the difference. Simply give your cards some time to sleep in isolation. Put them in a place they like, with any items that they respond well to, or nothing at all. Giving them some uninterrupted time alone is a great way to revitalize their magical power.
A great way to protect your Tarot cards from negative energies is to put them in a wooden box. A wooden box has the power to clear negative energy and is one of the many sacred tools used by those who read tarot cards intuitively. Isolating your tarot deck in an airtight container is like resetting it to factory settings--it's the quick and easy way to remove negative old energy that dampens the magic. Just leave it in your sacred place for a few days and you're all set.
Which method should you use for cleansing your Tarot deck?
Put simply, it's whatever is best for you. When there's a need for a clear reading, charging decks should always be top of mind. Besides, energy healing is always a beneficial process, both for you and your deck.
The important thing is that you, regardless of what method you use or how far along you are in your practice, do not forget to take care of your cards. Tarot lovers will always tell you to cleanse your tarot deck, because no readings are quite as clear as those from a cleansed deck.
When should you cleanse your Tarot deck?
Maintaining your relationship with your Tarot Cards is like supporting any other kind of relationship. How does the vibe between you and your cards feel? Are your cards responsive to you? How have your readings been going? If everything has been great, then there is no need to charge. However, when the answers to these questions worsen, you should consider it.
How often should you cleanse your Tarot deck?
Just like finding a method, pick the system that works for you. Maybe you want to put them out every new moon, or isolate them twice a year, or let them get some sun a few times a week. Plus, keep in mind that different decks react differently. Your first deck might have done best after a full moon, but your third might need white light to remove sticky energy.
How will charging your cards affect Tarot readings?
When you read tarot, you are letting the cards be influenced by the energies of the querent. Every single card responds to the intuition of the diviner and grants access to the spiritual wisdom of the higher self. In the big picture, Tarot revolves around the flow of energies. Thus, charging your cards is like an oil-change for an automobile--it keeps everything running smoothly. Cleansing your tarot deck will only serve to help your readings.