When Holidays such as Yule and Birthdays offer gifts, many witches are given thoughtful gifts that can be used for their particular practice. Being of a Wiccan background, I was taught to cleanse and consecrate all my items that I plan to use in magick. Since I consider the Witches I learned from to be Traditional with a Wiccan Flavor I would say if you are Wiccan or Traditional, cleansing an item is a good idea for items that will be used for magick.
Why should an item be cleansed if it is new? Here is my opinion. I believe that as items are manufactured either through mass production or through the individual hard sweat of a handcrafted item, it will be handled and touched throughout the process. As it sits in a store and waits to be purchased, consumers stop to look at the item and often touch it. I touch everything I am going to purchase. Even if you buy it online there are many different hands or even if only one, the object has absorbed the energy of those who have handled it. I believe that no matter how good or bad people are they leave traces of themselves everywhere they go on everything they touch.
I personally would like an object I am going to use for magick to only carry the vibrations and energy of me, the natural energy of the object such as the natural energy of a crystal and my intent through the creation of a magickal item. It can be a tool or it can be something I plan to use as a talisman or amulet. I will want to cleanse away all energy, good and bad, to start fresh and make sure nothing will hinder or interfere with my purpose.
Even if you are not Wiccan, I don’t see how a cleansing process could hurt. Everyone who cleanses an object has their own way of doing so but I will give you a general idea of how it can be done.
One way to cleanse an item is to bury it in some earth so the energy can be absorbed and transmuted by the earth. Sometimes that will damage the item and is not wise. Some will sit the item where it can be touched by the moonlight for a complete cycle. Usually full moon to full moon or new moon to new moon where it can be cleansed of energies and charged with the energy of the moon and the same with the sun. Sometimes that is not possible and something more immediate is needed. I will do a full-blown ritual. cast a circle of protection and use the four elements to cleanse an item. I use salt and water for the elements of earth and water and burning, smoking incense for air and sometimes air and fire depending on the item. Fire can destroy an item so care must be taken when cleansing with it. Salt water can rust metal and so on. Think as you plan because the elements are a force that can destroy.
I have my four elements and of course spirit for the fifth element. As I pass the object over, the element such as water. I many sprinkle or touch a drop of water onto the item and focus on the energy of the universe coming from all around me and passing through the object. I visualized it washing away all outside energy so the only energy left on this object belongs to the item itself and that of myself.
I make my way through all of the elements. I try to work with healing, protection, clarity or other positive energies since negativity is naturally absorbed and experienced. After the process is complete I personally will then take the opportunity to either charge it with the magick intended or I will consecrate it or dedicate it to my deity or specifically for my practice.
This can be done with something you have had for some time as well. A stone or necklace you carry or wear, a ring you never take off also absorbs energies. Not just yours but energies that surround you. When an object you use always needs to be cleansed and repurpose or recharged with the right intention a cleansing will be useful as well.
I cleanse my runes after I finish with them for the day or before use if I am reading for someone other than myself. Of course, I wouldn’t swipe my tarot cards through the flame of a candle or dunk them in water but I do have my own ritual to cleanse that item without damage.
So you were given a new wire wrapped crystal necklace that you want to use to enhance your psychic ability or for protection. Now is the time to cleanse it and prepare it for your personal magick. Because magick is a personal thing, how you do it is up to you as long as it works for you. The most important key is the element of spirit.
In Love and Light,
P.S. If you would like to share some of the ways you cleanse your items, or why you don’t, please tell us in the comments below.
In your opinion, how useful is smudging an object with sage or burrying (e.g. stones) in salt for cleaning objects? Because I live in a maintained apartment, I do not bury objects, and leaving objects out for a moon cycle is no good, either (inside-cats, outside-humans). For ritually used items I will consecrated them, but for objects that I will not use specifically use in ritual, I tend to smudge or salt them (mostly due to laziness). What is your take on this practice? ?
Hi Scout,
My take on smudging and using salt is that it is fine because the actions you take and tools you use are only to help you focus on the task at hand. I believe that when we cleanse an object of all negativity we actually are doing it with the energy and elements around us. For me, I have no problem placing a stone or small item on a windowsill after performing my cleansing ritual often using tools such as herbs or incense a small bowl of blessed water and blessed salt. although these elements can damage certain items just as too much sunlight can, I advise to always use caution when using them. I think it is possible to cleanse an item with nothing but will and the naturally occurring energy and elements. much like magick. the power is not in the sage or salt but in the focus of intention and will that is within you. a great book titled The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Waddles written back in the early 1900s gives us a peek at how intention and will can create, manifest and bend the energy around us for a specific cause. If you want to smudge an item with sage or herbs or incense or bury it in salt, As long as it doesn’t damage the item or cause other issues I personally see nothing wrong with those methods. I do suggest, however, to use the best method that works for you.
Thanks
I use sage on objects and trace a pentagram over the object. Im also a reiki master, so most of the time i use reiki to cleanse and charge things. I have set stuff out under the light if the full moon as well.
I also use salt for cleansing, specifically Epsom Salt. I am not sure if its due to the high magnesium levels or because it is manufacterd as a healing agent by those who encounter it at the factory, but I have had much better results with Epsom salt, versus other salts. I also make salt water concecration mix, aka holy water, for sprinkling items outside or cleaning area for a circle, with epsom salt due to the energy drawing powers it contains.
There are times when not to clean items, for instance when it needs to retain the energy of its original owner or for scrying, clairvoyant practice. If my husband gives me something, I cleanse it, but only because if I dont, I find out later it is sucking energy from him. I use a four corners symbol for consecration, like N, S, E, and West, or a sigil regarding a planet that symbolizes the intent of clesnsing, like if someone has negative energy, I will make the symbol for the Sun with my finger, to counter the affects of saturn, or if there was tension involved, I will make the symbol of the moon or venus to calm it and send love to the item.
Hi was wondering if you can charge crystals on the window sill
During the Full Moon
Because don’t feel comfortable leaving them out side due to where I live
Yes! I have a great window where I charge my stones and other charms with moon energy. My window gets great moonlight. because of where I live, I will never intentionally leave my stuff outside. If something requires being buried for a time and then dug up, I use a potted plant that I care for. Window sills work great. Just be careful when leaving your stones in the sun as the sunlight can damage certain stones. When programming a stone, I hold it in my hand and a friend suggested blowing my breath of intent on the stone.