A Spell to Cleanse the Mind

Sometimes, my mind becomes cluttered. All minds do—and my source for this is none other than the unparalleled novel by J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan:

It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this and you would find it very interesting to watch. It's quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on Earth you picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek, as if it were a nice kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out the prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

This is a spell for you to sweep away the cobwebs of your own mind and put things back into their right places.


Ingredients


Ritual

Light your candle and put it next to or on your shell, if your shell is the kind that will hold a candle upright.

Put your right hand on your altar, next to the candle and shell. Put the first cleansing stone above your middle finger, just touching it, then arrange the others so that each finger and your thumb has a stone touching it.

Light your incense. Wave it in an infinity shape under your face, inhaling as you choose, letting the smoke wash over your head.

Imagine water washing out from the shell, through your mind, sweeping out the cobwebs. Imagine folding any anxious or negative thoughts that may come to you as you sit, and putting the folded thoughts away. Allow yourself to be in the moment, no matter what you’re feeling, until your thoughts settle.

Afterwards, remember to snuff your candle and thank it, as well as thank the stones and the shell. It’s a small way to take care of your ritual tools.