Cleansing, charging, and consecrating items for magickal use is part of my spiritual hygiene. I cleanse, charge, and consecrate objects I want to collaborate with and rely on for guidance, insight, magick, and ritual. These include deity representations, altar tools, divination tools, crystals, and jewellery.
Part 1 covered cleansing. This article is about charging and consecrating your crystals and other magickal tools.
Charging
Cleansing and charging are two processes. Cleansing removes physical and energetic dirt from your objects. To charge an object can be to empower it with a specific task, but I’m using another definition here. I’m referring to charging in terms of loading and filling them with energy for your use, like charging your smartphone’s battery.
I cleanse my objects with water, earth, salt, brown rice, smoke, sound, and crystals. Practitioners also use these as charging methods, but I prefer other techniques because I like the distinction between cleansing and charging. Sunlight, moonlight, and using a charging device are all effective options for charging your crystals and other magickal tools.
Moonlight and sunlight are both easy ways to charge many magickal objects. I place my crystals and jewellery in a bowl or tray and leave them in the sun or under the full moon for a few hours.
Sunlight is great for fabrics, but some crystals will fade and can become brittle if left in direct sunlight for too long. These include Quartz crystals such as Amethyst, Aventurine, Citrine, and Prasiolite; Beryls, which include Aquamarine and Emerald; and other crystals such as Calcite and Fluorite and Turquoise. I treat my crystals and jewellery like the plants that prefer the shadier corners of the garden and never put them in direct sunlight.
You may not want to expose your deity statues, altar tools, tarot and oracle cards to the sun for hours or to the cold dampness overnight. You could charge them safely from indoors by placing your items next to a window facing the sun or moon. You could also use a charging device. This is an object with the power to charge, such as a crystal cluster; Amethyst and Selenite are good options. I’ve never tried it, but copper pyramid fans say that’s an excellent charging station. My favourite charging device is my Wiccan pentacle or paten, which represents elemental earth. If you’re a Hekatean Witch, consider using your strophalos.
Consecration
To consecrate an object is to dedicate it to a particular purpose or service. Practitioners also use the “program” when it comes to crystals, but I prefer “consecration” because of its association with the sacred.
Crystals know what to do; they have their intrinsic properties. Tarot and oracle decks know their purpose. But a piece of wood attached to metal (an athame) doesn’t. So, my consecrations vary a little.
I start by holding the item and concentrating on it. For crystals, jewellery, decks, and other items with inherent characteristics, I state my intention, ask them to collaborate with me, bestow their gifts on me, and help me fulfil my purpose. I try to be as plain as possible but not so specific as to limit the item’s natural strengths.
My consecrations are more specific with altar tools, fabrics, and other items that may normally have a mundane or unknown purpose. For example, consecrating my white shawl and entrusting it with a task, duty, or responsibility transforms it from a simple item of clothing to a sacred garment with a purpose or a job.
How often do you need to charge your tools?
It varies. I charge my tools after I cleanse them if I intend to use them. I generally cleanse my crystals, jewellery, and some other items once a month, usually a day or two before the full moon, so that I can use the lunar energy to charge them.
How long do you charge your tools for?
Moonlight and charging devices don’t cause damage, so I leave magickal objects charging for hours or overnight.
Do you reconsecrate your tools?
Once I’ve connected with my magickal object, consecrated it, worked with it a while, with a few exceptions, I don’t reconsecrate it. It’s like a friend or partner; we don’t need to re-introduce ourselves. However, if I haven’t seen my friend in a while, I’d take the time to get reacquainted. If I have a new purpose or task for the object to fulfil, I will reconsecrate it.
Regularly cleansing and charging your crystals and other magickal tools will help restore and reinvigorate them. Consecrating them establishes and strengthens your connection and mystical purpose.
