| I must
say up front that not all traditions are the same when it comes to their
ritual tools, which ones they use, how they are made, what they look like,
etc. This section will necessisarily be something of a generalization.
|
|
| In order
to consider a cross section of traditions, the following material is based
upon both my own experience and the scholarship of Scott Cunningham in "Wicca:
A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner", Janet and Stewart Farrar in "A Witches
Bible Compleat", Raymond Buckland in "Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft"
and Doreen Valiente with Evan Jones in "Witchcraft A Tradition Revealed".
That said, we will begin with perhaps the most basic of ritual tools, the
athame. |
The Athame
|
Traditionally
double edged, made of steel, with a black handle which is painted or engraved
with markings which vary from one tradition to another. The Athame is one
of the four elemental tools. The edges are not normally sharpened as the
athame is a symbolic tool rather than a practical knife. The athame represents
fire in most traditions, the only exception being those who follow the attribution
of the knife to air as given in some early Golden Dawn documents. It is
desireable to forge or construct the athame yourself if possible or at least
form the handle. Buckland recommends marking your magical name on either
the hilt or blade. Runes or another magical alphabet may be used for this.
Cuningham states that no markings are necessary. The Farrars suggest markings
based on Gardeners writings as follows (see diagram below). They stand for
the Horned God, the ankh, the Salute and the Scourge, The Goddess and Scorpio
the sign of death and the beyond on side one. Side two is The Perfect Couple,
power springing forth, and the eight ritual occasions.
Practically speaking, unless you are a blacksmith, or know one, most of
us must purchase the blade for our athames. If you can manage to produce
a wooden handle and paint it black it will add to your connection to the
tool. I found that Fimo clay, available at the craft store, made a wonderful
handle for mine. You form it in the shape you want and then bake it in a
regular oven and it hardens permanently. And talk about connection, it even
has your fingerprints in it! |
The Pentacle
|
One of
the four elemental tools, the Pentacle is made of wood, copper, brass, silver,
clay, gold, silver nearly any material; and either plain or ornamented with
crystals and/or symbols. The Pentacle represents earth. The primary and
often only marking is the pentagram. It is usually five or six inches in
diameter. It may be used as the center piece of the altar.
Buckland does not mention the pentacle, nor does Valiente, neither of their
traditions utilize it. The pentacle was in fact borrowed from Ceremonial
Magic as is stated by Cunningham and Ferrar. In that tradition it is used
as a defensive weapon. Ceremonial magic sources indicate that it should
be a disk of stone, zin or wood four inches in diameter with a 1/2 inch
border in which should be engraved the Archangelic and Godname of Earth.
In their description the pentacle is engraved with a pentagram on one side
and a hexagram on the other. The Farrars illustrate the pentacle with additional
symbols on the face along with the pentagram and describe a circle of stones
to represent the astrological signs, along with the symbols of those signs.
Their pentacle includes the following symbolism (see diagram below): inverted
triangle is the first degree, inverted pernagram second degree, upright
triangle third degree, waxing and waning moons the Goddess, Taurus the God,
the two S's represent Mercy and Severity as the Salute and the Scourge.
The stones they used are Aries-bloodstone, Taurus-carnelian, Gemini-alexandrite,
Cancer-moonstone, Leo-tigers eye, Virgo-saphire, Libra-opal, Scorpio-lapis
lazuli, Sagittarius-topaz, Capricorn-jet, Aquarius-amethyst, and Pisces-pearl.
Their design is by far the most elaborate that I have heard of and by no
means represents what you should have. The symbolism is meaningful to them,
they designed it, the example is given to indicate what you could design
to suit yourself. |
 |
The Wand
|
| One of
the four elemental tools, the wand is traditionally made of wood cut from
one of a number of trees, depending upon the use to which it will be put.
