Buying second hand Tarot Cards – What you need to know?

I was looking to buy Tarot cards online and noticed to my surprise that many sellers were offering second-hand Tarot decks as well. It got me thinking: Can I purchase used Tarot cards? 

Buying used tarot cards is completely fine. Second-hand Tarot cards are a sustainable and affordable option for anyone interested in Tarot cards regardless of their level of expertise. With a proper cleansing procedure, used tarot cards are ready to be used. 

I decided to do some research and share it with you. I found some interesting points about the views towards used Tarot cards, which actually made me change my perspective. If you are considering purchasing used Tarot cards, read along and see what I found out. Let’s dive in. 

Is it okay to buy used Tarot cards?

I guess that most of you reading this have heard from somewhere that there is something terrible about buying used Tarot cards. Some people go as far as saying that the cards get also tainted if someone else touches them. They won’t even consider borrowing the cards to anyone. 

The reason behind this is that some people believe that the connection with divination tools is always a personal one. Whenever someone touches those tools, they transmit their energy to them, interfering with that personal connection. Interestingly, people who believe in this consider other people’s energy always as harmful. 

Reading the arguments against buying used Tarot cards got me thinking, wouldn’t it be better to think about it differently? Instead of seeing it as a negative, couldn’t we think of it as a positive? Could we benefit from the positive energy that people have left on the deck? 

Imagine all the things and stories the used cards could have seen. Imagine all the places they have been. Maybe the used deck has opened up the eyes of many. Perhaps the cards have helped many understand the joys of life and helped cope with their challenges. If you think of it in this way, the deck could surge with positive energy. 

And if the deck is in good condition, it can signify that the cards had a previous owner who took care of them. Maybe they were surrounded with loving and positive energy. I think it would be a shame to waste this beautiful energy.

Now, on the contrary, if you think about new cards, they have no previous experiences other than having been handled by people in the factory, warehouses, transportation, and at the “Tarot shop.” You never know what type of energies have been flowing through those people when handling the cards. It could be that the new cards are more tainted with negative energy than the used deck you have been considering. 

Therefore I believe it is entirely okay to buy used cards. It would be best if you weren’t thinking about the negatives anyways. If the used deck looks good and makes you feel good, then go for it. 

What to look for in used Tarot cards?

If you open yourself to buying used Tarot cards, you could be in for a treat. If you keep your eyes open online or at flea markets, you could make some beautiful finds. 

I was looking at some classifieds adds sites, and there was plenty to choose from. The great thing about buying a deck second hand is that you could find some gems which only a few other people have. 

Some cheap decks are from the ’60s and ’70s, which make them already somewhat of a collector’s items. When I saw these decks, it got me thinking that imagine doing a reading for a client born in that era. It would be so cool to see the reaction if it was something they could relate to. At least I would feel nostalgic if I saw a deck that had a theme from my youth. 

When you are looking for the deck, consider at least a couple of things:

• The completeness of the deck
• The overall condition of the deck

You will want to look for a deck that has no cards missing. It’s not the end of the world if a few cards are missing, but I’m not particularly eager to do readings with a deck that isn’t complete, as it will change the odds of the reading. 

You will also want to think about the condition of the deck. If the cards are very bent, have smushy corners, and are beyond repair, maybe it is better to look for another deck. It is not pleasant if there are marks that make you recognize particular cards when you are shuffling the deck. Also, worn cards don’t slide very well, so that might start to bother you. 

How to cleanse Used Tarot Cards?

Many Tarot readers believe that if you have purchased a used deck, it is compulsory to perform a cleansing ritual before you use them. As you already noticed, I think that if the cleansing applies to used decks, it should apply to new decks. But then again, I have a very practical abroach to Tarot, so I recommend everyone doing what feels right for them. 

I do believe in energies, so I favor doing some cleansing for your cards regardless of whether they are new or used. I prefer thinking about it as filtering rather than cleansing. In a sense, I take away all the negative energy and leave the positive on the cards. 

You can do a cleansing on your cards whenever you feel disconnected from them for any reason. I need to write a more specific post on this later, but here are five easy ways to cleanse your cards.  

• Crystals: This is my favorite way to filter energies. I use quartz and selenite crystals in my house, car, Tarot cards, bag, and almost everywhere. You can place them on top of your Tarot deck or inside your Tarot Storage box whenever you are not using them.

• Insenses: This is likely the most popular method used to cleanse Tarot cards. You can use the insenses you like and pleases your nose. You can do one card at a time or the whole deck at once.

• Sunlight: Everyone has access to sunlight. However, some places have it more than others. (I have lived close to the arctic circle in Finland, so I know what I am talking about.) You can place your cards on your windowsill when the sunlight hits it and give your cards a good sunbath. The sunrays will pierce through your cards and load them with radiant energy. Just make sure you don’t store them in direct sunlight for too long because sunlight will wear off the colors off pretty quickly.

• Full Moonlight: This method might take some time as the full moon only appears every 29,5 days. However, if you have the time, then why not use this method. The moon’s phases have a special connection to the Zodiac signs. So you could charge your deck with the elements of that particular Zodiac sign. You can do the same thing as with the sun. Just place your Tarot cards on your windowsill and let the moonlight take care of the cleansing while you sleep. In the morning, your deck is good to go.

• Salt: This is an affordable method as well, but can get a bit messy. It’s better to use salt that has salt crystals or grains that are a bit bigger. Usually, sea salt or Himalayan salt has bigger grains. You can place some salt on a plate and put your deck on top of it. Let it sit there overnight, and your deck should be ready. Just make sure the salt doesn’t damage your cards by getting the crystals between the deck. You can wrap them in a ziplock bag to avoid this.

You can choose any of these methods or use all of them. The main thing is that you feel you that the deck is ready to use. If there is no connection between you and the deck, your readings will suffer, and you won’t feel like using it anymore. 

I hope this article gave you the confidence to buy and start using a used deck. As said, you can find some real gems if you keep your eyes and heart open for this possibility.