Ritual Tools

There are a set of magickal tools that Witches use in their rituals to invoke diety, raise power, and aid in the ritual itself. It is good to have some of these if not all of them, though you by no means HAVE to have them to worship. I was not allowed to use any magickal tools in my house for years because I was forbbiden by my mother. Most of the time it takes a while to find the tool that speaks to you, and as some of these things need to be bought, money is another obstacle. Don't let this worry you. On my altar at college I had pieces of tupperwear as my Chalice and Cauldron, a letter opener for my Athame, and a piece of paper with a pentacle traced on it for my Pentacle. I don't think the Goddess minded much. It's the thought that counts. You don't need a huge wand with 60 crystals on it that you bought for 100 dollars somewhere, and a stainless steal pentacle carved with runes all over it. Though these things are nice, they are sold for extremely cutthroat prices at pagan festivals and shops, and most are not even practicle. If you feel that they make your magick better, that's fine too. But don't be duped into thinking that these are the only options out there.

1.The Broom
The stories about witches and brooms were based in some amount of reality. Though we don't ride them through the air at night, we DO use them in ritual magick. The Broom is a phallic symbol that purifies, and is connected with the element of Water. Rituals are sometimes begun by sweeping the area of your circle with the ritual Broom. This not only physically cleans, but magickally cleans the area of all the astral buildup and bad energy that collects on the ground. Brooms were also, in older times, placed across doorways to halt spells in their path, and it is common to end certain marriage rituals by "Jumping the Broom" to promote fertility. If you want to make your ritual broom, you could try the old way of collecting an ash staff, birch twigs, and binding them together with willow : The ash tree protects, the birch purifies and the willow is sacred to the Goddess. Any tree branch also works, and so do pine needles bound together. If you DO take any of these things from nature, however, please make sure to thank the tree for it's sacrifice - remember, the tree is your brother/sister on this earth.

2.The Chalice
The Chalice is a symbol of the Goddess and is associated with the West, and Water. It is used to hold water on the altar, or to hold the ritual beverage. The Great Rite is performed using this tool. It's also a symbol of fertility and can be used in spells of this nature. Chalices can be made of anything, from crystal, to pewter, to glass, wood, even porcelain. I havn't found a Chalice yet that has spoken quite right to me, and still use my tupperwear cup.

3.The Athame
Also called the Magickal Knife, the Athame is a double-edged knife used to direct the energy that is raised for use in rituals and spells. It is also used to cut holes in the circle if anyone needs to get out, and power is often absorbed into the hilt to be used later. It's a phallic symbol linked to the element of Air, the East, and the God. The Athame is never used to invoke the Goddess or God, as it is a commanding tool, and we do not command the Goddess or God to be with us - we ask. It is also never used to harm anything, and as such is kept with a dull blade. The handle is usually black or of a dark nature. Some Wiccans like to carve theirs with runes are magickal symbols, and i've seen a few athames that have heavily decorated hilts (though most of the time, the hilts are plain black). If magickal symbols and runes don't mean anything to you, don't put them on your athame. If you think that jewels or special carving on the hilt draws your attention away from ritual, don't use it. My letter opener at college was purchased at a pewter store and had crystals pressed into the hilt. It was the most decorative piece on my altar, but it worked for me. Sometimes I still use it.

4.The Wand
The Wand is one of the more important magickal tools. Steeped in historical tradition, it is used many different ways. An uplifted wand and a soft word can invoke diety and the elements. It can be used to direct energy with spellwork, scetch magickal symbols in the air or ground, stir cauldron brews, and it's been said that if you place it on your palm it will point towards danger on it's own. The Wand is a symbol of Fire and associated with the South, and is sacred to both Dieties. There are many traditional woods and materials The Wand can be made of. Willow, elder, oak, apple, peach, hazel, and cherry are all sacred woods that can be used, though this is not the limit. Almost any tree branch is good, and some roots are good as well. Anything fairly straight is good. Some Wiccans cut them the length of their arm from elbow to forefinger, but this isn't necessary. Some people have purchased dowels from hardware stores and painted those, which works just as well. Of course, highly decorated wands of all sorts of different materials can be found in New Age stores. I've seen them made entirely of crystal, or metal with crystal pressed in. You can be as creative as you want to be. Just find something that speaks to you, and use that. Anything you use is going to be infused with your energies. The only thing to remember is that if you cut a branch from a tree, you need to thank it. My wand is a long peice of maple branch with runes painted on it.

