Tools and the Wiccan Altar


They may seem simple enough, but they are more complex than they seem. The Wiccan altar and Wiccan tools have much
more to them than meets the eye. Read on to see what I mean.


ROBES: The robe is basic in style, designed for comfort to the wearer, and enables us to do our work more easily. Robes
come in all colours, but black is used most often due to the fact that it is all the colours mixed together, and a great conductor
of energy. Traditionally, black robes helped witches fade in to the night if someone happened to come along. This helped most
in the burning times when most workings were done outside at night and secrecy was a must.

ATHAME: The athame usually has a black handle and a double edged blade. This knife is strictly a ritual tool, symbolic of
the element of fire and representing the male aspect. It can be used to lay down the circle, invoke and release the quarters.
The athame should not be used to cut anything except a doorway in the circle, cutting a cord in the event of a release or
passing over ritual, or cutting the handfasting cake.

SWORD: The sword is used like the athame, and is symbolic of the element of fire, and represents the male aspect. It is a
ritual tool that can be used as a tool for sovereignty and authority.

CHALICE/CUP: The chalice is symbolic of water and represents the female aspect. It can be used to hold libations, and the
waters of life.

CAULDRON: The cauldron is symbolic of water and sometimes of fire, and represents the female aspect. The cauldron
represents the gift of birth, death and rebirth, and also knowledge and inspiration.

PEYTON: The peyton is a circular disk with a pentacle or sacred symbol inscribed on it. It is symbolic of earth and
represents the female aspect. It can be made of several different materials. The peyton is placed at the center of the altar,
where all consecrations of salt and water and other objects, occur.

WAND: The wand is symbolic of air and represents the male aspect. It is gentle in nature and can be used to cast the circle,
invoke and release the quarters, and cast spells.

BROOM: The broom is used for sweeping away harmful energies from the area that the broom is cleansing.

BOLEEN: The boleen is usually a white handled knife. It is used for cutting in spells/rituals, and engraving on other tools.

STAFF: The staff is usually a wooden pole of shoulder height and is used in the same manner as the wand.

INCENSE BURNER: The incense burner must be heat resistant or fire proof. The incense is symbolic of air, and the coal is
symbolic of fire. It is used to cleanse and purify the air within the sacred space or the home.

All tools must be consecrated before they are put into use. You may buy the tools, or you may prefer to make them yourself,
and if you are skilled enough to do so, this is even better. Herbs, stones and gems are also used in the casting of spells and
rituals. Each has specific uses and can be found on the appropriate pages, off of the main Wiccan page.


Consecration of Tools

Light the candles and incense. Cast the circle. Place the tool on a pentacle (peyton) or a plate of salt. Touch the tool with the
athame, or your hand and say:

"I consecrate you, O ___________ to cleanse and purify you to serve me within
the circle. In the names of Cerdiwen and Herne the Horn'd God,
you are consecrated."

Send energy into the tool, sprinkle it with salt, pass it throught the incense smoke, the candle flame, and then sprinkle it with
water. Then hold the tool to the sky and say:

" I charge you by the Old Ones: by the omnipotent Cerdiwen and
Herne the Horn'd God: by the virtues of the sun, moon, and stars:
by the powers of the Earth, Air, Fire and Water, that I shall obtain
all that I desire through you. Charge this by your power, Old Ones."

Put the tool to use immendiately. Using them to consecrate other tools is also a good idea.