Ritual, Chants, and Blessings for Empowering and Consecrating

 Whenever you get a new item, and every so often after that, it's a good idea to cleanse and consecrate any items you use in your practice. Here I've provided a simple ritual, and a variety of chants/blessings you can use to make sure your tool are properly prepared for use.

Consecration of chalice, athame or other tools.



"Before these assembled spirits I bring (name type of tool) to be dedicated to the service of the Lady and Lord."

(Pass tool three times through smoke of the incense.)
"By the power of air, be thou purified. Be thou dedicated to purity of thought and to harmlessness that all intentions for which thou art used may harm none and be for the good of all."

(Pass tool three times through or over the flame of the fire candle.)
"By the power of fire, be thou purified. Be thou dedicated to purity of desire, and to harmlessness that all goals which thou art doest help achieve may harm none and be for the good of all."

(Take a few drops of water and sprinkle or dab on instrument.)
"By the power of water, be thou purified. Be thou dedicated to purity of emotion, and to harmlessness that all that thou shalt be used in a spirit of harmony, harming none and for the good of all."

(Touch instrument to the stone or salt in north quarter)
"By the power of earth, be thou purified. Be thou dedicated to steadfastness and purity of purpose, that my will be achieved without wavering, with harm to none and for the good of all."
  (If this is a chalice, present it first to the Lady, then to the Lord, if athame, reverse order. All other instruments use personal preference, but it is courtesy to present them to Her first.)

PRESENTATION FOR CHALICE:
Lady Freya, Keeper of Femininity, bless this chalice. Let it be as Thy cauldron, a vessel of productivity that it may be worThy to dispense Thy bounty. Let it be used in Thy service and in the service of humanity. Let it be so bound that no harm may come of it to any being, but let it rather be an instrument of good-will and understanding; of loving harmony. To Thy sacred self I dedicate this vessel, (name of vessel), that it and I may long be of service to Thee.
Lord Thor, companion to the Lady, champion of the Gods, bless this chalice and keep watch over it. Guard the works which come forth from it, that they ever be in the service of Thee and Thy Lady, that they be of service to humankind, and that they abide by the laws of harmony. To Thee I vow I shall use it for Her sacred purposes, and for no other.
So mote it be! 

PRESENTATION FOR ATHAME:
Lord Thor, thunderer & hammer wielder, bless this athame. Let it be as the spring rains which fall upon the earth to cause Her to bring forth Her bounty.
Let it quicken my hopes and dreams, yet keep them from causing harm. Let it guide them in the harmony of the seasons, bringing forth only good for all.
Lord Thor, bless this athame, (name of athame), that it be used ever in the worship and honor of the Gods.
Lady Freya, companion to the Thunderer, lover of the Gods, bless this athame that it shall bring forth joy, and shall cause no pain nor disharmony to any.
I dedicate this athame (name athame), symbol of the Defender and Rain Maker, to Thy service. May it ever bring Thee joy and pride.
So mote it be! 

(This ritual, with suitable changes, may be used to dedicate other tools as well as these.) 
Source 

Blessing for Water
By the God and Goddess with their holy power
I do bless and consecrate this holy water
Cleansed of any negativity
This sacred water flows pure and free



 Blessing for Salt
I call upon the Guardians of the North
I summon, stir, and call ye forth
I use thine power for this salt to consecrate
By the mighty power of Earth, this blessing I create.

Scrying Crystal Ball Blessing
To my use I consecrate this Crystal Ball
May it open each my eyes to all
This crystal sphere is blessed for me
By air and fire, land and sea,
As I will it, so mote it be

The following blessings are from "Dewdrops in the Moonlight"
Consecrating a Magickal Tool
 O powers that here congregate,
to righteous work this tool I dedicate.
To it my will and purpose integrate.
This sacred [object] I hereby consecrate.
Fill it with your magic light
so it I may employ for good and right.
and may it with each use invite
 greater good and further insight.

Imbuing An Object
 Into this [object] I imbue
 the power of what hence I do.
Let to it's purpose my Charge be true

Changing and Consecrating The Altar 
Sacred altar,
Realm of visions,
symbol of the integrated being,
the ground beneath our feet,
accept and support
 the weight of my intent.
Prepare the way
for good works and offerings
as they are mutually beneficial to all.

