Altar Cleansing

Needed:

  • Holy water
  • Scented oil
  • Incense
  • Miniature broom
  • Salt
  • 2 bowls
  • Red candle
  • Candle holder
  • Inspirational music

Timing: Full or new moon

Place your supplies on a tray or on the floor by your altar. Before you begin, take three deep breaths. As you breathe out, release any negativity or unhappiness you may feel. Now close your eyes and rub your hands lightly together. The deep breathing helps you relax and the friction you create with your hands activates the chakra points in your palms. Closing your eyes helps you to ground and center, and prepare for a magickal working. Say:
“I feel the power of Spirit in and around me. So mote it be.”

Open your eyes. Hold the red candle in your hand, and say:
“May you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit.”

Light the candle, then hold it out in front of you, over the altar, saying:
“From the black and formless void, light blossomed into existence. By igniting this candlewick, I bring the grace of Spirit/our Mother into my life and into my altar. Element of fire, work your will by my desire.”

Pass the flame three times in a counterclockwise direction over the altar, saying:
“I banish all negativity from this (material your altar is made of).
Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined, can ever abide here.”

Set the burning candle safely to the side. You will be using it again.

Hold your hands over the incense, and say:
“Element of air, may you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit.”

Light the incense from the candle flame. Pass the incense smoke over the surface of the altar three times in a counterclockwise direction, saying:
“Element of air, work your will by my desire.
I banish all negativity from this (material your altar is made of).
Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined, can ever abide here.”

Set the burning incense safely to the side. You will be using it again.

Hold your hands over the salt, and say:
“Element of earth, may you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit.”

When your palms begin to tingle or grow warm, sprinkle the salt lightly over the top of the altar surface. Just a little will do. Say:
“I cleanse this altar with the salt of the earth.
Element of earth, work your will by my desire.
I banish all negativity from this (material your altar is made of).
Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined, can ever abide here.”

Set the bowl aside. Pick up the bowl of water, and say:
“Element of water may you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit.”

Place the bowl of water in the center of the altar. Add three pinches of salt, stirring clockwise with your finger after each addition to the water. Imagine the water glowing with a soft blue or white light. Pick up the small broom and sprinkle with both salt and water, saying:
“Besom, may you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit. Work the magick by my desire.”

Dip the broom in the consecrated water, and begin sprinkling tiny drops of the liquid onto the altar in counterclockwise circles, saying:
“I banish all negativity from this (material your altar is made of).
Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined, can ever abide here. So mote it be!”