Cleansing the Energy of Purchased Items
Cleanse Energies from Store Bought or Used Metaphysical Tools
Nov 6, 2009
A great variety of Pagan and occult tools and supplies can be found online and in metaphysical bookstores. Many interesting and useful tools, such as athames or bolines, chalices, and candles can also be found in second hand stores. Whether the purchased supplies are new or used, a careful practitioner should cleanse all items they intend to use for spells or rituals.
Even New Items Can Carry Unwanted or Contrary Energy
While some items, such as crystals and talismans, are believed to absorb energy easier than other items, anything used or created for spiritual purposes can become energetically charged. A candle that someone packages or owns while they are going through a very dark period in life can pick up depressed or angry energy, which can hamper a spell for positivity.
Most new items come fairly "clean" of other's energy, but it's impossible to know what used items have been exposed to. Cleansing is also a good step to prepare a tool that is to be attuned to a owner's specific wants and needs. With proper cleansing, even a candle designed and charged for negative work can be re-purposed for positive use.
Many Methods of Cleansing, For all Paths and Traditions
Cleansing most items is simple and fairly basic, meaning even inexperienced practitioners or people who have never done any magic or spiritual work can cleanse the energy from an object. People of all religions and traditions can use basic cleansing practices without violating most tenets against witchcraft or harming others. Salt, water, moon or sunlight, and incense smoke are all some of the most common cleansing materials.
As explained on All Things Yoni, using the smoke of burning herbs or incense is known as smudging. Simply light an incense stick, or burn herbs such as sage (known for its cleansing properties) on a charcoal tablet, and hold the item to be cleansed in the smoke.
Salt has a long history of being used to absorb energy that's unwanted. Dorothy Morrison, in her book Everyday Magic, explains that sitting a crystal or other tool in a bowl of salt will help drain any energy absorbed by the item. Salt water works as well, but can corrode or damage some items. Bathing the item in moonlight or sunlight also clears energy, but be careful with items sensitive to light.
Dorothy Morrison offers two more very easy and quick methods for cleansing items. The first is sticking items in the freezer - it effectively freezes any energy out of the item. The second option involves using a house plant to cleanse energy, such as an African Violet. The plant draws out energy and releases it into the soil.
After the Cleansing, and What to Do With Stubborn Energy
Most supplies, such as herbs or candles, that will be consumed and discarded should be ready to use when the energy is cleared and returned to a neutral state. However, many practitioners like to attune the tools and items they use regularly, such as wands or athames. This makes tapping into a specific energy quicker and easier.
Some items may still have a lingering amount of energy after a basic cleansing, especially if the item was heavily charged for a specific purpose. More drastic cleansing methods may be needed to clear these kinds of items, such as burying the item underground, using crystals such as quartz and hematite known for drawing out energy, and using high vibration sounds like gongs or singing bowls.
Cleansed Items Are Easier to Use, Easier to Attune
It's always a good item to reset the energy of a tool or supply that's been purchased for metaphysical use. Neutral items have less of a chance of interfering with the intent of a spell or ritual, and bringing a tool back to neutral energy helps when trying to attune it for a specific purpose. Cleansing is easy, and can be done by most people with items they already have around the home.
Sources:
Yoni.com, Accessed November 5, 2009.
Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, (2007).
 |