5.The Censer
The Censer is an incense burner, used to hold the smoldering incense in Wiccan ritual, it represents the element of Air. This can be anything, from huge metal contraptions you see used in Catholic churches to seashells to bowls of wood with salt in them. My incense burner at college was the typical stick incense burner, and i've gotten good results with that. I highly suggest, however, that you find one that burns all sorts of incense, from stick to cone, to the bits you throw on charcoal because this will give you a wide range of possibilities for spellcraft and ritual. I was always stuck because I could only burn stick incense. If you can't find a censer that works good for you, you can quite easily make one. All you need is a bowl that isn't heat sensitive (I suggest wood or ceramic as opposed to metal or plastic), some salt, and self-igniting charcoal bricks (these you can get at occult suppliers). Simply pour the salt into the bowl halfway up and it's done. The salt or sand protects the wood/ceramic from cracking and cones or sticks can be pressed into it, if you can't find the charcoal blocks. Incense is a very important part to ritual. It helps create sacred space, and often finding the right blend of smells is an art all itself.

6.The Pentacle
The Pentacle was borrowed from old Ceremonial Magick. It is flat, and commonly made of any sort of metal, wood, ceramic, or clay, and can sometimes be found engraved with all sorts of magickal symbols. The only thing you NEED on your pentacle is the 5 pointed star, the Pentagram. The Pentacle is placed on the altar as a symbol of the element of Earth. It is very usefull to place things you wish to consecrate on, and is also sometimes used to invoke diety. I placed my cup on mine to consecrate it before drinking in the wine and cakes ritual. Don't worry if you don't find a pentacle that speaks to you for awhile. Like all magickal tools, it will speak to you when it finds you. They are not entirely necessary for magickal ritual, and if you can't find one that works right, you can always draw one on a piece of paper like I did. If you make it and touch it and use it, it will be infused with your energy and that's what matters most.

7. The Cauldron
The Cauldron is quite possibly the oldest traditional tool used by Wiccans. It's large roundness symbolizes the Goddess. It has been used far and wide as a symbol of fertility, femininity, Water, reincarnation, immortality and inspiration. There are Celtic legends of the Goddess Cerridwen and her Cauldron, and these have had a profound effect on Wiccan tradition. In contemporary times, they are the focal point of ritual. In spring they can be filled with water and flowers. For Yule and Imbolc a fire is lit in them to invoke the coming of the Sun (the God) from the Cauldron (the Goddess). They can also be used in spellwork, and to make brews in if they're large enough. Ideally, your cauldron should be iron, with three feet, and round in the middle with a small opening on top. It's unfortunate that these are very hard to find these days, but don't let that dissuade you from looking. I'm sure asking the Goddess and God to send one your way can't hurt, either. Usually, because of the rareness of Cauldrons, rituals are adapted to include substitutions for it. I have yet to find a cauldron I can actually use correctly. My current "Cauldron" is a tiny copper thing, about 3 inches wide and 5 inches deep. Ideal for keeping a few flowers in, but not for lighting fires in.

Other Tools used in Magick and Ritual
1. Candles, Candleholders
2. Matches or a lighter
3. A white-handled knife for cutting things - this knife does all the dirty work that the Athame is too sacred for.
4. A few bowls for salt and water
5. A candle snuffer (you can also use your fingertips)
6. A scrying mirror, crystal ball, or other Divinational Tools
7. Ritual Clothing and Jewelry (though some go naked)
8. A Bell (sometimes used to create sacred space or start/end spells in group ritual)
9. A nice altar cloth
10. Any other things you feel pulled to use.

Don't be in such a rush to have tools on your altar that you use something you aren't comfortable with or "doesn't feel right". Tools should take a bit of time to be selected, and you should "feel" that the tool is right and good to work with. Don't worry if this takes a long while. YOUR TOOLS WILL FIND YOU. I know that sounds strange, but it's the truth. If you want to know if a tool is right for you, ask it. You will know by the energies it emenates wether or not it wants to work with you. Psychic tools need to be treated with a bit of sensitivity. A tool may not be able to function without you, but it can definitly decide wether or not it likes you. Tools can act just like rebellious teenagers if they want to. If you sense a "no" from a tool, don't buy it. You don't want to work magick with a bunch of pissed off tools. Just trust me on this one, and use tupperwear substitutes until you and your tools find eachother. Another thing to be warned about is the fact that expensive tools like to shout YES at you even though they may not necessarily work for you later. You've eperienced this with salespeople who care more about thier profits than their customers. If you come accross this instance, it's best to just go without it. If money is an object, leave the tool behind as well. It is a very, very old rule that one must NOT haggle the price of magickal objects.

Once you have your tool, you need to wipe it clean of all the energies it's collected by being touched by other people and/or things. This is especially important if you get your tools from occult suppliers or fairs. Millions of people have touched this tool, and if you want it to be yours and work well with it, it needs to have only YOUR energies on it. There are quite a few ways to go about this. You can bury it in the Earth, Steep it in Saltwater, Soak it in sunlight, or pass it through Fire. How do you know when your tool is clean? Ask yourself, or ask IT if it is clean. You will know when all the psychic garbage has been cleaned off your tool and it is ready for use.
Once the tool is clean, it must be consecrated for it's purpose. A tool doesn't feel ready to work magick until it's been dedicated for magickal purpose and dedicated to work with YOU. You will find tool consecration rituals in the Book of Shadows.