Let’s start with one of the most important things every new tarot reader needs to know.. It’s simply this. Tarot is a very personal divinatory art, which means that the way you use tarot is for YOU to decide. Yet, time and again, you’ll hear readers insist that you must face east when reading, that you must keep your cards in a silk cloth, that you must clease your cards after every reading or do this, do that, and while it’s true that some readers may do all of these things, you don’t have to do any of them.
It’s really not possible to look back and figure out where a lot of these ideas originated other than to say that someone once thought a certain practice would be meaningful. And it probably was — for them. But that doesn’t make that same practice meaningful for others. What it comes down to is setting up a tarot practice that makes sense for you, working and playing with your cards in ways that feel right, and mostly treating your cards and the practice of divination with respect.
Here are a few of the most-often heard “Must-do” rules. They aren’t rules, remember, so read through them, accept them as the suggestions they are, and try ones that interest you.
Your Reading Room
Maybe you have a private room for your spiritual work or maybe you have no more than a small corner space. Maybe you have a table; maybe you sit cross-legged and spread your cards out over the floor. It’s all fine. Maybe you don’t even have a “sacred space” for divination. It doesn’t matter. You can pick your cards up, carry them with you, and read anywhere at anytime — just be careful if reading outside, especially on a windy day.
It’s often advocated to have a wooden table only for reading. Why? Wood is a natural material and it’s believed to help “ground” your energy and make it easier for you to concentrate. Of course wood is also very durable, and there’s often an aesthetic value in a highly-polished wooden surface. If you have a wooden table (even a small wooden tray that is portable), your mind and spirit will attune to it, so that as soon as you bring out your table or sit down in front of it, you’ll easily slip into the proper intuitive state you need for divination.
Others believe it’s more important to have a special cloth, and there are many beautiful “reading cloths” and “altar cloths” available with mystical designs and patterns. Some readers like the mysterious “vibe” a cloth can add; some readers just love the texture and richness of a deeply-colored velvet or rich tapestry. Add a lace cloth if that appeals to you. Throw a gingham square or a paisley scarf over your reading surface. Or forget the cloth completely. As with all other suggestions, if it adds to the meaningfulness of your practice, do it. If not, don’t. You aren’t breaking any rules.
Another thing you might hear is the injunction that you should face a specific direction. Do so, if you wish. You might hear that you should sound a bell before and after your readings. Fine, if you like bells and want to do it. You’ll hear some readers say you should offer a prayer or ask a deity for a blessings. If it suits you, do it; if not, you don’t need to.
Incense? Yes, definitely if it adds to your practice. Music? It’s entirely up to you. Candles? Crystals? Flowers? Oils? These are all personal choices. Just ask yourself what you need to “set the tone” for a reading. Keep in mind, too, that while rituals and routines can be helpful, that’s a personal choice, as well. You don’t have to follow the exact same set-up or process every time you pick up a deck of cards
Caring for the Cards
Your cards deserve respect; each deck you own will become a close, trusted friend and confidant if you use the cards wisely. Common sense will tell you to approach your readings with clean hands and to keep your cards in a place where they will be protected from damage.
You’ll often hear that you should wrap the cards in silk. Similar to the thoughts about wooden tables, some practitioners believe that the natural silk fibers form a protective barrier, preventing unwanted energies or “psychic residue” from seeping into the cards. You can, of course, wrap your cards in any fabric you wish. You can keep them in wooden boxes, leather pouches, velvet bags — or leave them in their original packaging. It’s your choice. Keep in mind that smaller “tuck boxes” can become worn with use, so you might want to find sturdier options for decks that are frequently used. Convenience is a factor to consider, as well. I’ve seen decks sold and packaged in boxes that actually make it difficult to open the box and remove the cards. Again, for the most part, common sense applies. Keep your cards in a safe, secure, but accessible location and protect them as necessary.
Cleansing the cards is another area where you’ll hear many different opinions and methods. Let’s consider first the reasons behind the practice. Many readers believe that our cards “absorb” energy from being touched — which seems logical. Some tarot practitioners are very insistent about never allowing anyone else to touch their decks. If that feels right to you, it is right. There are readers who allow other people to touch their cards, but who then feel they should “cleanse” the cards afterward to remove those energies or vibrations. Some readers simply do regular cleansing sessions, and on the other end of the spectrum are readers who never cleanse their cards and who, in fact, invite others to “add their energies” to the deck.
What do we mean by cleansing? Most readers cleanse their cards by passing them through sage smoke or incense smoke. Others cleanse by wiping each card with a silk cloth. Another suggestion for cleansing is to leave the cards on a windowsill during a New Moon. This is like “doing a reset” to wipe the cards clean from all energies and start fresh.
Your First Deck
Perhaps one of the most persistent — and most frustrating — myths about tarot is that you must be “gifted” your first deck. I’ve known countless individuals who were eager to learn tarot but who were waiting for that moment when someone handed them a deck and said “Here you go.” As with other myths and superstitions, there are reasons to support the idea, and yet there are just as many, if not more, reasons against it. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TAROT, BUY YOURSELF A DECK. Consider it a gift from yourself to yourself. Tarot offers a world of incredible insights and knowledge. Please don’t deny yourself the opportunity to learn, to grow, to build the future you desire by waiting around in hopes that somebody might give you a deck.
There are many other little myths you’ll hear, all kinds of “do’s and do not’s” when it comes to tarot, but the only ones that really matter are these: DO get a tarot deck and DON’T listen to everyone else. Your deck and your reading practice should be uniquely your own. Trust your intuition and do what feels right to you.
