New Tarot/Oracle Deck Ritual

My Process of Feeling Out a New Deck

Hello, lovely soul,

Since I started purchasing tarot and oracle decks again in the last couple of years, I’ve come up with a ritual that gives me the ability to get to know a new deck. Now you can google a ton of what they call “Interview Your Deck” spreads to get to know it, but I personally like to take a little time to do so and spend some time with the deck.

Step One: A Flip Through

When I first open a deck, I start by slowly flipping through the cards. I like to look at the imagery and pull out the cards that scream at me with their artwork. I typically will pull those aside as I’m flipping through for later. Usually the reason they’re screaming at me with their artwork is due to their meaning – which I have no clue about until I finish my flip through.

My most recent deck – which was actually a birthday present from my friend Sonya – is the Woodland Wardens by Jessica Roux. It is a nice new addition as my fifth indie creators deck, as well as my fifth local to Nashville deck. Symmetry at its finest, y’all.

Step Two: Guide Book Read Through

Yep, that’s right. The next thing I do is read through the guidebook, starting with the cards that I pulled out during my flip through.

With the Woodland Wardens deck, the cards that I pulled aside were the Cat and Lavender (I), the Moth and Eucalyptus (XIII), the Skunk and Magnolia (XXI), the Bee and Pomegranate (XXVI), and the Snake and Fern (XXXIV). Now each card does include a trait description. For example, the Cat and Lavender card includes the word independence.

After centralizing in on the specific ones that I already pulled out, I glance through to see if the author of the deck has included any spreads in the book. Sometimes, the spreads aren’t in the book but are actually printed on cards. A good instance of this is the Practical Magic Oracle Deck by Joseph over at GroundedByTheMoon – shop is currently on vacation as an FYI.

Step Three: Cleanse the Deck

Even though it was most likely shrink wrapped, I will still go through and cleanse my deck with a little smoke. Most of the time, I use my favorite incense. Sometimes I’ll use an herb bundle. It just depends on the mood I’m in. To be honest, you would be surprised what energies can still be picked up even through the packaging. This is just an extra precaution to make sure that as I work with it, my energy is the only thing it is picking up on.

This is also why I’m very particular on letting other people touch my decks. If it’s before I’ve started working with it, then I’m a little more likely to let someone flip through it. If I’ve already started working with it, I would prefer not to have to cleanse it again.

Step Four: Interview Your Deck

Now this might seem a little crazy, but stay with me here.

I picked up the Season of the Witch: Samhain Oracle Deck last year. In the guidebook, there was a spread to interview the deck that I have taken to using on all my decks when I get them. It helps me to know how the deck is going to communicate with me. Once I have that idea, it makes it a little easier to know why I’m being pulled to a specific deck for some readings.

Sometimes that last step shows me that maybe the deck wasn’t meant to be with me. I’ve had two that I’ve given to friends as well as sold to people I know because they weren’t meant for me. This happens. You can fall in love with the artwork of a deck and it just doesn’t work for you. It doesn’t mean you suck at reading tarot. It just means that the deck isn’t meant for you.

Feel free to give my ritual a try. Or share yours down in the comments!

Happy Divining!