Let others touch the deck or not?

[Loriel]

Here is a big question when it comes to Tarot. To have others touch your deck or not? When it comes straight down to it, it is your choice. But let me explain somethings now.

When you use a Tarot deck, you imbue your energy in it. The more you use, the more it is attuned to you. This is why people say "Don't let another person touch your deck!" My father told me that you should put your deck with your personal items so that it is more attuned with you.

I recently found the other option, to let others handle your deck. When I am going to do a reading to them and I am close to them, I have them mix (shuffle in whatever style they want) the deck before I do the reading. Of course, now the deck is "tainted" with their vibrations (or energy if you will). I can only remember four types of clearing the vibrations. You can read more if you get the book Tarot for Teens. It is a really really good book for beginners. Anyways, the four ways I remembered:

Say a brief prayer over the Tarot deck.
or
Leave the deck out in the sun for an hour. When you take it back, thank the element Fire.
or
Wave some mist above the deck. When done, thank the element Water.
or
Put the deck in a safe secure box that won't decompose. Put it in the ground over night. When you take it up, th ank the element Earth.

[Kirree]

Another way to attune your deck with your energy is to sleep a night or two with the deck under or in your pillow.

Generally, I don't let other people touch the deck. When doing a reading for someone else, I'll take their hand and channel a bit of their energy into the cards. I believe a bit of the person's energy into the deck will make it more personal to them.

But I don't think other people should do readings with your deck. If a person touches the deck to shuffle, then that's fine. But to have several people do a reading with a single deck would be terrible in my opinion.

[Loriel]

Mmhm. I see what you mean. I certainly wouldn't let a bunch of people touch me deck and do a reading for each one of them without clearing their energy. But it is a personal choice. I didn't know about putting the deck under your pillow.