Melanie O'SheaOh, that wonderful feeling when you bring your newly-purchased oracle (or tarot) deck home with you, excited to rip off the plastic wrap and see what messages the Universe has for you!
But, wait! Before you go shuffling your new cards, it is important to first cleanse your deck and be clear on what your intention is for it – i.e. why did you bring that particular deck into your home.
Cleansing your oracle deck is simple and will make sure your new deck can provide you with the intuitive answers and encouragement you seek.
These 4 methods are my top go-tos whenever I adopt a new deck.
#1 – Smudge stick smoke
Using the smoke from a smudge/sage stick is my favourite way to cleanse a new oracle or tarot deck. Palo santo smoke will do the trick too.
Remove all packaging from the box, take the cards and guidebook (if included) out of the box and carefully wave your smudge stick over the box lid and base and guidebook. Then, one by one, wave each card through the smoke while saying/thinking your preferred smudging/cleansing prayer and/or your intention for the deck.
Deck creators will often include an invocation/prayer in the guidebook, and I like to include this if it is provided.
Note: you do not need to say the entire invocation or prayer for each individual card, just continue to repeat as you wave each card through the smoke one-by-one.
The smudging prayer I use is:
May the Divine light surround me.
Let light and love fill this space, my body, and this deck.
All negativity and ill-intentions are released from these cards.
May these cards provide loving guidance, clarity, confirmation and healing to myself and to all others drawn to them.
May we receive messages with open hearts and minds, trust and gratitude.
So it is and so it shall be.
Be sure to take your time, and look at each card as you pick it up to wave it through the smoke. This is also your first opportunity to bond with and get to know your new cards!
#2 – Light of the Full Moon
My next favourite technique for cleansing new oracle decks is placing them under the light of the full moon overnight – where they are safe from the elements of course!
Full moon is the primary phase of the lunar cycle for letting go and releasing, and the light of a full moon feels powerfully cleansing and invigorating; however, choosing this technique comes down to timing for me.
If the moon isn’t going to be full when I bring my new cards home and I don’t want to wait to use them, I’m going to go with another option! I do also like to place decks I’ve already been using under the light the light of the full moon sometimes as well, for a cleanse and refresh.
You’ll want to make sure you have somewhere to place your deck/s where they will capture the moonlight, but be protected from rain, animals, etc. Fortunately I have a couple of window sills inside my house where I can safely leave my decks overnight to soak up the moonlight.
Remove any packaging from the deck, and you either place the box with the lid off under the moonlight, or take all of the cards out and spread them out under the moonlight. Either way, the light of the full moon will get the job done!
As with using a smudge stick, be sure to set an intention for your new deck when you set up where it will capture the light of the full moon. You can also recite the smudging prayer I shared above, or your preferred prayer/invocation.
#3 Selenite or clear quartz
Selenite and clear quartz have such neutralising yet activating kind of energy about them. They can cleanse and clear while raising vibrations, and – as a bonus – they encourage opening of the upper chakras, and connection with your higher self and with the spiritual and angelic realms.
So, in a nutshell, perfect ‘tools’ for cleansing your new oracle deck!
There are two different ways I tend to use selenite or clear quartz to help cleanse and activate my new oracle decks, and as with the full moon technique, my choice is kind of determined by timing (i.e. whether I’m okay to wait or whether I want to use the deck straightaway!).
If you don’t mind waiting a little while before getting to know your new cards, leave the deck (cards still in the box or spread out) somewhere safe with a selenite or clear quartz crystal on top at least overnight.
If, however, you want to dive right in (as I often do!) you can take the cards out of the box and give each individual card a gentle tap or swipe with one/both of the crystals.
Whichever way you choose, be sure to repeat the smudging prayer above or your preferred prayer/invocation either when you place the crystal/s on the deck or as you tap/swipe the cards individually. And don’t forget to voice your intention for your new deck as well.
You are now ready for your new oracle deck!
Well, there you have it – my top 3 ways to cleanse your new oracle deck (of course you can also use them with your old decks as well). I’m sure these techniques will help you to create a wonderfully intuitive connection with your decks, and prepare them to deliver poignant and timely messages of love and healing to you and all who you read your cards for.
My Inner Wisdom Oracle deck – written and designed by yours truly, and proudly printed right here in Australia – contains 55 inspirational messages to encourage connection with your intuition and your body’s Inner Wisdom.
This powerfully intuitive oracle deck guides you towards enhanced health and well-being, through awareness, self-healing, chakra balancing, and alignment of mind, body, and spirit.
If you’d like to purchase one of my gorgeous decks you can do so right here in my online shop .
With love & light,
Melanie x
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