Home » Mind & Soul » Tarot » Tarot Rituals

Tarot Rituals

© Elizabeth Bissette

Ritulals are an important part of Tarot. Creating our own is the first step in getting to know and relate to our decks. This article explores some of them.

Care of Your Deck

Many people feel that they way they store their cards helps them connect with them. The most traditional method of storage is a pine box. They can also be wrapped in silk, kept in a bag or simply left in the box they came in. I think one practical reason for storing them somewhere other than their original box is the box will wear out before the cards will.

I keep my cards in a piece of silk because it's a good surface to read on. It also protects the cards. I chose black because I think it's a wonderful background to read on. It helps the colors and imges jump out. I keep decks that I'm not using in bags. Find the way that appeals to you most. There is no absolute right or wrong method of storage.

Do Tarot cards pick up your energy or the energy of other people?

Most readers feel that Tarot cards connect with and absorb energy. There are several rituals associated with this idea:

1. Sleep with the cards under your pillow to increase the flow of subconscious energy between you and your deck.

2. Don't allow other people to touch your cards.

* I think it's ok to allow other people to touch your cards if you feel they have very good energy.

3. Place the deck in Sunlight or Moonlight to absorbe positive or negative energies.

4. Carry the cards with you all the time.

Should You Include Reversals in Readings?

Some readers like the complexity of reversals. Including reversed cards in a reading can add insight. Some feel, however, that each card already contains it's opposite so odn't include reversed cards in readings. Play with reading both ways and see which appeals to you most.

Can You Read Your Own Cards?

There are some taboos about reading your own cards. They may have started because for most people it is very difficult, if not impossible to be objective enough to read their own cards. Some people, however, are great at it. I'm not so great at it. Again and again, I either get my hopes up way too high or scare myself to death doing it. I'd say that 99% of my readings for others have been accurate. None of my readings for myself have been. I have almost as hard of a time reading for people I know very well. It's too easy to impose things. Don't let my experiences or taboos discourge you, you may be one of the few who are fabulous at self-reading.