Willow, elder, oak, apple, peach, hazel, cherry or nut bearing trees are
all possibilities. A wand is made from a branch the length of the distance
from the elbow to the extended middle finger. It is cut from wood of the
current year, preferrably with one stoke. It may be carved, painted or written
on in any of a number of ways depending upon the tradition. It represents
air. There are a number of styles of wands, with crystals at one or both
ends, with painted or carved designs, or with written or engraved symbols
or runes. For certain Sabbats a more male wand is used, a nutwood wand tipped
with a pinecone or acorn and wrapped with black and white ribbons interwoven
like the snakes on a caduceus. The Farrars illustrate a wand that they use
which has both male and female ends so that the most appropriate one for
the ritual can be used. It has the symbols of the planets along the wand
and beads and metal at each end. One end has a jet bead with copper wire,
the other an amber bead with iron wire. Buckland mentions rowan, ash, willow
or hazel but agrees with Cunningham that any wood may be used, including
dowels purchased from the hardware store. The Farrar wand is illustrated
below. |
 |
| Hazel or
ash is good for an all around wand with perhaps a venusian wood for magic
regarding love, fertility, prosperity and such. Apple, cherry, peach or
any of the fruit bearing trees is good for this second wand. You could theoretically
have a wand of an appropriate wood, with appropriate crystals and markings
for each planet. Suit your own needs, but one wand is enough for most. |
The Chalice
|
| The last
of the four elemental tools, the cup or chalice is used to hold water, wine
or juice during the ritual. It represents water and is the primary feminine
symbol on the altar. It is symbolic of the Goddess in several rituals of
the calendar. The chalice may be made of silver, brass, copper, glass, alabaster,
soap stone, or earthenware. It is unmarked in most traditions. Valiente
states that the cup is symbolic of the Cauldron of Cerridwen, and she places
the emphasis on it as opposed to the cauldron. Cunningham reverses this
and places much more emphasis on the cauldron referring to the chalice as
a small cauldron on a stem. Valiente includes the cup in her list of coven
tools rather than an individual tool. Buckland does not mention the chalice
at all. The cup is used to hold water, either plain or salted, when consecrating
tools, amulets, etc. In Ceremonial Magic the cup is used as well, |
|
|
in which
case it is engraved with the Archangelic and Godname of the element water
and is made of silver or copper, with glass as an acceptable substitute.
The cup may be jeweled or decorated using correspondences to it's symbolic
water and feminine connotations. It is symbolic of rebirth, reincarnation,
wisdom and immortality. Venus is the appropriate planetary correspondence. |
The Cauldron
|
| The cauldron
is considered a coven tool in many traditions rather than an individual
one. It represents water, the Goddess, reincarnation, immortality and inspiration.
As Cunningham states, it is "the container in which magical transformations
occur, the sacred grail, the holy spring, the sea of primeval creation".
He calls the cauldron "the witches tool par excellence". It is often used
as the focal point of group rituals and can contain flowers, a ritual fire,
charged water, or incense. It may also be placed empty on the altar as a
symbol of the Goddes or used to prepare brews or for divination by filling
it with water and using it as a focusing point. Cunningham suggests that
the cauldron should be iron, the Farrars agree but also mention that brass
or copper may be easier to find. Valiente considers the cauldron a coven
tool and mentions all the same uses |
 |
described
above and discusses the symbolism but she also emphasises that the coven
must arrive at it's own communal understanding of what the cauldron means
to them.
|
The Besom
|
|
| Traditionally
made with an ash handle, broom or birch twigs and a willow wrapping, the
broom or besom is one of the more well known of the tools uses by witches.
Every Halloween witch has a broom, and pretends to ride it, but not every
real witch owns one. It is often considered optional, particularly by solitaires.
Round is preferred over flat. The twigs can also be hazel or yew. |
 |
| According
to Doreen Valiente the symbolism is as follows: the handle represents the
male aspect, the twigs the female, birch twigs represent birth and rebirth
through the combination of male and female; hazel stands for fire, fertility,
powtry, divination and knowledge; yew is the tree of death and resurection.
The message of the besom is that only though birth will there be life, from
that life will come poetry, art and knowledge. Yet because of birth there
must be death and with death rebirth and resurection. Cunningham states
that the broom is associated with water due to its purpose of purification.
he states that the broom is protective and purifactory, used to ritually
cleanse and area or guard a home and should be reserved for ritual use.
Valiente and Ferrar agree as to the uses mentioned, in addition Valiente
mentions using the besom as a gateway to the circle by laying it at the
north in the gateway of the circle as it is cast. Buckland does not mention
the besom, it is not used in his tradition. It is best to make your own
besom and not really difficult. You need a branch about 1 1/2 to 2 inches
in diameter and 3-4 feet long for the staff, a bundle of small twigs about
18-20 inches long for the broom part and something to tie the twigs to the
handle with. Willow is traditional, but twine works well and is easy to
obtain. Just insert the handle about 6-8 inches into the center of the bundle
of twigs and wrap the twine tightly around them to tie them to the handle.
Be sure you wrap and tie them tight, so your twigs don't fall out. |
The Censer
|
Censers
come in a wide variety of styles, material and colors. There are fewer convenions
surrounding the censer than any other ritual tool. Some are metal suspended
from chains, some are bowls filled with sand or salt, and every possibility
inbetween. The censer represents air and may be made of wood, ceramic, soapstone,
earthenware, glass, stone, brass, copper, iron; literally any material.
The censer is often placed before the image of the Deity(s) in the middle
of the altar. All authors who mention the censer agree that the design and
material are unimportant, each practicioner should go with what they like.
