12 Powerful Methods To Cleanse Your Tarot Cards

When I was fourteen, my mother gifted me my first tarot deck. It was a hand-me-down that had been in our family for three generations.

Before placing it in my eager hands, she performed a thorough cleansing ritual. "The cards remember every touch, every question, every emotion," she told me. "Cleansing them isn't just tradition—it's necessary for clear readings."

That moment sparked a lifelong appreciation for the sacred practice of tarot card cleansing. Over my 20 years in spiritual practice, I've discovered that regularly purifying your deck isn't just about removing negative energy—it's about maintaining a clear channel between you, your cards, and the spiritual wisdom they access.

Whether you're a seasoned reader or just beginning your tarot journey, here are twelve powerful methods to cleanse your cards and keep your readings clear and accurate.

1. Moonlight Bathing

The moon's gentle radiance offers one of the most traditional and effective ways to cleanse tarot cards.

Full moonlight bathes your cards in purifying energy while simultaneously recharging them with intuitive power.

Simply place your cards on a windowsill or outdoor space where they can receive direct moonlight. For maximum effect, leave them exposed to the full moon's light overnight. If you're concerned about dew or weather, place them inside near a window where moonlight streams in.

Top Tip: Different moon phases offer different cleansing energies:

• full moon for powerful cleansing
• new moon for fresh beginnings, waning moon for releasing old energies
• and waxing moon for building strength.

2. Sacred Geometry Alignment

Sacred geometry patterns create energy vortexes that can effectively reset your cards to their natural state.

The ancient patterns within sacred geometry realign scattered energies and restore harmony to your deck.

Our Metatrons Cube Crystal Grid provides the perfect tool for this cleansing method.

Place your deck on the center of the grid and leave it for at least a few hours or overnight.

The Metatron's Cube pattern, representing "the gridwork of our consciousness and the building blocks of the Cosmos," creates a powerful energetic reset for your cards.

Best Practice:

• Place cleansing crystals at the grid's key points to amplify the effect
• Set a clear intention before placing your cards on the grid
• Leave overnight during a full or new moon for enhanced cleansing
• Fan the cards out in a circle on the grid for more thorough cleansing

3. Selenite Cleansing

Selenite is known as the ultimate cleansing crystal in the metaphysical world, with its ability to purify energy without ever needing cleansing itself.

Selenite's high vibrational frequency gently dissolves negative energy from your cards while infusing them with clarity and light.

Place your tarot deck on a selenite charging plate or between two selenite wands for at least 24 hours. For deeper cleansing, create a selenite grid by placing four selenite sticks in a square around your deck.

Crystal Combinations:

• Selenite + Clear Quartz for amplified cleansing
• Selenite + Black Tourmaline for cleansing and protection
• Selenite + Amethyst for spiritual connection
• Selenite + Rose Quartz for heart-centered readings

4. Dedicated Sacred Storage

How and where you store your cards plays a crucial role in maintaining their energetic integrity between readings.

A dedicated sacred space shields your cards from absorbing ambient energies and preserves their connection to you.

Our Major Arcana Tarot Crystal Storage Box offers the perfect solution for both storage and passive cleansing.

With three compartments for different decks and additional space for cleansing tools, this handcrafted box creates a protected environment for your cards. The Major Arcana symbolism connects to the archetypal energies within your deck, helping maintain their power and clarity.

Storage Tips:

• Place a small selenite stick in one of the compartments for continuous passive cleansing
• Line the box with silk or another natural fabric
• Keep cleansing herbs like lavender or rosemary in a small sachet inside
• Periodically cleanse the box itself to prevent energy buildup

You can check out our full range of beautiful tarot storage boxes here. 

5. Sound Bath Cleansing

Last year during a retreat in the mountains, our group realized we'd forgotten all our cleansing supplies. Our guide simply smiled, produced a singing bowl, and demonstrated one of the most effective cleansing methods I've ever experienced.

Sound vibrations effectively break up stagnant energy patterns that may have accumulated in your cards.

The pure tones of singing bowls, bells, or tuning forks create waves of energy that reset your cards to a state of harmonious balance.

Hold your cards in one hand and strike a singing bowl, bell, or tuning fork with the other. Pass your cards through the sound waves or hold them near the sound source. Focus on your intention for cleansing as the sound vibrations pass through the cards.

Sound Tools:

• Tibetan singing bowls (crystal or metal)
• Tuning forks (especially 528 Hz "miracle tone")
• Hand bells with clear tones
• Chimes or tingsha bells

6. Solar and Lunar Balance

The complementary energies of the sun and moon create a powerful cleansing effect when used intentionally with your tarot cards.

The sun's fiery energy purifies while the moon's reflective energy soothes, creating perfect energetic balance in your deck.

