How to Charge Your Magical Objects for Witchcraft
This blog post is designed to guide you through a basic witchcraft practice: charging your magical tools and materials.
I see charging and cleansing as two processes that go hand in hand.
Out with the Old — Cleansing is how you remove unwanted energy from you, your space, and the objects you possess.
and…
In with the New — Charging is how you introduce beneficial energy with the intention to align with what you want. When you are surrounded only by energy you intentionally allow, your power is magnified!
At a basic level, your witchcraft practice is the use of magic to create change in your environment. Magic is energy, and as a witch, you are someone who is aware of your power to exert your will over the flow of energy in order to create your life.
Everything in the Universe is made up of energy. In your daily life you encounter all kinds of energy—rocks, trees, buildings, people, animals, objects, etc. In your practice, you encounter a variety of energies as well—your personal energy, the energy of the deities, elementals, guides, and other non-physical entities you may work with, and the energy of the Universe itself.
Some of the energy you encounter and bring into your space is beneficial to you and your practice, and some of it is not so helpful. That is why it's important to recognize the way different energies feel so that you surround yourself with energy that flows with your wishes, goals, dreams, and desires.
What is Charging?
Charging is the act of filling up an object with a certain type of energy. Charging is also sometimes called empowering, programming, or enchanting. You can charge a space or an object with your intention, whatever that may be. What you charge an object with will depend on what you plan to do with it.
Think of charging as giving an object a purpose. The object has it's own energy, but you can change or add to this energy.
For example, an object like a needle has the energy of being a needle (metal, creative energy, pointed, etc.), but you can charge it with the purpose of carving into candle wax for spell work or helping you be more creative when sewing.
Some objects already have purposes, such as gemstones. When charging these objects, you are basically specifying exactly what you want them to do. For example, rose quartz is associated with love therefore you could assign rose quartz a task of attracting friendship, enhancing romance, cultivating lust, building family relationships, etc.
It's important to note that just because certain crystals have specific associations doesn't mean you are limited to only using them for that purpose. Yes, rose quartz is associated with love, but if you want to charge it with protection or helping you communicate more clearly, you absolutely can. The innate energy of an object will only add to and enhance your magic.
Objects you can charge
Any and every object can be charged with your intention. Practically speaking, most witches only charge objects they plan to use in ritual or for some other aspect of their witchcraft practice, or objects they plan to carry with them as a charm or talisman.
Some commonly charged objects are:
Stones and Herbs
Wand
Beauty Products
Dishes and Cups
Soil
Cooking Gadgets
Witch Bottles
Sachets
Pens
Amulets
Charms
Talismans
Candles
Water
Seeds
Oil
Jars
Cauldron
For example, you might charge a citrine crystal with happy, confident energy so that this vibration will be available to you whenever you need to call on it. All you need to do is hold the stone in your hand to access it.
If you’re charging a candle for a specific spell, like success and good luck, you can focus on the connection between the candle and the goal you’re working to manifest. Then, whenever you light the candle you know that it is charged with your intention to draw luck and success to you. For an added charge, you can also dress the candle with luck and success herbs and crystals.
The same is true for anything you have charged with your intention— like when you wear protection amulets, use full moon water, or carry a confidence sachet or self love charm. All of these objects, once charged with your intention, hold that energy as a reminder whenever you need it.
How to Charge
Just as there are dozens of methods to cleanse, there are many methods to charge objects with your intention. Before we get into the charging process, know that there is sort of a pre-step. It's very likely you will want to cleanse an object before you charge it with a new purpose.
1. CHOOSE AN OBJECT
Obviously you need to decide what you want to charge. This will depend on what you plan to use it for. You might have certain tools you use for spellwork that you want to charge with this purpose. Or maybe it’s a special mug you use each morning for tea, your writing tools for journaling, an interesting coin you found, a pretty rock or shell, etc. The list of possible objects you could charge with a magical purpose is practically endless, simply decide on something and move onto the next step.
2. CHOOSE A METHOD
Once you know what you want to charge, you can make a choice about what method to use to actually charge it.
Moonlight and Sunlight
You can rely on the moon and the sun to not only cleanse your magical objects but to charge them as well. These two processes can actually happen simultaneously with the help of these celestial luminaries.
I also like to charge magical objects specifically with the full moon, especially if I want them to hold lunar energy.
All you need to do is set your magical objects out in a sun or moon beam and wait. If you have a specific goal in mind, focus on that intention when you place the object.
Crystals
Since crystals hold a powerful energy in their own right, you can use them to charge other objects with that energy.
Simply place the object where it is touching the crystal. And make sure the crystal you use has been cleansed before using it for charging purposes.
Visualization
Here is my favorite charging visualization:
Rub your hands together quickly until they feel hot and tingly. Close your eyes and continue rubbing.
After a moment, slowly spread your hands apart. Be careful not to fling your hands apart, though, or you'll need to start again. Feel the energy you produced forming a bubble between your hands. It might feel sort of stretchy and bouncy.
In your mind, see this as a simple transparent bubble between your hands.
Now, begin to concentrate on what you want the object to do while focusing on what you want to outcome to be. You may want to move your hands while doing this, feeling the bubble.
Say your intention out loud or in your mind, whatever is more comfortable to you.
Continue focusing on your desire and allow your intention to flow into the bubble. I like to visualize the bubble changing color based on my intention: pink for love or friendship, green for money or luck, gold for protection or abundance, etc.
Once you have this image clearly in your mind, push that energy bubble into the object. Hold your hands over the object and visualize the energy entering it. Feel it leaving your fingers.
When finished, imagine the object glowing with the light of your intention.
Remember that visualization doesn't always involve "seeing.” In fact, a visualization is more powerful when you use all of your senses.
Try to experience a vibration, or hear a humming sound. Maybe there is a change in temperature from hot to cold or cold to hot that means the charging is complete. Charging might taste or smell a certain way as well. Feel free to explore all your senses as you visualize yourself, the object, or your space being charged.
3. PERFORM THE CHARGING
No matter which method you use, the energy of your own focused intention is the key to the process.
Visualize the outcome you’re seeking when you charge your ritual tools and magical ingredients.
Tactile connection—holding the object in your hands or placing your fingers on it while it rests on a surface—is a good way to transfer your power to it.
Speaking words of intention can really help you hone your focus, so come up with some words that express your desire here. For example, when charging for a specific spell, you might say: “I charge this[name the object] through the Universal power to bring [name the magical purpose] into my life. As I will it, so it will be.”
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