Space-Clearing Crystals

To clear and purify your space and infuse it with as much of your personal energy as possible, perform a ritual sweeping with a favorite broom. I use a sweet-smelling cinnamon broom. These are actually made of pine straw coated with divine-smelling cinnamon oil and set aside to dry for three weeks. Many a grocery store sells them in the fall and holiday seasons. My favorites are the tiny Trader Joe’s whisk-brooms, which are adorable. These make lovely gifts and altar adornments. I ornament mine with cleansing crystals by taking a colored silk cord and stringing quartz beads on them or gluing them to the base of the handle. These gems and crystals are superb for space-clearing and purification: 

• Amber for positivity and happiness
• Blue lace agate for serenity and a peaceful home
• Coral for well-being and good cheer
• Jet absorbs bad energy from your environment
• Onyx is a guardian stone and protector
• Petrified wood for tranquility and a sense of security
• Clear quartz is wonderful for peace of mind and space-clearing
• Tiger’s-eye protects from “psychic vampires,” energy-draining situations or people
• Turquoise creates calm and relaxation

Serenity of the Setting Sun: A Spell for Mondays

To clear energy and prepare for a week of calm clarity, find a blossom of your favorite white flower—iris, lily, rose—one that is truly beautiful to your eye. Monday’s setting sun is the time for this spell, enacted immediately after the sun goes below the horizon. Anoint a white candle with clary sage oil and place it on your altar. Take your single white blossom and add that to your altar in a bowl of freshly drawn water. Place sage leaves on a glass dish in front of the lit candle and speak aloud:

    This fire is pure; this flower is holy, this water is clear.

    These elements purify me.

    I walk in light with nothing in my way.

    My energy is pure, my spirit is holy, my being is clear.

    White light burns bright in me and all the words I say.

    So mote it be. And so it is.

Burn the sage in the fire of the candle, then put in the glass dish where it can turn into ash, smudging your space with consecrating smoke as it burns. Stand in front of your altar and breathe in slowly and deeply six times. On the last, strongest exhalation, blow the candle out.

North, South, East, and West: a Ritual for Daily Life

You can purify your home every day and create sacred space for living a life of daily ritual. After cleaning or straightening your home, bless the rooms and ensure that you are surrounded with good energy. Take a bowl or cup of water and add a sprinkle of salt. Then anoint your fingers and forehead. Now turn to the east and say:

Powers of the East,
Source of the sun rising,
ring me hope and inspiration.

Sprinkle some water in the east, then turn to the south and say:

Powers of the South,
Source of summer’s warmth and light,
Bring me joy and bounty.

Sprinkle some water in the south, then turn to the west and say:

Powers of the West,
Source of oceans and rivers,
Bring me the power of the waves.

Sprinkle some water in the west, then turn to the north and say:

Powers of the North,
Source of the winter, place of the mountains, and the polestar,
Bring me security and sight.

Close this simple ritual by sprinkling the water and salt all around your home, especially on or around windows, windowsills, doorways, and thresholds where energy passes in and out as visitors arrive and depart. By doing this, you are cleansing and managing the energy of your space. After an argument or upsetting event, or even after a visit by a person who is in a foul mood, you can repeat this ritual to clear out the “bad energy." 

Space-Clearing Crystals

 

To clear and purify your space and infuse it with as much of your personal energy as possible, perform a ritual sweeping with a favorite broom. I use a sweet-smelling cinnamon broom. These are actually made of pine straw coated with divine-smelling cinnamon oil and set aside to dry for three weeks. Many a grocery store sells them in the fall and holiday seasons. My favorites are the tiny Trader Joe’s whisk-brooms, which are adorable. These make lovely gifts and altar adornments. I ornament mine with cleansing crystals by taking a colored silk cord and stringing quartz beads on them or gluing them to the base of the handle. These gems and crystals are superb for space-clearing and purification:

• Amber for positivity and happiness

• Blue lace agate for serenity and a peaceful home

• Coral for well-being and good cheer

• Jet absorbs bad energy from your environment

• Onyx is a guardian stone and protector

• Petrified wood for tranquility and a sense of security

• Clear quartz is wonderful for peace of mind and space-clearing

• Tiger’s-eye protects from “psychic vampires,” energy- draining situations or people