Our Sun & Moon Arch Crystal Shelf makes an ideal display space for this cleansing method.

Place your cards on this beautiful shelf where they can absorb the harmonizing energies of these celestial symbols. For an active cleansing ritual, leave your cards on the shelf during both daylight hours and overnight to receive both solar and lunar energy.

Balancing Practice:

• Place sun-associated crystals (citrine, sunstone) and moon-associated crystals (moonstone, selenite) around your deck
• Use the shelf during significant solar and lunar events like solstices and full moons
• Visualize golden sunlight and silver moonlight flowing into your cards
• Rotate the position of your deck to ensure even exposure to the symbols

7. Cleansing Breath

Your own breath carries your life force energy, making this one of the most personal and powerful cleansing methods.

Your breath contains your unique essence and intention, making it a direct conduit for your cleansing energy.

Hold your deck in your dominant hand and fan the cards slightly. Take a deep, centering breath, and as you exhale, direct your breath across the edges of the cards. Visualize your breath carrying away any unwanted energy as you continue for at least three complete breaths.

Breath Enhancement:

• Add a drop of purifying essential oil (like frankincense or lemon) to your palms before handling the cards
• Combine with a cleansing affirmation or prayer
• Practice after meditation when your energy is most centered
• Breathe in patterns of three, seven, or nine (sacred numbers)

8. Salt Burial

Salt has been used across cultures for millennia as a powerful absorber of negative energy.

Salt absorbs and neutralizes unwanted energies, leaving your cards refreshed and energetically reset.

Place your cards in a wooden box and surround them (not touching) with pink Himalayan or sea salt for 24-48 hours. The salt acts as an energetic sponge, drawing out any residual or negative energy from the cards.

Important Note: Never let salt directly touch your cards as it can damage them. Always wrap your deck in natural cloth or place it in a smaller container before surrounding it with salt.

Salt Varieties:

• Sea salt for general cleansing
• Pink Himalayan salt for gentle, loving energy
• Black salt (with activated charcoal) for deeper purification
• Crystal salt lamps can be used by placing cards near them

9. Protective Symbols

Ancient protective symbols can create an energetic shield around your cards while simultaneously cleansing them.

Symbols of protection create an energetic boundary that both purifies and shields your cards from absorbing unwanted energies.

Our Hamsa Hand Light Up Shelf utilizes the ancient protective symbol of the Hamsa Hand, known across many cultures as a powerful guardian against negative energy.

 Placing your cards on this illuminated shelf not only cleanses them through light but wraps them in protective energy. The Hamsa Hand "brings its owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune," extending these qualities to your tarot practice.

Other Protective Symbols:

• Pentagram (five elements and protection)
• Triple Moon (maiden, mother, crone)
• Eye of Horus (protection and clarity)
• Ankh (life force energy)

10. Knocking Technique

This quick method is perfect for on-the-go cleansing or between readings.

The physical vibration of knocking disperses stuck energy patterns, creating a clean slate for your next reading.

Hold your deck firmly in one hand and knock on it sharply three times with your knuckles. As you knock, set a clear intention that any residual energy is being released from the cards.

This method works by creating a physical vibration that disrupts stagnant energy patterns.

Intention Enhancement:

• Visualize a burst of white light with each knock
• Speak a clearing affirmation with each knock
• Knock in patterns of three for mind-body-spirit balance
• Combine with shuffling afterward for maximum effect

11. Incense or Essential Oil Cleansing

For those avoiding sage, many other botanicals offer powerful cleansing properties through their smoke or aroma.

Plant essences carry specific vibrational frequencies that can effectively clear and reset your cards' energy.

Pass your cards through the smoke of incense like frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, or palo santo. Alternatively, place a drop of essential oil on a cotton ball and keep it near (not touching) your cards in a closed container overnight.

Botanical Recommendations:

• Frankincense for spiritual purification
• Rosemary for protection and mental clarity
• Lavender for peaceful energy
• Lemon for freshness and new beginnings
• Palo santo for deep spiritual cleansing

12. Visualization and Intention

Perhaps the most accessible yet powerful method is using your own focused intention to cleanse your cards.

Your concentrated intention is a force that can transform energy, making this method effective regardless of what tools you have available.

Hold your deck between your palms, close your eyes, and visualize a bright, cleansing light emanating from your hands and flowing through each card. See this light dissolving any residual energy and restoring your deck to its optimal state. Hold this visualization for 1-3 minutes or until you intuitively feel the cleansing is complete.

Visualization Techniques:

• See white light for general cleansing
• Visualize purple flame for spiritual transformation
• Imagine flowing water washing through the cards
• Envision a golden sphere of protection forming around your deck