BASIC TOOLS


ATHAME (pronounced ah-thah-may)
The athame is a double-edged ritual dagger used by the individual for directing energy. It may also be used for other astral tasks, such as cutting a doorway in the Circle. The athame is dull, as it is never used to actually cut anything on the physical plane. It is a tool of air in most traditions, although some traditions feel the athame belongs to the fire element.

BELL
Bells have many uses in ritual. A clear, strong tone is used to summon the elements, to call the Goddess, or as a signal that something important is about to happen. It can also be used to call for silence in the Circle. Find a bell with a tone that vibrates 'in sync' with your own personal vibration. Try out several bells. You'll know the right one when you hear it. Sound is carried by air, therefore the bell is a tool of air.

BOOK OF SHADOWS
This is your own personal spellbook. In this, you write notes on what worked and what didn't. In here is where you put spells, rituals, lore and anything else you want to keep that is of a magickal nature. Traditionally, the BOS was written entirely by hand and kept secret. This stems from the burning times when being caught with a Book of Shadows meant certain death.

BOLINE
The boline is a knife with a curved blade. Unlike the athame, the boline is kept sharp and is used to harvest herbs, engrave on candles, cut cords, or other things that the athame is unsuited for.

CANDLES
There are many shapes, sizes and colors of candles. There are as many uses for candles as there are types of candles. Candles belong to the element of fire. In a later lesson, we may go into the many uses of a candle, but for now, I'll just include it on the list of tools and toys. We'll study candle magick in depth at a future date.

CAULDRON
The omniscient cauldron! No self-respecting witch would be without one. Or so we are told. The cauldron is a water tool, primarily, although I have seen people use it as a fire pot. I have a real problem with mixing the elements like that. I believe the incense censor or even the Hibachi in the backyard are much better suited to this purpose than the cauldron. The cauldron is the symbol of abundance. All good things came from Cerridwen's cauldron. The cauldron is used to represent water in the western quarter. It is also used as it was originally intended -- as a cooking pot! Use the cauldron to brew up the tea you would use in ritual, the savory stew you would eat to ground after ritual, or whatever magickal food you have need of. Another great use for a cauldron is a scrying tool. Fill the cauldron partially full with water and gaze into it in a darkened room with just a few candles lit.

CHALICE
There are as many styles of chalices as there are people using them. I've seen ornate gold chalices embedded with gemstones. I've also seen plain goblets with no ornamentation. Chalices come in wood, metal, stone, glass, clay earthenware, and many other materials. It's up to the personal taste of the person using it. The chalice, like the cauldron, is also a tool of water. Chalices can be used in ritual with other people, or they can be used by solitary practitioners. Any time you want to honor the Goddess with a toast, use a chalice. The chalice may also be placed on the altar as a symbol of the Goddess.

INCENSE
Incense is a very powerful tool. The scent of certain aromas has the power to alter your consciousness. The burning of incense may trigger a trance state, relax you or energize you, depending on the scent. The more flowery scents like jasmine and lavender are sacred to the Goddess, while the more earthy scents like patchouli and oak moss are sacred to the God. We'll be studying more about the various effects of the scents when we study oils and aromatherapy.

PENTAGRAM
The pentagram is a symbol of earth. It is basically a five pointed star with one point up. There are several interpretations of what each point means. The most common interpretation is that the top point is Spirit, while the other 4 points represent the 4 elements.

PENTACLE
A pentacle is a pentagram with a circle around it and usually worn as an amulet or protective jewelry.

SALT
Salt, technically, is not a tool, but most altars have a dish of salt on them, so I have included it here. Salt is used as a representation of earth.

SWORD
A sword is simply a large athame. Whereas an athame is a tool used by an individual, the sword is usually used by the High Priest or Priestess of a coven or group. It is usually used to direct the energy of a group of people. It is also used to cast the circle when a coven meets.

WAND
A wand can be made from wood, copper, or other natural conductive material. A wand is used to direct energy in much the same way as the athame, with the added advantage of the properties of the material it is made from. For instance, a wand made of apple wood is perfect to use in a spell to make yourself more lovable. A wand can be as simple as an undecorated piece of wood, or as complex as a glass tube wrapped in copper with gemstones inside of the tube.

Page Updated 2005


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