Some think this makes which ever set of tools you use in ritual "holy".

 

And I guess you could say it does. But no more "holy" than anything else you use exclusively and have made clear to anyone else that whatever it is, is for your use alone, and have made clear they shouldn't be messing around with them.

 

Cleansing and consecration basically is the attunement of a ritual tool to YOUR energy patterns for the highest effective results.

 

Many people have seen and actually DO this unknowingly in the mundane world without even knowing they are doing it.

 

For example...my friend Victor who is a mechanic. He has a sign up in his shop that says: " No Tools Loaned Out.... Don't ask!".

Even the few people he has working in his shop know there are certain tools of Victor's that they are not allowed to even touch.

 

He cares for them and keeps them clean and polished and uses them exclusively and the work he does is excellent. Coincidence?

 

No.

 

While he may be a experienced and qualified mechanic, with any set of tools,  his performance is enhanced by using tools that are attuned to his energy patterns because he is more able to dicern the vibrations and "feel" of the work he does with them.

 

This same principle works for our ritual tools, but instead of working on cars, we work with energy itself. If our tools are attuned to our own energies then we also will be able to work our spells and what have you with more precise acuity.

 

Some of you made your own tools and some purchased them. Nothing wrong with purchasing your tools, but store bought tools DO have residual energy patterns on them from everyone who has touched it. Everyone from the manufacturer to the people in the store that may have picked it up to examine it.

This causes the wand to be unbalanced. You should cleanse your new wand and then consecrate it, before doing any magickal workings with it.

 

So what is the lesson learned here? Cleanse and consecrate your tools... no matter how sure you are of where the tool has been. And once you have done this, don't let anyone touch your tools. If someone touches your tools, you'll have to cleanse and consecrate them again. What would happen if you had cast a spell with an uncleansed and consecrated wand? With an unbalanced wand, a spell could get really screwed up or gone "Wonky".

 

By "Wonky" I mean the energy directed with it could, to whichever otherworldly being you are working with, seem really strange.

 

For instance ... say you are at a wedding and waiting for the bride to walk down the aile... you are expecting her to come down the aisle in a beautiful dress, and say she shows up wearing a clown out fit... or in a grim reaper's costume.

 

How about going to a NASCAR race and your favorite driver shows up on the starting line sitting on a tricycle.

 

It's just plain weird.....or "Wonky"

 

The clown outfit works.. I mean it DOES cover the girl, it IS a special occasion outfit. The tricycle DOES go.... it DOES take skill and effort to manuver....but it's out of it's league... its just "Wonky".

 

Uncleansed and unconsecrated tools in ritual fall into that same distinction.

So what do you do about it and how do you go about doing it?

 

First of all, you prepare YOURSELF. Cleansing of yourself is not only the sacred bath but the smudging of your body as well.

It makes sense to have your ritual clothing consecrating as these garments are touching your skin and is between you and all that is around you in your sacred space. Think about what may happen and how magick could be blocked or sent "wonky" if bad energies have attached to your garments! Many never think of this.

No matter what you use, as a witch, when you are casting or invoking...you should always make sure they are cleansed and consecrated to have the very best success.

If it is just something you got last minute...just save it until your next ritual if you do not have time to cleanse it...if you want the best success you will not use a unconsecrated tool. ... and that means your own body as well.

Now that YOU are ready, next come the Altar tools....

 

There are several ways to do this. One way is to put the tools into a container that is big enough to hold them. Then fill the container, covering the tools completely, with salt and sage. Let them "soak" for a couple days.

 

Another way is to do a ritual, blessing the tool with each of the elements and as you do so, say aloud that you wish the tool to be pure in both time and space. Finally, you can soak the tools in salt water for one night and them soak them in holy water the next night.

How do you consecrate a working tool?

This can be done by ritual. The tool must be consecrated by each element, endowing the tool with each elements' virtues.

What is an example of a Consecration Ritual?

Here is an example of a consecration ritual from the book: Pagan Ways by O'Hara.

"A Simple Consecration Ritual"

Rub salt on the tool and say:

"I consecrate thee with Earth. May this ___________ be endowed with all the virtues of Earth, and the blessings of the element of Earth be multiplied with its every use."

Then pass the tool through burning incense, symbolizing Air, with the words:

"I consecrate thee with Air. May this ___________ be endowed with all the virtues of Air, and the blessings of the element of Air be multiplied with its every use."

Now pass the tool through a flame, dedicating it to Fire, and say:

"I consecrate thee with Fire. May this ___________ be endowed with all the virtues of Fire, and the blessings of the element of Fire be multiplied with its every use."

Next, Sprinkle water on the tool and say:

"I consecrate thee with Water. May this ___________ be endowed with all the virtues of Water, and the blessings of the element of Water be multiplied with its every use."

Finally, hold the piece aloft in offering to the God and Goddess, saying:

"Lord and Lady hear me. I offer this ___________ for your blessing. May it ever serve me in earnest, and thee in honor. So Mote It Be!"

Now you are all set to make some MAGICK!!!!