Beginning Your Studies ~ Initial Supplies

Let's begin by setting the record straight. All these magickal tools are not a necessity. They are simply props. Albeit, they make things seem more "fun", and they can help you achieve your magickal goals, but no more so than your mind, coupled with items you may already have around your home. Anything you use in the Craft is all a matter of intention. If you can see that bowl in your kitchen cabinet aiding in a cleansing ritual, by all means, use it. And that Goblet you found at a flea market eons ago...the one you could never figure out what to do with...it can make the perfect chalice, so why not wash the dust off and give it a purpose. Oh, and that basket of candles and stuff that Cousin Sara gave you on your last birthday...blow the dust off of that too. It's time to put it to good use.

That being said, many Witches will invest in special tools specifically for their magickal work. The reason for this is really based on individual preference. I tend to view it as a way to seperate my magickal work from my everyday living enviornment. It makes me feel more powerful to know that these items are used only for specific intentions. When I pull them out, I feel the energy raising within myself. If you feel that you want to seperate the magickal from the mundane, then do it, but again, it is not a necessity.

For those of you who wish to begin working with magickally intended tools, your initial supply list is going to be a bit simple. Please, I beg you, DO NOT rush out and begin purchasing everything you see listed on somebody else's supply list. Not only will it cost you a lot of money, but you will end up with things that, initially, you will have no clue what to do with. There are other reasons as well. For example, you may not be purchasing the right types of supplies for your particular needs. You also don't want items that you can't work with comfortably.

So what kinds of tools do you need to begin your magickal journey? Here's your initial supply list:

1. A Three-Ring Notebook

2. Ruled Notebook Paper

3. Two sets of Notebook Dividers

4. A Writing Tool (Pen, Pencil, Marker, Crayon...whatever works for you)

5. A Dictionary

6. Some white candles

7. Atleast two candleholders

8. Incense (can be cone or stick...your choice of scent, but use something that smells calming to you)

9. An Incense Burner (based on the type of incense you have purchased)

That's it. That's all you need to get started. I know, you probably had visions of ceremonial knives and magick wands, right? Well, yes, those are tools that can be used in the Craft, when the time is right. But today is not that day.

Allow me to explain something about magickal supplies. First, everthing you use as part of your Craft has a purpose. Before you begin using anything, it is important to understand each items purpose. In addition, all the items that you will learn to use hold special properties which are defined by the Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Again, it is important to understand your items elemental properties as well. It is also important to realize that when you first pick up an item, whether it is simply to admire that item, or to actually use it, that item begins to take on your personal energy, or your essence if I may.

Now imagine going into a store to buy some supplies. Think of all the people that have been in that store, and how often any given item may have been handled by other people. You don't want to use supplies that hold the energy of 100 other individuals, do you? No, you really don't, because you have no idea what was going through their minds when they picked up that same item. This would make for ineffective, not to mention dangerous, magickal work. That means that you have to go through a cleansing ritual with all your items before they can be used. (We will learn about rituals for cleansing in another lesson.)

Another important point that was recently brought to my attention about magickal supplies is their personal connection with you. Let me share this little story with you...When I first began my own journey into Wicca, I heard of all these marvelously mystical supplies and tools that I was going to need to continue my path. One of these items is the athame. (An athame is a knife or dagger with a double-sided blade which is used in ritual and/or ceremonial work.) Of course, the book said I needed one, so I rushed out to the nearest store I could find that would carry such a thing. After spending about 15 minutes looking at my options (not to mention my bank account), I settled on one that was decorative and affordable. What I failed to realize was that, although this was an exciting purchase, it wasn't at all a practical one. Since I bought this athame, everytime I pick it up, I feel uncomfortable with it. It doesn't feel right in my hand, nor does it "sing" to me. I simply can not bring myself to use this athame in my magickal work. Needless to say, I am currently without an athame. So what do I use? My Finger, until such a time when I find an athame that calls to me in that special way.

