"I think it's about time I upgraded to a new tarot deck."

"I bought a tarot deck, but it's just been sitting there unused."

Sooner or later, most tarot owners run into the same question: what's the proper way to dispose of a deck you no longer use?

Many people wonder whether it's fine to simply throw the cards in the trash, or whether there's a more appropriate method. Some even worry that disposing of a deck the "wrong" way might bring bad luck or a curse.

When people think about getting rid of a tarot deck, "throwing it away" is usually the first thing that comes to mind — but did you know that selling your deck is also an option?

We'll introduce the lesser-known option of selling your tarot deck, along with other disposal methods.

If you're unsure how to part with your tarot cards, or you're considering selling them, we hope this guide helps.

✧Do Worn-Out Tarot Cards Still Work?

If you've used the same tarot deck for years, the corners of the cards eventually fray and the whole deck starts to look worn out.

That said, a well-used deck tends to fit comfortably in your hands and feels easier to work with — and of course, there's the emotional attachment, too. Because of this, many people keep using a deck long after it's shown clear signs of wear rather than replacing it.

At some point, though, you might start to wonder: "Can a worn-out deck still give accurate readings?"

When cards become too damaged, the creases and tears can make it hard to shuffle properly, and you may find yourself distracted mid-reading — which can affect the accuracy of the result.

Minor wear and small tears can usually be repaired and the deck can keep being used, but if the damage is bad enough to distract you during a reading, it's time to consider replacing the deck.

☾When Is the Right Time to Retire a Tarot Deck?

There are three main moments when it's time to part with a tarot deck:

• When cards from the deck have gone missing
• When cards have become torn or damaged
• When you've stopped using the deck

Everyone has their own sense of when it's time to let go of a deck, but if any of the three situations above apply to you, it's probably a good moment to consider retiring your current cards.

Timing #1: When Cards Have Gone Missing

If you count your deck and find that cards are missing, some people worry this is a bad omen.

In fact, losing a few cards isn't a sign that something unfortunate is about to happen — it can instead be read as a positive message from the deck itself, one of "growth" or "time for a change."

Since a full tarot deck has 78 cards, you might think, "surely it's fine to read with just one card missing?"

However, every single card in the deck carries its own meaning, and if you want to do accurate readings, you need the complete set.

If cards are missing, don't hesitate — it's time to consider retiring the deck.

Timing #2: When Cards Are Torn or Damaged

After repeated shuffling, it's common for the corners of cards to start tearing.

Small tears can often be fixed with a bit of glue or adhesive.

But once the damage becomes noticeable enough that you can identify a specific card just by looking at its back, that's a sign it's time to retire the deck.

That's because during a reading, your attention will inevitably be drawn to the damaged card, making it hard to focus and choose cards freely — which can throw off the accuracy of your results.

If your cards have noticeable damage or tears, it's time to let them go.

Timing #3: When You've Stopped Using the Deck

If you have a deck that's gone unused for reasons like "I don't have time to do readings anymore" or "it just wasn't the right fit for me," it may be time to consider parting with it.

If a deck has been sitting untouched in a drawer for over a year, chances are you won't pick it up again — so it's worth considering letting it go.

Selling Is a Popular Way to Retire a Tarot Deck

Even once you've decided to part with your tarot deck, many people find themselves unsure exactly how to go about it.

There's no special, mandatory method for disposing of tarot cards specifically — whatever method you choose is perfectly fine.

Your options include:

• Selling the deck
• Throwing it away as trash
• Having it ritually burned (otakiage)
• Giving it away to someone else

You're free to choose whichever method suits you, but selling tends to be the most popular choice.

If you're attached to a deck, you may feel a pang of guilt about simply throwing it away.

In cases like that, we recommend selling it to a shop that understands the value of tarot decks and will properly appraise it.

Unless a deck is truly in terrible condition, most buyers will accept it — so if you're hesitant about throwing your cards away, selling is well worth considering.

✦3 Recommended Shops That Buy Used Tarot Decks

If you're thinking about parting with your tarot deck, here are a few shops worth knowing about that specialize in buying tarot and oracle cards.

• Aobado
• The Oracle Card / Tarot Card / Spiritual & Mystical Goods Buying Specialists
• Pay Forward

Let's take a closer look at each one.

Recommended Shop #1: Aobado

Aobado is a shop that buys books, CDs, DVDs, and video games.

Its experienced specialists carefully appraise every item and clearly explain the reasoning behind the offered price.

Aobado actively buys tarot decks, oracle decks, and similar items regardless of language or card size.

They'll also accept decks even if the accompanying guidebook is missing.

However, they will not buy a deck if it isn't a complete set of all 78 cards.

How to Sell to Aobado

The process for selling to Aobado is:

1. Submit an "application" through their website to request a buyback
2. Once approved, ship your tarot deck to them
3. A specialist appraises the deck, sets the price, and pays out — sometimes as quickly as the next day

You can ship your items for free from home, but the box must contain at least 20 items total (including the tarot deck) to qualify for free shipping.

If you have other unwanted books, DVDs, or games at home, it's worth bundling them together for the sale.

If you're only selling a tarot deck by itself, you'll need to cover the shipping cost yourself.

Recommended Shop #2: The Oracle Card / Tarot Card / Spiritual & Mystical Goods Buying Specialists

This is one of the few specialist shops that deals exclusively in oracle cards, tarot cards, and other spiritual and mystical goods.

