LESSON 9
Consecration
You will need a number of items for this rite:
* Your five elemental implements.
* Lustral water. You can use holy water or make the lustral water yourself.
To make the lustral water
(a) Take a mason jar or any other clear container that you can close with a firm lid.
(b) Put some rock salt in the jar. A couple table spoons will be enough.
(c) Fill the jar with the cleanest water you can find. Distilled > Mineral > Tap > Well.
(d) Close the jar and recite the Hermetic Prayer over it, with the firm intention of drawing into it the power and the blessings of the Godhead.
(e) Expose the jar to sunlight for a few hours.
(f) Put away the jar in the same container holding other implements of your oratory.
To consecrate the elemental implements of your oratory, follow these instructions
[1] Find a place and time of complete privacy for yourself. Magic rites must always be performed without an audience (with the exception of direct operators and recipients of each rite). Make sure you will not be interrupted. Take your elemental implements to this place, which must have an available surface (table, bench, etc.) capable of holding all the items.
[2] Put the implements on that surface, side by side. Do not try to arrange them in any special pattern. Sprinkle each item three times with lustral water, using your right hand, saying at the first aspersion: "Glory to the Mind;" at the second, "Glory to the Word;" and at the third, "Glory to the Body."
[3] Recite the Hermetic Prayer. Assume an attitude of prayer (standing up holding your hands together, kneeling down, etc.). Meditate for a few minutes on the idea of making objects sacred; prepare yourself to see your elemental implements as truly magical instruments from that moment on.
[4] Stand up (if not already standing). Dip your right hand's index finger in the lustral water. Touch your forehead with it and say: "In the name of Poimandres." Dip your right hand's index finger again in the lustral water. Touch your lips with it and say: "In the name of Logos." Dip your right hand's index finger again in the lustral water. Touch your chest with it (over your heart) and say: "In the name of Sophia."
[5] Assume an attitude of prayer. Recite the prayers listed below over the corresponding implements. Notice that they all follow the same formula, only changing where indicated by words in capital letters. Also notice that the last prayer also presents small variations:
[a] ALTAR.
Father-Mother of All
Send your Light through me
to make this humble object
the holy ALTAR in your Temple
Let your ALTAR be a beacon
of the light of EARTH
And protect me and your temple
from the dark power of RASHNESS
[b] CUP.
Father-Mother of All
Send your Light through me
to make this humble object
the holy CUP in your Temple
Let your CUP be a beacon
of the light of WATER
And protect me and your temple
from the dark power of ANGER
[c] INCENSE.
Father-Mother of All
Send your Light through me
to make this humble object
the holy INCENSE in your Temple
Let your INCENSE be a beacon
of the light of AIR
And protect me and your temple
from the dark power of GUILE
[d] CANDLE.
Father-Mother of All
Send your Light through me
to make this humble object
the holy CANDLE in your Temple
Let your CANDLE be a beacon
of the light of FIRE
And protect me and your temple
from the dark power of ENVY
[e] SEAL.
Father-Mother of All
Send your Light through me
to make this humble object
your holy SEAL in your Temple
Let your SEAL be a beacon
of the light of ETHER
And protect me and your temple
from the dark power of MALICE
[6] Declare, in your own words, that your elemental implements are now consecrated to the Hermetic Way of Rebirth, and will not be used for anything else. Thank the Godhead for making it so. Recite the Hermetic Prayer.
[7] Put away your implements and throw away any leftover lustral water.
Before going to bed at night, make notes in your journal about the performance of the rite. Focus on how effective you feel it may have been. If you conclude that, for any reason, the consecration was not successful, wait a few days and repeat the rite. Do this until you are completely satisfied with the consecration.