COURTESY OF MY FRIEND FIREWALKER
The Witch's Tools,,,,,The tools of the craft
There are many different tools used for Wiccan Rituals and Spellcasting. While I have only included ritual tools I use in my practice, there are many more to be found. As with most witch's I beleive you do not need tools of any kind to practice Magick. Tools make it easier to focus on the actual ritual or spell.
THE ATHAME
The athame is the traditional ritual dagger of the witch. Commonly it has a black handle and steel double-edged blade. The athame is used to cast circles by tracing the circumference, to charge and consecrate objects and banish negative energies. it is never used as a mundane knife for cutting purposes, and is used strictly for magickal purposes only. In most traditions it is associated with the elements of Fire and the phallic symbolism of the knife links it with the God.
THE PENTACLE
The pentacle is a traditional tool of the craft that is thought to have been adopted from ceremonial magic. It is usually a round solid disc often made from stone, wood or copper. On the disc is engraved or painted an up-right five pointed star enclosed inside a circle called the Pentagram. In some traditions other symbols are added indicative of deities, spirits or the elements as sources of power. Objects are placed on the pentacle to be consecrated or charged. The pentacle represents the elements of Earth and is sometimes used to summon the Gods and Goddesses.
THE CAULDRON
The cauldron symbolic of the womb of the Goddess, and is the manifested essence of femininity and fertility. Everything is born from the cauldron of the Goddess and afterwards everything returns back to it. It is also symbolic of the element of water, as well as reincarnation, immortality and inspiration. The cauldron is used as a container for making brews and potions, or to contain a small fire for use with spells. It can also be used for scrying (divination) by filling it with water and gazing into its depths. Traditionally it was made from cast iron, it rests on three legs and has an opening smaller then its widest part.
THE CHALICE
The Chalice is represented by the element of Water. It is a symbol of containment and often represents the womb of the Goddess. The base is symbolic of the material world, the stem symbolises the connection between man and spirit and the rim or opening symbolically receives spiritual energy. The Chalice of old were made of horns, shells or gourds and were used to hold sacred liquids during ritual, Today The chalice can be made of silver, chrystal, plastic or glass depending on the witch. The chalice is used to hold the blessed water and wine during ritual. It is a tradition in many covens to pass the chalice around all members, who then take a drink as a token of unity.
THE WAND
Traditionally the wand is made from the wood of a sacred tree such as willow, oak apple or elder. Its length should approximate the crook of the elbow to the middle of the index finger. The wand is a tool of invocation, it is used to evoke the Gods, Goddesses and Spirits. It is also used to bestow blessings, charge objects and during the drawing of the moon ritual. In most traditions the wand represents the elements of Air.
THE BOOK OF SHADOWS
The book of shadows is a witch's journal. It is used to keep information, spells, and thoughts about magickal workings. Traditionally the Book of Shadows was always hand written by the individual. A common custom for new initiates into a Coven, is to hand copy his teachers Book of Shadows exactly as it appeared, then later to add his own material as he progressed in the craft. In modern times witches tend to photocopy or burn the book of shadows to a CD.
THE BROOM
The broom is a ritual tool of the witch, sacred to both Goddess and the God. The God - through its symbolic phallic shape, The Goddess - through its three-piece make up, the stick, brush and binding cord being symbolic of the triformis aspect of the Goddess. The broom is made from three different woods. Ash for the handle, Birch twigs for the brush and Willow for the binding cord. The broom is used to purify and protect. It is used to ritually cleanse an area before magick is performed by symbolically sweeping away negative energies and astral build up. In the old wedding ceremonies of the Gypsies and the early American slaves a couple would leap over the broom to ensure fertility, domestic harmony and longevity. Today pagan hand-fasting rituals often include a broom jump.
THE BONFIRE
The bonfire or balefire is a sacred fire used by witches in certain magick rituals and celebrations. There are nine types of wood that make up the bonfire. These are birch, oak, rowen, willow, hawthorn, hazel, apple, grape and fir. Elder is never burned because it is sacred to the Goddess.
CANDLE
Candles have long been used in association with magick and witchcraft.In ancient times they used to light torches to invoke the Goddess and Gods. Today, These acts are by utilizing candles. The naked flame remains the finest and easiest means of focusing in on power and energy. The use of differently coloured candles symbolizes the nature of intent and ultimately the outcome of a particular spell. Coloured candles are used to pinpoint our focus on a particular deity or planetary association. One must the color properties and other associations of candles to make the magick magick work.
TAROT CARDS
(Pronounced tare-Roh)Tarot cards are used for divinitory purposes. The witch is able to help others and herself through use of these cards which can predict the future. The cards are used to help make correct decisions or to make a possibility clear. There are many forms of divination such as tea leave scrying and Runes.
