Tools of the Craft
If you have a limited amount of money to spend on Tools then please go to the 'Where should I start?' section for some tips and advice.
Athame -
The athame is a Wiccan ritual knife, traditionally the handle of the knife is
black (black absorbs energy well) and the blade is double edged. The
Athame is NOT to be used for cutting purposes, but it should be used for
directing energy. The knife is sacred to the God and represents the
element Fire.
Wand
-
The wand can be a simple stick of wood which you found
yourself attracted too and may have customized or an elaborate crystal wands,
but neither is more powerful than each other. The wand works in the same
way as the Athame, it is used for invocation, directing energy, casting a circle
or to draw Magickal symbols into the ground. The Wand represents the
element of Air and is sacred to the God.
Broom or 'Besom' - Despite what T.V may tell you, we Witches don't fly
on our broom sticks. The broom or 'besom' is used to cleanse a ritual area
of negative energy before performing spells and rites.
Censer -
The censer is an incense burner. Incense will cleanse and purify's your sacred space. The censer is sacred to the God and represents
the element of Air.
Cauldron -
The cauldron is traditionally black with three legs, it can
be used for mixing herbs, burning candles, scrying, and much more.
Cauldrons can be hard to find but a small bowl can be used as long as it can
hold water and is heat proof! The cauldron represents the Goddess and the
element of Air.
Bolline
- also known 'the white handled knife' the bolline
is a practical knife with a white handle in order to distinguish it from the
Magickal knife. Used in spells the bolline can be used for cutting herbs,
shaping wands, inscribing symbols into candles and so on. This knife
should be kept strictly for Wiccan use only.
Book Of Shadows -
This can be simply a thick decorated/customized book
or ring binder. A Book Of Shadows is written by a Witch, it can contain,
herb references, candle color meanings, spells, rites, prayers, pictures,
poems, anything you'd like. It is great to have a book of shadows, where
you can look back on the first things you learnt and it could be passed down
through the family!
Bell -
The bell is used to ward off evil spirits and negative
energies, invoke the Goddess during spells and rituals, or to signal the
beginning or end of a section of the ritual. The bell is sacred to both
the Goddess and God but as it is a feminine symbol it is mostly used to invoke
the Goddess during rituals.
Pentagram -
There is a lot of confusion as to the meaning of the
Pentagram, but I will tell you the true meaning. The Pentagram, right side
up, represents God ruling over everything, when the Pentagram is reversed it
represents the Devil ruling over everything and God. It also represents
the microcosmic man with his arms stretched out and the five elements, Earth,
Air, Fire, Water and Spirit (Akasha.)
Pentacle -
Yes you've got it! The Pentacle and Pentagram are totally
different things, the PENTAGRAM is the five pointed star, the PENTACLE however
is a flat piece of wood, brass, clay, wax or any other material used as a sacred
surface to place tools/crystals/amulets/herbs and may be inscribed with various
symbols, usually inscribed with the Pentagram!
Cup -
The cup can be made from almost anything as long as it holds
water/wine for use in rituals. The cup is similar to the Cauldron, both symbolism
fertility and represents the Goddess' womb. It can be anything from a clay
cup to a gold one, it doesn't really matter!
Altar -
Information about the Altar
has been moved to its own section.