Your friend cares about you and that’s sweet.. but she’s 
% working off some misconceptions. It’s not too uncommon and not her fault.
> Tarot cards deliver the messages… they don’t create them.
The cards pick up on current energy and use symbolism to reflect things back to you. That’s really it. They don’t attract or create energy that you don’t want. Even the idea of getting a risky or dangerous message… the Tarot never gives you bad advice to scare you or just for the sake of it. It gives you actionable advice to help you.
There are some practical things worth doing. They make your readings better and keep your headspace right.
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Grounding before a reading. Sit down, take some deep breaths and feel your feet on the floor. Some people visualize roots going from their feet down into the earth, which sounds kind of out there, but it just centers you so you’re not coming in anxious or scattered. Your mental state affects the cards you pull and how you interpret them - you want to show up clear-headed.
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Cleansing your deck is another good habit. Smudge them with sage or palo santo, just light it and fan the smoke around the deck. Or knock on the deck three times to clear residual energy - that’s usually what I do when I’m in a rush. Storing them in a bag or box when you’re not using them helps too. I keep a small quartz crystal with mine.
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Setting intention matters more than people think. Before you actually draw any cards, just take a second and mentally state what you’re looking for guidance on. That focus alone makes the whole reading more useful. And afterwards, wash your hands, have some water or tea, maybe write down what came up.
These little things close out the session so you’re not carrying that energy around with you all day. Just good practice.