tools

THE TOOLS OF WICCA CONSIST OF
THEATHAME
THECHALICE
CANDLES
THE CAULDRON
THE BOOK OF SHADOWS
BELLS,
SCRYING MIRRORS
,TARROT CARDS,
THE WAND ,
THE SENSOR
. SWORD.
STAFF ,
STONES
,A CRYSTAL BALL
,A WHITE HANDLED KNIFE
,BROOM,
BOWLS OF SALT
WATER,
HERBS,
PENTACLE,
ALTAR CLOTHS ,
MORTAR AND PESTLE

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Tools used in Magick

tools are used in witchcraft to aid and enhance ritual worship. Tools have no power in themselves, though they do have powerful symbolic significances.

While tools are not necessary to the practice of the craft, some tools are nice to have if only to focus our will and concentration. The basic tools to start with are the elemental tools or those tools which represent the four elements of life: The Pentacle for Earth, The Wand for Air, The Athame for Fire, and The Chalice for Water.
You don't have to buy your tools . Take a look around the household, many ordinary household items can be used as tools. My covens first athame was a black handled kitchen knife and later we picked up a 18 inch double sided hunting knife at a garage sale and painted the handle black with nail polish You can make your own tools and by doing so, a certain amount of personal power will be infused into the item, increasing its effectiveness. With a little invention you may find tools popping up in the most unusual places. All tools as they are collected, should be cleansed of all negative energies and past use influences. Lets face it, you won�t know how or for what use they may have been used before you bought them. To do this, clean the item thoroughly while using visualisation. Then bury the item in the ground for a few days, thus allowing past associations to be dispersed and purified with earth�s energy.   Alternatively you could use the water method. Immerse the item in water, preferably natural water like the Sea, a River, or a Lake. If these are not available to you, used a bowl of water and add a few pinches of Sea Salt. Leave submerged for a couple of hours before removing and drying the item off. Obviously common sense must prevail when using these methods, as you wouldn�t want to ruin the item. Do whatever seems appropriate for each item. After the cleansing process, each tool needs to be consecrated, ready to use for magickal purposes.

Athame - The athame is the traditional ritual dagger of the witch. Commonly it has a black handle and steel double-edged blade. The athame is a tool of command, it is used to direct what power we pass through it. It is used to cast circles , to charge and consecrate objects and banish negative energies. It is never used as a knife for cutting purposes, and is used strictly for magickal purposes only. it is associated with the elements of Fire, The phallic symbolism of the knife links it with the God.

Pentacle - The pentacle is a traditional tool of the craft. It is usually a round solid disc often made from stone, wood or cooper. On the disc is engraved or painted an up-right five pointed star enclosed inside a circle. A disc decorated in this manner then becomes called a Pentacle. The pentacle is normally the centerpiece of the alter on which objects are placed to be consecrated or charged charms and tools are placed on it, as is the salt and water for blessing. The pentacle represents the elements of Earth and is sometimes used to summon the Gods and Goddesses.

Wand - The wand is one of the prime magical tools of the witch. Traditionally the wand is made from the wood of a sacred tree. These include the Willow, Elder, Oak, Apple, Peach, Hazel and Cherry, to mention just a few. Its length should approximate the crook of the elbow to the middle of the index finger. These days many modern materials are used instead, and even tipped with crystals and gems. The wand is a tool of invocation, it is used to evoke the Gods, Goddesses and Spirits. It is also used to bestow blessings, charge objects and draw down the moon during ritual. In most traditions the wand represents the elements of Air, in others it represents the elements of Fire.

Censer - The censer is an incense burner used to contain burning incense during ritual. Any type of censer can be used, even a simple bowl filled with sand will do. The censer represents the elements of Air and is normally placed before the images of the Goddess and God on the altar.

Chalice - The Chalice is one of the four elemental tools of witchcraft and represents the elements of Water. It is a symbol of containment and often represents the womb of the Goddess .The base is symbolic of the material world, the stem symbolises the connection between man and spirit and the rim or opening symbolically receives spiritual energy. The chalice is used to hold the blessed water and wine during ritual.

Broom - The broom is a ritual tool of the witch the broom is made from three different woods. Ash for the handle, Birch twigs for the brush and Willow for the binding cord. Ash is protective and has command over the four elements. Birch is purifying and draws spirits to one�s service. Willow is sacred to the Goddess.
The broom is used for a variety of purposes. Generally, the broom is used to purify and protect. It is used to ritually cleanse an area before magick is performed, by symbolically sweeping away negative energies . it is also used to guard the home and persons within against psychic attack or evil curses, by placing it across the threshold, windowsills and doorways. also pagan hand-fasting rituals often include a broom jump.

Bolline - The Bolline or White-Handled knife the practical knife of the craft is a knife used for cutting and carving. It has a white handle to differentiate it from the Athame, which has a black handle and is used only for magickal purposes. The bolline is used to cut wands and herbs, to mark and carve candles with symbols and to cut cords for use in magick. Any other ritual function requiring the use of a knife such as cutting can be performed with the bolline.

Cauldron - The cauldron is probably the tool most associated with witchcraft and is steeped in magickal tradition and mystery. The cauldron is the symbolic of the womb of the Goddess, and is the essence of femininity and fertility. Everything is born from the cauldron of the Goddess and everything returns back to it. It is also symbolic of the elements of Water, reincarnation, immortality, and inspiration. In ritual the cauldron is used as a container for making brews and potions, or to contain a small fire for use with spells. It can also be used for scrying (divination) by filling it with water and gazing into its depths.it should be made from cast iron, resting on three legs and has an opening smaller then its widest part. Cauldrons were made in many sizes i ordered mine from e-bay it is a 2 quart cast iron with a pentacle on the front and the pride of my tools

Bell - The bell is a ritual tool of invocation and banishment. The bell is a feminine symbol of the creative force, that of the Goddess. The bell can be rung to indicate the start of a rite by banishing negative influences before the ritual begins or sounded at the four quarters to call forth such spirits as the gardians of the watchtowers and Elementals.Bells can be used to guard the home by warding off evil spells and spirits, or calling good energies when placed in cupboards or hung on doors.

Book of Shadows - The Book of Shadows is the workbook of the witch. In it is recorded: Rituals guidelines, Invocations, Spells, Runes, Rules of a particular Coven or Tradition, Symbols, Poems, Chants, and anything else of use to the witch during ritual.The Book of Shadows is always hand written by the individual. A common custom for new initiates into a Coven, is to hand copy his teacher�s Book of Shadows exactly as it appeared, then later to add his own material as he progressed in the craft.
To make your own Book of Shadows, you can use any form of blank book,you can buy a pre made book ive seen some nice handmade books on e-bay my book of shadows is a simple black 3 ring binder its easy to find my spells and take them out if needed.

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