There are three basic reasons for cleansing and consecrating: It removes any negative residue that may have attached itself to an item or place. It calls the positive energy of the Universe to bear witness to your acts. It empowers the object or place for positive purposes. Cleansing and consecration are, more often than not, the same thing. Once something has been cleansed, or purified, it becomes a holy thing and therefore consecrated. Some choose to include dedication rituals, smudging, or anointing as part of the consecration and separate from the cleansing, but this is not necessary unless you feel the need to include it.
With a few exceptions, cleansing with sea salt and/or rain water is used most often. Just sprinkle or submerge the tool in the mixture, then carefully dry over a burning candle. If the tool is flammable however, dry with a cloth. This is an especially important step if you either bought or received your tools. You may also mix water and lemon juice together to cleanse used items you pick up in a junk shop or thrift store. Some tools may be buried in the earth for cleansing. This is true of some, but not all stones. Some stones maybe left out in the light of the moon for cleansing and empowerment. Use your best judgment when cleansing an item and research into the symbolism behind an item wouldn’t hurt! A tool identified with the earth may be cleansed with a ritual involving the earth, the same with fire, etc.
It is not only important to cleanse and consecrate your tools, before most rituals, you should also do the same for yourself. You can begin by taking a bath. This is cleansing of the body at its simplest. If you’d rather not do anything beyond this, don’t. Some people will also anoint themselves with oils at this point.
Many will anoint the feet, hands, breasts, temples, and third eye with a small dab of oil each. Some sources also suggest the navel and/or the genitals. Depending upon the type of oil you are using, you do NOT want to anoint the genitals. For instance, peppermint oil would feel really bad rubbed into the genitals- trust me. A good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn’t want it in your eyes, don’t put it on your genitals either. Anointing the body is not only for the purpose of purifying before ritual. Oils have many different uses, and anointing is a useful and simple way of to practice spell crafting. If you have sensitive skin however, anointing with oils may not be a good idea for you at all or you may choose to dilute them heavily with a neutral carrier-oil.
Passing incense over the body and tools and smudging are also very popular ways of cleansing before ritual. Smudging uses the smoke from burning herbs as a way to cleanse the body, an object, or a given area of negative influences. Like the use of oil in anointing and in oil burners, smudging can be used not only for purification, but also as part of the spell casting.
The three most used plant materials for smudging are sage of all types (anything in the Artemesia family), cedar, and sweet grass. A few other herbs have found their way into the list however. These include rosemary, lavendar, juniper, yarrow, and balsam.
Gather fresh bunches or branches (four to eight inches) of fresh (not dried) herbs. Select a number of branches or bunches to your desired thickness, squeezing them together a little to estimate the thickness of the finished product. Holding the bunch, wrap string, thread, or floss around the bottom of the bunch approximately five times. Continue wrapping toward the end of the bunch, using wider wraps. Continue wrapping back towards the bottom crossing over the previous wraps, creating a crisscross pattern. Wrap around the bottom again two or three times. Tie the ends together and cut. Trim the bottom of the bunch evenly across below the wrap and any stray pieces sticking out. Place the smudge stick on a mat (sushi mats work well) or fabric swatch and fold part of it over the bunch. Firmly roll the stick between the layers a few times. Hang in a dark place or set in a basket to dry (two to three days, a week at the most). Once the stick is dry, the wrappings may become loose. Rewrap if you wish.
The easiest way to light a smudge stick is with the flame of a candle. The smudge stick will catch a fire. Blow out the flame and the stick will start to smoke. Blow the smoke from the smudge stick towards the item or person you are cleansing or spread the smoke by blowing it or by waving it with a feather. You may even use a fan. Pay special attention to the corners of rooms and anywhere you think energy may not be flowing (closets, behind doors, even cabinets). When smudging yourself, swirl the stick in circles and let the smoke touch all parts of you. When you are done, make sure you put the stick out. Always make sure that there is a fireproof place to put the smudge sticks out, like an ashtray, and never leave a lit smudge stick unattended.
Warning Note: Never burn near anyone with allergies or asthma, the elderly, children, pregnant women, or those with respiratory illnesses. Make sure of your herbs and if experimenting, don’t use anything poisonous.