Are Tarot Cards Safe?

As the popularity of tarot grows, so does the number of questions asked about it. A common one folks have is around the safety of tarot and tarot cards. Today I’ll answer those questions and give you peace of mind about how to use tarot.

There is a lot of contradictory stuff online which regards anything, and it is no different when it comes to reading content on tarot cards.

You’ll read one article telling you that you cannot use tarot to get a yes, no, or a maybe answer, as the pendulum is the only divination tool for that. And you will read others that state that you can use tarot to get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, or ‘maybe’, and I believe the latter is true as well.

That is just one of many examples regarding the tarot, where you will find contradicting information online. Many people ask us ‘is tarot reading safe?’ and I’ll explain and reassure you on that today.

However, you might be interested in learning tarot and you’re eyeing a particular deck that you discovered on Etsy or Amazon because you feel so attracted to it. Still, if you are afraid to take the plunge and learn the tarot because you fear it may not be safe, then let’s talk about that because you are not alone in having that concern based on other articles that you read online that state tarot is not safe!

Are Tarot Cards Safe To Use?

If you’re wondering whether or not tarot cards are safe, the short answer is yes, they absolutely are.

However, there’s a caveat. If you use them with good intentions, take excellent care of them, and take good care of yourself, then there is nothing to worry about at all.

And since I said that it is safe to use tarot if you take care of yourself, that does not mean it isn’t safe to use tarot cards if you happen to incorporate a lot of McDonald’s into your diet, in addition to eating potato chips and candy bars often.

It’s perfectly fine to use tarot cards if you have an unhealthy diet and live a sedentary lifestyle. Your doctor will have other concerns about that, but not in the case of tarot. What I meant by taking care of yourself is that you don’t engage in any dangerous activity where you would purposely engage with dark energies where you could end up with attachments. 

So, if your intentions to use them are good, you don’t engage in anything dangerous, and if you take great care of them, you’ll be fine while using tarot. However, suppose you grew up in a religious Christian, Jewish, or Muslim household where you learned that tarot cards were evil at the church, synagogue, or mosque you attended. In that case, that may also make you wonder if tarot cards are safe, and you may have trouble believing me when I say that they are safe as long as your intentions are pure while using them.

So, let’s talk more about whether or not tarot cards are truly dangerous or evil. 

Are Tarot Cards Dangerous Or Evil?

The Old and New Testaments and the Quran forbid tarot cards (see our guide to tarot and Christianity) and divination which is why you are taught in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that owning a tarot deck is not allowed because they are dangerous and evil.

So, if you grew up in a religious household of any of those religions, then it is understandable that you would have that fear. But I want to congratulate you for opening your mind and asking these questions about tarot. 

If this eases your mind, many people practice the tarot that has not given up their religion. And yes, many use tarot for divination and have not had any problems at all. However, those who still heavily practice their faith and use tarot may avoid using it for divination and use tarot for self-reflection instead.

And that is the wonderful thing about tarot! You can use the cards for divination, as there are so many other uses for the cards. For example, many people find tarot cards comforting for meditation and introspection and to help them with journaling as they see it therapeutic. So if tarot is a tool that can help many people manage their mental health and help them learn about themselves, that tool is not evil, despite what you learned from your religious family or place of worship where you attended during childhood. But, again, Tarot is a tool, so it is neutral; furthermore, it boils down to intentions and your care for yourself and the cards. 

Therefore, you may want to keep an area of your home clean and create that sacred space to put the cards into, indicating that you are taking care of the cards and cleansing your cards at times by placing them for hours on the window sill for daylight or moonlight to bathe them. You will feel reassured since you are taking good care of the cards you are keeping them safe. But what happens if you plan to do some traveling? Should you leave them at home? Let’s talk about that. 

Is It Safe To Travel With Tarot Cards?

The short answer to this question is that you can travel with the tarot and it’s perfectly safe. However, there are some things to remember when traveling with the tarot. First, you want to pack it well with black cloth because it can help keep any negative energies away from it, so it protects your deck. You can also pack up some crystals, such as the black obsidian or amethyst, in the bag you plan to put your tarot when traveling to protect it.

