The Stone of Cleansing
by Sgeir
You will need:
A pice of hematite, preferably (if you can afford it) a decent chunk. If not try using a different stone, one best for receiving negative energies (see this table of stone correspondences)
White (purification), black (negativity), red (protection), or blue (healing) candles, or all of them if you like
Optional: a white cloth or bag.
First, take a bath. Make it special by putting herbs in it or lighting candles. Afterwards, wear comfortable clothing (but not too flyaway or you might set yourself alight by mistake).
Create a sacred space in whatever way you normally do - if you don't know, there is an eclectic circle ceremony here which you could adapt.
Dedicating the stone. You may be re-using the stone in the future but this is the only time you will dedicate it. Do not use it for any other purpose once it has been decorated. This stone will receive all your negative thoughts, your urge to self-injure, and your pain. Hold it in your hands and think about how it will hold all that you do not want inside yo for a while, until the stone has become warmed.
Now you will dedicate the stone to your Goddess. If you have a pantheon or patron Goddess you normally work with, use Them, if not, one of the dying-resurrecting Goddesses such as Persephone/Kore or Inana/Ishtar/Astarte, or a destructive Goddess such as Kali would be suitable. Artemis, as Goddess over mental health could also be suitable. I have chosen Inana, but feel free to change this.
Stand, holding the stone before you. Recite this or something you have written:
In this space between all worlds I call on You
I ask that You look upon Your child
Inana, mistress of the heavens and the earth,
She who died in the darkness of Underworld
and rose again into the light, hear me!
I dedicate this cleansing stone to You
in it will live all my own darknesses,
a microcosmic Underworld in this stone
I ask that You aid me in my endeavour,
that You lend Your power of defeat over Underworld
to this stone, that I too may follow You,
and place my darkness far from me.
Holy Inana, mighty warrior, help me battle
fight and defeat my Underworld
and bring me safe into Your lands
(raising the stone above you:)
Bless my intent, O mighty Goddess!
Now you will fill the stone. Sit comfortably and place the stone between or in front of candles. If you want recite what you wish to be in the stone, confess your thoughts and feelings, your urge to self-injure, all the while visualising those thoughts and feelings streaming out of you as black smoke. Imagine that smoke entering the stone, filling it with all that torments you. Place memories, thoughts, feelings, anything you wish to be rid of inside the stone.
This stone now is filled
full of pain and darkness
this has left me now
I am full of light,
I am free.
I am light-filled and
no longer heavy with pain.
My torments are captured,
imprisoned within this stone,
may they never enter me again.
This is my will, it will be done.
Thank the Goddess for helping you and blessing the stone. Clear up and end the circle. If you have a garden, bury the stone in the earth, where all the darkness can be received and purified. Then if you have need of it again, dig up the stone, bless some water and wash it. It is then available for you to fill once more. If you don't have a garden, place the stone inside the bag and tie the top securely. Put it somewhere safe, and wash it as above if you need to use it again.