How to Season a New Tarot Deck

This is a quick cheat sheet for getting to know your new tarot deck. A new deck usually takes about 33 satisfying readings before it starts to feel like yours. 

Here are some exercises to season your deck before you start using it for readings:

1. Shuffle: Like a lot. Keep it with you and hold it. Shuffle it. Over and over again.

2. Put the deck in order after all of the shuffling (many times) for those of you new to the tarot world here is the correct order:

• Major Arcana: 0-21
• Wands: 1-10, Page to King
• Cups: 1-10, Page to King
• Swords: 1-10, Page to King
• Pentacles: 1-10, Page to King

3. Look at each card as you order them, and find a detail that you recognize immediately. Using an image guide can help you understand this even deeper, and is HIGHLY recommended.

4. Cleanse your deck: juniper, sage, palo santo, herbal remedies, florida water, whatever you use in your practice for cleansing -- clean the deck. (you should do this after every reading)

note: if your origins are Italian, Celtic, or Nordic use juniper - juniper has been traditionally burned for cleansing since before the middle ages

5. If you are unsure if this deck is for you, it is recommended to sleep with the deck under your pillow and focus on it before you fall asleep. Write your dreams down as soon as you wake up, and you will know if this is your deck or not.