The business originally started as a secondhand bookstore focused on traveling buybacks in the Tokai region of Japan, but opened this specialty shop after the site owner's wife developed an interest in cards and spiritual items.

Because it specializes in cards and spiritual goods, both Japanese-made and imported decks — including valuable or collectible tarot decks — are appraised and priced accordingly.

For especially rare decks, they may even offer more than the original retail price.

How to Sell to the Oracle/Tarot Buying Specialists

The process is as follows:

1. Request an appraisal by phone or through their application form
2. Pack your cards in a box and ship them cash-on-delivery (shipping paid by the buyer)
3. Once your item arrives, you'll receive the appraisal result by email within 3 days
4. If you agree to the offered price, payment is transferred to your account within 3 days

If you're not satisfied with the appraisal, you can cancel the sale, but you'll need to cover the return shipping cost yourself.

Recommended Shop #3: Pay Forward

Pay Forward is a program run by Visionary Company, a publisher of oracle cards and similar products, where you can send in an unwanted tarot deck and receive a different deck as a "gift" in exchange.

Beyond straightforward exchanges, they also buy decks outright — accepting new and used decks, Japanese and imported decks, older printings, and even decks missing their original box.

However, they won't accept decks that are missing cards or that are severely damaged.

How to Sell to Pay Forward

The process for selling to Pay Forward is:

1. Download the "Card Buyback Application Form"
2. Fill in the required information and print it out
3. Send the completed form along with the cards you'd like to sell
4. After appraisal, you'll receive an email stating the offered price; once confirmed, payment is transferred to your designated account

If you're not happy with the offered price, your cards will be returned to you at the company's expense.

♡Disposal Methods Other Than Selling

Selling isn't the only way to part with a tarot deck you no longer need. Other options include:

• Throwing it away as trash
• Having it ritually burned (otakiage)
• Giving it to someone else
• Simply keeping it in storage

Let's go through each of these in detail.

Disposal Method #1: Throwing It Away

As mentioned earlier, there are no fixed rules for how to dispose of a tarot deck.

Some people worry, "Won't I be cursed if I just throw it in the trash?" — but rest assured, that's not the case.

That said, if you feel uneasy about putting your cards straight into the burnable trash, you can stack the cards neatly in their original order, place them in a box, wrap the box in clean paper or cloth, and purify them with salt.

Saying "thank you" to the cards and disposing of them separately from other trash, with care, is a way to show respect to the deck — and it may also help you feel more at peace with the decision.

When disposing of tarot cards as trash, be sure to check your local municipality's waste sorting rules.

Disposal Method #2: Ritual Burning (Otakiage)

If you're still uneasy even after hearing that any disposal method is fine, many shrines and temples offer an "otakiage" ritual burning service.

Otakiage is traditionally used not only for the belongings of someone who has passed away, but for any items that feel too meaningful to simply discard — they're purified through a sacred fire as a form of memorial.

This service is often held at shrines and temples especially around the New Year, and generally any flammable item can be included.

If you feel genuine gratitude toward your tarot deck, having it properly laid to rest through otakiage can offer a sense of closure and a fresh start.

Note that not all shrines and temples offer otakiage, so it's worth checking in advance.

Disposal Method #3: Giving It to Someone Else

If you're attached to a deck you've used for a long time and find it hard to let go, consider passing it on to someone who will use it in your place.

Rather than letting the deck sit unused, giving it a new connection with someone else is one meaningful option.

You might gift it to a friend who's interested in tarot, or pass it along to someone looking for a deck through a resale app — either way, it's a kind of new "connection" for the cards.

Just be sure to let the other person know clearly that the deck is secondhand — that's basic etiquette when giving cards away.

If they're still happy to take it after knowing that, send the cards off with good wishes.

Disposal Method #4: Keeping It in Storage

Just because you've stopped using a deck doesn't mean you have to throw it away or give it to someone else.

If you're attached to it and can't quite let go, there's no need to force yourself — you can simply keep it safely at home until the right time to part with it comes naturally.

If you love the artwork, you could even frame a card and display it as a piece of decor.

Even if you're not using the deck for readings anymore, finding another way to enjoy it is a perfectly good option too.

☀What to Remember When Letting Go of a Deck

Whether it's because the cards have worn out, they didn't feel like the right fit, or you simply stopped using them — there are many reasons people decide to part with a tarot deck.

How you dispose of your unwanted tarot cards is entirely up to you, but there's one thing you should never forget: gratitude.

You might think, "it's just a deck of cards" — but this deck has likely been there for you through important decisions and difficult moments.

Keep in mind all the support the cards have given you over time, and make sure to send them off with the fullest gratitude you can.

Also remember that an unwanted tarot deck doesn't necessarily have to be "thrown away."

If you find yourself hesitating to throw it out, that hesitation itself is a sign that it isn't quite time to let go yet.

Keep the deck close by until the day comes when you can naturally feel, "it's okay to let this go now."

⧗Summary

We've covered a range of ways to dispose of a tarot deck you no longer need.

We introduced selling as one option for retiring a tarot deck, along with three recommended shops that buy used decks.

While we recommend selling as a great way to part with an unwanted deck, we've also covered other disposal methods in detail — so if you're currently unsure what to do with a tarot deck you no longer use, we hope this article helps.