My opinions on consecration are a bit different than some. These are just my opinions as with everything else and you are of course, free to agree or disagree.

All objects and places tend to collect energy over time. Sometimes its positive energy and sometimes its negative. Some of these energies can hinder or even sabotage your rituals. Cleansing and consecrating your Work space and tools will greatly increase your chances of success. It will also help prevent your rituals from having effects you did not intend.

Cleansing and consecrating consists of removing unwanted energies from a specific place or object, and replacing them with the energies you want them to have. In addition, it may sometimes also include charging an object for a specific purpose it�s supposed to be used for.

In my opinion, its best to cleanse and consecrate all tools and the area in which you perform rituals at least twice a month. You may want to do it more often if people regularly visit or walk through your ritual space and I would suggest always doing it after someone handles any of your tools. Its also a good idea to do it Anytime things don�t �feel� right to you.

All magical objects should be cleansed and consecrated before you use them. Even if you bought them new, they have still collected energy. And they have not been charged for a specific purpose.

Here is a basic guideline for a consecration ritual. The area and all objects should be physically cleaned of any dust, etc...

Cast a circle using the fore finger of your dominant hand. Or use your WAND. Call the elements to aid you, and light a candle in each quarter.

You will need something to represent each element. For example, incense for air, a candle, preferably white, for fire, a cup of water for water and salt for earth.

Circle the area you would normally cast your circle clockwise with what you chose to represent each element. For example, carry the incense burner around one time, then the candle, then sprinkle the water, then the salt. While you are doing this, concentrate on removing any unwanted energies.

Next, if you acknowledge a fifth element, use something symbolic of this to bless your space. Make absolutely certain that you fill your space with positive energy to replace what you sent away. If you acknowledge the god/dess, ask them to bless it.

Now cleanse your ALTAR with each element, and again, make sure you charge it with positive energy.

Next, cleanse and consecrate your ritual tools. If you use a pentacle disk, clean it first by running it through the smoke, pass it over the candle flame, sprinkle it with the water, and then the salt. When you are done, put it on the altar and hold your dominant hand over it. Ask the god/dess to bless it and/or visualize positive energy going in to it. For example, if white light represents positive energy to you, you might visualize white light streaming from your hand and charging the pentacle disk.

Repeat the above steps for all of your ritual tools, placing each tool in the center of the pentacle to be blessed and charged. This is also a good time to cleanse any amulets or protective objects of any negative energy they may have absorbed. Make sure when you bless them, you also concentrate on filling them with their energy that will empower them for their purpose. If its some thing to protect your house for example, visualize the protection of your house.

When you/re finished, Thank the elements and close the circle.

One last thing: as I mentioned above, all items should be cleansed and consecrated before use. On the same note, I�d like to add that it�s not a good idea to use previously owned items in ritual.

As I said before, things tend to collect energy over time and it may not be possible to remove the energies of the original owner. In addition, NEVER use something that has been used for a negative purpose. Don�t, for example, use a knife that was used to harm someone.

Keeping things �clean�, blessed and charged for their purposes is one of the best ways to ensure successful and positive rituals

NOTE:
I've been a High Priestess for about 30 yrs. so I have 2 ALTARS, one for basic spell work and one for craft work of a darker nature. So I have ritual items on each Altar that are used for just that type of work. So I have 2 of each altar item. That way I do not exchange the energy from one altar to the other.