Blessing for Ritual Water Water is life giving, life sustaining, and life renewing.
It makes up the majority of the surface of the planet
as well as the majority of the materials of our bodies.
It is a symbol of the Spiritual.
 We are like drops of water -
like rain that falls from above.
Seemingly separate, we often do not realize
that we are part of a greater reality.
As we observe how raindrops collect to form streams,
how streams become rivers and then mighty oceans
teeming with other life,
we begin to understand the connections between all life.
Water is the drink of life and a reflection of the spiritual.
In the ripples of moving waters, we see the face of the Goddess.
 O Ancient Gods, bless this water we offer here for our coming rituals and work.
 Let it constantly remind us of the blessings of life and of our connection to all living things.
Let it be used for good and right, for beauty and truth,
and for growth and nurturance in our sacred work.

Tool Blessing Blessings will this [tool]bestow
Upon those who come to know
That good tidings shall be enjoyed
When with good intention employed.
But if thy Will seeks sorrow or pain
Then with this tool shall ye reap no gain
And thus shall thy graft return like thunder
To cause this [tool] to be rent asunder!
 

Divination Blog Series - Part 2 - Omens and Scrying

"omen

noun \ˈō-mən\

: something that is believed to be a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future"

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omen)

That's the technical definition, though I like how my 'Book of Shadows' tarot book describes and talks omens: "Omens are simple things that occur in everyday life that are somehow significant." It goes on to explain how some are very common, like superstitions, using the example of a black cat crossing one's path.

You'll notice something to likely be an omen when a signal, animal, word, image, or situation occurs a certain number of times in a short period or has great personal significance. Omens can be the Universe's way of telling us whether we are on the right or wrong path. Being aware of your thoughts, actions, feelings, and even current or potential events at the time of occurrence can be key to interpretation.

This excerpt from "Steps to Enlightenment" describes some messages and potential meanings:

• Your car starter broke down:  there is somewhere in your life where you are having a problem getting started.
• Car battery dies:  lacking energy, energy being drained
• Odometer numbers line up in an unusual combination:  notice where you are going or what is going on in your life and how do the numbers support this, for instance a set of 4’s in numerology would mean you have a good foundation under your current project.
• Car radiator leaks or breaks down:  unresolved anger
• Minor car accident:  need to adjust something
• Major car accident:  major shift in direction of your life is needed
• All red lights while on the way to a meeting: something is jammed.
• All green lights while on the way somewhere:  supported flow
• Left front tire leaks: subconscious resistance to going forward in some part of your life.
• Minor accident while on a bike where your right knee gets banged up: flow in life is getting jammed due to conscious stuck stubborn, ego, pride
• Eye gets temporarily irritated: something you don’t want to see clearly, or somebody else strongly doesn’t want you to see through something
• Broken left arm:  having trouble getting your emotional or subconscious self around whatever is going on in your life
• Left foot gets sprained: subconscious resistance to move forward in your life in a certain area
• Right foot gets sprained: conscious resistance to move forward in your life
• Bump your head: guides trying to get something through your head
• Earache: don’t want to hear something
• Sore throat: something needs to be said or you speak rudely
• Pneumonia:  emotions severely stuck
• Life and death illness: some personal issue is critically stuck
• Right pointer finger is sore for no apparent reason:  increase your management of consciously judging others
• Dog or cat becomes sick: may be a reflection of where we are not well
• Someone tells us of a healer and we get chills: perhaps it is time to go see the healer.
• Smoker: clouding issues in your life, something you don’t want to see
• Plumbing backs up in your home or water spills:  backed up emotions need to be dealt with
• House foundation is rotting:  some area in your inner foundation needs reassessing and transforming
• House electrical problems: you have a short in your energy field somewhere
• Fire somewhere in the house:  explosive anger needs to be managed and released
• House broken into:  could owe karma for violating someone else’s space
• Friend inadvertently answers a question you have been wondering about without you telling them the question
• You have been searching for an answer and as you read an unrelated book you read a passage that answers your question and you get chills
• Picture forms in the clouds guiding your way
• Computer dies mid-project:  your project is off somehow OR the dark is trying to block you OR you are being taught patience. You must discern which is true
• While playing any card game you notice the cards either flow or are jammed
• Walking through the library and a book falls off the shelf in front of you.
• Your job is outsourced and you are out of a job: time to look in new career directions
• Someone says something and you get chills of confirmation
• Break a glass:  a breakthrough has just occurred or is imminent
• Find a $20 bill or any money:  good financial omen
• You are planning an expenditure but don’t feel quite right finalizing the deal, then suddenly, you get a call with an unexpected offer of something better
• You are wondering if you should go somewhere when suddenly the phone rings offering you a free ride
• You have a dream warning you on an issue or guiding you to go in a direction
• Flies irritating you excessively: something or someone is bugging you
• Shooting star:  good sign, good luck or a big event coming
• Unusually familiar with a stranger: can be a past life connection
• Rainbow or moon bow: promise of good coming to viewer.
• Food burns:  there is anger in you or directed at you.

