How To Store Your Tarot Cards

Should I keep my Tarot cards in their original packaging or should I wrap them in silk?

A: I like to use silk towels to wrap my tarot cards. I frequently use my silk towels to cover the tarot decks. A handful of my friends also store their tarot decks in wooden boxes, covered in silk.

Tarot card collectors frequently save their “collector cards” in their original packaging, but they keep their “everyday deck” in silk or silk and a container for security.

Tarot cards that you intend to use frequently shouldn’t be kept in their original packaging for an extended period of time. Until you can buy the other items you require, you can temporarily solve the problem by using the original package.

However, it’s best to prepare for replacing the original packaging when storing those tarot decks you use frequently because if you don’t, the cards will quickly deteriorate from use.

What should I know about my tarot card deck’s size before attempting to keep it properly?

A: If size is an issue, you should measure your deck of tarot cards before ordering a box, tin, bag, or other choice for storage.

You’ll want the storage container of your choosing to be at least two inches wider and longer so that you can remember to account for the thickness of your deck. This guarantees that your cards will fit inside the storage container without difficulty.

A: Of course you can, of course. It’s a fantastic idea to use a box and a bag to keep your cards safe. You don’t absolutely need to store your decks this way if you have a large collection of decks that you don’t use frequently.

In This Article...

How should tarot cards be stored?

Your deck will stay clear and tidy for longer if you give it the utmost care.

Vanderveldt says it’s nice to keep your deck in a set location because of this, whether it’s on an altar or a clean shelf. She adds, “I think putting it away consciously after each usage or at the end of the day is a beautiful way to care for it both energetically and physically. You may wrap it in a piece of cloth, lay it in a box, or put a crystal over it.”

Additionally, she advises “absolutely designating a spot to put them,” such as a shelf, basket, or ornamental box, if you have a collection of cards.

Magdaleno advises that if you’ve had a certain deck for a while, you should be sure to pull it out occasionally as putting your decks in shady areas of bookcases or drawers might result in stagnant energy.

How do I store tarot cards in my house?

What I suggest you do to your deck is as follows:

On your altar, keep it.

Place crystals on the deck’s surface.
Treat your cards with the same respect you do your clothes. To prevent them from becoming dusty or damaged, store them in a bag or box.

Do you need to bring your tarot cards?

In between readings, set your Tarot cards on a dedicated altar. If it’s been a while since you’ve handled your cards or if someone’s handling them has bothered you, you should either ritually re-consecrate them or carry the cards around with you until they “feel right” again.

Is it a good idea to tuck my tarot cards under your pillow?

It’s crucial to have a deck you identify with because tarot reading is such a very personal experience for each reader.”

Find the deck that resonates with you. Avoid looking at the most well-liked decks. Even if you’re purchasing online, Katelan advises taking a closer look at each deck to see which one appeals to you.” To discover a deck that speaks to you, consider how they are drawn and how they are arranged. She claims that several times she purchased or was given a deck that was lovely but didn’t exactly fit her needs. If you want accurate tarot readings, according to Katelan, you can’t force it.” Finding the deck that works for you is worthwhile.

Make sure you’re attuned to your new tarot deck when you first obtain it. Tarot cards contain a lot of energy, so while you’re getting used to them, you should be sure to clear them of any outside energy. When you receive a fresh deck, Katelan advises taking some time to browse the cards and take in the imagery. “Make careful to thoroughly mix them up, and you can use some incense to clear any energy. I wrap all of my playing cards in scarves and put them under my pillow for three nights. During that period, you’ll have some incredibly bizarre dreams, but it will also attune your energy to the cards.

Katelan advises choosing a location for your tarot card reading based on where you feel most at ease. Her home arrangement is less formal than when she reads cards professionally. She used to practice at the Bronx Botanica, which had a table set up in an altar room. “I frequently sit on the ground. If I’m performing a three-card spread, I prefer to pull cards on these old trays I have. I will either do a big spread on the couch or the floor.

In order to feel more rooted and engaged to the practice, Katelan also advises reading up on the background of tarot reading. She cites its antecedents in Jewish New York tenements throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as in Romani society. “When wars broke out or other significant events occurred, there were frequently spikes in interest in fortune telling, card reading, tea reading, and other related practices. People are looking for explanations and purpose in their own life now because of the pandemic.

Questions you don’t really want answered

Even though it might seem apparent, it’s advisable to refrain from asking the tarot cards questions that you aren’t prepared to hear the answers to. That’s because answers to these questions can reveal information you’re just not quite ready to hear.

“Tarot can definitely come off as offensive if you’re not willing to hear the truth or consider an opposing opinion. Tarot reading Nicole Fortunaso

According to tarot reader and life coach Nicole Fortunaso, “tarot may truly come out as offensive if you are not willing to hear the truth of the problem or look at an alternate viewpoint.” She advises analyzing why you’re reacting the way you are in order to reflect on how to effectively address the underlying problem if you ask the question and aren’t satisfied with the response.

What transpires if your tarot cards are touched?

If you have been reading Tarot for years without allowing anybody else to touch your cards and this is how you prefer it to be done, maintain reading in this manner. Do it if it works.

However, if you are new to tarot and unsure about whether you should allow others to touch your cards when reading for them, REST! Others are welcome to touch freely. In fact, I believe that doing this makes a reading seem more genuine. You simply need to believe in the strength of your intention to afterwards purge any negative energy from your Tarot deck.

What are your thoughts on this? I’m interested to know! Therefore, please share your thoughts regarding individuals touching your cards in the comments section below. Do you agree with it? Or do you strictly enforce a no-touch policy?

What should you do initially while using a Tarot deck?

