When I was a child, towards the back of our yard was a slab of concrete hidden in a small cluster of trees. This was my “secret fort” and I’d spend hours here, playing with small toys and moving around rocks. My favorite was a big pink stone that was cracked into two pieces, each side revealing dazzling crystals on the inside.
I would stare at that stone and muse about whether or not those crystals were magical or worth anything. (I was always looking for a way to make cash.)
Alas, the stone was too big and buried too deep in the dirt for me to do anything with it except gaze on it like some sort of prehistoric crystal ball. This was my introduction to crystals.
As an adult, I found myself drawn to crystals when I began my career as a tarot reader. One day, I stumbled into Free Spirit Crystals, the local rock shop owned by healer Diane Bloom (If you’re in the Milwaukee area, this is your one-stop crystal shop). Diane had an encyclopedic knowledge of the stones and a selection that wowed me.
She helped me pick out a few that might be useful and from that day, I was hooked on crystals!
I use them in my tarot practice and more. Nowadays, I’m rarely without a crystal on my person. I swear by them. Wanna learn how to work with crystals and tarot? Here’s your primer.
First, you need to cleanse your crystals.
This is easy to do!
You can set the crystals under the moonlight or sunlight. Or, better yet, use a smudge stick. Smudging comes from the Native American culture and involves lighting a sage bundle (also called a smudge stick), or other herbs and allowing the smoke to cleanse away negativity.
Before lighting your smudge stick, take a moment to ask the smudge stick to help cleanse you, your environment, and crystals. Light the sage and let it burn for a few seconds. When the flame dies down, it should begin smoking. In some cases, you may have to blow the flame out.
Now, take a moment to smudge yourself by moving the sage wand around your body, from the top of your head down to your feet. Then, sage your environment by walking around the room and allowing the smoke to waft to each corner. Keep a window open and visualize the negative energy moving out through the window.
Next, hold your crystals and let the smoke drift over them, asking the sage to bless and purify your stones. When you’re done, put the smudge stick into a safe container such as a bowl, abalone shell, incense burner, or another fireproof vessel. Eventually, it will stop smoking.
Next, set an intention for your crystal. Hold the crystal in your hand and meditate on what you are going to use it for. For example, a rose quartz may be used for emotional healing whereas a black tourmaline may be designated for protection work. You may choose to say a short invocation or intention to the crystal such as “may this crystal be infused with positive, healing energy and light.”
Your crystals are ready to go to work!
How to cleanse your tarot deck with crystals.
One of my favorite ways to cleanse my tarot deck is with crystals. There are two ways I do this.
1. Put the tarot deck under the light of the Moon with a crystal on top. I usually pick a clear quartz for this. Let the deck and crystal sit out all night long. This is especially good during a Full Moon, New Moon, or eclipse! Some people prefer to use the Sun, which is fine. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
2. The crystal sandwich: Lay the tarot deck on a large crystal and then put a crystal on top. I have a gorgeous selenite wand that I lay on top of the deck. Selenite is superb for energy cleansing. It brings “light” into the deck – perfect after heavy-duty tarot readings.
How to cleanse yourself with crystals.
Before I begin my work for the day, I love to use my selenite wand to cleanse myself. It’s a fast and effective way to clear my vibes so I can be present for my clients.
Take the wand into your dominant hand. Wave it around your body, from head to toe. That’s it! This is so easy and I always feel lighter after doing this. Heck, I sometimes use the selenite wand for a quick “light” boost!
How to remove energetic cords with clients at the end of the day.
At the end of a busy day, whether you’re a tarot reader or not, you pick up energetic cords from other people. An energetic cord is an energy connection between you and the other person. Although you cannot see it, it’s there. For those of us who are energy sensitive, we can actually feel it. I am especially sensitive to this vibe if I’ve had a negative experience with someone. For example, arguing with a loved one will often affect me for three days. Not kidding! (Thankfully, I only keep people around me that I rarely argue with!)
I learned about Kyanite for cord cutting from Energy Muse (LOVE this site!). I have been doing this for a while now and it works like a charm. Here’s what you do: take a Kyanite stone in your dominant hand. Then, begin using it to make little “cutting” motions in front of your body. I do this over each chakra, finishing with the crown chakra. You can focus on a specific person or just general energy.
