Tools Of The
       Trade
Athame, A Ritual Knife- pronounced ath-uh-may
This is the most commnly used tool. Also called a black-handled knife, an atham eis used for ritual purposes. It is usually double edged an dull. Pagans use the Athame to cast circles or direct energy during ritual. It also represents God during a ceremonial Great Rite. It is associated with fire, south or eat, air, depending in the tradition.

Bell-
The bell is an optional tool but it does have several purposes. It can be used to call people to the circle, in rituals it can be used to dismiss negative energies, to open or close the circle, or to invite the Goddess to join you. It is associates with feminine energy and the element air.  The vibrational energy of abell is quite stron it can be used to solidify spells.

Broom-
It is often used to sweep negative energies from the area where a ritual will be performed. The sweep is actually ceremonial and symbolic it need not touch the surfaces but most times people do. These are well used in wedding ceremonies. A broom is placed before the feet of the bride and groom after they have said their vows and before they walk down the aisle. They step over it as a symbol of fertility and entering a new phase of life.  Sometimes the broom is made up of twigs, wheat and tree branch and some decorate with ribbons and flowers to symbolize other things such as happiness and health.

Cauldron-
This is exactly what you may think of it, a round iron pot with a curved handle that sits on 3 legs. Prior to stoves these were placed in hearths for cooking. Nowadays they are commonly used during rituals to burn incence or parchment paper as a part of a spell. Some light ritual fires within a cauldron. Be carefull with your cauldron and place it on a hotpad. They are mae of iron and heat up quickly. Do not pick up quickly after use unless you use something to protect your hands from burns.

Chalice or Goblet-
The Chalice can be made or metal, wood, glass or clay and be either plain or ornate. The Chalice is used during the 'cakes and ale' portion of a ritual. It is associated with female energy, fertility, water and the west. It can also hold liquids that are to be charged for use during the ritual. The Chalice symbolizes the Goddess during a ceremonial Great Rite.



Censors-
A censor is a container in which you burn incence. Censors come in many shapes and sizes and may be glass, metal, wood, and ceramic.

Pentacle, the 5 pointed star-
With the point at the top it is a symbol of protection it also symbolizes the Pagan faith much like a Christian wears a cross. An inverted pentacle is used by some darker paths but it is also used in other Pagan traditions to symbolize the initiate has achieved the second degree of their training.

The Book Of Shadows-
This is a magickal journal where Pagans keep their spells, dreams, thoughts, results of spells, and any other magickal information. Basically it is a journal of their magickal lives and often is passed on down to new generations.

Triple Moon-
The triple moon is a fullmoon circle with cresent moons on either side representing the Goddess as well as lunar When representing the Goddess it is depicting her in 3 phases, mother, maided and crone.

Wand-
The wand is similar to the athame. This tool should be between 12 and 18 inches long. The wand is used to direct or raise energy. It is commonly associated with the element air or fire. Wands should made from something in nature, something that speaks to you. You dont have to go into the woods, you can probably find some in a store near you or online that are made from real wood, metals are ok too. However you can go get your own from the woods, a tree branch the length from your elbow to your fingertips.

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