The moral of this story is that your magickal tools and supplies should be received as a gift if you want them to truely have meaning and purpose in your magickal work. By "gift", I mean that they should hold a special meaning for you. Whether they were given to you as a gift from a teacher, friend, or loved one, or you found them with love and guidence from the Goddess, they should be more than just a purchase because you felt that you "needed" them. Rest assured, when you least expect it, your tools will come to you when you need them most, and when they do, they will be very special to you, as well as powerful.

That brings me to another point. NEVER HANDLE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES THAT BELONG TO SOMEONE ELSE, UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO SO. Not only is this simple common courtesy, but it is also one rule of thumb that should never be forgotten when you are dealing with the powers of Witchcraft. To start, we cleanse our supplies and tools to rid them of negative energy. Then these same items are empowered with our own personal energy to make them more effective in our work. By handling someone else's tools, you are basically draining that person's energy within that tool, there by replacing it with your own energy. If this happens, it can reduce the effectiveness of the tool for its owner.

Imagine having an item for ten years, that no one else has held. Imagine the energy that item holds for its owner. Then along comes some knucklehead with bad intentions, who picks up that item, draining it of all it's positive energy, replacing it with negative energy. Now, not only does the owner have to go through the cleansing process all over again, but they've lost years of stored energy in that item, and essentially have to start empowering that item all over again. Talk about a major bummer. This little scenerio may sound a bit extreme, but is used to make the point that a Witch's tools are very personal. This is one of the reason's why most Witches' keep their tools and supplies under lock and key when not in use.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how personal your Craft tools are, lets get back to your intial supply list. What will you do with it all, once you have it gathered together? (The following assumes that you have your initial supplies in front of you. If you don't, please begin getting them together. Once you have them gathered, return here to continue on.)

The remaining portion of this lesson is to give you a brief understanding of your initial supplies. I stress the word "brief", because this is only the beginning of their purposes. As the weeks go on, you will learn more about their uses. For now, I feel it is necessary to keep the information basic, so as not to overwhelm you.

1. Your Notebook:

   Let's begin by putting together your notebook. If you haven't done so already, put the paper and dividers into the notebook. For now, label the first divider as "Journal", and the second as "Magickal Terms". (We will be labeling the remaining dividers as we continue over the weeks.) This notebook is the beginning of your personal Book of Shadows. This is where you will do all your journaling, keep track of your research work, and eventually write your own rituals and spells. Your Book of Shadows will contain your personal journey as you make your way through this wonderful path you have found yourself on. It probably doesn't seem as romantic as you thought it would be at this point and time, but believe me, you will be happy that you started it in this form. My personal experience of switching from one form to another was almost ridiculous when I first began my own journey. I finally settled on the 3-ring notebook, because it offered the most fluctuation in its use.

2. Your Writing Tool:

   This should be an obvious one. You will use this to write in your Book of Shadows. The not so obvious is that this writing tool is now a magickal tool. It should be kept with your Book of Shadows at all times, so that you have access to it when you need it, at a moments notice. If your current choice of writing tools suddenly doesn't seem appropriate, go find one that does.

3. The Dictionary:

   Keep your dictionary handy, and do not hesitate to use it. I have never used a dictionary so much in my life as when I began studying Wicca. It will be an invaluable tool for you. (One quick note about dictionaries...there will be times that you won't find certain Craft oriented words in them. This doesn't mean that these words don't exist. It just means that they aren't widely accepted in the english language. It is also because these dictionaries have Christian influence in their creation, but that's a topic for another day. I am currently working on an on-line Craft oriented dictionary for your convenience.

4. The White Candles:

   You will find that candles are an essential part of the Craft. In the future you will use many different colors of candles, and they will be of different shapes and sizes. For now, we begin with the white candle which is almost always used regardless of the type of magick being performed. White represents Purity, Peace, Truth and Spirituality, and can also be used to act as a substitute for any color you may need if you find your supplies running low. Be sure to have your candle securely placed in an appropriate candleholder, on a stable surface, and out of the reach of anything that might be a fire hazard. (Example...Keep away from curtains, children, pets...basically anything that could reach the flame once lit, or anyone that could cause the candle to tumble over. Common sense, I know, but I still felt it worth mentioning.)

