Hi,
There is a deck I would like to use for reference and I would like to deactivate them so they are just cards. Any ideas on the best way to do this, or is there a certain method? Or not
What you mean is (my interpretation) - is there a recommended ritual that you can use to deactivate your link/mindset to this card deck as a "working deck" - thus reducing it to a "just reference" deck.
Hmmm. Interesting question - I've never thought of that. For me - card decks become "just reference", when I first look at them and think "Oh well - that is nice, but I'll never read with it due to x and y that I've discovered since unpacking it..." etc.
Or, I have some decks that I originally bought because of what they were (several versions of the RWS for instance) - the "go-to" standard for my "formal" Tarot training was the RWS - but for many years I never actually liked the deck at all. So several of my RWS versions spend most of their time being "just cards for reference". I have less attachement to them because I like the artwork less.
But I've never felt that the two uses have to be separated.
Those have just somehow "fallen" there.
If you've got them in a fancy silk with box or bag etc. - you could change all that for a boring linen one or something? - so that the deck is "changing hats" as it were.
... Huh. You could invent your own Moonlit ritual to "deactivate" them...(and here I'm just inventing on-my-feet now):
Lay out a 4 element circle space, cleanse and purify, ground and meditate etc.
Place the cards in the centre and having called on whatever spirits/deities/forces you hold dear to witness - thank the cards for their previous use and baptise them into their new one. Make up a spell/ditty - something like: "by North of Earth, East of Air, South of Fire and West of Water (which ofcourse may differ according to your belief/hemisphere/spiritual indoctrination), I charge your release from your former call. Recharge, Transform, be renewed into a new service of x!" (thank everyone for attendance before you close and dispel the circle - if you believe in that).
Well... you did "ask" a Wiccan, so that's my answer to the problem.
Good luck.