What it means to Consecrate

In magic, we normally hear people talk about consecration; it could be the consecration of altars, ritual instruments, divining instruments, talismans, amulets, statues, candles, water, and herbs.

To consecrate something is to make it holy and dedicate it to the service of the divine. This may be done to an area as in creating sacred space, a ceremonial tool or offering or a person, such as clergy.

Consecrate simply means “to make sacred”. It means purifying and blessing something and charging it with purpose. A skull is just a skull, but when it is consecrated it becomes a spiritual home. A statue of Odin is just a statue until it is consecrated as a vessel for the deity. A candle is just a candle until it is anointed with oil and charged with its purpose for a spell. A stick is just a stick, but once it’s cut, fumigated, anointed with oil, sprinkled with blessed water, given its purpose and loaded with the desired powers then it becomes a wand. To facilitate the consecration process, the more the object is actively used for its purpose, the more power it can exert.

Often an item is cleansed using water or smoke first and then consecrated through a ceremony involving a declaration that this item (person, place or thing) is dedicated to the service of a specific God or group of Gods or a sacred purpose.

The word Consecrate is often used synonymously with the word Sanctify.

See: Gathering Your Magickal Toolkit

What can you consecrate?

Amulets and talismans have such historic roots, their origin is lost in the mists of time. As such, the original purpose for which they were used is also long lost. Nevertheless, as our ancestors believed, the forces of these precious objects can intervene in our lives, help us in difficult moments or favor our desires.

During a ritual, our intentions tune into the same wavelength as that of the amulet or talisman, making us vibrate in unison with it.

At this point, we ourselves will become accumulators and diffusers of the energy given to us by the amulet, which will not only materially but spiritually influence the person to whom it will be given.

How do you consecrate tools, amulets and talismans?

Make sure that the moon is in its full or new phase on the day you are going to perform the loading and consecration ritual. We begin preparations four days before the ritual with personal purification.

Get everything you need to purify the object and yourself:

• Buy or make an amulet (this could be a medallion, key ring or any all-metal object, i.e. without rhinestones, plastic, etc.).
• Get yourself an all-white and natural fiber suit (a shirt, bathrobe or whatever makes you feel comfortable) + a pair of white cotton socks.
• Measure out 2 handfuls of coarse salt.
• Get some natural incense in grains (and everything needed for lighting it: charcoal and wooden matches).
• Get 1 wooden stick (preferably hazel, but something as small as a toothpick is fine).
• Get a white paper envelope.
• Get a red ribbon for gift packages.

Once you’ve collected all of these things, do as follows:

1. Turn off your cell phone or anything that might distract you.
2. Take a quick shower and then dry off as well.
3. For those of you who have a bathtub, pour the salt into warm water and immerse yourself in it AFTER taking a shower, for at least 30 minutes.
4. When immersed in the water, relax completely, freeing your mind from any thought relating to the ritual or the reason for consecrating it.
5. Get out of the bath, dry yourself, and put on the all-white garment. Do not dress in anything uncomfortable or restricting, such as belts, lace or underwear.
6. Also put on your white socks, but don’t put on any other footwear.
7. Go to a dimly lit room and meditate for at least a few minutes, until you find your center
8. When there is silence within you, proceed to the purification of the object.

How to purify the items

1. Light the incense with the wooden match and let it burn.
2. With your right hand, grab the wooden stick and lift your object with it, being careful to avoid touching it with your hands.
3. Hold it ABOVE the incense smoke and leave it there for as long as your instinct suggests.
4. When you are ready, say the phrase: I purify you with fire.
5. With your left hand, take the envelope.
6. Put the object inside the envelope, again without touching it.
7. Close the envelope and put out the incense.
8. Dress in your everyday clothes again.
9. Bury the envelope, with the object still inside, in the garden.

After 3 days, unearth the object and proceed as follows:

1. Turn off your cell phone or anything that might distract you.
2. Place the envelope, still closed, next to the incense.
3. Complete the same self-purification ritual as before.
4. Once you have meditated and found your center, light the incense.
5. Hold the object in your hands.
6. Close your eyes and visualize a ball of white light in the palm of your hands that illuminates the object completely.
7. Breathe slowly and deeply: you want the energy to enter your object.
8. Express the wish for which the amulet was loaded and consecrated.
9. Stay like this for the time necessary to load and consecrate the object (time is subjective: follow your instincts).

How to consecrate items, made easy

Don’t feel the need to do something so elaborate for a candle, a bottle of wine for the Sabbath, or a bag of herbs? No problem. Simply sprinkle these objects with blessed water, anoint them with oil, or blow on them. Then, whisper a prayer of intent, so that the breath from your prayer touches the object in question.

Once your sacred items have been consecrated and used for their purpose, they will need cleaning from time to time. Do a magical wash (for items that can get wet: jewelry, skulls, swords, knives, staves, statuary, and some divination tools). Over time, dirt and grime build up on these objects.

Unvarnished wooden instruments require special care; clean them gently with a damp cloth, or with a little linseed oil or Danish oil, or rub them gently with a little beeswax or a wood conditioner. Do you have any leather goods? Do the same thing, use a wax or leather conditioner to soften and cleanse them (note that this treatment is not good for synthetic leather). For wood or leather, let the oil or balm dry overnight before placing your ritual instrument back on your altar.

For furs or carpets, sprinkle them with baking soda and let this sit for 15 minutes before shaking it out. This eliminates odors as well as cleansing the object. If you’d prefer, you can add essential oils to the baking soda before you cleanse your objects to make them fragrant.

For tarot cards or wooden runes, a good fumigation works well. However, you could also rest purifying crystals on your tarot cards to cleanse them or even bury them.

Once or twice a year, replace your temporary sachets, charms and talismans. Brighid’s Crosses, for example, are meant to be burned and made anew every year at Imbolc.