Ritual
Tools
Athame:
The athame is usually a black handled,
double edged knife and is a ritual tool. It is a symbolic representative
of the element of fire. It can be used as a tool for laying down a circle
and also as a symbol representing the male aspect of the devine. Athames
can be used to invoke the quarters and release the quarters. The athame should
not be used to cut anything except in certain situations such as cutting
a door way in the circle to allow others to pass through, cutting a cord
in the event of a release or a passing over ritual, and of course a handfasting
cake.
Sword:
The sword is another ritual tool that
can be used as a tool for sovereignty and authority. It is like the athame
a symbolic representative of the element of fire and of the male aspect of
the devine. It can be used in the same manner as the athame.
Chalice/Cup:
The chalice or cup is representative
of the female aspect. The cup is the symbolic representative of water. It
is used to hold the waters of life. Once the waters of life have been blessed
during ritual, the chalice is often passed around the circle so that all
may share in it by symbolically ingesting the Goddess and the bringing of
the Goddess within.
Cauldron:
The cauldron represents the gift of
birth, death and rebirth, also knowledge and inspiration. The cauldron is
a female aspect and is a symbolic representative of water.
Peyton:
The peyton is a circular disk with a
pentacle or sacred symbol inscribed on the face of it. The peyton can be
made out of many different materials, beeswax or wood for example. It is
placed at the center piece of the altar, where all consecrations of salt
and water occur, and other objects as well. It is also the focal point of
the altar. The peyton is the symbolic representative of earth and of the
female aspect of the devine.
Wand:
The wand has been known as a tool that
is gentle in nature and has the male aspect, it is the symbolic representative
of air. It is another tool that can be used for circle casting, invoking
and releasing the quarters, and casting of spells, and some have used this
in place of the athame or sword.
Broom:
The witches broom is used for sweeping
any harmful energies from the area that the broom is cleansing (house, room,
circle, sacred space etc).
Boleen:
A white handled knife, used in rituals
for carving and cutting.
Staff:
Usually a wooden pole often of shoulder
height, used basically in the same manner as the wand. Like the wand the
staff may be decorated with crystals, symbols, feathers, or just about anything
that makes it your own.
Incense Burner:
A heat resistant, preferably fire proof
container used to contain a hot coal for burning incense. The incense is
symbolic of air, while the coal is symbolic of fire. It is used to cleanse
and purify the air within the sacred space.
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