The same source even gives a method for becoming more aware of omens in your life; here is the excerpt:
To become more aware of omens coming to you take a day to focus on omens. Any day will do. Set your intent in the morning to be mindful of omens. Place a ribbon around your wrist to remind your self. Then notice everything:

• A stubbed toe
• The odometer
• Red (green) lights en route to work
• Paper cut
• Co-workers unsolicited comment
• Pet’s unusual behavior
• Anything Unusual
• Particular clouds
• Comments on the radio
• Car trouble
• Glass breaks
• Banged knee
• Broken finger nail, which nail, what were you thinking at the moment it broke
• Eye irritation
• Stomach ace
• Bowels too tight or too loose
• Malfunctioning appliance
• Blister on foot, which foot
• Car gets banged up, which part

1. With each potential omen, wonder for a few seconds what the message is.
2. Notice the first thought that comes to mind.
3. Does it resonate?
4. Repeat this process for a month. You will awaken your awareness to omens and tap an invaluable source of personal guidance. ******************************************************************************

Scrying
"A method of perceiving events and answers by way of the unconscious."
"to use divination to discover hidden knowledge or future events, especially by means of a crystal ball."

I'll admit, in this one I have little experience.  As I believe I mentioned in my last divination post, I just acquired a crystal ball, but I believe some real work will need to be put in to become proficient.

In my readings, I've seen the claim that scrying is one of the most difficult forms of divination. I won't discredit that, although part of my crystal ball failure I blame on the presence in this house..(long story).

Some methods of scrying include the following:

• Crystal sphere
• Crystal skull (carved)
• Mirror (could be a black mirror or a silver mirror)
• Glass of water
• Bowl of water colored with ink
• Candle flame
• Coals of a fire
• fire smoke
• Pool of water
• Fog or mist over water

 Beginners may only see clouds of mist at first, which is what I saw. According to e-how.com:

"White symbolizes good fortune while gray/black/deep purple indicates misfortune. Yellow indicates obstacles to come and orange is reflective of anger or intense negative emotion. Red is always indicative of danger. Blue indicates success and green is symbolic of happiness and good health." 
Also

"Rising clouds are symbolic of positive energy and sinking clouds are negative. If the visions are distant then they can be the past or the future, while strong foreground images are indicative of present or near future events."

In my opinion, color interpretations could be personal. Different colors symbolize different things to different people of different culture, background, and belief system. I, myself, don't necessarily believe there is a "cut and dry" "all in one" interpretation of color meaning, although guides like above can be helpful if you're clueless where to start (like me! -_^)

Crystal Scrying Steps: (from the "Pocket Guide to Crystals and Gemstones" (Crossing Press), publication date, August, 1998)

1. Scrying is best when done at night because traditionally night rules the psychic mind. Find a quiet spot, sit comfortably, and place the crystal on a stand, table or hold it in your hands.

2. Candles are conducive to scrying. If you find yourself distracted by the reflections and movements of the flame, then experiment by using other light sources, or try moving the candle until you find what works for you.

3. Now relax by breathing deeply for a few moments with your eyes closed.

4. Upon opening your eyes, hold the crystal in your hands until it is warm. Many scryers say this is important because this step connects your energy to that of the stone. Heating the stone also activates it.

5. While holding the stone, think about what your intentions are for scrying. Examples of intention might be information regarding your career, relationship, or future. Be clear about your intention.

6. Next, place the stone back in its resting place or continue holding in your hands, and then begin gazing into the crystal.

7. As you gaze deeply into the crystal, move your mind beyond the physical structure of the stone, merging into the light within. The idea is not so much to see physical images, but instead to use the crystal and the light reflecting in it as a tool to connect to the divine energy within yourself and all things. When connected, you will begin getting impressions and insights. Practice this technique, particularly merging with the crystal, until everything flows and feels comfortable to you.

 A Guide to Scrying

Personally I've seen some crazy stuff gazing into the flame of a candle dedicated to my Goddess, but never knew I was scrying. As far as all the options go, I'll stick it out with my crystal ball. 

