Charging the Salt and Water
Whenever we cast circles, or cleanse objects or a room, we use water that has been blessed and cleansed. See the circle casting page for an outline on casting circles. This process invloves taking a small bowl of sea salt (or regular table salt if you can't find sea salt), asking it to be blessed by the God and Goddess and/or the elements, and cleansing a small bowl of water (water that has been blessed and cleansed by the God, Goddess and/or the elements).

This process is done before the circle is cast, but after you ground and center and prepare for the ritual. Its really the first thing you do before casting the circle. Its what is done to prepare for the circle casting - the water is sprinkled around the perimeter to banish negative energy away (just like a broom can be used to sweep the negative energy away, or some incense or sage smudge stick can be used to clear the space of negative energy).

First take a small bowl of water (see the charging water page) and a small bowl of salt and put them on the altar. Then take the salt and hold it up. Ask the God and Godess to bless the salt so that it may be used in your workings. Imagine it receiving love and good energies from the God and Goddess. Then point your finger/athame/wand into the water. Say something like:

"Great Mother and Great Father, I ask that this water be cleansed and blessed so that it may be used in my workings."

Imagine white light entering it - the energy comes from the ground, into your legs and body and out your arms and hand into the water. When you feel it is properly cleansed, take three pinches of salt and add it to the water.  Stir it clockwise and imagine the combination of salt and water fusing together and creating pure, clean, and blessed water that will be used to destroy bad energy.

Now that its cleansed and blessed its ready to be used. Before the circle casting is done, the perimeter must be cleansed, so walk around the space clockwise and sprinkle the water around. Visualize all bad energy dissolving and a strong, clean space being left behind.

Now your ready to begine casting the circle!
Shell of water and wood bowl of salt