| ATHAME: (pronounced "a-thAM-ay" or "ATH-a-may") This is the witch's personal knife to be used in rituals only. This is not to be used to cut things, it should only be used in ritual, magickal work. Most athames have a wooden hilt and a metal blade, the blade should be left dull. It's not a very long knife. Some athames have hilts made of bone or antlers, some have wooden blades or crystal blades. Whatever is comfortable for you is fine. It's more important that the tool you choose suits you personally rather than what your other witchie friends have. The athame is used to open and close the circle, call the "quarters" or the elements, and is part of many rituals. The athame is basically an extension of the witch's arm and helps direct energy. The athame is associated with the element of Fire and the South. You should never use anyone else's athame or let someone use yours. Go with whatever feels right to you but don't grab anyone else's athame and expect them to be happy. Some witch's feel that the lighter the color of the hilt, the better receptor of energy it is. Boleen This is a curious knife that is used not in rituals but in the harvesting of herbs or for cutting things. It has a sickle shaped blade with a white hilt. You do not use this blade in rituals at all. This is your cutting tool only. Besom Your broom, is used for "cleansing" your ritual area. In handfasting rituals a couple will jump over the broom if they wish to have children. Brooms are used in many superstitions. If a broom falls unexpectedly, company's coming. Bell Bells are used in many different religious rituals and have been used for centuries. There is no specific rights or wrong with using bells in rituals. Bells are believed to have a spiritual power. Their sound is symbolic of creative power and the shape is symbolic of the female form. A bell is said to being positive energy. You can use it to start, end, or create a clear division in the sections of your rituals. Bells are also often believed to ward off evil spirits. Candles Candles add ambiance to a ritual, help to focus, and are used as part of the ritual. There are specific colors of candles that are used for specific spells and rituals. Beeswax candles are better because they are more powerful, they are produced from nature. As with any other tool, the candle made by the practitioner for a specific purpose captures the energy of the practitioner. Many experienced Witches will use only candles they have crafted themselves because of this. I will go into candles in more detail soon on another page. Cauldron Once used everyday without a second thought to feed the family, a cauldron is now the most common symbol of Witchcraft. Usually it is a large black pot, made of cast iron, with three legs (represents bounty and blessings) and a handle. Cauldrons can be used to "brew" special recipes or potions, to burn something in, it can be used for scrying, or to hold water or salt for a ritual. Jumping over the cauldron has replaced the bonfire leap in modern times and urban spaces. The cauldron has also come to represent the concept of reincarnation and the cycles of birth, death and rebirth. You can have several cauldrons of varying sizes for different purposes. Chalice Cup or goblet. This obviously represents Water and the West and the Femanine aspects. This is used in some rituals along with the athame, or wand to represent the union of male and female. Sometimes the chalise is used in the normal way, a vessel in which to hold liquid, and is passed between members of the coven to share. This is believed to create a bonding. Pentacle This is usually a wooden or metal disk with the five pointed star within a circle inscribed on it. This is usually placed on the altar and it is used for focus and for consecrating other tools. The pentacle is associated with the Female North and the element of Earth. The Wand The wand is alot like the athame and is used in the same ways. It can be personalized or bought. It can be made of any material. The wand is associated with Air and the Male East. If you plan to make your own wand you can use a branch that you find or you can cut one (always ask the tree if it's ok first). |
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