Ponderings to the readers:
Is scrying a form of divination you practice? What means do you use and why? 
 

Diviniation Galore- Every Diviniation Form Under the Sun - Part 1: Crystal Balls and Pendulums

In celebration of my brand new crystal ball, and the requirement to do some reading on how to use it, I thought it'd be appropriate to cover divination for today. I may actually split this into two or more posts, because I have a feeling there's going to be an abundance of info!

 But seeing as how I like to leave no stone unturned, I couldn't leave it at just one thing. No.....
 I'd like to cover as many forms of divination as I can come up with, especially with Samhain around the corner- a great time to do divination for seeing what messages spirits from the other planes might have for is.

So let's dive in!

First up, (just because I have a shiny brand new one) is Crystal Ball gazing.

(my brand new ball and stand, and book which I'm hoping is reputable)

Although I know nothing, I made a first attempt at gazing by looking into it the same manner in which I look at anything else when I'm looking for their/it's aura. I did see some silvery/whitish clouds swimming around I thought was energy but it meant nothing to me. However, my research claims that does actually have a meaning!

Source 

"Crystal Ball Gazing

This technique is best if done with a Crystal Ball 2-5 inches in diameter and works best on nights of the full moon.

Light one or two candles in a darkened, quiet room. You can hold the crystal or place it on a stand, but it should have a blue or black velvet cloth underneath it. Make sure that there are no reflections from anything showing in the ball. You can also burn incense if you wish. Patchouli is a good choice.

Before beginning, center yourself. Gaze into the ball, but do not stare. Try not to blink that much. While you are gazing, breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Just relax and gaze. You will feel a sense of limitless time. Enjoy the peacefulness and simply gaze. Do this for at least 15 minutes, and increase your time by 5 minutes with each succeeding session.

Usually around the second or third session, you will notice a small cloudy glow in the center of the crystal. This is your focusing area where your visions will appear. You may get a vision on your first try, while others have to
attempt it several times before seeing something. Go at your own pace.

Just a small warning: Always remember the saying "Be Careful What You Wish For" while gazing. Think about what you wish to see before gazing.

There are also different forms that visions come in. You can get actual visions of places and people, or you can get symbolic pictures. Another form that visions come in are color clouds. Although no one has been successful in
identifying what each color cloud means, the following has been pretty accurate for a lot of seers.

Blue clouds - success of career or business
Gold clouds - prosperity, steady cash flow, and renewed romance to come
Gray/Dark gray - ill fortune
Black clouds - some seriously bad stuff coming one's way
Green clouds - health, happiness of the heart
Orange clouds - hidden aggression and anger, troubled emotions
Red clouds - danger to come. This person must watch themselves
Silver clouds - troublesome times ahead followed by goodness
White clouds - very good fortune to come
Yellow clouds - upcoming obstacles "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...
Crystal Ball Gazing Technique


1. Darken the room around you. Put the crystal ball on a dark surface that will not reflect any light that will distract you. Have a candle or other form of light shining into and illuminating the ball. The light source can be reflecting up inside the crystal ball stand or behind the crystal. It can also be shining from behind you into the crystal ball.

2. Sit comfortably with your spine straight. Keeping your spine straight enables you to channel all the energy that comes through your body when you to your readings. Ground yourself and calm your mind.

3. Clear the crystal before using it, use the Smudge method. Then charge it using this method:

Hold the crystal ball and rub it with both hands. Then set it back on it's stand while still maintain your focus. Next point a single-terminated quartz crystal or a crystal wand towards the ball at a distance where you most comfortably feel the two connect. When you feel or sense the subtle connection between the crystal and the ball, begin to circle the single-terminated crystal in a clockwise direction. Maintain the connection between the crystal and the ball. Soon you will feel the crystal ball pulsate. When you feel it
pulsating strongly you can lay your single-terminated crystal or crystal wand down and begin the next step.

4. Diffuse your vision.

5. find a spot in the ball the interests you. Bring all your attention to that spot. Now look at it in more detail. Allow your intellectual mind to relax. Leave yourself open to any impressions. Don't have any preconceptions. Have no judgments. Remain relaxed, open and focused.

6. Now look at that area in still more detail. As you look at this area even more closely you may find yourself tensing. If so, take a deep breath and relax as you let it out. Continue to do this until you release the tension.

