What to Do With Tarot Cards You No Longer Want

Donate your deck. Set it free. Pass it on.

Do you have a deck that deserves another reading?

Tarot Amnesty offers a way to pass on unwanted, inherited, incomplete or well-loved tarot and oracle decks. Tell us a little about your deck using the short contact form, and you will receive a personal reply with the next steps.

Offer a deck

Tarot decks become our companions, holding memories of readings, people, places or times. Even a deck that has rested quietly on a shelf for years can feel too meaningful simply to throw away.

Whatever its history, your deck will be received with care. Accepted decks are kept safely and later offered freely at community tarot events. Decks are never bought or sold, and nobody is charged to receive one.

How Tarot Amnesty works

1. Tell us about your deck

Use the short contact form to share the deck’s name, if known, and anything else you would like us to know.

2. Receive a personal reply

Tarot Amnesty will reply to your offer personally. When a deck can be accepted, the postal address and any relevant details will be shared privately.

You are welcome to include a short note about the deck, its history or what you hope for its next chapter. This is entirely optional.

Due to Tarot Amnesty being a self-funded voluntary organization, the person offering the deck is responsible for the cost of postage.

3. The deck begins its next chapter

Accepted decks are stored safely until enough have been received to arrange a community tarot event.

At each gathering, decks are offered freely to readers, learners, collectors, researchers and groups. Some people may be looking for their first deck, while others may use the cards for study, creative work or storytelling activities.

The location will change from one event to the next, giving people in different towns, cities and communities the opportunity to take part.

Decks with particular historical, artistic or cultural significance may be preserved for future research with the British Tarot Archive rather than returned to everyday use.

What tarot and oracle decks can be offered?

Tarot Amnesty welcomes complete, incomplete, older, unusual and well-loved tarot and oracle decks.

A deck does not need to be valuable, pristine or in its original packaging. Worn edges, handwritten notes and other signs of use are part of its history and do not prevent it from finding a new home.

Guidebooks, companion books, bags, boxes and original packaging are welcome.

Tarot Amnesty welcomes donations from tarot publishers, artists and independent deck creators, including:

  • publishers’ seconds
  • sample and demonstration decks
  • surplus stock
  • incomplete production sets
  • usable cards and materials left over from publishing

Publishers and creators wishing to offer several decks are welcome to get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Can I donate unwanted tarot cards?

Yes. Tarot Amnesty accepts unwanted tarot and oracle decks so that they can be passed on freely to people who will use, study, preserve or enjoy them.

Can I pass on inherited tarot cards?

Yes. Tarot Amnesty offers a respectful alternative when keeping, selling or discarding an inherited tarot deck does not feel right.

You do not need to know the deck’s full history. You may include a note about the deck or its previous owner, but this is entirely optional.

What if the tarot deck is incomplete or well used?

Incomplete and well-used decks may still be suitable for rehoming, teaching, creative work, research or preservation. Missing cards and signs of age do not prevent a deck from being accepted.

Do tarot cards need to be disposed of in a special way?

No special ritual is required when parting with tarot cards.

Some people choose to cleanse, wrap or thank a deck before letting it go. Others simply package it safely for posting. The right approach is whatever feels most comfortable to you.

Will my tarot deck be sold?

No. Decks received through Tarot Amnesty are passed to individuals, learners, community groups or preserved for research where appropriate.

Can I choose who receives my deck?

Tarot Amnesty cannot promise that a deck will go to a particular person.

You are welcome to express a preference for it to support a beginner, artist, researcher or community group. This will be considered wherever reasonably possible.

When will my deck be rehomed?

Decks are rehomed when enough have been received to arrange a community tarot event. A deck may therefore remain safely in the care of Tarot Amnesty for some time before finding a new home.

News of forthcoming events and completed rehoming activities will be published online.

Where will Tarot Amnesty events be announced?

Community tarot events will be announced:

This will help the decks reach tarot communities, local groups and people looking for their first tarot or oracle deck.

Do I need to pay for postage?

Yes. The person sending a deck is responsible for the cost of postage to Tarot Amnesty.

Tarot Amnesty is an independent, voluntary, not-for-profit community project. It is not yet a registered charity and cannot currently pay or reimburse incoming postage.

The project covers the costs involved in rehoming accepted decks, including:

  • safely storing and preparing them
  • organising community tarot events
  • making the decks available without charge
  • maintaining TarotAmnesty.org
  • promoting events through social media and local press
  • travelling to different locations so that more communities can take part

Postal details are shared privately after a deck has been offered.

The Tarot Amnesty promise

Tarot Amnesty will:

  • receive every deck with care and respect
  • never buy or sell a deck offered through the project
  • keep personal contact and postal details private
  • store accepted decks safely until they can be rehomed
  • offer decks freely at community tarot events
  • make every reasonable effort to find each deck an appropriate new home

Tarot Amnesty is an independent community project founded by British tarot scholar and curator Finbarre Snarey