However, that part is unnecessary, as keeping your deck clean and protected in black cloth is enough to keep it safe. But the crystals can be of help. 

You’ll also need a clean cloth to put on the surface where you are doing the reading and some essential oils to clean the surface before placing your fabric on it. Lemon is best for cleaning.

Therefore, if you utilize those tips when traveling with the tarot, it is safe. However, the one thing that many tarot readers do when they travel with their cards is using a deck of cards specifically for traveling and leaving the one they primarily use at home. 

That is because there is always the risk of losing some cards on the trip or even the entire deck. That is something you should consider when you travel with the tarot. You will develop a closeness with the deck you mainly use, and there is nothing wrong with having extra decks for purposes such as traveling.

Now that you know that as long as you take precautions, it’s safe to travel with tarot, let’s talk about reading the cards at night!

Is It Safe To Do Tarot Readings At Night?

Now that you know that tarot cards are safe, as long as you have good intentions for using them, you may wonder if it’s safe to use tarot cards at night. Why would the nighttime be a concern?

That is because the later at night it is, the veil becomes thinner, and then from 1 am to 5 am is when the veil is the thinnest, and from 3 am to 4 am is the Witching Hour. That means you can have any spirit come through, which can also suggest some negative energies can come through, which is why the belief is that doing tarot readings at night may not be safe. 

Again, if your intentions to use tarot cards are safe, you can read them at any time of the day or night without any problem, even during the Witching Hour if you are awake then.

However, there are still precautions you should take before doing the reading at night. First, you should sage the area where you are reading and place some sea salt by your door so that negative entities keep away.

Keep protective crystals such as black obsidian or black tourmaline around to ward off negative energy. Also, envision yourself in a bubble of protective white light and ask your higher guides to keep you safe.
But, even if you forget to do any of that, you will still likely be fine to do tarot readings at night, once again, as long as your intentions for reading are pure.

And lastly, you may wonder what could happen if you touch someone else’s tarot cards. Let me go over that with you. 

What Happens If You Touch Someone Else’s Tarot Cards?

If anything could go wrong with you if you touched someone else’s tarot cards, the answer is no. There is no risk to you for handling someone else’s tarot cards. However, suppose you touch someone else’s tarot cards without their permission.

In that case, it is best to apologize immediately because even though it was not intentional, you crossed their boundary, which can create negative karma. So a genuine apology for that will balance it out. 

But plenty of tarot readers want you to touch their tarot cards if they are reading for you because the card absorbs your energy, making the reading more authentic. But tarot readers who only want to be the ones handling their cards can give you authentic readings by connecting with your soul. 

Let’s say the tables are turned, and someone touches your tarot cards with or without your permission; you will want to cleanse them.

You can shuffle the energy away; place a clear quartz stone on the deck for several hours, knock on your deck to break away the energy, or burn sage or palo santo over your deck. Either way, it is not the end of the world if you touch someone else’s tarot cards or vice versa. 

The bottom line is that tarot cards are safe if you have good intentions, take care of your cards, and don’t dabble into anything dangerous. You can travel with them, read them at any time of day or night, and allow others to touch your cards or theirs if they permit you.

Remember, despite what you learned while growing up, if you grew up in a religious family, tarot cards are entirely safe to use as long as you treat them with respect and treat the practice with care. If you want to learn more about how to use the tarot properly, here are some resources:

1. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness, by Rachel Pollack.

2. The Big Book of Tarot: How to Interpret the Cards and Work with Tarot Spreads for Personal Growth, by Joan Bunning.

3. Guided Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to Card Meanings, Spreads, and Intuitive Exercises for Seamless Readings, by Stefani Caponi.

4. Crystals for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with the Healing Power of Crystals, by Karen Frazier.

5. Tarot for Beginners: A Holistic Guide to Using the Tarot for Personal Growth and Self Development, by Meg Hayertz.

Tarot Safety – FAQs