- Zoey's buds meet her for the ritual, and Zoey has each of them take a candle to represent an element. Zoey stands in the center to represent spirit, while Shaunee is fire, Stevie Rae is earth, Damien is air, and Erin is water.
- With everyone in position, Zoey lights up the lavender-and-sage smudge stick and uses the smoke to purify everyone, front and back, toe to head.
- They discuss the purpose of the ritual: to ask guidance from Nyx, not to call down evil spirits to take revenge on Aphrodite and her clique (tempting though that is).
- As Zoey invokes each of the elements, the candles her friends are holding light on their own; the circle glows with light.
- Zoey says her grandma's purification prayer, adding a little part addressed to Nyx, asking for the insight to know what the right action is, and the courage to carry it out.