What is the proper way to dispose of a deceased relative's tarot cards?

Question

My wife's brother passed away about a year ago, and among his personal possessions were his deck of tarot cards. He was Wiccan, and was very serious about his tarot readings, and he cherished this deck of tarot cards- the cards were in his possession when he died (he committed suicide) and we were wondering if there was any kind of etiquette to dispose of them. I have always been told to never burn a Ouija board, but I have never heard anything about tarot cards. Thank you.


Serious answers only please, if you intend to just play silly buggers with some sarcastic reply like "Throw them away, duh!" please save your time, I'm not in the mood for it right now.

To clarify- he was cremated and we didn't get the cards until after he was cremated- because it was a suicide the police held on to them as evidence until the investigation could be finished, the cards were considered part of "the incident scene". He didn't have a Ouija board, I just mentioned that as an example. My wife and I are Christian, I don't know anything about Wicca, I just wanted to know if there was a way of taking care of them that would respect his beliefs as a Wiccan.

Arizona, thanks for proving what I always say, anyone can be brave behind a computer screen. I hope you feel better about yourself now.

Answer 1

If he wanted them passed to another he would have done so. Since he had them with him, they should not be given away.

The most respectful thing you could do would be to burn them one at a time if possible in the order that the deck is currently in (with as little handling as possible).

This is easy to do if you make a bed of charcoal and place one card in the coals once they are all white. Allow the first card to burn before placing the next card on. The ash should be spread over any place that he enjoyed in life or into flowing water (river, creek, brook, stream).

Bless you for caring enough to ask.

Answer 2

Ther is a serious side to this question . How about a pair of Rosary Beads or a Crusifix belonging to a dead relative . Even if you yourself are not Christian ?
First , the obvious is interment and /or creamation with the deceased .
Second thought is that if you don't believe in that system ( Wicca , Christianity , etc.) why worry about it . Just hold on to them as a momento , future collectible item . Or throw them in the trash .
Third if you don't want to seem like you disrespected the person , you could offer them to someone else . Even if this means putting them on eBay for $1.00 plus shipping . Or donate them to a non-religious charity store .
Or since this item seems to be an item of "mystical enegy" just leave them somewhere that the right person will come and find them .
I would put them on eBay and use any profit as a donation to a good cause both you and your B-I-L could agree on . ( The Local Animal Shelter or Suicide Hotline ?)

Answer 3

I agree with everyone who said pass them on to a friend if there is one who would want them.
There is no tradition to 'getting rid of them' unless you are the owner of the deck and choose to have such a tradition.
Don't be surprised if you find those that say- they should never be passed on, again, like the disposal tradition, this is a matter of personal beliefs.
If you can't pass them on to a friend of his, then selling them would not be 'wrong' either, but because of the different ideas about tarot, let the interested party know the history behind the cards. Some might want this deck because they might feel that it is a good deck because they have a history.
If all else fails.....I'll take them :D

Answer 4

You can dispose of them however you see fit. They are pieces of card stock with no power, the power comes from within yourself. Tarot cards are a tool and nothing else, an Axe can not chop wood by itself, but if someone used it to chop wood, it really would be the person chopping the wood, not the Axe. So to get back to your question, you can do whatever feels right. If simply throwing them in the trash doesn't feel right, maybe you could bury them, or even burn them. Blessings, Mia.

Answer 5

I've never heard of a particular ettiquette for their disposal. Tarot cards are not specifically Wiccan. They are simply a means of divination used by both Wiccans and non-Wiccans. I personally would not be the slightest bit offended if you threw them away. That's what I did with a deck that was damaged by water and had to be replaced.

Answer 6

First off I wish to offer my condolences. May he be at peace in the Goddess! Blessed Be.

Personally I would find out if he had any Wicca friends. Second if he wanted them to go to someone in particular. If yes to one and no to two offer them to the Wicca friends, or someone in the Wicca community. Some Wicca like to have their "tools" buried with them if they have no one to bequeath them to! I know I would.

Also, usually there is someone who is looking for a set and would be glad for them. Do the same with the Ouija board. This being his religion I would say this would be the most respectful way. I am Wicca and at one of the shops I use to frequent there was a lady who came in looking for items in that area and for people who were interested in what she had. She said to that sometimes to honor those in Wicca you offer their things to others who might not have the funds to get their own, especially if the practitioner had no one to leave the things to. Sometimes she would trade items to other Wicca members who were looking for a specific item and had other items to give away.

Answer 7

You might ask one of his Wiccan friends if they want the cards. If the deck was that important to him I would not throw them away.

I am sure he must have had a close friend or two that might enjoy having the cards.

A local medium, you could donate the cards to them.

I would only burn them as a last resort if it is too late to bury them with him.

I am really surprised that his wife does not want them if he cherished them so, she might want to keep them as they will have his energy connected to them.

As a very last resort bury them on his grave or burn them and spread the ashs on his grave.

Blessings,
Aviana SnowWolfe
Third Degree Priestess

Answer 8

I am very sorry for your loss.
If his wife doesn't want them, I would find out if any of his friends do, whether they are Wiccan or not it is still something to remember him by.
I think they should go to someone who would use and treasure them, not just get thrown out in the garbage.
If all else fails I will gladly take them off your hands.
Blessed Be

Answer 9

Hello Marc

Did your brother in law have close friends that may wish to have them?

To pass them on may be a good way honoring his sentiment for them & if given to a friend may be a point of remembrance for that person.

In Peace

Pam

Answer 10

Either pass them on to someone who will use them or burn them and sprinkle the ashes on the ground or into a body of water.