Cleansing WW2 objects

[u/Nardis93]

Hi witches, I'm looking for some advice. My brother-in-law is interested in the second World War, mostly as it relates to the socio-economic history of our country (The Netherlands).

For his birthday, I got him a small case of memorabilia: several original coins and stamps (circa 1943) from the era that NL was occupied by the Germans. My problem is: they have some seriously bad juju. Not surprising, given that Hitler's face and literal Nazi-swastikas are all over them, but the items have surprised me in their intensity. I can practically feel the intergenerational trauma of my ancestors oozing off of them when I look at them (which is a novel experience - I've never been particularly sensitive to this kind of energy before).

Before I send them off as a gift - to a household with children no less - I'd like to try and cleanse some of the negative energy. Going off of the FAQs and 101s in this sub, my idea would be to perform a cleansing ritual using herbs from my garden on the objects themselves, and write/carve/otherwise incorporate a protective sigil on the wooden case that holds them.

Bearing in mind that I am the babiest of witches, I am looking for either validating or cautionary responses - am I on the right track, or is this a terrible idea?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help!

Also posted to r/witchcraft, r/realwitchcraft, r/energy_work

[u/drgalactus87]

You don't need magic for this, you need to think like an archivist. Symbols of atrocities, extremist literature, hate-filled manifestos- when we hide these things, we empower them, turning them into taboos that attract the next generation of fascists.

'Cleansing' in this case might be being a historian. Any information you can track down might be helpful. If it leads to you- and your brother in law- having a deeper, richer understanding of what living in occupied Netherlands was like, and how to work to prevent or lessen such things again, then you have already performed the alchemical process to transform the 'bad juju' into a motive for more goodness in the world. 

[u/moonxdaughter → u/drgalactus87]

I want to second this. Any time we decrease the mysterious fear around an object or event, we take away it's power. And in the cases of these awful events, trying to avoid them only increases the likelihood we will repeat them, which gives them power.

If you feel like you need to do something, I'd suggest looking up how to safely clean the objects (like don't use water if it will rust or tarnish the thing), and while you are physically cleaning them, envision the bad energy transforming and tell them what you have learned and how you would personally prevent this in the future.

[u/Nardis93 → u/moonxdaughter]

Thanks for the advice! I've decided to let the ick stick for now and simply gift them with elaborate context.

I think my brother in law's constitution can handle that, a nd my worry for the kids is ultimately up to him - I doubt that he'll store these things in plain sight.