The majority of the time, the first thing I do after picking up a fresh deck of cards is set aside some quiet time to carefully examine them. Allow yourself one or five uninterrupted minutes. Turn off your phone and, if you feel the need to take a few notes, maybe grab a paper and a pen. Check what’s inside the box after removing the wrapping.

The cards may be examined sequentially, one at a time. Finding your birth card or favorite card first could be preferable (see #2 in this post for instructions on how to do so). You can choose to lay out all the Majors side by side or dive right into your favorite suit.

Just be intrigued for a moment about your deck. Which cards catch your eye? Which piece of art do you adore right away? Which pictures do you find challenging or perplexing? What pictures defy your preconceived notions of what a card might symbolize and which ones are instantly recognizable?

If your deck has a book, you might decide that now is a good time to read it. I enjoy reading a deck creator’s explanation of their creations. When you first encounter a deck, reading the author’s writing about their work, if they have offered it, is a fantastic way to get a feeling of how the deck might feel and function. Each tarot developer contributes a distinct perspective to their creation.

(Having said that, keep in mind that you will form your own relationship with the cards you have selected. As you grow to know your deck, you’ll form your own associations and come to your own understanding of the meanings of the cards, even while the creator can explain their goal and share their thoughts about the meanings of the cards. Don’t feel as though something must be taken as gospel, then!

How can my tarot cards and I communicate?

Advice on connecting with your tarot cards whether it’s your first time using them or you’ve owned your deck for a while.

Connecting or reconnecting to your deck can be a helpful activity, regardless of whether you haven’t picked up your deck in a long, are hesitant to conduct a reading for yourself, feel “wrong” with the readings you’ve been conducting, or have purchased a new deck.

Check out Reading Tarot for Beginners: How to Start Reading Tarot for Yourself for advice on how to pick your deck.

Being a competent reader requires you to connect with your tarot deck. But you must invest time, effort, and attention in a good relationship.

How can I tell if I’m not meant to work with a deck or I just need to reconnect?

The connection you have with the deck has to be strengthened, or it might not be the best fit for you at this time, if you’re having trouble getting a good reading from it or feel off with it.

It’s possible that you and your tarot deck aren’t intended to be in a serious long-term relationship if you don’t feel like you connect with it or if you don’t appear to speak the same language. There is a deck available for you if you want to learn, therefore this does not imply that you are not destined to be a reader.

However, there’s also a strong chance that you can establish the connection with a little time and effort. especially if you were initially drawn to your deck.

You can utilize some decks for specific purposes and not others. The majority of your magic will probably be performed with one main deck, although you may occasionally use other decks for fun, support, or clarity. Since decks are exquisite works of art, I love collecting them. And I adore using them when I want to switch things up or am performing a certain style of reading, but I only use my original ride or die deck for all of my professional readings and lectures.

All of this is to indicate that testing out a variety of decks is a wonderful idea. For your first deck, conduct some study, examine the imagery, and choose the one that sparks your interest.

Here are some methods for getting back on your deck. I’ve listed them in the sequence I’d perform them, but you should feel free to customize this exercise according to your own preferences.

How to connect with your tarot cards

You can accomplish this in a number of ways, including by shuffling, using crystals, moonlight, salt, or sacred incense. Click here to learn more about cleaning your deck.

Hold your cards firmly in your palms while taking a few deep breaths. After that, think about the intention you want to have for your practice with them. It could be a word, a sentence, or an emotion. You can use this time to ask any guides or spirits you enjoy working with for assistance or to help you open your channel to divine advice that is in your highest and best interests.

Cleaning the energy in the deck through shuffling. Additionally, it creates the random system that allows us to access the advice we need from the deck. We can gain a completely new viewpoint from the cards because of the randomness that shuffling creates; by doing so, we are deviating from logic and embracing the unknowable. Check out this article on card shuffling.

To get to know one another, gain some fresh perspectives, and, yes, bond, spend some time completing a tarot spread that is tailored to your deck.

What details about you do you want me to know?
Your restrictions?
What type of partnership are we capable of having?

What task are we supposed to complete jointly?
Which card can currently be my teacher?
How can I use this card to explore deeper?

Make putting your deck away a ceremony. You might keep it in a box, cover it in a special scarf, place a crystal on top of it, or place it on an altar while not in use. Choosing to follow this quick procedure at the conclusion of each session or day is a way to show your deck some love, gratitude, and appreciation.

Bonus Tarot bonding exercises:

the whole picture The Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22 should be arranged in lines of seven cards across. Next, arrange the Ace through King cards for each suit in the following order: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Take a good look at the deck in this format. Then thoroughly jumble everything together.

Select a map. To serve as your anchor and guide for connecting with your deck and intuition, choose a card based on its look and/or its meaning. Write down all the thoughts, emotions, and queries this card triggers for you in a journal. Use it to meditate. Keep track of how it manifests in your daily life and tarot practice (and keep a notebook of your observations!). When not using your deck, place this card on your altar. You can carry out this for a week or a lunar cycle before selecting another.

Put your deck beneath your pillow while you sleep. You can connect with the cards in your unconscious time if you can make it comfy.

Also keep in mind that it takes time to establish a connection and relationship with your deck. Like any relationship, it evolves as you develop and gain new knowledge.

How are incense tarot cards cleaned?

Smudging is the practice of clearing out old or negative energies by waving smoke around you, a space, or an object. The same procedure can be used to purify your tarot cards. Although you can also use incense to achieve the same result, most people prefer to use sage or palo santo for this reason.

How are fresh Tarot cards charged?

Leave your deck in a sacred location where you can “knead (shuffle) it each hour, giving it your magical power with your hands, for one waking day, much as you would a loaf of rising bread.” The greatest time to use this charge is when you’re taking a day off at home or in a retreat.