| Magickal Tools |
| Like most religions Witchcraft uses certain tools in ritual. Many of those tools can be found associated with the witch in folklore, for example, the broom and the cauldron. These tools often symbolise energies and help to enhance rituals. However, the tools only contain the energy and purpose that we choose to give them, and for this reason some people do not use tools and use visualisation and gesture more. Below, there is a list of the tools associated with the practise of witchcraft. Some choose not to use all of them, and generally I feel it is up to the individual and what they prefer to work with. The Broom (or Besom) The broom can be used in both magick and ritual. It is believed to be sacred to both the goddess and god. It is generally used to cleanse an area of negative energies before a circle is cast. When this is done, the bristles don't need to touch the ground - you can visualise the negative energy being swept away. Many witches chose to make their own brooms from branches and twigs close to home. When cutting wood from a tree it is proper to thank the tree for it's sacrifice and leave an offering at it's base. Many pagan ceremonies such as handfastings and Beltane/Mayday celebrations involve "jumping the broom" which is said to promote fertility. The Wand The wand is an extremely important tool in witchcraft. It can be used to focus your energy, invoke the gods and to mark a circle and symbols in the earth. It is representative of the element of air. Traditionally, wands are made of woods such as willow, oak, elder and hazel. It can be good to use wood native to where you live. For more information see Sacred Trees. Personally, I think it is nice to make your own wand, however, it is possible to get very beautiful wands from pagan and occult shops. The traditional length for a wand is the length from the tip of the witch's middle finger to the crook of the elbow. The Chalice The chalice represents the element of water. It symbolises emotion, fertility and the Goddess. It can be made of any material and wine glasses with the stems are ideal. The Pentacle The pentacle is a flat disc with a pentagram inscribed on it. It can be made of brass, gold, silver, wood, clay or even a geode. The pentacle was "borrowed" from ceremonial magic, where it was used to invoke spirits and protect. It is a symbol of the element of earth. The Athame/Sword The athame is a double edged knife, used to manipulate power and direct energies raised in ritual. It is associated with the element of fire and represents the God. Sometimes a sword can be used in place of the athame, but this depends on the space available. The Bolline A white handled knife used for practical things like cutting wands and herbs, and inscribing symbols on wood, wax and clay. Some witches prefer to use it solely for magickal purposes, while others use theirs in the kitchen to add a bit of magick to their food. The Incense Burner/Censer It is up to the individual the type of incense burner used. There are many different types of incense including stick incense, block incense and granulated incense and the burner required depends on the incense chosen. Incense and the burner represent the element of air. The Cauldron The cauldron is the symbol of the goddess, the feminine and fertility. It represents the element of water, reincarnation and inspiration. The legends associated with the Celtic goddess Cerridwen highlight the symbolism of the cauldron. Ideally, a cauldron should be made of cast iron and rest on three legs. There are many different sizes available and it is really up to the individual which one they choose. Cauldrons have many uses - incense can be burned in them, as can candles; they can be filled with water for scrying and some wonderful witches brews can be made in them! Other Tools Other magickal tools include candles, crystals and cords amongst others. These will be discussed in greater detail on other pages on this site. |
 |