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Sanctify: Meaning & Methods Explained

Updated on:

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Written by: Dawn Black (Witchipedia)

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Reviewed by: Tina Caro

To sanctify an object, place or person is to declare it holy and set it aside for sacred work, outside the mundane.

There are many variables within this definition;  an item (or location) may be set aside for religious use, either dedicated to a specific God or for general religious use for the purposes of worship of any Gods.

Sometimes things (and people) are sanctified permanently, such as the dedication to a lifetime of Priesthood, or the dedication of a permanent shrine, but quite often in modern magical traditions, things are sanctified on a temporary basis; a sacred space created or objects dedicated just for the purpose of a specific ritual, after which they may be declared once more mundane.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Desecration is a pivotal concept in witchcraft, representing the act of purifying and consecrating sacred spaces and objects.

One of the key methods for sanctifying is through the use of cleansing herbs like sage or palo santo, which release negative energy and bring in positivity.

Moonlight and sunlight are potent tools for purification; they can cleanse and charge your tools and altars, enhancing their magical properties.

The ritualistic use of consecrated salt and water, often referred to as “holy water,” is a common practice for purifying and sanctifying objects and spaces.

What is Desecration?

Thus your living room may be sanctified as a sacred space tonight, and when your ritual is complete, you may declare it once more your living room. The term for this is desecration.

However, if you consider your home sacred space, then you are not desecrating it so much as sanctifying it to a different purpose, the sacred purpose of sheltering your family, assuming you consider that a sacred purpose.

In some religious contexts, the idea of sanctifying is to take something that is not holy or even that is sinful, and to legitimize it through sacred action. For example, sex may be viewed as sinful, unless within the sanctity of marriage.

While the term sanctifying is used in magical context nearly as much as religious context, in magical context it is perhaps more accurate to use the term charge or program.

See also consecrate.

Sanctifying Methods

Generally, an area/object/person is first cleansed or purified before it is sanctified to rid it of any energy collected from the environment, a previous owner, or previous magical or mundane applications. There are a variety of methods for this. It is wise to begin with a thorough physical cleaning and follow up with spiritual cleansing.

Once the object or area has been cleansed, it is a clean slate for you to write its purpose on. The act of giving it its sacred purpose is sanctifying. This is done in several ways, usually involving a combination.

Most sanctifying rituals are part of a larger ritual that varies by tradition. Specific tools may be called for and specific incenses or herbs may be prescribed.

Many sanctifying rituals involve anointing an object with oil, water, perfume or sometimes with ochre or some other sacred substance. The specific substance varies by tradition.

In creating sacred space, a circle or some other energetic structure is often built in a symbolic way, a sort of raising of the temple. Objects may represent certain necessary parts of the temple, a hearth, a well, a tree, a pillar, etc. and they may be represented by physical objects or created via subscribed movements, sounds, etc.

The sanctifying ritual also includes a declaration that may be sung or chanted. The declaration states that the object is no longer ordinary and is now dedicated to a sacred use. The sacred use should be specified in the declaration.

Once the item is sanctified it is generally then presented to the group and/or Gods/spirits involved.

It is difficult to give a very specific overview of the process, as it varies greatly by tradition. Discussion is welcome and would be helpful here.

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About Morningbird (Witchipedia's Founder)

I am a homesteading hearth witch who grew up along the shores of the Hudson River and has lived among the Great Lakes for the past 20 years. Together with my musical husband and youngest child, I steward a one-acre mini homestead with herb, vegetable and flower gardens, chickens, ducks, geese and rabbits, and areas reserved for native plants and wildlife. 

I have three children; two are grown, and I have been practicing magick alone and with family and friends for over 30 years.

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