As with anything used for a spiritual or healing purpose, shells should be cleansed to remove any unwanted energy and empower them with desired energy. Even a shell pulled directly from the surf should be cleansed: not only does this remove old energy, but we also imbue it with our intentions. We can do this with wet or dry cleansing methods.
If you can take your shells to a beach, you can do a real “on-site” Wave Blessing, spoken as you stand in the water. Simply wade in far enough that you can distinguish separate waves as they come ashore. You need not go far. The big breakers do not have to crash over you and your shells; the smaller and gentler waves closer to shore do nicely. If you have a number of little shells, you may want to place them in a small mesh laundry bag to prevent loss.
The Wave Blessing
Stand at the tide line and begin by saying:
Mother Ocean, I call on you to bless these shells.
Dip them into the water of three successive waves, saying one of the following lines for each wave:
Mother Ocean, cleanse these with your foam.
Mother Ocean, purify these with your salt.
Mother Ocean, charge these with your magic.
Cup the shells in your hands and close your eyes. Take a few long, deep breaths and feel the power of the sea. End with:
Mother Ocean, thank you for your flow of blessings.
When I used the Wave Blessing at the beach for my set of divination cowries, I was pleasantly surprised by a shell washing right into my hands on the third wave. Even though it is a broken and battered whelk, I have kept this gift on my altar ever since. I treasure the astonishing manner and timing by which it came to me.
If it is winter and you are not a polar bear, or if you live inland, the Wave Blessing can be performed at home. Collect or prepare enough seawater in which to dip your shells, and place it in a bowl. Ask Mother Ocean for her blessing and then, after each of the three calls to her in the Wave Blessing, dip the shells into the water. Although there will not be waves in your bowl of water, simply pause between each dipping. If you have a recording of ocean sounds, you can use that to cue your dips. If you are consecrating larger shells that don't dunk easily into a bowl, simply dip your fingers into the water and sprinkle it over the shells. End by thanking Mother Ocean.
If you prefer, a dry blessing can be done by sprinkling sea salt over the shells as you follow the blessing sequence. Once you have used the salt this way, gather it into a jar. At the next full moon, place the jar outside or on a window sill where it will be bathed in moonlight as you use the Moon Blessing. The salt can be reused afterward.
Moon Blessing of Salt
As you set the jar of salt in the moonlight, say:
Sister Moon, shining bright,
As you guide the tides this night,
Purify this salt for me
With the magic of the sea.
A note on purchasing seashells: shells that you find yourself are wonderfully gratifying because they seem like personal gifts from Mother Ocean. But if you can't get to a beach, or if you would like something that cannot find yourself, the remedy is—shopping! One drawback, however, is that the majority of shell shops tend to be in coastal areas, which is not very helpful if you are inland. The solution to this problem is shopping online, but of course, there are pros and cons.
It is important to know this about shells from the commercial trade: finding beautifully intact seashells is not left to chance. Mollusks and other sea creatures are taken alive and killed. Because of this, if you choose to buy shells it is important not only to do an energy cleansing, but also to thank the creature that created the shell and lost its life because of it. Above all, treat it with respect.