The incense represents air like the censer.
 |
The Bell
|
| A feminine
symbol used to invoke the Goddess, ward off evil spirits, evoke positive
energies; to mark the beginning, end, or sections of the ritual. It is used
for the vibrations the sound produces so it is important to find a bell
with a pleasant sound, clear and sweet. The bell may be engraved or decorated
if desired. Not all traditions use the bell, only Buckland and Cunningham
mention it. It is often ;used to punctuate various high points in the rituals
of Ceremonial Magic as well. The bell represents air if it can be considered
to represent any of the elements. |
|
The Sword
|
| It represents
fire and is used for many of the same purposes as the knife. Its main use
is for casting the circle. All authors agree that the sword is optional,
and that a replica is appropriate. Most suggest that some part, either the
handle or an inscription be added to make a purchased sword more personal.
All agree that if it is possible the sword should be made by the owner or
a coven member, but unless you are a blacksmith you are unlikely to be able
to manage the blade. The handle could be made however. There are a number
of suppliers of fine replica swords that cater to the SCA and Renn Faire
groups, keep your eyes open and you may find just the one for you. |
|
|
The Staff
|
| Represents
air and is in effect a long wand. Hardwood, equal in length to the height
of the owner, and decorated with feathers, leather, crystals, carving or
engraving according to Buckland. The staff has little practical use being
largely ornamental. Farrar and Cunningham do not mention it. Valiente tells
of her traditions use of the Stang, a type of staff. It serves as an emblem
of faith and walking aid to and from meetings, a sign one is of the craft,
and a personal altar. The stang is forked at the top. It is of ash, cut
during the full moon with your knife. A small coin just be left with the
tree as payment for taking the branch. The stang must be shod with iron
by driving a nail into the bottom of it, the purpose being to hold the magical
charge within the stang once it is consecrated. Garlands and arrows are
hung on the coven stang for the four major rites. No other author mentioned
the stang, it is peculiar to that one tradition. A staff or walking stick
can be a very personal accessory since there are so many options for decoration.
One can afix any number of items to leather cords to dangle from the top,
and it can be carved with symbols, runes, the owners magical name - any
meaningful words you like. I recomend putting a rubber cane tip over the
bottom to provide traction and avoid marring floors. |
|
The Robes
|
| This is
perhaps the most controversial item in this section. For those of you who
believe that the only way to work is skyclad (naked), by all means, proceed.
I'll not argue with you, work as you like. There are those of us, into middle
age and living in cooler climates, who like robes. Robes also appeal to
the more theatrical among us who enjoy costumes and for whom the robe sets
a mood. This area is best left to personal opinion. Robes can be quite ornate,
with hoods, rope belts, long and flowing fabrics; or very simple. The matter
of color is a personal one as well. Many prefer black, being the color of
the night sky, mystery, and the unknown. Some feel black has negative connotations
and wear white, it is up to each witch to decide for themselves. In Ceremonial
Magic robes are worn in planetary colors, elemental colors, and the colors
of the office held by the individual. You may decide to utilize color correspondences
appropriate to the particular magical working you will be doing when choosing
the color of your robes. Do what suits you. |
|
Miscellaneous Bits
and Pieces
|
| The Boline
or white handled knife is the usable, practical knife used to cut herbs,
cords, whatever one must cut. It is a simple kitchen or hunting type knife
that is sharpened and has a painted white handle. Cords are used
in some traditions as an indication of the rank or degree the individual
has attained. Different ranks are distinguished by color. Most are 9 feet
long. Valiente uses a red cord for initiates and a black one for full members.
In her system the officers are as follows; Lady-silver, yellow or orange
for East, gold or bright yellow for South, black or dark brown for West,
black or white or both for North. She mentions that there is a difference
of opinion on the number of knots to be tied, 13 or 9, she prefers 9. The
Farrars suggest tht everyone should have a set of at least three cords,
they suggest red, blue and white, 9 feet long with knots at each end only.
Buckland recommends a 9 foot, red cord made from three lengths of cord braided
together, knotted at each end. The 9 foot measurement is after braiding.
The cord is used for cord magic, not worn. The color red represents life.
This last version is the one that my former coven used, and to get 9 feet
after braiding you really need three pieces of rat tail cord about 29 feet
long. Solitary practitioners rarely use cords as an emblem of rank, some
use them for cord magic. The Scourge is only mentioned by the Farrars.
According to them it is purely symbolic and used to help induce self hypnosis
for gaining the sight. It has eight tails with five knots in each tail.
The tails on theirs are embroidery floss set on a nut wood handle. No markings
are on the scourge. |
