Rituals for new decks using Fire element

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Dec 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Flavio	17 Dec 2004
I'm not used to make any ritual for new decks besides the 3 questions (what will you teach me?, what do I have to do to learn?, how our relationship will be?) as the 1st reading, but I just got the Arcus Arcanum deck and I feel the need to make a ritual to "wake it up" and get it ready to release all the power of its dynamic images (did I mention this deck is very good for my imagination? :D) for such ritual I would like to use fire element but I'm not sure what kind of ritual could be, my first idea was to burn the plastic wrap as a symbol of release... but I'm considering another kind of fire element representations could be used, crystals corresponding to signs of fire, burning some incense etc... Any suggestions for new decks using fire or fire element representations? Thank you.

April	17 Dec 2004
How about passing the deck or individual cards over a flame (not to close, of course). Even just having candles there would be nice. I don't know that burning plastic would be a good idea, with the chemicals and whatnot. But maybe burning the LWB or the box, if don't mind losing them, will give the same symbolic effect. Or you could right down your intentions and burn that paper, sending your request to the power that be for their help. I always see incence as a symbol of air, but I suppose you could get some kind of firey (is that a word?) scent. Same with crystals. Although they come from the earth, using ones that correspond to fire signs would be useful. Excuse my extremely limited knowledge of astrology. Peace, April

Flavio	17 Dec 2004
April wrote: Or you could right down your intentions and burn that paper, sending your request to the power that be for their help. I liked this idea a lot!... doing that the deck is in no risk, will write my intention using pencil as the graphite is more natural unlike the ink of pens full of chemicals. Please don't excuse because your limited astrology knowledge, we all are learning here... for reference, the Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagitarius. Thank you for the suggestion.

Lurea	17 Dec 2004
If it's fire you want.. :) Light some incense and a red candle. Turn off all the lights. Take your deck, and pass each card through the incense smoke then study it closely by candlelight. This should a nice meditative excercise for you, just letting impressions come into your mind--letting the fire of the candle and the air of the incense 'wake' the deck up. I've done this before to cleanse a deck, and felt very bonded to it afterwards. :) 'Course it does take a while.

Thirteen	17 Dec 2004
Might I recommend you hold off, if you can, till December 21st? That's Tuesday, the Solstice. Shortest day of the year, longest night. This would really emphasize the fire element, not only because it will get dark early, but because you'll also have that "calling back the sun" aspect to it. Do the ritual right after the sun has gone down. In some cultures, winter solstice is the death and rebirth of the sun, so the long night is a time of ressurection. You could form your ritual around this, pulling out the sun card and setting it in a place of honor. Noting that you're in Mexico City, maybe you might want a nice Aztec Sun disk? Or better yet, why not lay out the Majors as a "sun disk" around the sun card? Then use the minors to ask your three questions. If you can light the fire in a fireplace, go for it. Toss in spices like cinnimon to fragrance it. Otherwise, use candles and incense. Enjoy!

Flavio	18 Dec 2004
Thirteen wrote: Might I recommend you hold off, if you can, till December 21st? That's Tuesday, the Solstice. Shortest day of the year, longest night. This would really emphasize the fire element, not only because it will get dark early, but because you'll also have that "calling back the sun" aspect to it. I thought doing it tomorrow SUNday but the suggestion to make it on the solstice (Yule) is a way much better idea. Thank you very much! As for some Aztec sun addition to the ritual... although I'm mexican I don't feel connected to that spiritual tradition practiced this days by very hermetic groups, but the idea of using the Sun cards seem ideal for this ritual. Thank you.

The Rituals for new decks using Fire element thread was originally posted on 17 Dec 2004 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.