How to Connect With Your New Tarot Deck

So you have a new tarot deck and you're not sure where to begin? You've come to the correct place! It doesn't matter if this is a deck that has been gifted to you or if you decided to take it upon yourself and get a deck that caught your eye. There is no difference in how you will be able to connect with them. Remember your new deck is a tool or vessel to relay information, so who you decide to call upon (ancestors, your highest self, deities or spirit team of your highest good) can be changeable.

The first thing to do is break them out of the box and spend time getting to know your deck. You can do this by sitting with them, sleeping next to them, or simply taking the time to look at each individual card separately. Take your new deck along with you in your travels. Feel each card. Feel how the deck is in your hands and how they shuffle. You are now establishing a language between you and your deck only you can understand. Allow each image and symbol speak to you. Let each card tell a story. Let each suit, element and arcana tell a story together. What does it tell you? How does it speak? Pay attention to cards that catch your eye or evoke emotion within you. This can indicate what sort of themes may be surfacing in your life right now. This can go for both attraction and repulsion. Some cards may repulse you to a degree. You can spend extra time with these cards to learn more about the message.

Shuffle flip and mix everything! Don't be afraid to lay all of your cards out to help mix them up properly. Many times they come organized by arcana and suits, so it is best to give it a great shuffle. Twirl the piles around, shuffle or split the piles into two's or three's. This is also where you can choose if you want to read your cards with a reversal interpretation or not. It is up to you to decide. The way these cards are designed makes it optional to read reversals.

Cleanse your deck with bells or smoke incense. You may choose to charge it with a crystal such as amethyst or selenite to give it plenty of energies aligned with you. You may choose to leave your deck out on a window seal (safely) under the moonlight to let the moon imbue its energy as well. Cleansing can help you rid of any energies lingering on them prior to you connecting with them. If these cards have been passed down to you, allow yourself to connect with any previous knowledge passed down. The longer you spend time with your cards, the more in tune you will feel with them. Learning the tone of each card can also help you understand how to take in each message. Some decks may have a "tone" where it is blunt or even poetic.

Start off small! You don't have to jump straight to 12 or more tarot spreads if it overwhelms you. Find the spreads and systems that make the most sense to you. If you are not comfortable with spreads, start with one card. Each day shuffle properly and pull one card. This is known as your "card of the day" usually it is a theme or a message for that specific day's energy. Sit with each message and tune into your senses. This is how you build your connection and your own intuition.

Allow the first initial messages to come to you and quickly jot it down. After you have sat with your interpretation of the card and the message you intuitively downloaded, then you may look at interpretations and meanings. Do not doubt yourself. learn as you go. Study each suit and arcana but also allow your intuition to guide you when pulling cards. Depending on which of your clairesenses are more dominant you may get visuals, audios or sensations. Always continue to ground and center your energy daily to receive the clearest messages. A good way to gain knowledge from a specific card is by sleeping with that specific card underneath your pillow. For example: If you desire to become more intuitive and understand subconscious messages sleep with the High Priestess.

Remember that this is a journey. Take your time to learn and understand the tarot system. It won't happen over night! If you are feeling disconnected from your deck some days, it is acceptable to put the deck away for a day and ground your energies. This craft takes discipline so there will be days you feel less in tune than others. This does not mean you are a "bad" tarot reader, it means you may need to take a moment away to gain a clear mind again.

Seek books that educate on systems of divination. There are many free and available resources to research about tarot and divination, such as Harvard University's free online course on Oracle's and Divination. Research the history as well! Reference the original Riders deck as well as referencing your specific deck meanings to help you bridge the gap to understanding the differences in each style. You got this! and most importantly have fun and be whimsical with it.

Blessed be baddies xoxo