Now we call upon the elemental spirits to carry away our fears and anxieties that blind and inhibit us. As we call each elemental let us give it a gift of our energy to thank it for it's help.

We start with the Salt consecration in the north. The purification is done counter clockwise to banish negative influences.

• Asperges

  • The first part of the purification consists of: a call to the earth elementals, honor and consecrate them, call to the water elementals, honor and purify them, establish unity between them, and purify the participants and the ritual space.

  • In our tradition the salt and water Purifications are usually done by a woman because Earth and Water are feminine elements. But that is just as good a reason to have it done by a man.

  • Salt

    • Salt is kept in a cauldron in the north because it represents the element Earth. Salt has long been used as a preservative because it does prevent spoilage, it is considered pure because it prevents corruption. Because salt is considered magically pure to use it in ritual you need only ask it politely, and charge it with energy you draw up from the Earth.

    • Spirit of Earth we charge and consecrate you that you will free our bodies from injury.

  • Water

    • The next step is the Water purification. Water, of course, represents water. Historically water is used as a cleansing agent but it is also a carrier of disease. It is not considered magically pure so it must be purified as well as charged before it can be used magically.

    • Spirit of Water we charge and purify you that you will free our emotions from inhibition.

  • Soak

    • Then comes the joining of the Salt and Water. We usually pour the salt into the water while saying something like:

    • Salt and Water, outer and inner, body and soul, be cleansed, cast out all that is bad and hurtful take in all that is good and healing.

    • So mote it be

    • Swirl the water with your fingers or wand while talking and as you say "...cast out..." flick some of the water out of the circle.

    • When the salt and water are joined the bowl then contains the saline solution that represents the oceans, the womb of life on earth. This is the Holy Water the sacred blood of the Goddess which cleanses and purifies.

    • The consecrated Saltwater is used to purify (asperges) the space and everyone present. The charged and consecrated salt water is passed or carried around the Circle and everyone and everything is aspersed.

    • The person who did the charging can carry it around the group sprinkling liberally or it can be passed from hand to hand everyone aspersing themselves or the person next to them. I once attended a ritual where everyone purified the next person in line. It was a wonderful group building touch.

    • By the Earth that sustains us and the water that renews us, we bless and consecrate this Circle.

      or:

      With gentle waters and sustaining earth I bless and purify this circle.

      or:

      With strong Earth and gentle Waters I bless and purify this Circle.

• Incensing

  • The second part of the purification consists of: a call to the fire elementals, honor and consecrate them, call to the air elementals, honor and purify them, establish unity between them, and purify the participants and the space.

  • In our Circle the Fire and Air purification is usually done by a man because fire and air are masculine elements. (See notes on Earth and Water.)

  • Fire

    • First the Fire consecration. Light the South Candle from the Center Candle. You may use a taper. Lighting all subsequent candles from the center candle is very symbolic of how everything arises out of the first spark and it is more gracefull than pulling out a lighter every time.

    • Spirit of Fire, we charge and consecrate you that you will enlighten our spirits.

  • Incense

    • The Incense is used to purify the room and everyone in it. In Native American traditions this is called smudging. Smudge is a European word with a Middle English root meaning "to suffocate". The traditional word for the European practice of purification by smoke is Incense meaning "to offer incense" or "to arouse passion" which I think is much more appropriate. Charge and purify your incense.

    • Spirit of air, we charge and purify you that you will inspire our intellects.

  • Smoke

    • Light the incense from the South Candle to join fire and air.

    • Fire and Air, breath and spark, intellect and spirit, be cleansed, cast out all that is bad and hurtful, take in all that is good and healing So mote it be.

    • Pass or carry the incense around the circle until it comes back to the starting place. Sometimes the smoke is visualized as purifying the auras of the participants to this end the smoke is wafted over the whole body of the participants including the soles of the feet. The smoke can be wafted by a ritual fan of feathers, sometimes a whole dried wing is used. Some Native American and African traditions use a horse hair whisk for this purpose.

    • As everyone and everything is being Incensed say:

      By the fires of spirit and the winds of inspiration we bless and purify this Circle.

      Or:

      With sweet air and sacred fire I bless and purify this circle

      (Blue Star traditional from Zippora.) This completes the purification.

• Purifying spell.

  • When you feel a particular need for purification try this. Clean your bathroom in preparation for the spell. Set up a shrine with the incense of your choice and between 1 and 5 white candles Fill the Bathtub with water as hot as you can take it. Add 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of baking soda.

  • Invoke whoever or whatever you feel necessary. Turn off all electric light. Light the candles and incense.

  • Soak in the tub as long as you can, adding hot water as necessary.

  • When you are done rinse off the salt water. Thank the spirits you invoked and clean up.

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page