Cleansing a deck, before giving it away?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

greentara	01 Apr 2003
Hi, I'm fairly new to the forum and have only been under Tarots spell for about a year. I introduced myself sometime ago, on the intro forum and then had my computer roll over and die! I finally was able to get a new one, so I'm looking forward to posting here again. I hope this is in the right forum, mods, please move it if it belongs on a different forum. I am giving my Celtic Dragon deck to a young friend of mine who is dying to have it. As fate would have it, I didn't even know that she was into Tarot. When I mentioned that the deck needed a new home, she was thrilled. The deck and I have never gotten along, in spite of my dedicating it in a full dragon ritual, etc. I have always gotten dreadful readings from it no matter how I used it, and it's sad because it was my first deck. I have since moved on and now have a wonderful relationship with the Spiral and Crows Magick{for ritual work} I am wondering if I should do a ritual to release my energy from the deck before I pass it on.? I know that she will cleanse it but because there is so much of my friustration energy stuck on this deck, I wonder if i should too? I did consecrate the deck with a few drops of my own blood and a friend who picked it up once, said that it really "buzzed" in her hands. I have never given a deck away before, so, I wonder what all you experienced Tarot people think about this? Bright blessings, tara

Umbrae	01 Apr 2003
Mind you, this is MY opinion. I’d just give the deck. If they want to cleanse it – then they can cleanse it in their fashion. Example, if you were to give the deck to me, I’d shuffle it a couple of times, and if you were to take it back…you would feel the difference. Everybody does things different, and have different rituals. Some like to set their decks out in the moonlight (or non-moonlight if the moon is new), some cleanse by the sun. Personally, I’d never blood a deck…that’s for blades, earth, houses, and alters… Now me…I shuffle while watching baseball…

rota	01 Apr 2003
I'm with Umbrae on this one. Everyone is so different in their approach to Tarot that there can't be any blanket advice on 'cleansing' a deck. Merely touching it will change it, so I would doubt that your experiences with that particular deck would affect it irrevocably. This thread reminds me of a deck I have. It belonged to a friend who has since passed on. It's a well-used and faded RWS that I now keep affectionately on the household altar, and when I touch it I make sure to hold it in a shielded way so as to change it as little as possible.

raeanne	01 Apr 2003
Greentara, Since you asked about this, I think you will feel better if you do something to cleanse the deck before you give it away. Here are some suggestions: Place a crystal on the deck for a day Re-order the deck so they are like a new deck Place the deck in the sunlight for a day Place the deck in the moonlight for a night Smudge the deck Wipe each card with a special cloth Any other ritual that you might think of It probably isn't necessary that you do anything special but it certainly wouldn't hurt anything.

azuremariposa	01 Apr 2003
if it would make you feel better, by all means cleanse it...everyone has different methods of cleansing and i'm sure your friend will do her own cleansing with it...but if you truly feel that your frustrations have "tainted" the deck (so to speak), then you should definitely cleanse it before giving it away...just my two cents... many blessings to all...

skytwig	01 Apr 2003
I agree with Raeanne ..... what struck me is the blood. I think the method Raeanne described would be quite appropriate for releasing your connection with the deck. The concern is not so much about what it will 'do' to the new owner as it is the fact that you are so in it.... we have to be careful about our 'stuff' and where it ends up. Cleansing it would release you from affecting you, no matter where the deck ends up. (Possible future owners....)

Astraea	01 Apr 2003
Hi, greentara (love your screen name), and welcome to Aeclectic again, following your computer breakdown! I agree with others here who state that it probably isn't necessary to cleanse the deck -- but I also concur with raeanne's statement that it wouldn't hurt, either, since you are concerned enough to ask the question (and since blood was involved). All of raeanne's cleansing suggestions are excellent. You can also make a simple declaratory statement over the deck, in which you state that you now reclaim your energies from the deck. It's great that you're giving the cards to your friend. Your intention is for her to use and enjoy them, and that is a further blessing on the deck. :)

Astraea	01 Apr 2003
Skytwig was writing at the same time I was, and I saw her post after sending mine...for both of us, the central issue appears to be the blood, which binds the deck to you in a special way. Skytwig makes an excellent point when she says that reclaiming your energy from the deck would protect you from future owners whose intentions might not be as pure as your friend's.

Emily	01 Apr 2003
Hi Greentara, Welcome back, I have the Celtic Dragon deck too, its a lovely deck - I'm not sure of what kind of problems you had with it but you did blood it and do a dedication ritual with it, maybe instead of giving your friend a deck you've had problems with you could buy her one of her own. Sometimes the cleansing doesn't work. I have a second hand Thoth deck, I have no idea of its history but whatever happened to it before it came to me, its tainted it. I've cleansed this deck on several occasions, using various methods and I still can't use it, the vibes it gives off make me very uncomfortable but I have no problems with my own Thoth deck.

coldsuns	02 Apr 2003
I guess no matter how you cleansing it, the deck is still yours. If you believe that the deck is yours, then is yours. Your friend really like that deck and trust what the deck says. I guess it wont be a problem. If that wont work, ask your friend to hold the deck in his/her hand and imagine that the energy of yours is gone. Now replace by your friend's energy.

Mojo	02 Apr 2003
Consecrating a deck of cards with blood? Here is a perfect example of mystic babble that we so recently discussed in the member's section. I find this ridiculous and offensive because it is potentially harmful to Tarot newbies who must look at that statement and wonder what the hell they've gotten themselves into. Just my not-so-humble opinion, of course.

cjtarot	02 Apr 2003
Hi, I agree with MOJO...I know this is an open forum, and we are entitled to post opinions, But, to suggest someone spill blood on a deck is SCARRY. If concecrate a deck with blood means something other than the HORRID image I have conjured in my mind, then you need to explain it a little better... Now I actually like getting decks used. They are well shuffled, loved (or even misunderstood) and the old vibes are usually those of a wonderful person (like all the people I trade with here on AE). The one thing I do like is when they come in "back in order"..not because I want the previous owners vibes off the deck, its just easier to review. IMO...there is a misconception about a deck being "Bad" or "Evil"..lets face it.. they are just cardboard images. What I believe is happening is, the person reading may have connected to a spirit other than their guide with this deck or just don't get the images on the deck (I can't read dragon). This doesnt mean that the next owner will make the same connection or not know the "Language of the deck" ( I know this from exerience). SO, If you need to find a home for a "Previously loved or misunderstood" deck..go to the trade forum and post away, Blessings, Cj

Astraea	02 Apr 2003
cj, no one suggested that blood be spilled on a deck of cards. References to blood point back to the original question, in which it was stated that the deck had already been dedicated in a ritual that involved "blooding." It was that statement which led to various comments about cleansing the deck.

The Cleansing a deck, before giving it away? thread was originally posted on 01 Apr 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.