Cards are an energetic tool and as such can get a little energetically icky.  I always cleanse the energy of a newly purchased deck before connecting in and using it and then will clear the energy briefly between each reading.

1. Run each card individually through some smudge smoke using white sage leaves.  If you have a problem with smoke you can use an essential
   
   
2. Hold the deck together in one pile and knock on them, this uses the vibration to disperse all the absorbed energy. 
   
   
3. Cards can be stored or held with crystals, amethyst is a great all round cleanser for this.
   
   
4. Reiki symbols can be drawn over your cards to tap into Universal White Light energy. 
   
   
5. Hold the deck to your heart and send love to all the cards. 
   
   
6. Use an invocation, such as…. “I call upon my Angels and Guides to cleanse this deck.
     May they give me clear information that can be used for the highest good of all.” 
   
   
7. Sound is always a great energetic cleanser so use a singing bowl around your cards.
   
   
8.  Leave your cards on a windowsill on the night of the full moon. 
   
   
9.  With the intention of cleansing, lay the cards out one by one on a table, this is also a good way to mix them all back up after reading for someone.

 
As with everything it comes back to your focus and intention.
 
This list is by no means the only ways you can cleanse and clear your cards, it is individual choice and these are my main go to options.

A tarot spread is where the cards are laid out in a predetermined sequence.  Each card placement will have a specific meaning based on where it is in the spread.  The spread/layout can then be in a particular shape and each card read in relation to how it interacts with those around it.  Examples of this would be cards with people on… who is lording it ‘over’ who, which people are looking at each other, are the people looking forward into the future or behind them into the past?  Are important people such as partners actually represented in the spread next to each other if there at all?  With larger spreads you can also have an awareness of what is missing, ie a person or suit (which would represent a particular area of your life)!
 
A spread can be as simple as one card eg, “what do I need to be aware of today?” or include nearly every card in the deck… as long as the placement of the cards is decided in advance.
 
So why is it so important to decide in advance where and how the cards are laid out?  In short, it adds an extra and vital layer to the reading.  How can you interpret the card in relation to a question if half the information is missing?
 
There are spreads for relationships, general life readings, decision making, career/finance spreads, health and fitness, life goals and the list goes on.
 
One of my favourite spreads is the Celtic Cross.  This includes 10 cards and will give a great overview of what is happening in your life now, what influences are coming from the past and what is getting in the way.  It also goes on to see how, given the current circumstances, life will evolve over the next few months or so therefore perfect for making informed choices.
 
One fun spread is from the ‘Housewives Tarot’ and is laid out in the shape of a cocktail glass (as in pictures - taken from booklet).  So go grab your cards and have a little play with this or one of your favourite spreads and have some fun.
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As everybody does, I have ups, downs and roundabouts to face in life on a daily or even minute to minute basis, so it is great to have a tool to help navigate those that fits into the palm of my hand.  That tool, for me, is my trusty old Robin Wood Tarot cards (this is my all-time favourite deck and has been for 40 years – EEK, how old am I getting lols).
 
I will start each day by drawing a card to help me judge how the day will pan out.  If I have a feeling it is going to be ‘one of those days’ – and there seem to have been a few of these recently, I will draw other cards to help clarify what obstacles may lay ahead and if I have to face them head on or have the chance to navigate around them or even do a U-turn.
 
Using my cards I can tap into the energy field of each member of the household and as an example, see below the surface to who perhaps needs a little extra nurturing or to be left alone for a while.  This by itself will help to iron out any issues before they even arise - how good is that!!
 
I will also use my cards when making decisions on a personal or business level.  This reduces my stress because it is like having someone else helping to give you guidance.  Yes, it is still up to my personal interpretation and I can read the cards to suit how I think things should pan out, but at the end of the day isn’t that just tapping into my intuition and creating a flow of positivity and manifestation.  That’s a win-win in my world.
 
How do you use your cards – or do you have another tool that you use?  I would love to hear all about it in the comments.

When we think of Tarot or Oracle readings we mostly want to see what the future holds for us.  I know as a reader that the one question most asked is about future relationships or future employment.  This does not have to always be the case.  Cards can be used for healing too.
 
When you are in a difficult situation, feeling lost, overwhelmed and struggling to get to grips with life as it currently is we can become quite ill.  This is when we can tap into the cards and their energy.  It is like having an outsiders’, non-judgemental view of everything that is going on.
 
Utilising the cards, we can tune in to you, the people around you and all the ways they currently interact together.  This gives us clearer insights and allows the emotions to rise to the surface and be faced in a more objective way.  For example, you may not have realised how much something was impacting on those around you and that you were all feeding the negative side of life.  By becoming clear with this we can make a conscious choice to change our thought processes and look at the positives that will no doubt also be pointed out in the cards.  You become able to accept who you are and realise that as with everything the energy can and will change – you just need to take the necessary steps.
 
I love my cards and how they speak so clearly to me.  I have been working with the same deck now or over 30 years, yet still see things on them during a reading that I am sure I have never seen before – I guess that is why I love them and my connection to them so much.
 
You too can rise from the ashes – just like the phoenix.

​When we read for ourselves it is often at a time we are highly emotional and therefore overly invested in hearing the answers that we feel we need and deserve.  Nothing wrong with that, but when reading the cards it is important to stay objective so that the messages can come through clearly.  Tapping into Universal Wisdom and your own Inner Guidance System does not work at its best when we are feeling off and not grounded.
 
Another common mistake we make when reading for ourselves is to keep asking the same question over and over again.  Often, as above, this is due to wanting our thoughts and ideas about a situation validated and hoping that by asking again and again the answer will somehow be different, which I can assure you will not be the case!
 
Reading for yourself can mostly be kept fairly simple, so when you are new to it don’t jump straight into long and complicated spreads.  Start off by building your knowledge in a way to bring personal growth.  In the morning ask one card questions such as, “what do I need to be aware of today to be the best possible version of me”, “how can I manage the difficult situation at work today”.  Late in the day you can ask questions of reflection, “what worked well for me today”, “how could I have handled that better/differently”.
 
It is quite common when you are first learning (or a seasoned professional come to that) to check out meanings of cards online, and there are many resources available out there.  Again the thing is to not overdo this and read the meaning from many different places.  Each will have its own flavour and if you read too many you will just be in confusion.  Checking is good but always go with your gut feel first.