How to Cleanse, Charge, and Connect with Your New Tarot or Oracle Deck

Sarah-Louise
Jul 17
10 min read

Updated: Sep 11

Yesterday I purchased a new Tarot deck … and although I don’t have hundreds of decks like many Tarot readers, I do have a very specific practice and ritual for clearing and connecting with a new deck of cards - and here I want to share with you exactly what I do step by step.

Before I share my practice, I want to briefly share why having a deep connection is important … because it is!

Here’s the thing, the energetic connection you have with your cards WILL impact how accurate your readings are.

Although pulling cards feels magic, and technically ‘random’, it isn’t. We are drawn to, and magnetised to the card that mirrors our energy in that moment … it is the law of attraction at work. (This is also why we need to have clear energy when we pull cards). Because of this, it makes sense that the more connected and attuned we are to our cards, and more specifically to the energy of the cards - the more accurate the cards will be that we pull.

If I picked up a random deck from someone else or off the shelf … I can promise you now the reading wouldn’t be anywhere near as accurate and resonant as what they are with my decks that I am connected to.

It’s not that the reading will be pointless if you’re not fully attuned, the magic of Tarot is that no matter what card you pull - it can be an incredible source of reflection and allow space for your intuition or your subconscious to show up ... and so this isn’t me saying that it’s pointless. But there is no denying that some readings just hit the nail on the head … they just hit the exact spot, and illuminate and guide with wild accuracy … and to be getting these type of readings - it all comes down to how connected you are to the cards.

The practice I’m about to share will help you do exactly that. This practice (or series of practices) can be done when you first get your Tarot or Oracle deck, but you can also do this anytime you feel disconnected from your cards, or if your readings haven’t been resonating deeply, or even if you just feel like you need an injection of fresh energy!

My Step-by-Step Ritual for Cleansing and Connecting to your Tarot or Oracle deck.

If you are doing this with a new deck - then before you begin to cleanse your deck, I would go through the deck and make sure all cards are present and ok! I personally have never had a card missing from a deck, but I have received some decks in the past where the printing was a bit off, so just before doing anything, I would always run through each card and check that every card is present, and everything looks ok!

Step 1: Energetically Clear and Cleanse your cards

When you first get your deck, there will be lots of other people’s energy all over it! From the printing place, quality control, boxing and posting … your deck would have passed through a lot of hands, and this will very easily impact and interfere with the energy and any readings you do. This is also something to bear in mind when using the cards for friends or clients - you always want to clear your deck after anyone else’s energy has got involved (this also goes for your own energy if you haven’t been in a good place emotionally!).

There are so many ways you can cleanse your cards, and what you do the first time with a new deck may be different to what you do as a regular cleansing practice for them. Here are my favourite ways to cleanse or clear my cards - choose the one that resonates the most right now!

Option 1: Smoke clearing

Spread the cards out in front of you, and using either Palo Santo, Sage or incense (or you can use local herbs or woods for this) - move the smoke in an anti-clockwise direction over the cards making sure no bits fall off onto the cards (you don’t want to burn any holes in them!).

While you are moving the smoke, say/think the following intention:

“With my energy, and this smoke, I clear and cleanse all energy from these cards that does not belong to me, and I clear all energy that is not of my highest good, from the highest light, or for the highest good of all.”

Option 2: Reiki

If you have learned Reiki (or any energy healing) you can use this to clear the cards. Again, either spread them out in front of you, or you can hold the deck in your non-dominant palm, and after connecting to Reiki in your usual way, use your dominant healing hand to clear the energy away from the deck with the intention to clear all energy that is not yours, or of the highest frequency. You can then hold your hands over the deck and bring the Reiki into the deck as you would in a healing until you feel it is complete.

(If you are interested in learning Reiki level 1, 2 or Intuitive Energy Healing, I have online certifications available which include online study alongside 1:1 attunements and support from me.)

Option 3: Sound/vibration (Tuning fork/Tibetan bowls)

Spread the cards out in front of you, and hover whichever instrument you are using over the cards, allowing the cards to absorb the frequency from the instrument. While you do this, say/think the following intention:

“With my energy, and this frequency, I clear and cleanse all energy from these cards that does not belong to me, and I clear all energy that is not of my highest good, from the highest light, or for the highest good of all.”

Option 4: Knocking the deck

I would say this is ok in-between readings, but if this is a new deck, I would personally cleanse with one of the above methods instead.

Holding the deck in your right hand, knock on the deck a few times with your left hand, saying or thinking the following intention:

“With this vibration I clear and cleanse all energy from these cards that does not belong to me, and I clear all energy that is not of my highest good, from the highest light, or for the highest good of all.”

Once you have cleared and cleansed your cards with whichever method you have chosen, tune into the cards and feel into whether you feel like the cleansing is complete or not. If you intuitively feel like it is not, then you can repeat or choose a different method.

Step 2: Set intentions with your cards

When we set intentions, it gives energy and Spirit direction …. So, of course, we want to be setting intentions with a new deck (or anytime you need a refresh)!

Here is the intention that I use with my decks, but if there is something specific you want your deck to bring you or support you with - you can add this in too!

Hold the deck to your heart, and say out loud or in your mind:

“Thank you for bringing me the guidance, the support, the messages and the information that is always and only from the highest truth, purpose and compassion.