5. Using Incense:

   For centuries incense has been used in magick and ritual. With its many mysterious and delightful scents, and its trailing smoke, incense has many uses. Be it for the therapeutic effects like its use in aromatherapy, or for spiritual purposes such as cleansing and purification, or achieving a certain state of mental awarenenss, incense definitely has its place in the Craft. It also comes in different forms: stick, cone, block, powder and resin, to name a few. Initially, stick and cone are easiest to use. They are also the easiest to find. For now, you will use your incense for cleansing and relaxation, as well as to get used to it if you are not used to using it at this point.

This concludes your Study Buddy lesson of the week. The following are an exercise and an assignment for follow through on this lesson. You will not be tested on this material, so take your time, and absorb what you have learned before continuing on to the next lesson.

In Light & Love,
Midnite Spirit

Exercise: Simple Visualization & Meditation

Although we haven't really discussed meditation in this lesson, I feel that now would be a good time to introduce it, given the fact that you have some supplies on hand, and a general idea of their purposes. This exercise is meant more for relaxation and concentration than anything else, and to give you a taste of what future exercises will be like. For some, this exercise will only take about 10 to 15 minutes. For others, it may take longer. Time is not the issue here. Take as little or as as long as necessary to achieve some semblance of relaxation.

1. Find a quiet place where you can be comfortable, and remain undisturbed. Have a seat (on the floor, in a chair, whichever is most comfortable for you). DO NOT cross your arms or legs. This can restrict you and make you have to adjust your postion. You don't want to have to do this once you begin.

2. Set up your candle in front of you. While lighting it, envision its warmth surrounding you. Feel the presence of Spirit (The Goddess and/or The God) drawing nearer to you, filling you with purity and light.

3. Light your incense. Enjoy its aroma. Imagine the smoke surrounding you as though it is lovingly cradling you in its arms, wrapping around you while cleansing you of the negativities of the day.

4. Now try to clear your mind. Focus on the flame of the candle. Tell yourself that the longer you stare into the flame, the clearer your mind becomes. Your stress and worries of the day are slowly melting away. Don't think of anything else but the flame of the candle.

5. Close your eyes and try to see the candle flame in your minds eye. For as long as you can, try to hold on to the vision of this flame, until it begins to fade away.

6. When you can no longer see the flame of the candle in your mind, begin to concentrate on your breathing. Slowly inhale through your nose, and exhale through your mouth. Imagine every muscle in your body releasing its tension. Allow yourself to hear the silence that surrounds you.

7. When you have gotten as relaxed as you can, stopping short of laying down and taking a nap, slowly open your eyes. Allow yourself to become more alert to your surroundings as each moment passes.

8. Thank the Lady and Lord for their protection and guidence, and for providing you with this peaceful moment in your life.

9. Before getting up, and going back to your daily routine, reach for your Book of Shadows, and write down what you experienced during this exercise. What it easy or difficult? Were there distractions that you need to work on? Did anything out of the ordinary happen? How did this exercise make you feel? Don't forget to extinguish your candle when you are done.

While for some, meditation is not easily learned, you will find it extremely useful to you in the Craft. I consider it to be a necessary skill to learn. This was a very brief exercise in meditation, and with practice, you will become more adept at doing it. The key word is practice. It is also not something that I recommend doing right after getting up in the morning, or just before going to bed, until you become more skilled at it. Otherwise, you may find yourself sound asleep, defeating the purpose of a clear mind for magickal work.

Lesson Assignment

1. Practice the above Meditation exercise atleast three times this week, being sure to record your results each time. Be sure to sign and date your results. Include what time of day you practiced this exercise, as well as the day of the week.

2. In your new Book of Shadows, under the section marked 'Journal', write a paragraph about what you hope to gain, or what you are seeking, by following the path of Wicca. Be sure to sign and date it.

Peace and Blessings,
Midnite Spirit