Are your Tarot readings just not the way they used to be? Were you once drawing dreamy cards like The Star and Ten of Cups, but now you’re turning up foreboding ones like The Devil and Seven of Swords? Does your deck know to throw you the occasional Empress or Sun just to keep you hooked on its power? You don’t deserve this abusive prophesying! If you’re getting dealt an unfair spread, it’s time to reclaim your power and ditch that deck. Here’s how to make it stick this time around:
Slowly replace your cards with runes or tea leaves.
If you’re still doing tarot readings for yourself regularly, make sure to spend time each week using a new medium until you become comfortable with your new source of divination. Your Tarot deck will likely be caught off-guard, and this will send it the message that it’s not the sole focus of your prophetic energies anymore.
Move your deck from your grandmother’s antique chest to the end table you bought at Ikea.
Heirlooms should be reserved for items that appreciate your radiant uniqueness. Removing your tarot cards from their place of honor shows them that they’re no longer occupying a preferential space in your home or life. You can also try taking them out of their silk pouch and just leaving them on that end table for a while, or to really prove a point, sit a mug of coffee on them. They’re nothing more than coasters to you!
Schedule an appointment with a therapist.
A licensed professional can give you the no-strings-attached support your tarot cards never will. She can help you set expectations for what a healthy, supportive relationship with a divinity tool looks and feels like.
Do the opposite of what your last reading suggested.
While you may still feel swayed by what the cards last said, remember: They’re liars who want for you to fail. If your last tarot session indicated that your romantic future would hold a fiery King of Wands type, make a concerted effort to look for a man with sensitive King of Cups traits. This is a non-malicious way to show your cards that they have no power over you. Make sure to text with him in front of your deck, so that it’s clear to that selfish stack that you’re no longer letting it control your actions or predict your future.
Develop a safety plan for when you’re tempted to shuffle.
Relapse is common when leaving an unhealthy spiritual dynamic. When you’re tempted to reach for that deck, think of other ways to occupy your hands like knitting, kneading dough, or finding good omens around the house. You deserve to feel good. Choose a go-to friend you can call, like the one who’s always made fun of you for “believing in all that new-age crap” so they can be a reminder of your goal to reclaim your power. A support network will become increasingly important as you distance yourself from your rectangular perpetrators.
Get some accountability from friends.
Lastly, ask a loved one to donate your tarot cards to a thrift store at least ten miles away. It’s important that you and your cards have minimal opportunity to cross paths so that you can finally focus fully on you.
Bask in self-praise for a job well done! You’ve reclaimed your power and sense of self. Nothing can stop you now—not even a Ten of Swords!
