I know, I know—I’ve written entire posts on how I’m not doing minimalism any longer, and why I think it’s important to have things that you connect with in your life, whether they be art, or books, or just “stuff.”
However, after a few years of participating in any hobby, whether it be tarot cards, or sewing, or house plants, it’s easy to accumulate quite the collection of stuff related to that activity.
I’ve been reading tarot now for a little over two years, and I have more tarot decks than I can use.
So whether you’re interested in getting rid of tarot decks because you’re moving, you need more space in your home, you’ve lost touch with the hobby, or you simply have too many, here are some healthy tips for minimizing your tarot decks. I’ll also share which tarot decks to throw out, donate, or recycle, and what I’m doing in each case.
*Disclaimer: I am human. I write from the heart and from experience: not to suit any algorithm or perfectly curated feed. I have chosen to continue to write a blog in the days of Reddit and Substack because it means that I OWN my articles and ability to finance my writing. I am in the process of removing all affiliate links from my site and minimizing ads so that you may focus on the article itself. Enjoy!
Minimizing Your Tarot Decks: To Donate? Or To Recycle.
If you’re having a hard time deciding what to do with a deck, here’s some thoughts that might help you decide.
Tarot Decks to Regift
First, if you have friends who read tarot and might be able to use some of your collection, it’s worth asking. For example, if you have a beginner deck that you no longer use, but one of your friends just started, that might be a good deck to gift.
Or if it’s a deck that you simply didn’t resonate with, but you know someone else in your circle of friends might really vibe with it, that’s a great reason to check with them to see if they want it!
Tarot Decks to Donate
If you have decks that your friends don’t want, then go through this quick checklist to see if the deck is worth donating:
- The deck is complete
- The deck has minimal wear
- It includes the guidebook
Especially if the deck is indie or unique, it’s especially important to donate or make sure it goes to someone else who can cherish it!
You can find places to donate your tarot decks online and in person. First, check with social media groups. When I was on Facebook, I was in a trade and sell group for tarot cards, and people found all kinds of gems there!
You can also check with selling your deck back to a reseller, like Thriftbooks. (Thriftbooks just happens to be my favorite place to buy books, and if you purchase a certain amount, you can earn free books!)
Tarot Decks to Recycle
On the other hand, if a deck isn’t complete, is torn or water-damaged, doesn’t include the guidebook, is written on, or otherwise is overly used, it’s a good deck to recycle.
You may also want to consider recycling decks that just have a weird or “off” energetic feeling to them, especially if someone else has remarked the same thing. (Ie. It’s not just you!)
7 Reasons to Donate or Recycle a Tarot Deck
1. Duplicate Decks
Sometimes you end up with two of a same deck because of gifts, or you thought you misplaced it and bought it again and then found the original deck.
Either way, if you have two or more of the same deck, it’s worth it to save space if you don’t use both. (For those who have multiple offices, or take one on the road with you, then keep them both!)
2. You’ve Outgrown a Deck
When you’re minimizing your tarot decks, if you have any beginner decks, that might be a good opportunity to pass that deck on to someone else who is just starting to learn.
Additionally, if you simply find that a deck no longer serves you in the same way and you haven’t used it in years, it’s absolutely valid to find a new home for that deck.
3. Damaged Decks
One reason a person might choose to throw away their tarot decks is if they’re damaged. For example, one highly popular tarot reader on YouTube had mold in his apartment a couple years ago and had to completely start his collection over!
If you have decks that a child has scribbled on, or has cards with rips or tears that make the cards unusable, it’s time to throw it out.
4. Negative Associations
If you’re considering which tarot decks to throw out, any kind of negative energy definitely strikes me as a valid reason.
Whether it’s connected to a bad memory for you, or you just get a weird energy from the deck every time you use it, you don’t have to use any deck that comes with negative vibes.
5. Hackneyed Commercial Decks
It’s sad to think that the lust for money and producing crap impacts the spirituality and tarot worlds, but it does. If I’m being honest, one of Rebecca Campbell’s decks is enough, because I feel that they’re pretty much all the same.
When a deck is mass-produced, it may be lacking the same inspiration and spark that an indie deck has.
6. Lacking Diversity or Obsolete
Let’s be honest. Those early tarot and oracle decks weren’t exactly inclusive. Many only feature white people, many others include multiple skin tones but have only skinny people.
I love decks that choose to represent humanity for what it is, not as the creator’s ideal world.
If you want to continue to use that deck, you won’t get any hard feelings from me, just know that it’s totally fine if you find a lack of diversity a little icky in 2025!
7. The Creator’s Questionable Values
We all know about Doreen Virtue and her conversion to Christianity, forsaking all the good work she had done before.
It’s up to you to determine if that’s something that bothers you and if it’s worth chucking your decks by that person.
The 5 Oracle and Tarot Decks I’m Tossing in 2025
With all that in mind, here are the decks (that I may have even reviewed in the past!) which are getting the boot this summer.
1. Modern Hue Tarot
Is anyone surprised here? I thought it looked so cool when I stumbled across it online, but its energy feels like it was created by AI or perhaps humans who had very little creative energy invested in the project.
It lacks any kind of positive energy, vibes, or inspiration. It has about as much energy as a rock. (Actually, that might be an insult to rocks everywhere. I dig rocks, no pun intended.)
Anyway, to read my full review, check it out here.
My decision: donate.
2. Green Witch’s Oracle Deck
This one has a good energy, and it’s absolutely beautiful. But I don’t really resonate much with the “green witch” vibe, as much as I am an earthy person.
I’ve used it multiple times, and each time I struggle to really get a feel for the deck or understand its use. That’s enough for me to say that it’s not for me and move on.
My decision: regift. (I have a friend who I think would like this one!)
3. The Healing Waters Oracle Deck
Here’s one of Rebecca Campbell’s that I felt was overproduced and lacking inspiration. It’s a commercial deck, and it’s fine. Using it has been decent, and there’s nothing much wrong with it.
But this isn’t a deck that I reach to on a regular basis because it’s just simply okay. That is enough to pass it on to someone who could really get good use out of it.
My decision: donate.
4. What We’ve Forgotten Oracle Deck
This is an indie deck by Amy Miranda that’s been sold on Amazon. I have both the oracle deck and the book.
This deck is really interesting and I believe that Amy Miranda has some really interesting ideas that I would like to explore more.
My problem with this deck is that the artwork feels like AI. Thunderwing, a company based in LA, did all the artwork for this book and deck, and Amy admits that it’s all AI directly in the back of the book.
AI is still in development, and I am someone who likes to stay informed as much as possible. I know that AI will continue to be prevalent in our society, and that’s okay.
But what’s NOT okay with me is that our current AI models steal artwork from real people, presumably without their permission, and regurgitate poor imitations of that art.
My decision: recycle.
I’m sure Amy Miranda is a lovely person, but I am choosing not to support AI.
5. Clairvoyant Oracle
This is another one that I did a review for. I bought it specifically because I love Tarn Ellis’s artwork.
But I did not resonate at all with BelindaGrace’s book that accompanies it. Because of this, I rarely pick it up.
My decision: reuse the cards as art.
I’m going to recycle the book, keep the cards and use them as art in my office. I hope no one thinks that’s an awful thing, but I love her art and detest the deck!
Conclusion
Your tarot deck collection is a very personal thing. Any reason you have for purchasing or throwing out a tarot deck is your own reason!
But I hope this gave you some helpful tips for minimizing your tarot decks (and oracle decks) and what to do with them when you’re all done.
