A word before I begin on this topic- I must apologize for taking so long to post another informational blog piece about witchcraft. I did not believe this blog would blow up as big as it did in the first post alone! So thank you so so so much if you liked, reblogged, and/or followed me!! I am so blessed to have had this occur to me.
Also, please tell me using @cypress-gold what you would like to learn more about. I would love to hear from you guys!! You can also mention this blog or my personal blog in a post, and I will most likely reblog!
And always remember that this is not the only way to do tarot, or the only opinion you can have of tarot. Always do what feels right to you and always look through multiple sources for information.
Now, onto the tarot-
With tarot, the first two things you need to do are-
Select a Deck
Cleanse the Deck
We will be going over these two in this post, along with other topics in the near future.
Selecting a deck-
When selecting a deck, there are a few things people think of that make picking a deck a daunting challenge.
Does the deck have to be gifted?
Where do I get a tarot deck?
What deck do I get?
The first question is a simple answer- no, it does not need to be a gifted deck. Although some do believe in this practice, I personally do not. However, if you must get one gifted, maybe use a recommendation from a friend as your “gifting.” Pick three or so that you like and ask a friend which one seems “the most like me.” Whichever one they believe is the most like you could be them gifting you that knowledge and recommendation. This eliminates having to ask people to buy you things or hint at relatives to get you tarot decks for the holidays (although those are also legitimate if you so wish).
I can also do a free personal consultation where you specify your interests and aesthetics and I can show you some tarot deck options @cypress-gold
When buying your own deck, you can find solid options at bookstores, Amazon, and Etsy. (My first deck was one I happened upon at a Spencer’s and I knew couldn’t leave the store without buying it.)
When deciding on what deck to buy, I believe that you actually do have to judge a book by its cover. Decks are stories, and you need to be able to read the illustrations clearly to understand the stories your deck is telling. By choosing a deck that has imagery you personally vibe with, you will have an easier time reading them. I also suggest that beginners get a deck that is not minimalist. The less illustrations to go off of, the less likely you will be able to read them. Your first deck should be full of rich colors and symbolism, which makes readings easier and more fun!
My first deck general recommendation for beginners is the Modern Witch Tarot deck by Lisa Sterle. It is a modern twist to the original Rider deck, with beautiful art and is an easy read for almost anyone. You can find it on Amazon-
The Modern Witch Tarot Deck https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454938684/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_B.D0Db8NZKGR3
My favorite deck to recommend as a second deck is the Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans. It is a universally loved deck with an in-depth booklet, amazing art, and is great for a witch who isn’t necessarily a beginner, but wants another deck to add to their collection after their first ever one. It can also be found on Amazon-
The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook (Official Keepsake Box Set) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062466593/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_eaE0DbAV7W9TZ
Also, if you are a closet witch, I recommend using a tarot app. My favorite is the Golden Thread Tarot by Labyrinthos. It is a somewhat minimalist design, true, but each card comes with a full description of what it means, and when you are finally out of the closet, you can purchase a physical copy of the deck that you are used to.
Now that you have your deck, it is time for-
Cleansing!
Cleansing a deck before use is essential, according to most witches. Witch tools have many energies that are passed onto them, from the time they are made to the time you own it. With carriers, manufacturers, and so on, other people have touched the deck, and therefore have messed with it and subconsciously made the deck their own in a small way. Think of cleansing like cleaning off other people’s fingerprints.
There are many ways to cleanse, so make sure you find which one is right for you. Here are my favorites, including one I “created” myself.
Cleansing with incense or an herb bundle is the most common way to cleanse an item. By waving your deck through the smoke, it is cleansed by the element of air. I recommend sage or palo santo, but you can also use an herb that you feel represents you.
Cleansing during a moon phase is also common. Pick a moon phase you feel the most connected to (I personally prefer the full moon), and keep your deck at a windowsill for the night. It is cleansed and ready when you wake up!
Keeping it in your bed at night with you, along with a crystal like amethyst or quartz, also helps cleansing and to also imbue your personal energy into the deck along with it. Make sure it is at a point on the bed that you know you won't roll onto it.
My final and favorite way is one I sort of created on my own (although others may do this and I simply do not know. Feel free to tell me). I call it-
Mindfulness Shuffling
What you do is simply count the cards out into piles. You will create-
7 stacks of 10
And
2 stacks of 4
Start with three stacks, placing three initial stack cards down and deal nine more cards onto each pile (going clockwise or left to right), ending up with the three stacks having ten cards in each.
Now do the same thing with four stacks, and then the two with four.
Combine all of the stacks together and repeat two more times.
While you are counting and dealing out the cards, it is important to only focus on cleansing energies and the numbers you are counting. Think of it as a form of meditation. The only thing that matters is making sure you have 78 cards (this also helps if you take your cards on the go and want to make sure you have not dropped any).
I also like to keep around me crystals, some candles, and incense that I feel represents me so as to start imbuing my energy into my deck the first time I cleanse. For me these crystals are white jade, green moss agate, amethyst, and rose quartz, with candles and incense being either frankincense and/or myrrh, and a Leo candle (my sun sign) with palo santo and warm amber.
I like to use this to cleanse and shuffle my cards after cleansing with one of the other techniques, and I also use this shuffle cleanse as a sort of maintenance for my decks. If I don’t do this for some time, my decks seem to keep giving me the same few cards and stop showing me new readings. This used to happen when I first started out, since overhand shuffles aren’t full shuffles and sometimes keeps cards bundled together for a long time without you realizing.
I hope this beginning lesson helps you with your first steps to obtaining a deck. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in my inbox here or go to @cypress-gold
The next parts shall be about tarot spreads, setting up a personal space at your altar for full tarot divination rituals, how to log your tarot readings, and how to get a feel of your deck’s personality.
Blessed be and may the universe provide for you.
~Cypress