Finish off with a wave of the selenite wand over your body – and you’re good to go!
Here’s a video from Energy Muse on cutting energetic cords:
How to protect your aura when working with tarot.
There are a few ways to protect your aura when working with tarot clients. For one, I am a fan of crystal bracelets. I’m a Gemini and Gemini rules the hands and wrists so I am never without a bracelet! These bracelets look pretty but they also serve as an energy force field.
Here are the ones I recommend:
Hematite: this will keep you grounded, which is so important when you’re reading tarot.
Shungite: this rare stone neutralizes energy. It doesn’t matter what is coming at you – Shungite has a way of protecting your vibe and shielding you from bad mojo!
Pyrite: Pyrite attracts abundance but it also sends energy right back to the other person. This way, you’re not taking on their energy. It’s common for intuitive tarot readers to absorb other people’s vibes – this ensures you don’t keep that shit.
Amethyst: Amethyst is calming, protects the aura, and magnifies intuition. It’s a tarot reader’s best stone ally! The necklace below is one of my favorites. I got this beauty from Gem and Point.
There are a few other things that I do to keep my own aura clean and clear. These are not crystal related but essential for tarot readers who tend to have porous auras and weak boundaries.
For example, I’m a believer in energy work. A few minutes of energy medicine in the morning and I’m all zipped up. You can learn more about energy work by checking out Donna Eden’s work. Energy Medicine for Women is my “bible” of energy remedies!
I also love sprays and essential oils! Every day, I spritz myself and my office with these fabulous sprays from Angela Mary Magick. I use both Resist Myst and Moon Magick Myst. They are handmade and full of magic! I’m seriously obsessed.
I anoint myself with essential oils to keep out unwanted energy. This seals out negativity. The current oils I am using are: Protect from TerraAnoint and I Am Safe from Strawberry Hedgehog. I switch off with other oils from time to time. If I can’t find a blend I like, then Sandalwood always sets me up right!
How to set up your environment to keep the harmony – and keep out the bad vibes.
Every day, I smudge my office. This is essential because I work closely with clients – and that can sometimes leave an energetic imprint. I want my space to be clear so that my work remains centered and full of light.
Once again, get out your trusty sage wand. Open a window (this allows the negative vibes to release – plus prevents your environment from becoming filled with smoke). Light that bundle up, let it burn for a sec, then blow it out. Begin wafting the smoke in every corner of the room as you walk around, clockwise. Next, ring a bell in each corner of the room. This breaks up energy. Finally, a few sprinkles of Florida Water on the floor and the office is ready for work!
BUT there are also some crystals you’ll want to keep in your office at all times. I have a ton of ‘em all around my office (some in hidden spaces!). Here are the essentials that every tarot reader will want:
- Amethyst – calming, protects the aura, boosts the spirit, amplifies positive vibes
- Black Tourmaline – protection, boundaries
- Clear Quartz – focus, positive energy, manifesting intentions, clarity
- Rose Quartz – love, healing, unconditional love
- Citrine – prosperity, happiness, joy, success
- Pyrite – abundance, sends energy back to people
- Smoky Quartz – purification, goals, healing
- Selenite – healing, removes stuck energy, cleansing, brings light
Using crystals during the tarot reading
You can also use crystals during the tarot reading. There are a few ways you can do this.
You can hold on to a particular stone while doing the reading. I recommend Rose Quartz for readings that are focused on emotional healing or love, Black Tourmaline when dealing with heavy-duty readings or for those times when you feel that your energetic boundaries are being crossed, Clear Quartz for general purposes. You can purchase some crystals in a touchstone format, a smooth disk, which is nice for rubbing the thumb over. This has a calming effect and lends well to a centered reading.
Another method is to choose crystals for each card and lay the crystal on the card before you read. This could be time-consuming unless you limit yourself to a few crystals for client concerns such as Rose Quartz for love, Jade for financial concerns, Citrine for success, or Amethyst for questions about spirituality. This is a nice way to ground the reading – and it can lead to deeper insights.
One of my friends keeps a large bowl of assorted tumbled crystals on her tarot table. At the end of the reading, she invites the client to pick one. This is a nice touch and makes the reading special.
