How to store tarot cards – 5 ways to keep them protected

When you have received a new deck of Tarot cards, you want to protect them from all elements that might damage them. Storing your cards well will help them last longer and, in some cases, add a bit of flair to your readings when you take the cards out. 

The storing method you choose should keep your Tarot cards protected and organized while you are not using them. The most common ways to store Tarot cards are:

• Original packaging
• Storage boxes
• Cloth or silk wrap
• Card Bags or pouches
• With Ribbons

It doesn’t really matter how you store your cards, but storing them well will save you from needing to renew your deck too often. Below, I will present each method in more detail. The great thing is that most of the ways can be DIY. 

The Original packaging

The original package is probably the most common way to store Tarot cards. Nowadays, some cards come with pretty impressive boxes, so it might be visually pleasing to just keep them in these boxes. 

The great thing about the original publisher’s “box” or package is that it is always perfectly sized for the cards. Also, the box and the cards will have a matching design, so you will quickly recognize the deck you are looking for. This can be especially useful for those who own numerous Tarot decks.  

Also, keeping the original wrapping with all the booklets and receipts can be a valuable asset someday. Especially if you are a collector and you might eventually consider selling your decks, the items that are as close to the original are the most valued ones. 

The downside of the original boxes is that they are often not very sturdy and longlasting. If you open and close the box daily, you will soon notice some wear and tear. And if you place something accidentally on top of the package while there are no cards inside, it will get crushed. Trust me, this has happened to me various times.

Storage boxes

Storage boxes will offer you the ultimate protection for your Tarot cards. Many decks that are a bit pricier or more “exclusive” often come with a storage box of their own. 

The storage boxes will keep your cards protected from most elements, even moisture, if you are not storing them in a damp basement. And to be sure, you can add some silica bags to your box to remove excess moisture. 

In addition to keeping your cards protected, another great thing about the storage boxes is that they almost always look great. You can place them on a special place on your bookshelf to surge them with that special attention and energy to help with your readings. You can also put some crystals or cloths inside your box to energize your cards. 

I have seen some people having beautiful ornamental old wooden and metal jewelry boxes that look amazing. An excellent place to look for these is at flea markets and yard sales. Keep your eyes open because you might even have one at home. 

If you are worried about what kind of box will do, I would say that any box that fits your cards and pleases your eye. If it meets those two criteria, it can be a storage box for your Tarot deck. 

It doesn’t matter if your box is made of wood, tin, glass, metal, or even plastic. As long as you are comfortable storing your cards in your chosen storage box, go for it.

Cloth or silk wrap

If you don’t have a storage box available or maybe the storing space is an issue, a cloth or a textile wrap can be the chosen method to go with. 

A fabric that you wrap around the cards will keep your cards protected and organized. Even if you keep your Tarot cards in a box, it won’t hurt to add a protective and comfortable bed for them by wrapping your cards in some fabric. 

What is great about using a textile wrapping to store your cards is that it can also act as a tablecloth for your Tarot spreads. It will add a subtle flair to your readings and provide a beautiful extra visual element if you choose a visually pleasing fabric. 

You can use any type of fabric for this. Still, most people prefer silk because it is believed to protect the deck from unwanted energies. Silk also adds a bit of sophistication, and it is a material that feels great. 

Personally, I am not that picky with the material. Any fabric that pleases my eye and is available to me I might use. 

Changing the wrapping textile is also a nice, cheap, and easy way to keep things fresh. When you have a beautiful new textile around your deck, it will feel a bit as if you were holding a new pack of cards in your hands.

If you see a beautiful fabric lying around in your home, you can cut a piece and use it. 

If you are thinking about what size of cloth you should cut, about 30×30 inches (75x75cm) will cover most medium-sized spreads. 

But an excellent way to be sure of the right size is to place your favored spread on the table, take a measure and add 4 inches (10cm) on each side. Then you will know for sure the correct size and won’t waste fabric. 

Card Bags or pouches

One of my favorite ways to store a deck is in a pouch or a bag. Firstly a beautiful pouch will give readings a bit of glamour and flair. Secondly, there is something magical when you open a small pouch with a cute ribbon and look at what is inside. 

For me, at least there is an energy that momentarily takes me back to my childhood when I pull on that ribbon and peek inside. 

Other features that make pouches a great option is that they are durable, and you can customize them rather affordably to your cards. It is easy to add extra decorations to your pouch by embroiling, clueing, or even drawing something on them. 

And because pouches are portable and durable, they are a great storage option for those who like to travel with Tarot cards. 

A Tarot card bag can be made from any material. It can be silk, cotton, velvet, leather, or anything that feels good for you and pleases your eye. It’s good to add a drawstring or a ribbon to close your bag. This will keep your cards from falling out and securely in place. It is good to place the ribbon so that when it’s tight, it will hold your cards firmly without applying pressure to the sides of the cards. 

If you go shopping for a bag, it is good to take your cards with you and test what bag is suitable for your Tarot cards. Remember that you don’t want to stuff your cards into a pouch that is too tight because it can destroy your cards.  

If you choose to make one on your own, it is good to add two inches on the shorter side of the bag and three inches to the longer side to accommodate the drawstring and the thickness of the deck. 

A standard Tarot deck is 2.75″ x 4.75 inches, so your bag would be 4.75″ x 7.75 inches or larger. 

Ribbons

While ribbons won’t protect your cards from getting damaged by outside forces, they will keep them neat. Plus, a lovely bow can add a bit of luxury to your deck with very little money. 

A nice little extra touch is to have different ribbons for different readings. Imagine you will do a love reading for someone. A silky or satin ribbon could add that extra sensuality to the experience. 

Or if you are doing a career reading, maybe a good omen would be to wrap the deck with a dollar green ribbon. Just a fun idea to play around with.  

Does the storing method affect the reading accuracy?

Some people are worried about how the chosen storage method will affect the energy of the cards or how it will affect the reading accuracy.

I would advise choosing a method that makes you personally feel good. I am sure the cards don’t mind which way they are stored, but you might. And that is what is essential. 

If you are not getting good vibes from storing your cards in the original box, you should choose a method that gives you good ones. 

The energies that you feel are going to affect your readings. So if you think that your deck needs to sit comfortably in a box wrapped in silk with some crystals, then this should be the way to go. 

Storing crystals together with Tarot cards

I love crystals, and I believe they are energy filters that have been given to us by mother earth. I have used them to provide me with positive and cleansing energy in every house I have lived since I moved out of my parent’s house. I also use them with my Tarot readings and Tarot cards. 

Should you use them is entirely up to you. If you feel crystals are cleansing energies around you, then why not try them with your Tarot cards? 

Selenite and quartz are excellent crystals to have around your cards. You can place them on top of your deck. Or alternatively, even inside your Tarot card pouch or storage box along with your deck. Just be careful to not shake the bag too much so that the hard edges of the crystal won’t damage your cards.