7. Continue to gaze into the particular area, seeing more and more detail. As you look at this minute detail the crystal ball seems to become larger. The more you lose your sense of yourself and are only conscious of the detail in the crystal space, the larger the ball seems to become. As you are looking, feel yourself opening as if you have no edges or boundaries. Allow yourself to lose your awareness of yourself and just be aware of the crystal ball.

8. Your eyes may or may not close at this point. If they feel like closing, let them close and continue to feel as if the crystal is around you. If your eyes remain open, still feel as if your inside the crystal. Whether your eyes are open or closed a point is reached where there is no difference between you and the crystal. There is only crystal and just what you are seeing. You are now in an altered state of consciousness or trance state.

9. You may at this point find yourself feeling compelled to do something. This may be to breathe in certain ways, move energy in a particular pattern in your body, or to work with the crystal in a different manner. Trust yourself and let this compulsion guide you. Your body may almost involuntarily assume different positions. Let it. You may find yourself making sounds. Feel free to allow this to happen. At the same time there is no necessity to force it to happen. Successful crystal ball reading doesn't depend on any of these occurrences.

10. Now either ask specific questions in your mind or use your will to guide you to a specific locations that you mentally view. If you haven't a specific question, mentally refer to your more general purpose in crystal reading at the time. Then let impressions come and go. Don't hang onto them but communicate them to another or out loud into a tape recorder. Let the impressions flow through you. Continue to communicate what you see until you have a feeling of being finished.

11. When you are through, remain with the crystal for a few minutes. Release any tension. You will feel a sensation of floating inside the crystal ball. Varied impressions may come and go. Just watch them pass. In this space are all possibilities, all assistance, all knowledge, and all wisdom.

12. Now, after enjoying this space for a while, slowly begin to back out of the ball. Start to feel edges around yourself while you continue to gaze. Have a feeling of backing up as you become more aware of the edges around the ball. If you followed a certain route into the ball, retrace it. Continue until you see the ball in front of you. Become aware of the surface on which you sit. Be aware of your breathing. If your eyes are open, let go of the diffused vision and bring it back to normal. If your eyes are closed, slowly open them. Now stretch and shake yourself a little until you feel completely in your everyday consciousness.

13. Ground yourself. Next, clear your crystal ball, the other single-terminated crystal or crystal wand, yourself, and the room you are in.

14. If you like, cover your ball with cloth or put it in a pouch. Store it in a special place.
You can also use a bowl of water to gaze into, and follow the same directions above. 

*************************************************************************************************

Second on the list, because it's my second newest item (although not the first; one of many!) is the pendulum! 

 

Right now I have the hollow pendulum that came with the boards (pic 1) and a chakra and a moonstone pendulums (pic 2).

When I first get a pendulum, I hold it in my receptive hand and attune to it's energy field. I also like to consecrate and charge the stone.  I charge with a simple incantation, holding it in my projective hand pulling energy from myself and the earth and channeling it into the stone:11 <--- leaving that "11" in, my kitten typed it. That's his message to the world, and I won't take that from him. LOL

"Stone of secrets,
Stone of knowledge
I empower thee upon this hour
Whatever answer I shall seek
Is the answer you'll bring to me
By power of air and land, fire and sea
This is my will, so it shall be"
(written by me, E. Gilman-Steiger)

Then you need to determine what is yes, and what is no. 
Ask a simple question like "is the grass green" clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever way, will be your "yes", and the opposite your "no". 
Back and forth is typically a neutral or "cannot be determined at this time" answer. You might want to try asking in a different way if this happens.  

You can hold it in your hand, or attach it to something like a stationary pole (my husband's preference) to eliminate human error. It's very easy to subconsciously trigger the pendulum to move in the answer you want/expect to hear when you're holding it in your own hand.  

And that being my two cents,visit this site for GREAT- tips on successful Pendulum usage. Awesome, fabulous, better than mine, pendulum tips that are really worth checking out 
They also have a good article on Discovering Your Own Pendulum Power and Learn How to Use It 
 
Go there, I mean it. Its a great article, they just ask that it not be reprinted without permission but that links back to the page are acceptable. 

And I for one, would never take anyone's work when they outright say they only want link backs. The stuff I do provide from elsewhere, I do admit is from elsewhere, and provide sources when I can. But some stuff, just because I got the info so long ago, I never saved the source as I never planned on a blog. 
**If you see something and are or know of the source/author, please let me know so I can give proper credit/ask for permission**

All that said, my original stuff, feel free to copy just grant this blog as the source or E. Gilman-Steiger as the Author. Thx ♥ ^_^