I have another tarot friend who works the festival circuit, which means she’s often outdoors. She brings a bag of clear quartz points and lays one on each card. This grounds the reading plus prevents the cards from flying off the table when the wind acts up! Clever!
In The Essence of Magic – Tarot, Ritual, and Aromatherapy, author Mary K, Greer created a great list of crystals for each of the Major Arcana. Mary told me that “It’s based on the Golden Dawn astrological correspondences to the tarot cards.” She graciously gave me permission to post the list here. (By the way, this book is currently out of print but you can find copies of it online. It is one of my tarot treasures.)
The Fool – Tourmaline, Turquoise
The Magician – Tiger Eye, Citrine, Fire Opal, Agate
The High Priestess – Moonstone, Pearl
The Empress – Emerald, Rose Quartz
The Emperor – Ruby
The Hierophant – Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli
The Lovers – Alexandrite, Agate
The Chariot – Amber, Chalcedony, Carnelian
Strength – Cat’s Eye, Topaz, Chrysolite
The Hermit – Peridot/Olivine, Bloodstone
The Wheel of Fortune – Sapphire, Lapis, Amethyst
Justice – Emerald, Coral, Jade
The Hanged Man – Aquamarine, Beryl
Death – Snakestone, Bloodstone
Temperance – Jacinth, Amethyst
The Devil – Black Diamond, Jet, Obsidian
The Tower – Ruby, Garnet, Hematite
The Star – Turquoise, Rock Crystal
The Moon – Milk Opal, Moonstone, Pearl
The Sun – Diamond, Topaz, Heliotrope
Judgement – Fire Opal, Malachite, Fire Agate
The World – Onyx, Jet, Lapis Lazuli, Black Pearl
I think this list is excellent. While this list is a handy guide, you may find a few other crystals that work well with each card. For example, Black Tourmaline may feel right for Death while Sunstone may be perfect for The Sun. Trust your instincts on this! And again, when these cards pop up in a tarot reading, you might want to put a crystal on the card as a way to ground and activate the energy. Don’t have all those crystals in your metaphysical toolkit? Remember: clear quartz can work for ANY situation and all the cards. I have tons of clear quartz at my fingertips – when in doubt or without, clear quartz is the versatile stone to grab.
Recommending crystal remedies to clients
In some cases, you may want to recommend certain crystals to your clients. For example, if they are having trouble letting go of an ex, you may want to suggest Smoky Quartz, which is excellent for clearing blockages. If you decide to take this route, you may want to study crystals further so that you are well versed in what each stone is for.
Ready to get started on your tarot and crystal journey? Here are some of my favorite resources:
Recommended books
Crystal Muse: Everyday Rituals to Tune In to the Real You by Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro.
The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals and Stones by Margaret Ann Lembo
Love is in the Earth by Melody and Steve Goins
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing by Yulia Van Doren
The Crystal Healer: Crystal prescriptions that will change your life forever by Philip Permutt
Everyday Crystal Rituals by Naha Armady.
Recommended shops
Energy Muse – I LOVE their jewelry. Also, their blog and YouTube channel are excellent. I highly recommend!
Free Spirit – the BEST rock shop in the Midwest!
Yatzuri – reasonable prices, gorgeous pieces, and other metaphysical goodies.
Luna Prosperity – great stones from the creator of The Crystal Unicorn Tarot!
Crystal Garden – this is author Margaret Ann Lembo’s shop.
House of Intuition – the coolest crystal source in Los Angeles.
Also check out this post: Four Crystal Experts Talk About Tarot and Crystals.
I hope this post rocked your world (pun intended). I’ll be crafting more posts on crystals and tarot in the future but for now, this should whet your appetite.
Blessings!
Theresa
© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2018
images from personal collection and stock photography
I’m Theresa Reed (aka, The Tarot Lady). I’ve been a full-time tarot reader for 30+ years — which, in my industry, makes me pretty badass.
I’m definitely not your average Tarot expert — I drop the F-bomb, I quote rappers, and I’m obsessed with pop culture + reality TV. Folks come to me for straight-talk + tough-love — without the woo-woo fluff. 
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