• Turquoise creates calm and relaxation

Sea Change- Releasing Ritual

A bath blessing that will both relax and purify you is a rare and wonderful thing. To prepare yourself, place one quart of rough sea salt or Epson salts in a large bowl. Add the juice from six freshly squeezed lemons, 1/2 cup of sesame oil, and a few drops of rose and jasmine oils. Stir until the mixture is completely moistened. You can add more sesame oil if necessary, but do not add more lemon, as it will make the mixture overly astringent and potentially irritating to your skin.

When your tub is one-third full, add one-quarter of the salt mixture under the faucet. Breathe in deeply ten times, inhaling and exhaling fully before you do this recitation. You may start to feel a tingling at the crown of your head. The water should still be running when you proclaim:

Thalassa, O Harmonious One,
Goddess and mistress, I ask your guidance. 
Remove from me any impurities
Of heart, spirit, and mind. I open myself to you. 
My wish is to once again become whole,
Free of pain, sadness, and all that is better in me.

When the tub is full, it is time to step inside and breathe deeply ten more times. Repeat the prayer to the sea goddess Thalassa, and use the rest of the salt to gently massage your body. Rest and rejuvenate as long as you like, allowing yourself to feel refreshed and renewed by the ministrations of this Greek goddess from whom eloquence, inspiration and blessings flow.

Pendulum of Truth Invocation

Many witches carry a pendulum with them at all times to help make the right decisions. I sometimes see pendulums twirling over herbs and produce at the farmers market or hovering over restaurant menus. They have recently become available at most metaphysical stores, but a lovingly handmade pendulum is imbued with more personal energy. An easy DIY way to make your own pendulum is to take a strong string or length of leather and tie a ring, gemstone, or crystal to the end. By the light of the new moon, take a bundle of sage, light one end and pass the smoke over your pendulum, “smudging” and purifying your space.

Wear the pendulum around your neck for seven days. Each night, light black candles on your altar to absorb negative energy and, holding the pendulum still, chant:

Guide me to the path of truth, O goddess hear my song.
This pendulum I charge with my energy, to judge right from wrong. 
So mote it be.

On the seventh day, you can begin using your new tool. Any time you need advice before making a decision, dangle the pendulum and observe its movement—swaying from front to back means yes, left to right means no.

Soak Your Soul Replenishment Rite

To rid yourself of negative emotions, try this purification bath. Draw a warm bath at noon when the sun is at its healing peak, and add the essential oils into the water as it flows from the faucet:

• Two drops rosemary for calm
  
• One drop peppermint for stimulation
  
• One drop lavender for energy cleansing
  
• Three drops thyme to relieve mental exhaustion 

As you soak and steam, repeat this prayer four times.

Sadness I release you – goodbye.
Fatigue, I release you – goodbye.
I greet this day anew, I great my life renewed. 

Blessed be.

A Happy (and Hoppy) Household Blessing

When you or a friend move into a new home, place a wreath or bundle of dried hops and eucalyptus on the front door. Walk through the door, light your favorite incense and a brown candle, and lie down in the center of the front room. Whisper:

House of my body, I accept your shelter.
House of my spirit, I receive your blessings.
Home to my heart, I am open to joy.
And so it is. And so it shall be.

Exorcise Your Demons: Community Healing Gathering

Here is an ancient way of casting out demons and bringing new tidings for your friendships and family. Buy a big bag of dried beans and invite all your friends over. In ancient times, many pagan people—from the Greeks to the Incan Indians—believed that beans contained evil spirits.

Ideally performed during an eclipse when that which is hidden is revealed, procure bags of beans and invite your tribe over. Go to your roof, a hill, or wherever you can “get high.” Give everyone a handful of beans and start throwing them down one at a time, with each toss calling out whatever you want to kiss goodbye—a job, a bad relationship, whatever your personal demons may be. After you have discarded all the discord from your life, you and your friends can celebrate the lifting of your burdens.