I don't have any herbs or tools!! Help!!
What's a witch without tools or herbs? Well, still a witch that's for sure. One of the hardest temptations of being a new witch is feeling like you have to go out and purchase top of the line magickal goodies. Have to go to ebay and buy that cauldron with the pentacle, the $75 athame or $100 bucks worth of dried herbs and don't forget your hand carved wand with real emeralds!!! Please...forget all that. A witch is not defined by her tools or her herbal supplies on hand.
Here are some tips for anyone who feels they just don't have what they need:
1. Evaluate and HUNT
For herbs, go to your kitchen spice cabinet and see what you have. Chances are you have some basil or thyme or rosemary. If not, these sorts of "cooking herbs" can be bought fresh or dried from your local supermarket. McCormick spices are good quality and they have a huge selection. If it's spring, try heading out to your local greenhouse (or franks nursary...whatever) and grow your own herbs outdoors (if it isn't spring, try growing them in a warm sunny spot indoors). As for tools, here is a break down of tools and some everyday substitues:
The Athame:a
blunt steel blade with a black handle
Everyday Athame:
a kitchen knife with a black handle, a regular
butterknife with black electrical tape on the handle
*bottom line: any old knife with a blunt edge
The Wand:The Wand evokes, directs and binds the energy
of a spell, traditionally the wand should be from elbow to fingertip
Everyday Wand: go on outside
and find yourself a nice stick, something that calls to you, decorate it with
whatever gems, rocks, ribbons you have
*bottom line: it's a stick people
The Cauldron: Used to scry with water, hold brews, flowers, burn stuff
Everyday Cauldron: a large metal mixing bowl,
a large pot used for cooking spaghetti, any fire proof container, a cast iron
pot from a sporting goods store
*bottom line: any metal bowl (fire proof a plus and necessary if using fire)
or any bowl to hold water, flowers (but NOT fire)
The Besome: a broom used in ritual for sweeping, cleansing
and moving energies
Everyday Besome:an easy one...get
a regular broom, you can also make one with a stick and some rafia (straw like
stuff from franks)
*bottom line: it can be a REGULAR broom sold at KMart
2. Shopping
Garage sales are good for candle sticks and little knick-knacks. After holiday sales are excellent for candles (especially long sticks and votives). Sporting good stores are excellent sources for cauldrons and athames. Craft stores for your broom making material and even wooden sticks for your wand and pretty things to decorate.
Don't get discouraged! Good things are usually right under your nose. Look through your house and see whatcha got. And really remember that tools don't make the witch (but witches can make the tools, go figure) Hope this helps you all out!!
~medea