
Magical Tools
By Noelle BlueSky
Tools are not necessary to work magic, but they can be useful and may have great personal meaning for the magic worker. Magical tools are more common in ritual and high magics and less prevalent in kitchen witchery for example.
Altar
An altar is a flat surface upon which is placed an assortment of tools or special items. The placement of the items may have significance. Sometimes offerings (such as a small bowl of food) are left at an altar. An altar may be designated to a specific deity or set of deities.
Athame
An athame is a 6-12 inch double-edged knife. They are usually black or dark-handled and are often kept dulled (for safety) as they are never used for cutting. Athames direct energy while casting. Many people carve runes and symbols into the handle of their athame.
Besom
The broom is used to cleanse an area of any negative energies. It may be used for house cleansing or to "clean" an area for ritual. Brooms are also commonly used in various handfasting and wedding traditions.
Bolline
Traditionally, a bolline is a white-handled knife, perhaps slightly smaller than an athame. Bollines are sharp functional cutting instruments, used in ritual or spellcrafting. For example; your bolline may be used to cut herbs, cords, fruit, or to inscribe runes or symbols into wood or candles, or for cutting wands.
Cauldron
Ihe cauldron is a fire-proof containter, often used to mix brews for potions or to burn incense or herbs. Some use a water-filled cauldron for divination purposes.
Chalice
The chalice is a cup used to hold water on an altar, or as a sacred drinking vessel.
Incense and Censer
A censer is a fire-proof container that holds incense. Incense comes in three forms; the stick form is most common, cones are also quite widely available. The rarest form of incense is loose incense which is used in a bowl-like censer filled with some sand, and some specialty charcoal which is lit. The loose incense is sprinkled over the glowing hot coals.
Pendulum
The pendulum is a weight on a chain or cord. It is a divination tool that cannot predict the future, but is useful when used to answer questions personally relevant to the questioner.
Poppets
Poppets are small simple dolls that may be stuffed with meaningful items such as herbs, rocks and charms. They represent a specific person or people.
Staff
The staff is a tool used to direct energy. They are traditionally as tall as the head or shoulder. They may be plain or decorated elaborately.
Wand
The wand could be considered a smaller version of the staff. The traditional length for the wand is from the elbow to the fingertip.
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