Is Your Deck Feeling Disconnected?
If your tarot cards seem to have gone silent, you're not alone. Whether you're just starting out and struggling to decipher their messages, or you're a seasoned reader hitting a frustrating wall, there are times when tarot work feels anything but smooth.
Tarot is a divination tool—nothing more, nothing less. It won't magically fix your life or solve your problems. What it can do is offer you independent, third-party perspective. Whether you heed that advice or not is entirely up to you.
The cards have a way of surfacing issues you hadn't considered and presenting solutions you haven't yet explored. They do this by tapping into your unconscious mind and bringing hidden things to light. But what happens when they just don't seem to be communicating? Does that mean your tarot cards are sad?
Of course, tarot cards aren't sentient—they don't experience sadness or happiness in the way we do. Still, they do deserve respect. This isn't really about the cards themselves; it's a reflection of how seriously you take your relationship with them.
Storage Matters
You want your tarot cards to speak to you on an intimate, personal level, right? Start by keeping them somewhere safe when they're not in use. When they're neatly stored away, there's less risk of damage or of losing a card. They're also shielded from negative or random energies when kept separate.
Storing your cards is simple. Place them in a bag reserved solely for your deck, wrap them in a scarf or another beautiful cloth, or keep them in a box of their own. When they're set apart from the daily hustle and bustle, taking them out and using them becomes all the more special.
Preparation and Cleansing
Many tarot readers cleanse their decks when they first get them. Some perform regular cleansing rituals aligned with the phases of the Moon or the changing seasons. Others cleanse before each use. There's no right or wrong approach—your intent is what matters.
There are numerous ways to cleanse your deck. If you follow lunar cycles, you might let your cards bathe in the light of a full moon. If you work with crystals, place your deck under a purifying stone. Perhaps you prefer smudging and want to pass your cards through sage or other cleansing smoke. Some readers simply shuffle the cards and consider it done!
You'll sense when a little housekeeping is needed because the cards will feel lifeless, and their messages will seem confusing or lacking their usual vibrancy. When that happens, it often helps to put all the cards in their proper order—starting with the Fool in the Major Arcana and then working through the suits. Once you've done that, visualize the cards being focused and animated, then shuffle them and continue as usual.
Communication Is Key
If you're experiencing tarot block or feel like your cards are refusing to speak with you, remember that communicating with your cards is always a two-way street. When I do face-to-face readings, I always explain to my client that three of us are involved in this conversation: the client, the cards, and me. If any one of the three drops the ball, the discussion will be unfulfilling.
There's nothing more annoying than someone who doesn't know what they want! It applies to ordering food, shopping for clothes, or designing a garden—and it applies to tarot, too. You need to ask a specific question and know what kind of answers you're seeking. Write your question in your tarot journal, or even speak it out loud, because using your throat chakra empowers your words. Next, concentrate on the cards and seek your answer.
Respecting the Relationship
Your relationship with your tarot is important, and because of that, the cards need to be respected. If you read for other people, you might even want to get an additional deck—it can be the same or different—so you have one set of cards that are yours and yours alone. Your cards will bring you messages from your higher self and your guides, and you won't have to worry about whether they're picking up random vibrations from other people or beings.
Final Thoughts
The tarot won't work miracles. After all, these are just pictures on card stock. There's no magical power in them. They can't make you do anything—good or bad—that you don't choose to do. What the cards do is help you navigate your own destiny by offering a new way to examine all aspects of your being: mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional. When you respect your cards and use them responsibly, the communication between you will be strong and empowering, and you won't have to worry about whether your cards are sad or not.