Thank you for bringing me the guidance that is always from and for my highest alignment, or the highest alignment for those I am reading for, and I trust that I will always receive that which I need to know. Thank you for being a channel of the highest light and truth only, and a vessel for my Spirit Guides and Higher self to work through

Thank you for your support, thank you for your guidance, and thank you for your love. And so it is”

Step 3: Attune to the cards:

This is the step that makes all the difference and creates those readings that are deeply resonant and accurate!

Go through your deck MULTIPLE times! One card at a time, tuning into and feeling the energy of each card as you do so (not just flicking through). The more you feel the energy of each card, the more you will connect to the energy of each card. You can even do this each day until you feel like your readings are on point!
Sleep with the deck close to you, or carry it around with you to increase that connection!

Pick at least one card each day for yourself from this deck. When I do this with a new deck, I don’t specifically listen to what comes through until I start to really feel that deep resonance with the cards I am picking.

I tend to take the cards I pull with a pinch of salt for a few weeks. That being said, as I mentioned earlier - there is technically always something that you can get from every card you pull. Each card will always have a message or a reflection for you in some way if you want it to - and so if this is your first or only deck, feel free to work with what you are pulling … you will still gain a lot of insight!

Because I already have decks I work with well, I would normally pull from the new deck, and then pull from my favourite deck with the same question. When I start doing this with a new deck, the cards are completely different to each other … but what blows my mind each time is after a few weeks of doing this, the messages the cards are giving start becoming very similar between the two decks . I have also MANY MANY MANY times picked the exact same cards from both decks - and that is when you know you have built a good connection! I still get goosebumps every time I do this!

If you’re just choosing one card, you can ask for the guidance for the day, or a specific question, but you can also just ask what energy you’re holding right now. The reason this is a good question is because it’s very obvious when it’s on the right track, or if it’s way off (because you know how you’re feeling!).

Try to only use this deck for a while. It’s ok to use it alongside another as I mentioned above, but if you are picking it up one day, and then putting it to the side for a week or more, it’s going to be hard to create that connection you want.

Essentially, the more you use it and engage with your deck, the more time you give it, the deeper and better your connection will get! Regardless of how your readings are at the start, trust the process here with this stage!

Step 4: Maintaining the energy:

As I said above, your cards can take on energy from other people, or your own lower energy. So as well as doing this practice with a new deck, you also want to upkeep the clean energy of the deck! Here are the ways I do this:

Cleanse your cards with Reiki, smoke, or another of the cleansing methods I shared above before and/or after using the cards (this is more important if you work with others, or if you have been using them while feeling emotional).

As an additional option. You can store them on a selenite crystal or with selenite or clear quartz on top.

If you haven’t used them for a while, do a cleanse and maybe reset your intentions (or go through this whole practice again if you feel very disconnected).

If you are travelling, or if the cards are stored in an environment where there is lots of moving energy, then make sure you always cleanse and clear before using them.

Bonus Step: Your energy!

Remember the cards aren’t magic, they are a conduit only - it is you that the ‘magic’ is coming from.

Your energy is just as key (maybe more so) when it comes to working with the cards. You don’t want to be projecting your fears/ego/lack on the cards because you will just be drawn to the cards that mirror that energy back. You need to keep your energy clear and clean when pulling cards for yourself or others.

I have a free meditation library where you can listen and receive energy-clearing and energy-healing meditations to help support your energy! You can get access here! Or if you would like to learn to master your energy, how you feel, and your energy field, then I could not recommend learning the art of energy-healing more. As I mentioned earlier, I do offer Reiki level 1, level 2, and Intuitive Energy Healing certifications if this is something you are keen to learn! You can find out more about those here.

These are the exact practices I do when I get a new deck, but equally, you can do all of this, or some of these steps if you simply feel disconnected from your deck, or you feel like your readings aren’t as resonant as they were.

Tarot is such a special practice, and still to this day, I cannot express the amount of guidance, awe, support and direction the cards have given me … and hopefully this practice helps you to feel more connected to your cards if you aren’t feeling it already!

I would LOVE to hear if you give this a go, or if there are any other rituals you do … I would love to hear too … Just add a comment here, send me an email, or drop me a DM on Instagram @sarah.louise.sutton

If you are currently on a journey of opening up to your intuition and connecting deeper to your Spirit Guides, I have a self-study Intuitive Development course that would be an incredible next step for you. Inside this course, I share everything that I have learned and that took me from someone who didn’t have any connection to my intuition, to a full-time channel, psychic and intuitive - sharing and delivering highly accurate readings, messages, and channels for my clients. Whether you would like to build this connection for yourself, or to be able to support others, this course truly includes everything you would need to know (and everything I wish I knew).

Or, if you are feeling like you need some guidance - if you’re feeling stuck, stagnant, or like you are unsure of how to move forward, I offer 1:1 sessions which are a mixture of energy healing, Tarot and channeled messages and guidance from your Spirit Guides … These sessions help you to feel lighter, clearer, sure of moving forward, and shift your energy into higher emotions, frequency, and timeline! You can explore my sessions and availability here.

If you have any questions about the practices I have shared, or any of the ways I have mentioned we can work together, please get in touch through Instagram or email me hi@sarahlouisesutton.com

Thank you for being here 🤍

Sending you SO much love 🤍🤍🤍🖤✨